INTERFAITH SPEAKERS BUREAU

The Interfaith Speakers Bureau (IFSB) is an initiative by ING to expand its outreach efforts to promote religious literacy and mutual respect. By leveraging the success of the 16-year old Islamic Speakers Bureau, schools, colleges, universities and other organizations can now request onsite educational panels that represent multiple faith groups.


The Interfaith Speakers Bureau panelists currently represent the Islamic, Jewish, Christian, Buddhist and Hindu religions. The program furthers the practice of religious pluralism and mutual respect by modeling civil dialogues with diverse faith communities in the San Francisco Bay Area - dialogues that are inclusive of all five major religious groups and voices.



REQUEST A PANEL


To schedule a panel, complete the online request form. Please allow a minimum of two weeks for scheduling. To speak with an ING representative, call Cyndee at 408.296.7312.



AUDIENCE


ING offers Interfaith Speakers panels to educators and their students at K-12 public and private secondary schools, colleges and universities at no charge. Additionally, faith-based organizations, civic centers, law enforcement agencies, healthcare facilities and other public and private institutions are welcome to request a panel.

Middle and High Schools - The Interfaith Speakers Bureau will help secondary school teachers supplement student learning, particularly where regional studies and the subject of world religions is a part of the core curriculum. IFSB panels adhere to the California State Board of Education content standards for history and social sciences.

From the study of ancient civilizations (6.2, 6.3, 6.4, 6.5) and religious and social structures of Islam (7.2) in middle school to world history and the role of religion in modern times (10.10, 11.3, 12.3) in high school, IFSB panels provide an engaging, interactive way to complement your curriculum and meet course requirements. Consider hosting a panel in an assembly for the entire student body or combining several classes so your students can learn from certified speakers that represent multiple faiths.

Colleges and Universities - The on-site interfaith panels provide supplemental content for higher education institutions that offer courses on World Religions, Political Science, Anthropology, Sociology, Philosophy, Education and other related courses. The Interfaith Speakers Bureau provides scholar-developed content and addresses frequently asked questions in the study of Islam, Christianity, Judaism, Buddhism and Hinduism.


PANEL TOPICS

The Interfaith Speakers Bureau offers two types of panels. Choose a panel with up to five interfaith speakers to provide an introduction to each of their religions and a topic of your choice; or, request the Muslim and Jewish panel for an overview of these two religions and their commonalities and shared interests as Americans.

Five Faith Panel:
  • Shared Values
  • "Living the Faith" in the San Francisco Bay Area (as workers, parents, students, citizens, etc.)
  • Contemporary Issues concerning our respective religions, such as follows:
    • Separation of church and state
    • Modernity and faith
    • Environmentalism and faith
    • Extremism, fundamentalism and faith
    • Pluralism and faith
Muslim-Jewish Panel:

"Jewish-Muslim Relations in the U.S.: In the Shadow of the Middle East Conflict"
Changing the paradigm of Jewish-Muslim American conversations - away from Middle East conflict, towards common interests as Americans:
  • Anti-Semitism and Islamophobia
  • Maintaining our faith in a secular society
  • Issues of security as minorities

IFSB PARTNERS


Buddha Gate Monastery
Buddhist Peace Fellowship
Center for Spiritual Enlightenment
Chaplaincy Institute
Chung Tai Zen Center of Sunnyvale
Congregation Emanu-El of San Francisco
Council of Churches of Santa Clara County
Dominican School of Philosophy and Theology
First Unitarian Church of San Jose
Interfaith Center at the Presidio
Interfaith Council of Contra Costa County
Interfaith Space
Islamic Society of San Francisco
Jewish Community Relations Councils
Jewish Federation of Silicon Valley
Lehrhaus Judaica
Marin Interfaith Council
Masjid Waritheen
New Vision United Methodist Church
Peninsula Clergy Network
Peninsula Temple Beth El
Progressive Jewish Alliance
San Francisco Foundation FAITHS Leadership
Silicon Valley FACES
South Bay Islamic Association
United Muslims of America
United Religions Initiative
Yaseen Foundation



SCHOLARS AND ADVISORS


Scholars
Shaykh Hamza Yusuf, Zaytuna Institute
Venerable Jian Hu Shifu, Chung Tai Zen Center of Sunnyvale
Rabbi David Teitelbaum, Board of Rabbis of Northern California
Dr. Jim Ryan, California Institute of Integral Studies

Advisors
Reverend Paul Chaffee, Interfaith Center at the Presidio
Reverend Andrew Kille, Interfaith Space
Dr. Philip Riley, Religious Studies Department, Santa Clara University
Rabbi Jay Miller, Peninsula Clergy Network



VOLUNTEER TO BE A SPEAKER

ING is currently recruiting volunteers to be speakers on the Interfaith Speakers Bureau panels.

Speaker Criteria
Speakers should be associated with a congregation or community related to their religion; available for one to two hours at a time for a panel during the day, evenings, or on weekends; and able to travel to speaking engagements within their region of the San Francisco Bay Area. Speakers define their own schedule, depending on availability. To become certified to be an IFSB panel speaker, ING can host a training workshop at your organization.


CONTACT US

To volunteer as an IFSB speaker, please sign up for an upcoming speakers training workshop and complete the application form, indicating which religion you represent. For questions about the Interfaith Speakers Bureau, contact Grace Fong, ING Marketing and Programs Director, at grace@ing.org.

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