Vision:

We are a world where all faiths, traditions, and communities are honored, respected, and celebrated.

Mission:

To advocate social justice and human rights from a faith-based perspective; to educate the broader community from faith-based perspectives; to convene groups that encourage appreciation of differences without any coercion to participate in any ritual or be proselytized; to nurture interfaith understanding; and to enhance human services through religious communities’ resources. 

Goals:

• Discover common ground among faith traditions and philosophies
• Understand and respect the differences between faith traditions and philosophies
• Build relationships between faith communities
• Inspire participation in interfaith programs and events
• Celebrate, enjoy, and learn from one another

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History:

Originally organized as a committee of the National Conference of Christians and Jews (NCCJ – later the National Conference of Community and Justice), the Interfaith Council of Southern Nevada promotes activities that encourage understanding and respect among all people, all traditions, all cultures, all philosophies, and all communities.
With the withdrawal of NCCJ from Nevada, the Interfaith Council believes that the work they perform and the functions they fill within the Southern Nevada community are critical and necessary. In order to continue to provide this venue for multicultural and multi-faith cooperation and understanding, the Interfaith Council of Southern Nevada was incorporated in the State of Nevada and chartered as a 501(c)3, not-for-profit organization on January 5, 2005.

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Programs and Events:

In addition to monthly meetings, the Interfaith Council sponsors the following events annually:

Camp Anytown

Camp Anytown is a nationally recognized, award-winning, 45 year-old program for youth focusing on leadership skills, human relations, and diversity.  For more information about Camp Anytown please click here….

 A Season for Nonviolence- Local Task Force

January 30 - April 4 of every year, is a national 64-day educational, media, and grassroots campaign dedicated to demonstrating that nonviolence is a powerful way to heal, transform, and empower our lives and our communities. Inspired by the 50th and 30th memorial anniversaries of Mahatma Gandhi and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., this international event honors their vision for an empowered, nonviolent world. 

Each year the Interfaith Council sponsors an event in support of the Season for Nonviolence.  Please see the website of the Season for Nonviolence for more information.   http://www.agnt.org/snv02.htm

The Interfaith Forums

In a world torn apart by religious misunderstanding, the goal of the Interfaith Forums is to provide an experience where people can hear different religions’ perspectives in an environment of mutual respect.  It is a time and place to hear and be heard.  In the course of nearly two decades, the forums have helped forge strong relationships between members of Southern Nevada’s diverse religious communities. The Interfaith Forums are held every Autumn.  Click here for more information.

Mayors Prayer Breakfast

The Southern Nevada Mayors Prayer Breakfast was founded almost 40 years ago when Las Vegas Mayor Oran Gragson attended a President’s Prayer Breakfast hosted by President Dwight D. Eisenhower.  The Mayor was so moved by the experience that he brought the event to Las Vegas.  Held every Fall, this event celebrates our unity and diversity as business, faith, political and youth leaders.

Area mayors representing Las Vegas, North Las Vegas, Mesquite, Henderson and Boulder City, as well as County representatives participate.  More so, the Breakfast  welcomes students from area high schools to join in the intergenerational celebration.  After the formal event, students participate in a youth centered program focused on engaging them in service to the community.

In addition to our annual programs, the Interfaith Council of Southern Nevada also holds events as the need arises in the community.  Examples of events have been: The URI/NAIN Connect 2005 Conference, a Parliament of the World’s Religions, and in 2007 an event to rally the support of faith communities around the dire situation of children in the Las Vegas valley. 

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The Interfaith Forums

WHY
In a world torn apart by religious misunderstanding, the goal of the Interfaith Forums is to provide an experience where people can hear different religions’ perspectives in an environment of mutual respect.  It is a time and place to hear and be heard.  In the course of nearly two decades, the forums have helped forge strong relationships between members of Southern Nevada’s diverse religious communities.

WHAT
The annual fall series includes four to five interfaith forums featuring five or six panelists from different world religions, each of whom addresses the same topic from their faith’s scripture or formal public policy.  Each forum is a two-hour program held on Sunday evenings.

WHERE
Throughout the series, each forum is held in a different house of worship so that participants can experience the environment, the symbolism and how the physical structure serves the religious community it houses.

HOW
1. Ground rules ensure that each speaker can share their religion’s point of view without challenge or debate and that no other religion will attempt to interpret their religion’s scripture. There is no proselytizing or attempt to convert others to a point of view.  Agreeing to disagree on matters of difference is central to the program.

2. Following brief presentations from each panelist, audience members address written questions to the moderator who directs the questions to panelists. The moderator selects questions so that each religion receives equal numbers of questions and helps ensure the forum stays on point.

3. The evening ends with refreshments and a brief, informal, social time during which panelists and audience members can become better acquainted.

4.  Participants are left to draw their own conclusions.   More often than not, the experience is rich, provocative, educational, and inspiring.

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