FCAC and Interfaith Works forge New Initiative

Interfaith Works and the Montgomery County Faith Community Advisory Council are combining their strengths to unite and magnify the impact of the interfaith community through the creation of the Interfaith Network of Montgomery County. It is a public/private partnership bringing hundreds of faith communities together to build a healthy, resilient community where all residents feel respected, valued and supported. INMC will focus on fostering dialogue and providing faith-community solutions to crucial issues, including poverty, xenophobia and bigotry.

Funding for the Interfaith Network of Montgomery County will be provided by a County grant with matching funds coming from a membership base of faith communities, organizations and individuals. To find out how you, your faith community and/or organization may become founding members, click here.

We will be hiring a full time Administrative Assistant this summer and a half time Program Director this fall. Together we will empower the working groups, teams and committees, displayed in this organizational chart (click here).

Our County Executive, Ike Leggett, in initiating INMC said, We are fortunate to have faith communities reminding us that we belong to one human family and working together for the common good.

Register for Sanctuary for ALL-Safety for ALL

Given increased enforcement activity in recent months by U.S. immigration and Customs Enforcement, it is important that immigrant rights advocates and local communities be prepared in the event of a raid. This training helps communities respond to raids and provide support to those at risk of deportation and their families.

This is a train-the-trainer session, so participants will be encouraged to share what they have learned with their congregations and communities to help build a network of rapid responders across the region

Session A:
Overview of New Sanctuary Movement (3:00-3:30 PM)

Session B:
Training in Various Forms of Response (3:30-5:30 PM)

When:
June 25
3:00-5:30 pm

Where:
Cedar Lane Unitarian Universalist Church
9601 Cedar Lane
Bethesda, MD 20814

Questions: Lori.severens@gmail.com(Montgomery County DMV Sanctuary Congregation Network volunteer; Takoma Park Mobilization)

Register here
See Flier

DMV Sanctuary Congregation Network is a network of congregations in DC/MD/VA region that are providing support and solidarity to neighbors, friends, and family who fear being detained, deported or profiled.

Community Memorial Service

County officials, faith leaders, non-profit organizations and community members joined together to memorialize 62 individuals who died during 2016 and 2017 either while homeless or after being involved in the homeless system in Montgomery County.

The moving ceremony included an invocation and remarks by Rev. Kasey Kaseman, Interfaith Community Liaison, and Rev. Linda Kauffman from Community Solutions. The names of those memorialized was read by non-profit providers who work closely with County government in providing services to the homeless. View a pictures and videos of the Community Memorial Service below:

A new initiative, Inside/NotOutside, was also launched, with the goal of ending chronic homelessness by the end of 2017. Faith communities and people of conscience may learn and becoming engaged at www.montgomerycountymd.gov/homelessness.

Over 250 Students Participate in Art Contest

The Faith Community Advisory Council and the Human Rights Commission co-sponsored the United We Learn program with Montgomery County Public Schools. Over 250 students from the majority of public schools in Montgomery County submitted videos of dance, theatre, creative writing, music and beautiful art on the theme “ Combating Hate through the Arts.” Pictured with two of the winners are Superintendent Jack Smith and Rev. Kasey Kaseman who presented certificates in the presence of hundreds of proud parents and grandparents.

See Award Winning Entries

Securing Houses of Worship Presentation Materials now available

Securing Houses of Worship on May 4th addressed how to assess vulnerabilities, secure physical infrastructure, respond to threats and suspicious packages, develop relationships with law enforcement and protective services, and equip staff for making sound decisions.

Council President, Roger Berliner, presented a report on a supplemental grant program to improve security for houses of worship. It remains in the process of formation and counsel of faith leaders will be used in determining how it will be most useful.

Many attendees requested the following presentation materials: Faith Leader Active Assailant Training and Avoid Deny Defend video. We encourage you to share this information with your associates and feel free to pass them on to any who may benefit.

MCPS Superintendent Says Students Safety is Top Priority

It is very important to know and share the facts related to the terrible incident at Rockville High School. Some are responding in racist and political terms that are at odds with moral standards and the core values of Montgomery County.

Learn from this video and share it broadly. People of faith have a special calling to be praying and acting in terms that heal, reconcile and unite our human family. MCPS Superintendent Says Students Safety is Top Priority.

