Faith Commons

Faith Forward Dialogues on Asylum, Refugees, Immigration & Justice
2021-09-27 12:00 - 13:30, 2021-09-20 12:00 - 13:30, 2021-09-13 12:00 - 13:30 UTC
A 3-part webinar series featuring in-depth dialogue between people of faith experts in migration, human rights and immigration policies.

Divisive Times: Trust and Cooperation in Professional Relationships
2021-04-30 09:00 - 12:00
After a year of disaster and interpersonal turbulence, clergy, lawyers and physicians have a unique challenge and an important role in confronting misinformation and rebuilding individuals’ faith and trust in our most critical institutions, including our own. Join us on April 30 as we explore techniques to create space for intellectual humility and conviction in order to restore trust and rebuild relationships of mutual respect.
Keynote Speaker and Facilitator
Jill DeTemple, PhD, is the chair of SMU’s Religious Studies Department and professor of Anthropology. Dr. DeTemple is an expert in reflective structured dialogue practices, with her research recently featured in the Dallas Morning News and TEDxSMU.

Panel Speakers
Padmaja Reddy, MD: Assistant Professor of Palliative Care at Parkland Health and Hospital System and UT Southwestern
Rabbi David Stern, MA: Senior Rabbi at Temple Emanu-El
Sakina Rasheed Foster, JD: Partner at Haynes and Boone, LLP
Continuing Education InformationClergy CEU: This activity has been approved for .3 continuing education units (CEUs) for clergy and religious professionals.Physician CME: The Texas Medical Association designates this live activity for a maximum of 3 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.Lawyer CLE: Approval pending approval for continuing legal education ethics credits (CLEs)
The Conference of the Professions brings together members of law, medicine, and theology in the Dallas area to discuss common challenges—ethical and otherwise—facing these professions. The conference is a joint effort and collaboration between the Dallas County Medical Society, Dallas Bar Association, SMU Maguire Center for Ethics & Public Responsibility, SMU Dedman School of Law, SMU Perkins School of Theology, Faith Commons, and the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center.

State of Our Faith: Freedom to Vote
2021-03-07 12:00 - 13:00
Join us on Sunday March 7 for a State of Our Faith discussion with Dionna La’Fay, Regional Field Coordinator for Texas Rising. Learn about the importance of voting freedom as a means to making sure more Texans who are eligible to vote can register to vote. In the 2020 election, many faith communities and people of faith helped increase voter registration by becoming Volunteer Deputy Registrars. Now there is legislation pending in the current legislative session that would eliminate this program and make registering to vote harder rather than easier. George and Nancy will discuss with Dionna different concepts of voter protection, and why we believe protection starts with making voter registration as easy as possible.
RSVP to receive a reminder when we livestream.

Arts & Letters Live with Anne Lamott
2021-03-03 19:00 - 20:00
Faith Commons joins First United Methodist Church Dallas to present Arts & Letter Live with Anne Lamott and Priya Parker.
From bestselling author Anne Lamott comes Dusk, Night, Dawn, an inspiring guide to restoring hope and joy while grappling with the thorny issues of life. How can we cope as bad news piles up and we stumble through dark times that seem increasingly bleak? We begin, she says, by accepting our flaws and embracing our humanity. Drawing from her own experiences, Lamott shows us the intimate and human ways we can adopt to move through life’s dark places and toward the light of hope that still burns ahead for all of us. Full of the honesty, humor, and humanity that have made Lamott beloved by millions of readers, Dusk, Night, Dawn is thoughtful and comic, warm and wise.

Confronting Christian Nationalism
2021-02-26 10:00 - 11:00
How can congregations help their members deal with divisive questions that dominate the news and invade their worship spaces? They include:

“What is the difference between patriotism and nationalism?”

“How are Christian nationalism and white supremacy linked?”

“How can we identify and root out Christian nationalism in our congregations?”

These are hard questions that confront congregations across the country, noted Amanda Tyler, executive director of Washington-based BJC (Baptist Joint Committee for Religious Liberty), the only national faith-based group solely focused on protecting religious freedom for all people.
Tyler will be the keynote speaker for “Confronting Christian Nationalism in Your Congregation,” a webinar sponsored by BJC, the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship of Texas, Christians Against Christian Nationalism, Faith Commons, Faith Forward Dallas and Fellowship Southwest. The webinar will feature a presentation by Tyler and an open question-and-answer session with her audience.
You may register for the Zoom event by clicking here.

