CONNECT

MnMN Speakers Bureau

Minnesota communities reflect a great diversity of faiths. Many are curious to learn about traditions other than their own. The Minnesota Multifaith Speakers Network is a cooperative project of the Minnesota Multifaith Network (MnMN) and several faith communities (see list below) to organize learning opportunities.  Audiences can request speakers of one faith or panels of multiple faiths.  Our network brings together interested groups with trusted, knowledgeable speakers from different faiths and spiritual traditions to create occasions for positive encounters.

Businesses, community groups, faith organizations, schools, neighbors, and friends seeking to benefit from a faith or multifaith presentation are invited to use our Speaker Request Form to help arrange your event.


Upon submission, Rev. Cynthia Bronson Sweigert will work with you to plan your desired faith or multifaith event.

Important Note

The speakers and speaker bureaus represented here are dedicated to sharing their experiences, knowledge, and multifaith connection. Some are able to volunteer their time while others depend on this work for their livelihood. MnMN seeks to make this process financially sustainable for all involved and encourages the awarding of an honorarium, if feasible.

ENCOUNTER

We share these resources in the spirit of collaborative learning and not as an endorsement or sponsorship of any particular organization or position.

Below are opportunities to meet, spend time with and get to know people of differing faiths.  These encounters are facilitated by trusted groups and organizations.  They are each excellent opportunities for peer learning and building new relationships.  We encourage you to explore these occasions for encounter.

This is not meant to be an exhaustive list, rather a place to get started.  Do you have a resource you think we should add?    info@mnmultifaith.org

Thinking Religiously Together

A MnMN Convening

MnMN convenes on the 2nd Wednesday of the month at @ 7pm on Zoom to encounter and learn about  the many faith traditions our friends and members observe and practice. All are invited to participate in this gathering.  Each gathering will last one hour and will feature a presentation from a lay person, faith leader and/or scholar on a preselected topic typically concerning one particular question or faith tradition. The presentation will be followed by small group discussions and a larger open discussion around the topic. 


We intend for “Thinking Religiously Together” to be an open and safe place to learn about the beliefs and practices that shape each other’s lives.  We wish to learn from and with each other about the significance of the spiritual, the divine and the sacred in our lives and our relationship with our neighbors.  We hope this time will help educate and bring us closer together in understanding the beautiful differences and similarities of our lived experiences. 

This is an opportunity for persons of different faiths to meet and get to know each other by sharing food in the intimacy of their homes. The goal is to get to know people and build friendships across lines of religion and culture.


If you are interested in a new interfaith experience, you and a partner simply submit your names and religious tradition to 3 Faiths @ The Table. You will be teamed with two other pairs from different faith traditions. The main idea is having a rich conversation, not a rich meal. The host family would provide coffee, tea, and a light snack. You would meet for an hour or two and just talk. You could talk about your faith tradition, but it could be more than that. You can learn about each other’s families, life experiences, work and study. We offer some conversation guidelines so everyone feels comfortable sharing their stories. We can offer some ice breaker questions, too, but there is no script. This simply is an opportunity to put a face to a faith tradition that might otherwise seem like a complete mystery. And it’s free.


 3 Faiths @ the Table is a program of the Turkish American Society of Minnesota.

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Taking Heart is a long-running program coordinated by MCC and the Muslim American Society of Minnesota (MAS-MN) to bring non-Muslims together with Muslims for food and conversation during Ramadan. Ramadan is a blessed month of the Islamic lunar calendar during which Muslims abstain from food and drink from sunrise to sunset.  Iftar is the evening meal with which Muslims end their daily Ramadan fast at sunset. Through Taking Heart, mosques around the state open their doors to anyone who wants to share in the Iftar meal with them.  The food is always delicious and the mosques present general learning about Islam.  All are welcome!   

REGISTER

ASDIC is an esteemed anti-racism workshop provider based in St Paul and operating across Minnesota and beyond. ASDIC’s programs are noted for their depth of analysis, opportunity for dialogue and reflection, building of relationship and community, and lasting transformative change.

Our presenter format includes a 45 minute presentation, a time of hospitality, a small group discussion opportunity and then returning to the large group format for a Q&A time with the presenter. Our sessions run for two hours.

ORGANIZATIONS IN MINNESOTA

We share these resources in the spirit of collaborative learning and not as an endorsement or sponsorship of any particular organization or position.

Below are interfaith organizations and single faith organizations doing significant interfaith work in Minnesota. It is intended to help you know where to find interfaith work and resources. This list is not exhaustive. If you would like us to consider additions (formal/informal efforts), please let us know and we will consider them.   We welcome any suggestions about improving this list. We do not implicitly or explicitly endorse any of these efforts. Inclusion in this list does not imply membership in MnMN or any affiliation with MnMN.

This is not meant to be an exhaustive list, rather a place to get started.  Do you have a resource you think we should add?    info@mnmultifaith.org

FAITH TRADITIONS & ORGANIZATIONS

Buddhist Sangas in Minnesota


The Hindu Society of Minnesota

  • Hindu Society of MN - The Hindu Society of Minnesota (HSMN) is a non-profit organization that services the religious, cultural, and educational needs of devotees in the Twin Cities.  Founded in 1978, HSMN hosts a magnificent temple in Maple Grove, MN, that includes 21 deities.  

