NAINConnect 2008 Workshops

Theme: Making a Difference
INTERFAITH ACTIVISM WHICH DOESN’T DIVIDE THE COMMUNITY

WORKSHOP SUMMARY
Local interfaith groups are frequently frustrated when faced with political issues. They hate to dodge controversial issues but do so, often as a matter of policy, because some traditions walk out when anything political is involved. This workshop features leaders who are developing ways to respond to political realities without alienating constituents. Rabbi Miller will moderate, in addition to being a presenter.

PRESENTERS
Jay Miller, Sam Muyskens, Len Traubman, and Ginny Wagener

Rabbi Jay Miller, after a career as a university chaplain, was the founding executive director orf a multi-faith clergy association, Peninsula Clergy Network. This association, founded in 2002, brings together the 400 Peninsula clergy from the range of the pluraliistic-exclusivistic spectrum. This organization promotes relations with local civic leaders.

Rev. Sam Muyskens, United Methodist, is Executive Director of Inter-Faith Ministries of Wichita, host of the first NAIN Connect in 1988. He spent 13 years in the parish ministry before joining Inter-Faith’s staff. Eleven years ago he founded ASAP Haiti, which sends doctors, nurses and teachers to Haiti. He is president of the National Association of Ecumenical and Interfaith Staffs, a long-term trustee of NAIN, and has traveled the world promoting interfaith dialogue.

Len Traubman and his wife Libby founded the Jewish-Palestinian Living Room Dialogue of Muslims, Jews and Christians 16 years ago. They have helped birth and support dozens of new sustained interfaith dialogues in North America and beyond. Teachers, trainers, and organizers, two documentaries tell stories about their interfaith work, Dialogue at Washington High and Peacemakers: Palestinians & Jews Together at Camp, DVDs which will be available for free to registrants.

Pastor Ginny Wagener retired last month after 17 years as Executive Director of the South Coast Interfaith Council in the Greater Long Beach-South Bay area of Los Angeles County. In 2002 she led the agency from being ecumenical to interfaith. SCIC’s membership includes 140 faith communities. Ordained in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, she is currently moving to Palo Alto.