A Place of Welcome? A Multifaith Gathering on Practicing Hospitality in Minnesota

Thursday, November 9, 2:00 - 8:00 pm, Gloria Dei Lutheran Church, 700 Snelling Avenue S, Saint Paul, MN 55116

Those of us living in Minnesota are all too familiar with the concept of “Minnesota Nice.” Highlighting the welcoming demeanor of its residents, “Minnesota Nice” often conveys the message that we as Minnesotans are inherently hospitable and welcoming. What this cultural stereotype does not address, however, are the challenges involved in developing Minnesota as a welcoming place for all people to settle, create community, and thrive.

This year’s MnMN Convening, A Place of Welcome? A Multifaith Gathering on Practicing Hospitality in Minnesota, invites us to consider the concept of hospitality and what that means for our faith and secular communities throughout the state of Minnesota. During this convening, leaders and practitioners of Minnesota’s diverse religious communities, interfaith leaders, and young people will gather to discuss and celebrate how different religious and belief traditions practice hospitality.

Depolarizing Within

Saturdays, September 23 and 30, October 7, 14, 21, and 28, 1:00 - 4:00 pm Central and Sunday, October 15, 3:00 - 6:00 pm Central, Online

Too often, we criticize, dismiss, or even ridicule those who support the "other" party, its leaders, and its policies. That's why Braver Angels is hosting a series of Depolarizing Within workshops. Designed as part of our Rise for America initiative, this effort will help participants learn how to be critical without demonizing or stereotyping, and how to redirect polarizing conversations with like-minded people. Register for any of these workshops on Saturdays: September 23, September 30, October 7, October 14, October 21, October 28. (September 23 and 30 could definitely use more attendees...) Or on Sunday, October 15. Questions? Email Casey Jorgensen.  

South of the River CROP Hunger Walk

Sunday, October 1, 2:00 - 4:00 pm (multi-church bake sale from 1:00 - 2:00 pm) St. James Lutheran Church, 3650 Williams Dr, Burnsville, MN 55337

In 2023, we continue fighting against disease, disaster, displacement and other challenges that leave people hungry. Join with us as we raise funds to help neighbors near and far get the meals they need for today and sustainable food security for tomorrow! CROP Hunger Walks are community-based walk fundraising events held in cities and towns across the United States, created to support the global mission of Church World Service, a non-sectarian, faith-based organization transforming communities around the globe through just and sustainable responses to hunger, poverty, displacement and disaster. 25% of the donations go to Second Harvest Heartland and 75% go to support the domestic and global work of Church World Service in work with refugees and immigrants, disaster response, and global development. Supporters of CWS have one goal: building a world where there is enough for all.

Committed to Healing & Reparations for the Tlingit People

Sunday, October 8, 2:00 – 3:00 pm, 3121 Groveland School Rd, Minnetonka, MN 55391

St. Luke Presbyterian Church in Minnetonka will be hosting a watch party of the truth and reconciliation ceremony being held at Ḵunéix̱ Hídi Northern Light United Church. In 2022, the Presbyterian Church (USA) General Assembly adopted, without amendment, the Overture proposed by Ḵunéix̱ Hídi Northern Light United Church and the Presbytery of the Northwest Coast. This issued apologies and commitments of reparations for the racist closure of Memorial Presbyterian Church in Juneau, Alaska, as well as the insult, injury, and trauma caused to the Tlingit people and Rev. Dr. Walter Soboleff. When our youth and Associate Pastor recently traveled to Juneau for a service trip, they learned about the healing ceremony from native elders and were told, "spreading the story and witnessing the ceremony to begin reparations work would be meaningful.” We invite you to watch the documentary on YouTube and join us as we witness how the modern church can begin to repent for the sins it perpetuated against native communities. Learn more about the healing ministries in Alaska HERE, and how it can be a model for healing our relationships with native communities here in MN. For more information email Rev. Nora Elliott.

Doctrine of Discovery Screening and Discussion with Sheldon Wolfchild

Wednesday, October 11, 7:10 pm, Unity Church-Unitarian Parish Hall, 733 Portland Avenue, Saint Paul, MN 55104 or Online

Save the date for a screening of the Doctrine of Discovery documentary followed by a discussion with producer Sheldon Wolfchild. More information coming soon!