Healthcare in Texas
2021-01-25 15:30 - 17:00
The 87th Legislature is just around the corner, and the question of whether or not to expand access to health care, and how to do it, will likely be on the agenda.
Join us for a discussion about healthcare in Texas where we will seek to understand the arguments for and against healthcare expansion.
We invite you to review these resources and articles prior to the conversation:
Statement of the problem in Texas:

https://www.healthinsurance.org/texas-medicaid/
https://www.texmed.org/Template.aspx?id=55482

How each of the State parties address the issue:

https://www.texasdemocrats.org/our-party/texas-democratic-party-platform/ (SECTION ENTITLED “HEALTH CARE FOR ALL”)
https://www.texasgop.org/platform/ (SECTION ENTITLED “HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES”)

Politicization of access to health care:

https://www.americanprogress.org/issues/democracy/reports/2020/02/24/480684/partisan-gerrymandering-limits-access-health-care/

Possible solutions that may be proposed in 2021

https://www.dmagazine.com/healthcare-business/2020/10/how-texas-could-expand-medicaid-and-not-break-the-bank/
https://stateofreform.com/news/2020/11/texas-legislators-pre-file-a-variety-of-new-health-care-bills/

RSVP is required, and a suggested donation of $5 is optional. You will receive the Zoom link following your RSVP, and again the morning of the event.
Thank you for bringing faith to life with Faith Commons.

Division in our Nation; Division in our Congregations
2020-12-14 15:30 - 17:00
A Conversation with Melissa Rogers
Author of Faith in American Public Life and “A Time To Heal, A Time To Build”

How will religious liberty be defined for our nation in the future, and how can we individually and collectively model a definition that protects religion from government and government from religion, while still advocating for the public good?
The results and aftermath of the November 3 election have indicated that our country is even more divided than we thought. While President Elect Biden won support among people of faith by pledging to “Restore the soul of America,” in many cases those gains were made at the expense of internal cohesion within communities of faith. Here in Dallas, faith leaders and people of faith feel the stress and strain of this most recent election, and the 4 years that led up to it. We are being called upon to heal wounds and bridge divides but it is hard to know where to begin, when faith-based arguments have lent credibility and support to polarized and partisan candidates, platforms and policies. We live in a country that was founded on the separation of church and state, so what does it mean for public officials to rely on faith-based arguments when advocating for, determining, or carrying out national laws and norms? Reasonable people will have different answers to this question based on their understanding of the meaning of religious liberty. As E.J. Dionne says in his introduction to Melissa Roger’s book, “One of the tragedies of our politics is that religious liberty has been transformed from a bedrock American principle into a partisan and ideological slogan.” Join Faith Commons to learn about the historical and contemporary understandings of religious liberty in America from Melissa Rogers. Following her presentation, we will engage in conversation with one another about how own choices and behavior shape the meaning and experience of religious liberty in our faith communities and in the public square. We will look at some recent examples of expressions of faith in public life here in the Metroplex and analyze their impact on the wellbeing and sustainability of our particular faith communities. These conversations will set the stage for an ongoing conversation about the role and responsibility of faith in the public square. Register by purchasing a ticket in the field above, and you will receive the Zoom link in an email shortly following registration. Email questions to cameron@faithcommons.org.

A Moment to Breathe - Election Prayer, Meditation, and Centering
2020-11-02 19:00 - 19:30
As we enter the unknown of the most important election of our generation, join faith leaders from our many traditions for a moment of prayer, meditation, and centering. We know that election day – and potentially the days that follow – will be a time of action and anxiety for many. Rev. Virzola Law, Rabbi Nancy Kasten, and Shireen Khuwaja, an Ismaili Muslim, will lead us in prayers and meditations to center ourselves in the spiritual moment, prepare our hearts and minds, and take a moment of rest ahead of November 3.

Take a moment for yourself on this short Zoom call! Zoom logon details will be shared upon registration.

State of our Faith: DISD Bond Propositions
2020-10-25 13:00 - 14:00
Whether or not you have voted yet in Dallas County, you are likely confused about the bond propositions at the very end of your ballot. Advocates say they will not increase the property tax rate, but it says RIGHT ON THE BALLOT: “This is a property tax increase”!
Join us as we speak with DISD Board Member Miguel Solis about why passing this bond is so important, what will happen if we don’t pass it, and the impact on public schools when state lawmakers require that all school district bond proposals include “this is a property tax increase” language on the ballot, regardless of the impact on local tax rates.
If you have questions, email us beforehand: cameron@faithcommons.org, or you can ask them in the chat during the Facebook Live event.
RSVP below for a good reminder and direct link right before the event!

How to Vote Safely in the 2020 Election
2020-10-08 19:00 - 20:00
This year’s election will be unlike any other due to COVID-19, the removal of straight-party ticket voting, the reduced number of polling places, and the fact that, due to an increase in vote-by-mail ballots, the outcome of the election will almost certainly not be determined on November 3 or 4.
COVID-19 concerns, efforts to cast doubt on the integrity of the election, and threats of voter intimidation have increased anxiety about showing up to vote.
Please join Reverend George Mason and Rabbi Nancy Kasten as they discuss what you can do to protect your physical health, the integrity of your vote, and a fair and safe election in Dallas County with three distinguished guests:

Robert Elkin, retired lawyer, Chair of Temple Emanu-El’s Civic Engagement Campaign, a director of March to the Polls, a non-partisan voter registration and engagment, and a founding member of Dallas VOTES
Dr. Philip Huang, Director and Health Authority, Dallas County Health and Human Services Department
Reverend Jaime Kowlessar, Senior Pastor, City Temple SDA, Faith in Texas Clergy Table and member of Dallas VOTES

They will discuss:

The options open for Dallas County residents to vote and how to choose the best option for you
The Adopt-A-Polling Site initiative that communities of faith can participate in, and
Public health recommendations for casting your ballot and working as a poll worker or volunteer elections moniter.

