The Interfaith Council of Southern Nevada (ICSV) meets monthly for discussions. In December, they addressed social justice. [Stock photo provided by ICSV]
By Lisa Sikes
Program Manager, Interfaith Council of Southern Nevada
With communities around the United States reeling from grand jury decisions in the Michael Brown and Eric Garner cases, and with protests rising up around the country, the Interfaith Council of Southern Nevada (a URI Cooperation Circle), decided to refocus our December meeting. Rather than sticking with the originally-assigned topic, we chose instead to ask participants how their Spiritual Tradition can contribute to social justice and peacemaking efforts in our world today.
On December 9, about 10 participants gathered to discuss the question and were felt the change of topic was particularly timely.
The meeting was co-facilitated by interfaith peace activist Mary Lou Anderson and Humanist Mel Lipman. Participants contributed many rich ideas, some of which are highlighted below:
- Be willing to have conversations about this within our own congregations and organizations
- Inner guidance and prayerful action, as well as prayer in general were a strong focus
- Inner peace is a gateway and bridge to World Peace. One of our Bahai members contributed the idea of teaching Peace Studies in schools beginning in elementary school and continuing to all levels of education and society.
- Local Las Vegas peace program R.E.C.A.P (Rebuilding Every Community Around Peace) is a voluntary collaboration between the Metro Police Department and local chaplains to bring comfort and peace to victims of violence as well as to the officers.
- One contributor suggested a book called “The Art of Waging Peace” by Paul Chappell
- One local activist and interfaith leader spoke on teaching how to live lives of nonviolence to our faith community members, with an emphasis on teaching how to protest peacefully.
- We need an increasing awareness of social justice issues we face today which cause tremendous human suffering (war, poverty, climate crisis, famine/hunger, homelessness), while making an effort to connect the dots between activism and spirituality.
- Social change doesn’t happen neatly, studies show organizational change often takes eight years or more
- Participants mentioned the great teachings of non-violent activism leaders Mahatma Ghandi and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and how they could be a potential source of methodology for us now
Produced with thanks to Mary Lou Anderson, Mel Lipman, and Kara Keating for meeting notes.
