Faith Commons

37th Annual Conference of the Professions: Artificial Intelligence in the Professions
2025-05-23 08:00 - 12:00 (America/Chicago)
Join us for the 37th Annual Conference of the Professions – a gathering of professionals from law, theology, and medicine to discuss AI
Registration: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/37th-annual-conference-of-the-professions-tickets-1264426647139
Conference Theme:
Artificial Intelligence in the Professions: Examining Its Influence and Our Ethical Responsibilities
Conference Description:
As artificial intelligence continues to evolve and permeate various professional fields, it is imperative to understand its ethical landscape. This year’s conference will bring together law, medicine, and clergy professionals to explore AI’s evolving role in professional practice and discuss if and how AI should be integrated into the professions. We will examine how AI can both enhance and challenge professional practices, delving into the ethical implications that arise as this developing technology integrates into law, healthcare, and religious communities. We aim to guide professionals in navigating the complexities of AI while maintaining their ethical responsibility to society.
Keynote Speakers:

Dr. Deborah Johnson, Anne Shirley Carter Olsson Professor of Applied Ethics, Emeritus, in the Department of Engineering and Society within the University of Virginia’s School of Engineering (retired)
Mr. Aamer Charania, Global Head of Applied Machine Learning at Best Buy and Founder of Dallas AI

Panelists:

Dr. Robert Hunt, Professor of Christian Mission and Interreligious Relations Director of Global Theological Education, Southern Methodist University.
Dr. Mujeeb Basit, Associate Professor Department of Internal Medicine, UT Southwestern.
Mr. Michael Pegues, Adjunct Professor of Law & Shareholder, Polsinelli

Moderated by: Dr. Dallas Gingles, Director of the Doctor of Ministry Program, Assistant Dean of Hybrid Education, Associate Professor of Practice in Systematic Theology and Christian Ethics, Southern Methodist University

Together in Welcome: Faith Communities for Immigrants, Refugees, and Asylum Seekers
2025-07-21 18:30 - 20:30 | Temple Shalom, 6930 Alpha Rd, Dallas, TX, 75240, United States
Hosted by Temple Shalom and NCJW Dallas, this interfaith vigil is part of HIAS’ national Together in Welcome initiative. It offers a time for reflection, remembrance, and solidarity with immigrants, refugees, and asylum seekers.
Grounded in the Jewish value of hachnasat orchim—welcoming the stranger—the vigil invites our community to stand together for justice, compassion, and dignity for all who seek safety.
RSVP here.

Jewish-Christian Relations in the Wake of October 7 and the War in Gaza
2025-10-16 19:30 - 21:00 | Northway Christian Church, 7202 West Northwest Highway, Dallas, TX, 75225, United States
This event is free and open to the public, but registration is required.
Jewish-Christian relations in Israel are deeply shaped by the unique character of the state of Israel. Founded as a Jewish state, it is the only country in the world where national holidays follow the Jewish calendar, the weekend coincides with the Jewish sabbath, and Jewish faith and culture permeate daily life. At the same time, Israel was established with the values of a liberal democracy. Its Proclamation of Independence promised “complete equality of social and political rights to all its inhabitants irrespective of religion, race or sex.”
Today, those democratic values are under strain. The current government is pursuing a national agenda that has undermined equal rights for citizens of all faiths, placing new pressures on religious minorities. The war in Gaza and the events of October 7 have further deepened tensions and reshaped relationships among Jewish, Christian, and Muslim communities in the Holy Land.
Faith Commons invites you to a conversation with Hana Bendcowsky and John Munayer, two respected leaders from Jerusalem whose work is rooted in dialogue, education, and peacebuilding.
About the Speakers
Hana Bendcowsky is the Program Director of the Jerusalem Center for Jewish-Christian Relations (JCJCR). With nearly three decades of experience in interfaith education, Hana teaches in universities, seminaries, and government programs across Israel and abroad. She leads study tours in Jerusalem’s Christian Quarter and has particular expertise in the Christian communities of Israel and Jewish-Christian relations in the Israeli context.
John Munayer serves as Director of International Engagement for Musalaha, an organization dedicated to reconciliation and relationship-building between Israelis and Palestinians. Born and raised in Jerusalem, John has been active in dialogue initiatives since a young age and holds advanced degrees in international relations, theology, and religious studies from universities in Edinburgh, Amsterdam, and London. His work explores Palestinian Christian identity, Palestinian theology, and interreligious understanding.
Together, Hana and John will discuss how the current political climate affects religious minorities in Israel, how Jewish-Christian relations are evolving in this moment, and what these realities can teach those of us seeking to live out our faith responsibly in the United States.

Who Is My Neighbor?
2025-10-26 17:00 - 18:30 | Royal Lane Baptist Church, 6707 Royal Ln, Dallas, TX, 75230, United States
Faith Commons and Royal Lane Baptist Church invite you to explore the experiences of local neighbors who will share their personal stories of resilience, faith, and advocacy. Together we will reflect on what it means to live out the command to love our neighbors in today’s world.
Event details:
Sunday, October 26, 2025
5:00–6:30 PM
Royal Lane Baptist Church
6707 Royal Ln, Dallas, TX 75230
Speakers:

Sandra Avalos, Dreamer and immigrant activist
Pastor Isabel Marquez, Lead Pastor at Gracia Viva en Oak Lawn UMC
Eric Cedillo, National Legal Advisor for LULAC and president of Dallas MABA

This program is designed to spark dialogue and deepen our connections with immigrants in our community and beyond.
Open to the public. Registration not required.

The Future Is Peace: : A Conversation with Aziz Abu Sarah and Maoz Inon
2026-05-16 14:00 - 17:00 | Temple Emanu-El • Dallas, Texas, 8500 Hillcrest Rd, Dallas, 75225, United States
Register Here →
Overview

A public conversation on peace, reconciliation, and a future beyond division.

On May 16, Faith Commons is honored to host Aziz Abu Sarah and Maoz Inon, co-authors of The Future Is Peace: A Shared Journey Across the Holy Land. Their conversation will explore what can emerge when people refuse the logic of revenge and insist on the dignity of every human life.
Abu Sarah and Inon do not speak about peace from a distance. One is Palestinian. One is Israeli. Each has endured searing personal loss within a conflict that continues to wound communities and public life. What makes their witness so compelling is not that they avoid the truth of suffering. It is that they face it directly and still argue that another future is possible.
This event offers space for reflection at a time when public discourse so often rewards certainty, outrage, and division. Their story invites a harder question: what does it look like to reject despair without denying pain?
Abu Sarah and Inon will be introduced by Dr. Natali Levin Schwartz, an expert in theories of change and the role of narratives in addressing violence.
All proceeds from the event will support the work of InterAct.
2:00 Program
Followed by a Reception for Event Sponsors
