“Who Is My Neighbor” Program Success

This Fall, Interfaith Partnership enjoyed ten weeks of Sunday morning collaboration with two local United Church of Christ congregations, exploring the timely interfaith question, “Who is My Neighbor?” As the St. Louis region grows increasingly more diverse, Interfaith Partnership provides a rich and timely educational resource through our capable faith leaders.

During September, Kirkwood United Church of Christ invited three speakers to share their stories of faith and engage the regular Sunday morning adult study group. On September 13, Mary Pedersen spoke about the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints; on September 20, Jack Sisk shared his Hindu tradition, and on September 27, Rabbi Howard Kaplansky engaged the study group in key elements of Judaism. The presentations were exceptional and the discussion time was lively and enlightening. About 20-25 people participated each Sunday.

In October, Kirkwood UCC studied Islam through a DVD series entitled “The Jesus Fatwah: Love Your (Muslim) Neighbor as Yourself”, a from the progressive Christian “Living the Questions” video series. IP staff member David Mehl led the program and invited Dr. Ghazala Hayat to lead the fourth session, during which partipants were able to ask follow-up questions. The feedback from course members was very positive, and many expressed a deeper, more thorough understanding of Islam. Again, about two dozen people were present for the video series with David Mehl and Dr. Hayat.

In late October and early November, St. John’s United Church of Christ in Chesterfield chose to pursue the “Who is My Neighbor?” program on October 25, November 1 and November 15 – again, Mary Pedersen, Jack Sisk and Rabbi Kaplansky led the sessions and engaged partipants in energetic discussion. About 25 people participated each week.

Pictures from the fall programs are noted below. If you or your congregation are interested in developing similar interfaith adult study programming, please contact David Mehl in the IP office for program and speaker ideas.