Multifaith Leadership Workshop - Saturday, May 6

Multifaith Leadership Workshop

Saturday, May 6, 8:15 am - 3:30 pm


Location

Iverson Center for Faith, outdoor Amphitheater, University of St. Thomas, St. Paul Campus - Click here for map


Admission

free and open to the public (click here for visitor parking information)

“If we truly see ourselves as interconnected, we must endeavor for others as we endeavor for ourselves,” writes Executive Director of Aspen Institute's Religion & Society Program Simran Jeet Singh. If "endeavor for ourselves" and for greater self-discovery is inherently wrapped up in "endeavor for others" and for greater interpersonal engagement, then, as Pope Francis proclaims, “our great challenge is to create a culture of encounter which encourages individuals and groups to share the richness of their traditions and experience; to break down walls and to build bridges.” Cultivating a culture of encounter, grounded in curiosity and wonder, strives for a world in which “we can also speak with those who think differently, as well as those who hold other beliefs, who do not have the same faith.” Advancing common public goods in such a world embraces the reality that great minds do not – and need not – always think alike but requires them to think alongside one another in order to address the urgent matters of our day.

Join us for this daylong workshop at the University of St. Thomas, free and open to all, to explore what it means to create a culture of curiosity, wonder, and encounter. Learn from practitioners, scholars, and leaders about developing skills to engage religious diversity, cultivate curiosity through storytelling, listen with empathetic understanding, navigate difficult conversations, participate in religious and nonreligious spiritual practices, and to develop greater self-awareness for leadership in religiously diverse societies.

Free and open to the public. Registration Required. Lunch included. Ages 16+. Open to all religious, nonreligious, and spiritual identities, worldviews, and ways of life. Join us for good food, rich conversation, and deep engagement. 


REGISTER HERE!


Note: Simran Jeet Singh Ph.D. will give the keynote address at 11:00 am. Participants who attend the keynote do not need to attend the daylong workshop, but are welcome to. Sign up to receive an email reminder for the keynote.


Organized and hosted by the Interfaith Fellows Program of the Jay Phillips Center for Interreligious Studies at the University of St. Thomas and the Minnesota Multifaith Network in collaboration with the Lutheran Center for Faith, Values, and Community at St. Olaf College and the Interfaith Institute at Augsburg University. Cosponsored by Minnesota Multifaith Network, and the Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, the College of Arts and Sciences, the Diversity Activities Board (DAB), and the Department of Theology at the University of St. Thomas. Funded, in part, by generous grants from the Arthur Vining Davis Foundations, the Jay and Rose Phillips Family Foundation of Minnesota, and the Center for Faculty Development at the University of St. Thomas.

2026 Interfaith Symposium: Healing the Earth, healing ourselves

By Bob Hulteen • March 13, 2026
Wednesday, March 25, Noon keynote and 1:00 p.m. lunch; Sateren Auditorium, Augsburg University, 2211 Riverside Avenue, Minneapolis Rev. Jen Bailey will keynote this year's Interfaith Symposium. The theme is "Healing the Earth, Healing Ourselves." Rev. Bailey is an ordained minister and national leader in the multi-faith movement for interfaith understanding and justice. She currently serves as Executive Director of the Dan and Margaret Maddox Fund, a Nashville-based philanthropic foundation investing in the leadership of young people and the vitality of the natural environment. After the keynote join us for a luncheon and panel conversation with Augsburg students and corporate leaders. Augsburg University’s Interfaith Symposium is an annual invitation to build community, foster collaboration, and create a more caring world through learning about religious/spiritual/worldview diversity, participating in enriching dialogue, and networking with exceptional interfaith leaders. As the most ethnically diverse campus in the Midwest, Augsburg University embraces students with a variety of religious beliefs and worldviews. Join us for this opportunity to learn about building partnerships across differences and how to face the future with hope and determination. Learn More or Register: augsburg.edu/interfaith26