The Co-Chairs of our Faith Community Working Group have had a series of meetings with MCPS officials related to alleviating the fears of students and parents, responding to bullying, increasing cultural competency, teaching world religions, combating hate, organizing parent academies and encouraging faith communities to support MCPS programs that unify and encourage teachers, students and parents.

Subsequently, a page has been added to the MCPS website that features key resources, including Guidelines for Respecting Religious Diversity, annotated Interfaith Calendar and a statement from the Board of Education related to the recent hate incidents. The page will be continually updated with content useful for faith communities.

Our Faith Community Advisory Council is proudly co-sponsoring the “United We Learn: Combating Hate through the Arts“. View the video, listen to our children and consider ways to promote this program within your faith community. Focusing on children and working in partnership with our highly dedicated and competent school officials, staff, teachers and students is a great antidote for the news from Washington.

Reaffirmation of Jewish Solidarity Press Conference

In response to the bomb threats suffered by Jewish institutions, Montgomery County Executive, Ike Leggett, engaged the Faith Community Advisory Council (FCAC) to bring faith leaders to a press conference at the Jewish Community Center in Rockville. Elected officials including Senators Cardin and Van Hollen; Representatives Delaney and Raskin; County Executive, Ike Leggett and Council President, Roger Berliner, addressed the press and several hundred people. (County Executive Remarks Video)

The FCAC Executive Committee presented a Statement of Solidarity with Jewish Community Statement of Solidarity with Jewish Community that was read by Imam Faizul Khan and the Rev. Dr. Abhi Janamanchi. You may view the video of the presentations by Rev. Kaseman, Interfaith Community Liaison, and Rabbi Steinlauf, Director of Social Justice and Interfaith Initiatives for the Jewish Community Relations Council, Co-Chair of the Faith Community Working Group and member of the Executive Committee.

We condemned the horrific acts, acknowledged that today not only the Jewish community, but the Muslim and Latino communities are being scapegoated and all minority communities live in trauma. We said, “silence and inaction are not options” and expressed our love for our Jewish sisters and brothers and recommitted ourselves to stand in solidarity and work together in creating the more beloved community.

County Executive Remarks for Reaffirmation of Jewish Solidarity Press Conference

FCAC Statement of Solidarity with Jewish Community

Mymcmedia: Local leaders say ‘Hate must stop now’ amid recent threats toward faith-based organizations

The FCAC Executive Committee meet with County Executive, Isiah Leggett

The Executive Committee of the County Executive’s Faith Community Advisory Council met with the County Executive, Isiah Leggett, to report on the work of their Faith Community, Neighbors in Need and Religious Land Use Working Groups. Highlights included having 47 faith communities working with refugees, developing partnerships between different faith communities of different traditions to reduce fear and increase cultural competencies, training Emotional, Spiritual Care Volunteers for responding to emergencies, reducing hunger, reducing bullying in schools, providing Interracial and Interfaith Dialogues on Racism, enlarging the Faith Leaders Response Team and promoting the Montgomery County Model for creating social cohesion and public safety.

Sharing Resources and Outreach Program to Express Solidarity

The Welcoming Our New Neighbors program is engaging 30 faith communities in welcoming and resettling refugees. 123 faith leaders, government officials, refugee resettlement agencies and nonprofits met to share resources and initiate advocacy programs. The immoral, un-American and counterproductive ban imposed by President Trump is traumatizing for families in Montgomery County and abroad.

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Resources for supporting refugees and advocating for policies reflecting our values are available Welcoming Our New Neighbors. An outreach program has been implemented to affirm our solidarity with mosques that includes attending Jummah Prayer on Fridays.

Pictures reflect the diversity and spirit of a compassionate and dedicated community of faith.

Be in Solidarity with Our Muslim Neighbors

It’s tragic that our president is using fear to rally our fellow citizens to discriminate against people of particular countries and of the Muslim faith. We need to oppose this tactic and demonstrate our solidarity in personal terms.

One meaningful way is to attend Friday prayer services in a Mosque in your neighborhood. Click Muslim Communities in Montgomery County to find a list of locations and contacts for times of service. Some faith communities are carrying cards and letters from their children, youth and adults. Others have formed partnerships including exchanged visits.

Response to Executive Action & Resources for supporting Refugees