Healing the Soul of the Nation
3rd interfaith Conference
Saturday, November 10, 2018
In response to the deteriorating spiritual and moral state of our nation, Building Respect in Community (BRIC), George Mason University School for Conflict Analysis (S-CAR) and United Mercy Mobilization Alliance Charities (UMMA Charities) has heeded the call for national regeneration by organizing Healing the Soul of the Nation. This is the third in a series of nationally held conferences. The first two were held at George Mason University School for Conflict Analysis and Resolution (S-CAR) and University of Pennsylvania Chaplaincy. The overall aim of these conferences is to address the political, social, and cultural conflicts that undermine the spiritual and psychological well-being of the nation. We seek to develop pragmatic solutions that will help all in attendance to participate in efforts to heal the nation starting with our own communities.
To help us achieve this lofty goal, the conference seeks broad participation from scholars, civic leaders from all political affiliations, social activists and lay-persons who are eager to build bridges, promote understanding, and strengthen our communities.
Please join us on Saturday, November 10 from 8:30-3:30 pm at Respect Graduate School as our diverse panels of civic, social, and religious leaders address this very important topic. Afterwards, there will be Q&A and small breakout discussions where our panelists and attendees will share their thoughts and develop ideas on how we all may take what we have learned from the conference and work to heal the soul of our nation henceforth.
CONFERENCE AGENDA
8:30-9:00 am – Sign-in/Breakfast
9:00-9:30 am – Inter-faith Prayers/Welcome
9:30-10:30 am – Panel Discussion 1: Is the soul of the nation wounded and how? What does that wound look like in terms of impact on the individual and community?
Speakers
- Robert Reed, Exec. Deputy Attorney General PA
- Rev. Dr. James D. Jackson, Sr. Pastor Goodwin Memorial Baptist Church
- Dr. Darrell “Drick” Boyd, Ph.D, Prof. of Social Transformation at Eastern University
- Rubina Tareen Interfaith Chaplain at Alvernia University
10:30-10:50 am – Q&A
10:50-11:00 am – Break
11:00-12:00 pm – Panel Discussion 2: What can religious institutions and community organizations do to address the wounds of our nation? What can they do more broadly to help cure the nation’s ills?
Speakers
- Sr. Cathy Nerney, SSJ, Ph.D, Institute for Reconciliation and Forgiveness
- Joseph Welsh, Member of the State Board of ACLU of Pennsylvania
- Rev. Dr. Larry Pickens, Lehigh Conference of Churches
- Sabita Geer, The Brahma Kumaris World Spiritual University
- Nijmie Dzurinko, Poor People’s Campaign
12:00-12:30 pm – Small Breakout Discussions – Continue the inquiry
12:30-1:30 pm – Lunch & Prayer Break
1:30-2:30 pm – Panel Discussion 3: Share what steps you or your organization are taking to heal the wounded soul of our nation. What sort of actions do you hope will come from this conference?
Speakers
- Amy Kietzman, Quaker Community
- Heather Ciociola, Sisterhood of Salaam Shalom
- Nanda K. Bhaga, Mission Smart Ride Foundation
- Sakina Rizvi, Imamia Medics International
- Abdul Mughees, eMgage USA (Empowering Engaged Muslim Americans)
2:30-2:50 pm – Small Breakout Discussions – Continue the inquiry
2:50-3:00 pm – Break
3:00-3:30 pm – Plenary / Closing Remarks
3:30 pm – Closing Meditation by Dr. Mary Wade
***Continental breakfast and lunch (both vegetarian/kosher/halal) will be served.
We would like to thank our generous sponsors for helping us to make this event possible: The Lehigh Conference of Churches, Al-Ahad Islamic Center, ACLU-PA: Greater Lehigh Valley Chapter, EMGAGE, Lehigh Dialogue Center, Peace Islands Institute, and Imamia Medics International.