2026 Mahle Lecture to Address 'Just Resistance' Over the Long Haul

By Bob Hulteen • March 13, 2026
Thursday, March 26, dinner at 5:30 p.m., lecture at 7:00 p.m.; Kay Fredericks Room, Klas Center, Hamline University, West Taylor Avenue, St. Paul Minnesotans have born witness to the critical place faith communities have in meeting the moment when crisis comes: Now how do we keep at it when there’s no end in sight? The faith communities and wisdom gatherings that make up Interfaith Action of Greater Saint Paul have worked for nearly thirty years to shelter families and build pathways toward stability and mobility through Project Home. This year’s Mahle Lecture, under the theme "Just Resilience: How to Stay in the Struggle for the Long Haul," will be an opportunity to explore resilience rooted in different faith traditions, specifically using the fight to end homelessness as a case study for what “just resilience” looks like in practice. If you have questions about the event, contact Chaplain Kelly Figueroa-Ray or Rev. Rachel McIver Morey. 

MICAH's Metro-wide Policy Breakfast

By Bob Hulteen • March 13, 2026
MICAH's Metro-wide Policy Breakfast on Housing is Scheduled Thursday, March 26, 9:00 - 11:30 a.m.; Christ on Capitol Hill Lutheran Church, 105 University Avenue West, St. Paul Under the theme "Loving Our Neighbors," MICAH will host it's annual housing policy breakfast at Christ on Capitol Hill Lutheran Church on Thursday, March 26. Breakfast and relationship building will begin at 9:00 a.m., with presentations on policy issues to follow at 9:30 a.m. The event will include an online option as well. Information about that will be available on the MICAH website closer to the event. For more information, contact Sue Watlov Phillips or John Slade . 

Beacon Hiring Including Senior Organizer

By Bob Hulteen • February 17, 2026
Beacon Interfaith Housing Collaborative believes in the vision that all people have a home. This collaborative of congregations and housing advocates believes that secure, affordable housing provides the key to safer communities, stronger families, and a healthier economy. Beacon is seeking individuals who are deeply aligned with its mission, bring strong cultural competency, and are committed to ongoing learning and collaboration as the organization works to address bias and racial inequities in housing. Please visit Beacon's website to learn more about its strategies, programs, and values, including collaboration, risk-taking, racial equity, and inclusive decision-making. Beacon Interfaith Housing Collaborative seeks a Senior Organizer. The Senior Organizer is an advanced practitioner responsible for driving high-level engagement from Beacon’s collaborative of congregations. They are responsible for leading and growing a portfolio of diverse interfaith congregations in the Twin Cities metropolitan area to grow Beacon’s power. The Senior Organizer operates with a high degree of autonomy to develop sophisticated congregational teams and pilots innovative organizing tactics that reach beyond our existing base and serve as models for the rest of the division. The successful Senior Organizer is both self-motivated and collaborative with the Policy and Organizing team. They demonstrate commitment to racial justice and high cultural competency. 

Wisdom Ways Community Iftar

By Bob Hulteen • February 17, 2026
Saturday, March 7, 5:30 - 7:30 p.m.; Minneapolis College of Art and Design, 2501 Stevens Avenue, Minneapolis  Join Wisdom Ways, in partnership with the Islamic Resource Group and Nasrieen Habib, for a community Iftar on March 7 at the Minneapolis College of Art and Design, 2501 Stevens Avenue, Minneapolis, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. The meal will begin with the traditional breaking of the fast with dates and water and will highlight the deep connection between our Minnesota community and the planet we share. Featuring Nasrieen Habib, founder of EcoJariyah and Amanah Recreational Project, the evening will explore not only what it means to practice Islam, but also how Islamic teachings honor and protect the natural world. Come and share an eco-friendly meal! People of all faiths are invited to attend and celebrate this important time in the Islamic calendar. Muslim attendees are invited to join at no cost. A halal meal will be available to all participants.