Spiritual Care and Chaplaincy in Religiously Diverse Societies

Tuesday, October 17, 12:00 - 1:15 pm, Online

The recent open-access volume Complexities of Spiritual Care in Plural Societies: Education, Praxis and Concepts (De Gruyter, 2022) contributes to an emerging field that could be referred to as "plural spiritual care and chaplaincy," by innovatively bringing together contributions from a broad range of contexts and religious traditions. Including empirical work and conceptual explorations, the volume helps to fill the gap between practices and developments related to plural spiritual care and chaplaincy in the scholarly discourse, and their application for practitioners serving religiously diverse populations in health and chaplaincy settings. In this webinar, editor Anne Hege Grung will introduce the book and project, contributor Nazila Isgandarova will discuss female voices in Islamic spiritual care, and contributor Su Yon Pak will explore Buddhist chaplaincy education at a Protestant seminary. Time will be allowed for discussion and questions. Free and open to the public.

Interfaith Responses to Trauma

Wednesday, October 25, 10:00 - 11:00 am, Foss Center, Hoversten Chapel, Augsburg University

Save the date for a panel with Augsburg faculty! Globally, over 50% of persons experience some sort of trauma during their lifetime. Our convocation panelists will share resources from their specific religious traditions—Hinduism, Islam, and Judaism—that respond to trauma and help foster resilience.

What Christians Get Wrong about Judaism and Why it Matters

Thursday, October 26, 12:00 - 1:10 pm, McNeely Hall 100, University of St. Thomas, St. Paul campus

From early on Christians have defined Christianity in relation to the Jewish tradition from which it emerged. But when articulating Christian faith vis-à-vis Judaism, most Christian teachers and preachers down through the centuries have misrepresented Judaism, expressing anti-Jewish perspectives that often have fanned the flames of antisemitic attitudes and behaviors. The result of this has not only been dire for Jews, including in the last several years in the United States where there has been a dramatic increase of hate crimes against Jews, but has also distorted Christian self-understanding and faith. In this presentation, Rabbi Ryan Dulkin will focus on several things that Christians generally misunderstand about Judaism and why this matters for Jews, Christians, and others.

Presentation and Q&A with Ben Connelly 

Sunday, October 29, 6:00 - 7:30 pm, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, 100 Silver Lake Rd NW, New Brighton, MN 55112

Ben Connelly will give a presentation hosted by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. The format is a 45-50 minute presentation by Ben followed by a 25-30 minute Q&A period. Ben Connelly is a Soto Zen teacher and Dharma heir in the Katagiri lineage. He also teaches mindfulness in a wide variety of secular contexts including police training and addiction recovery groups. He works with multifaith groups focused on intersectional liberation, and racial and climate justice. Ben is based at Minnesota Zen Meditation Center, travels to teach across the United States, has written for Tricycle and Lion’s Roar magazines, and is author of Inside the Grass Hut, Inside Vasubandhu's Yogacara, and Mindfulness and Intimacy.

Opportunities

• The deadline is approaching for Collegeville Institute's 2024-2025 Resident Scholars program! This program is open to scholars, writers, pastors, activists, faith leaders, and others who are looking for time, space, and a place to further their work. We offer residencies of a semester or year, as well as short-term residencies of three weeks to three months. The application deadline is Wednesday, November 1.
• Who do you turn to for perspective on the thorny problems of leadership in today’s workplace? Are you a leader who would benefit from reflective practice, a framework for accountability, and customized coaching as you navigate organizational challenges? Seeing Things Whole is a disciplined process that embraces the organization’s relationships to the larger world, cultivating whole leaders and thriving organizations to positively impact the common good. This fall, the Reell Office of Seeing Things Whole at Augsburg University will launch a Community of Practice Cohort to support the professional development of three leaders by advancing their strategic thinking toward action. Learn more about this unique professional development opportunity!