The event will be live-streamed on Faith Commons’ Facebook page. Viewers will be able to ask questions in the Facebook chat, or text a question to 704-962-5735. RSVP for an email reminder and a direct link before the start of the show.

The Road to Liberation
2020-08-30 14:00 - 20:00
From FAITH IN TEXAS:
Join us for the Road to Liberation Launch Event in partnership with our friends at Faith Forward Dallas, Faith Commons, Raise Your Voice, and Elev8 Movement. At the launch, we will share our faith-centered analysis of how policing and mass incarceration have been rooted in this lie, and how people from all races, faiths, and backgrounds can work together to forge a new path towards true community safety. We’ll offer breakout sessions to explore how racism shows up in our lives and communities, and how we can take action to disrupt and dismantle it. Finally, we will take action together to let our community and our leaders know that we will no longer submit to the chains of racist systems.

Religion in the Public Square: What Are the Limits?
2020-08-28 13:00 - 14:00
The First Amendment’s Establishment Clause prohibits the government from making any law “respecting an establishment of religion.” This clause not only forbids the government from establishing an official religion, but also prohibits government actions that unduly favor one religion over another. It also prohibits the government from unduly preferring religion over non-religion, or non-religion over religion.
Faith Commons was created to promote the common good through encouraging people of all faiths and none to bring their spiritual identities and convictions to learn about, discuss and respond to issues affecting society and culture together. We have assumed that this can be done in ways that do not undermine the Establishment Clause.
So how should we respond when elected officials bring their faith convictions to bear on civil ceremonies and celebrations? Is it possible to support prayer before sessions of congress and city council meetings, but object when the mayor of Ennis won’t allow women to lead that prayer? And what should we think when the mayor of Dallas issues a proclamation declaring a “Day of Prayer and Fasting to Eradicate Coronavirus“?
Pastor George Mason and Rabbi Nancy Kasten will discuss these questions with Dr. Mark Chancey, Professor of Religious Studies at SMU and distinguished fellow at the REligious Freedom Center of the Freedom Forum Institute.
The conversation will be live streamed on Faith Commons’ Facebook page and on the website.

State of our Faith
2020-08-10
Purpose
To create a conversation that will help people of faith from a variety of backgrounds and traditions connect their theology with the current struggle against white supremacy and racism, and calls to divest from policing and incarceration to invest in community services that create true liberation.
Join Rabbi Elana Zelony, Reverend Ray Jordan, and Reverend Kamilah Hall Sharp for a conversation about theology, liberation, policing, and prisons! These dynamic faith leaders will discuss how their diverse faith traditions speak to our need for liberation, and how their theologies are helping them understand the current movement to reimagine public safety. They’ll also take time to answer your questions! Don’t miss this important conversation.
Participants
Facilitators: Rabbi Nancy Kasten and Rev. George Mason
Guests: Rev. Kamilah Hall Sharp, Rev. Ray Jordan, and Rabbi Elana Zelony

How to join
Sign up below for a reminder email. There is room for 100 people to join the webinar live on Zoom. Additionally, participants can also view it live and submit questions on Faith Commons and Faith in Texas’ Facebook pages.

State of our Faith
2020-06-28 12:12 - 12:42, 2020-06-21 12:12 - 12:42
The State of our Faith series launched at the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic and the shelter-in-place orders in mid-March, as a way to offer hope and guidance from faith leaders in an uncertain time.

Over time, the pandemic has shone a light on many injustices in our community that needs the attention of people of faith. Most installments of State of our Faith focus on a certain topic, and occasionally include an expert from the community.

Join us to explore how we can bring faith to life, even–and especially–during a pandemic.

State of our Faith — Religious Liberty
2020-06-14 12:12 - 12:42

Speaker Eboo Patel - BJC Shurden Lectures
2020-03-05 18:00 - 20:00
On March 5, Eboo Patel spoke for the BJC Shurden Lectures at SMU’s Perkins School of Theology, co-hosted by Perkins Baptist House of Studies and Faith Commons. Patel writes and speaks about interfaith cooperation.

Jeremy Everett: A Call to End Hunger in America
2020-02-03 18:00 - 19:00
Jeremy Everett from the Baylor Collaborative on Hunger and Poverty and author of I Was Hungry: Cultivating Common Ground to End an American Hunger Crisis spoke to Faith Commons at a luncheon at Dallas’ Temple Emanu-El.

State of our Faith — Prayer
2020-01-07 12:12 - 12:42
The State of our Faith series launched at the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic and the shelter-in-place orders in mid-March, as a way to offer hope and guidance from faith leaders in an uncertain time.

Over time, the pandemic has shone a light on many injustices in our community that needs the attention of people of faith. Most installments of State of our Faith focus on a certain topic, and occasionally include an expert from the community.

Join us to explore how we can bring faith to life, even–and especially—during a pandemic.