2026 Interfaith Symposium: Healing the Earth, healing ourselves

By Bob Hulteen • February 17, 2026
Wednesday, March 25, Noon keynote and 1:00 p.m. lunch; Sateren Auditorium, Augsburg University, 2211 Riverside Avenue, Minneapolis Rev. Jen Bailey will keynote this year's Interfaith Symposium. The theme is "Healing the Earth, Healing Ourselves." Rev. Bailey is an ordained minister and national leader in the multi-faith movement for interfaith understanding and justice. She currently serves as Executive Director of the Dan and Margaret Maddox Fund, a Nashville-based philanthropic foundation investing in the leadership of young people and the vitality of the natural environment. After the keynote join us for a luncheon and panel conversation with Augsburg students and corporate leaders. Augsburg University’s Interfaith Symposium is an annual invitation to build community, foster collaboration, and create a more caring world through learning about religious/spiritual/worldview diversity, participating in enriching dialogue, and networking with exceptional interfaith leaders. As the most ethnically diverse campus in the Midwest, Augsburg University embraces students with a variety of religious beliefs and worldviews. Join us for this opportunity to learn about building partnerships across differences and how to face the future with hope and determination. Learn More or Register: augsburg.edu/interfaith26

Encounter World Religions Offers Course on Aspects of the Sacred

By Bob Hulteen • January 14, 2026
Wednesdays on January 28, February 4, 11, and 18, 6:00 - 7:30 p.m.; online Religion can be more than what is contemplated in the mind. Often it is a feast for the senses that draws us in, makes us feel awe or mystery, and sometimes even enlightens us. Encounter World Religions is offering a new winter series titled "Sounds, Spaces, and Celebrations: The Feel of the World's Religions." Participant will explore the poetry and perspectives of sacred texts; the sights, sounds, and spaces that move us; and the celebrations that connect us. Those involved will learn how beauty is central to the religious experience. Each of the four talks will explore the richness of many religions, rather than learning about a single tradition. 

World Religion Day Celebration on January 18

By Bob Hulteen • December 29, 2025
Sunday, January 18, 5:30 - 7:00 p.m.; Centennial United Methodist Church, 1524 County Road C2, Roseville Though hailing from many cultures and engaging in various traditions, there is a shared humanity -- a common bond as children of a greater purpose. Celebrate this perspective at an event under the theme of "Finding Unity With Kindness and Peace." The event is free to the public. Attendees are encouraged to bring non-perishable food items for the Interfaith Action of Greater Saint Paul Food Shelf at the Department of Indian Work. Minnesota Multifaith Network is a co-sponsor of the event, along with JustServe and Interfaith Action of Greater Saint Paul.

MLK Day of Service Planned for January 19

By Bob Hulteen • December 29, 2025
Monday, January 19, 1:00 - 4:00 p.m.; Various locations with registration at Macalester Plymouth United Church, 1658 Lincoln Avenue, St. Paul Interfaith Action of GreaterSaint Paul is sponsoring opportunities for volunteers to serve their communities to commemorate Martin Luther King Jr.'s birthday on January 19. Service projects, both onsite at Macalester Plymouth United Church and offsite, will includ work for Bridging, Living Well, Urban Village, Ronald McDonald House, Interfaith Action, and other organizations. If you have questions, contact Rachel McIver Morey. 

Minnesota faith groups answer with tea and coffee

By Bob Hulteen • December 26, 2025
On December 17, 2025, the Religion News Service (RNS) published an opinion piece by Dr. Jen Kilps, network executive of the Minnesota Multifaith Network. (RNS) — On Friday afternoons, a collective of Christian and Muslim faith communities gets together in Cedar-Riverside, the largest Somali neighborhood in Minnesota, after jumah (Friday prayers). Neighbors gather and simply share Somali tea and coffee, greeting each other while forming relationships. One of the Christian pastors, the Rev. Jane Buckley-Farlee, involved in this activity explains: “All we do is serve tea and coffee, be friendly, talk, and say, ‘We’re glad you’re here.’ People walk out from Friday prayers and, seeing people gathered, are moved — and they remember. It’s really powerful.” This gathering has been happening since President Donald Trump’s first travel ban on several Muslim-majority countries in 2017, when people from the Somali community expressed fear of being targeted for persecution from the U.S. government. And those Friday afternoons continue to be a beautiful example of religious hospitality that creates safe space for relationships and community building. (Read on)
Show More