Resources & News

• The Headwaters Foundation for Justice, headquartered in Minneapolis, is a community organization that prioritizes support of BIPOC. They say, “We use the power of relationships to raise and move money, supporting action that leads to change.” In 2023, they partnered with the Bush Foundation to award the Minnesota Bush Prize. Now available in The Justice Database. 

• "I just started to think about: what does it look like for us to engage with the challenges in our lives in ways that make us feel proud and that we didn’t run away but also didn’t amplify the anger in our hearts?” Simran Jeet Singh is the Executive Director for the Aspen Institute’s Religion & Society Program and the author of The Light We Give: How Sikh Wisdom Can Transform Your Life. He is also the first Sikh wire-service columnist in US history. Watch his three-minute video with PBS to learn more about his experience growing up Sikh in Texas and what the wisdom from his tradition might have to offer non-Sikhs.
• Read about the busy summer that Interfaith at Augsburg on their blog post, Building a Hate-Free Minnesota!
• Learn About White American Evangelicals in Just 15 Minutes
  Kristin Kobes Du Mez's book "Jesus and John Wayne" about White American Evangelicals became a publishing sensation both in academia and outside, among evangelicals and among outsiders. I did my PhD on this community and never came across anything like it. At the link, is a great interview of Du Mez by CNN anchor Christiane Amanpour. You'll learn a lot in just 15 mins. Highly recommend. (And then I recommend reading the book.) — Dr. Brian Carwana, Religions Geek, Guelph, ON
• An Ex-Christian Who Misses Church
  Many people have circulated this first person account of someone who found they could not continue at church theologically but who misses the community, the ritual and recurring moral encouragements. "Theologically, I’m comfortable being a none. But socially, I feel a bit lost." — Dr. Brian Carwana, Religions Geek, Guelph, ON

More Events

• Tara Houska, environmental and indigenous rights advocate and founder of the Giniw Collective, will present on her career as a tribal attorney and land and water defender. Free and open to the public. Thursday, September 28, 7:30 pm, College of St. Scholastica in Duluth

• Friends for a NonViolent World (FNVW), in collaboration with Twin Cities Nonviolent (TCNV) and many other peace and justice groups are organizing a Walk for Peace and Justice. Saturday, September 30, 10:00 am, Brackett Park in Minneapolis
• Join KOOTASCA Community Action for Big View on Wednesdays in October for a training series with the Native Governance Center. October 4, 11, 18, and 25, 11:00 am, KOOTASCA's Conference room in Central Square Mall, 201 NW 4th Street, Grand Rapids
• Registration is now open for the One Planet Peace Forum 2023 hybrid gathering. October 6-8, historic Green Acre on the Piscataqua in Eliot, Maine

• Join the Saint Paul MICAH chapter for their virtual Affordable Housing bus tour. "We are covering the continuum to housing, from street outreach with Freedom from the Streets to the Higher Ground shelter, from rent control implementation with Daniel Streeter of HomeLine to additional ownership models with Ianni Houmas of the East Side Investment Cooperative. We will have a tour of different grassroots organizing models, and updates on state and national legislative organizing!" Tuesday, October 17, 8:00 am, Online
• Join Shoulder to Shoulder for this lively conversation, "Evangelism or Interfaith Dialogue: Do I have to choose?" Thursday, October 19, 12:00 pm Central, Online

• Shoulder to Shoulder is also hosting, "Addressing Islamophobia & Antisemitism Together: As a Jew, do I have to choose?" Tuesday, November 21, 11:00 am Central, Online

MnMN Seeking Fall 2023 Intern for Interfaith Mapping Project!

The Minnesota Multifaith Network seeks interns to assist staff and volunteers of MnMN with the following tasks:

• Gather information about multifaith groups in Minnesota. Information to be gathered includes nature and purpose of the group, leadership and contact information for leaders, activity.
• Update and refine MnMN’s website map of multifaith groups, organizational partners and individual members.
• Extend invitations to religious leaders, faith communities and organizations to join MnMN.
• Gather information about individual participants in various traditions who have an interest in interfaith relations.  Help find ways for them to take action in their own faith communities, organizations, interfaith groups or with MnMN.
  If you are interested, please contact Dr. Jen Kilps.