Islamic Organizations in Minnesota

  • CAIR-MN (Council on American Islamic Relations): The mission of CAIR-MN is to enhance the understanding of Islam, encourage dialogue, protect civil liberties, empower American Muslims, and build coalitions that promote justice and mutual understanding.
  • CIDI Community Interfaith Dialogue on Islam (CIDI): Community Interfaith Dialogue on Islam (CIDI) was formed in 2014. Its  goal is to foster interfaith understanding through active community  engagement and education. CIDI also  serves the Muslim community in  Southern Minnesota with financial resources, education, and leadership opportunities.
  • Islamic Resource Group (IRG): IRG seeks to eliminate stereotyping of Islam and Muslims through educational presentations and professional training. They supplement existing cultural diversity and tolerance programs in public institutions through informative presentations that develop greater awareness and knowledge of Islam, Muslims, and other world religions.
  • Muslim American Society of Minnesota (MAS MN): MAS MN provides religious programming and youth programs and operates three Masjids (mosques). MAS MN is a community organization committed to making Minnesota a better place for all Minnesotans. MAS MN provides social services like food shelves. It is a leader in interfaith dialogue, assists with the Ramadan Iftar Taking Heart program with the MN Council of Churches, and co-organizes the Rabbi-Imam Round Table.
  • Rabata:  Rabata envisions a rising tide of Muslim women teachers, faith leaders, and community stewards in every digital and local neighborhood around the world. Rabata creates positive cultural change through creative educational experiences.
  • Reviving Sisterhood: We are on a mission to amplify the voice and power of Muslim Women. We imagine a future where all Muslim women are connected, reflected, celebrated and emboldened.

The Jain Center of Minnesota

  • Jain Center of Minnesota: We are dedicated to follow, and seek a better understanding of the Jain religion’s doctrine and beliefs. Based in the Twin Cities of Minnesota, Jain Center of Minnesota (JCM) was formed in October 1989.  The Jain Center is a community of more than 100 families and growing. Our goal is to teach and promote Jain philosophy, values and rituals, thereby passing-on the faith and understanding to our next generation.

Jewish Organizations in Minnesota

  • Jewish Community Action (JCA): Jewish Community Action’s mission is to bring together Jewish people from diverse traditions and perspectives to promote understanding and take action on racial and economic justice issues in Minnesota.
  • Jewish Community Relations Council (JCRC): Minnesota and Dakotas: This is the public affairs voice of the Jewish community to connect elected officials, the media, and other religious, racial and ethnic groups. They fight anti-Semitism, advocate for Israel, safeguard religious freedom, and engage in community service and social action advocacy to repair the world.
  • Minnesota Jewish Community Center (JCC): Inspired by Jewish values and culture, we ignite the human spirit through programs and services that promote well-being, foster inclusivity and strengthen the entire community.
  • Minnesota Rabbinical Association: The Minnesota Rabbinical Association is the moral and religious voice of the Jewish community. It provides a forum for rabbis to confer about community issues and facilitates cooperative programs among congregations and agencies. As an association for rabbis of all streams of Judaism, the MRA provides for professional development for both congregational and non-congregational rabbis.

Native Nations of Minnesota

  • Bdote Memory Map: Enjoy this beginning resource for understanding more about the Dakota people's relationship to Minnesota. Try traveling the directions in a traditional way - East (We Are Home), South (Dakota Greeting), West Mnisota: A Dakota Place) and then North for the core of the site - the Memory Map.
  • Dream of Wild Health: The mission of Dream of Wild Health is to restore health and well-being in the Native community by recovering knowledge of and access to healthy Indigenous foods, medicines and lifeways.
  • Healing Minnesota Stories - Minnesota Council of Churches: Healing Minnesota Stories is an effort to create understanding and healing between Native American and non-Native people, particularly those in various faith communities. Native people have suffered deep trauma over many years, losing their land, language, and culture, and all who call Minnesota home are the lesser for it. While many people and institutions contributed to that trauma, it happened with the full participation of Christian churches. We all still need healing, healing is doable, and churches have a role to play in healing.
  • Indigenous Environmental Network: Established in 1990, IEN was formed by grassroots Indigenous peoples and individuals to address environmental and economic justice issues (EJ). IEN’s activities include building the capacity of Indigenous communities and tribal governments to develop mechanisms to protect our sacred sites, land, water, air, natural resources, health of both our people and all living things, and to build economically sustainable communities.
  • Minneapolis American Indian Center: The Minneapolis American Indian Center is a community center in the heart of the American Indian community of Minneapolis. It is one of the oldest Indian centers in the country, founded in 1975. We provide educational and social services to more than 10,000 members of the community annually. We preserve and support American Indian cultural traditions through art, youth and inter-generational programs.
  • Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community: The SMSC is a Community of Dakota people whose ancestors have lived in the region near Shakopee for centuries. The Dakota people are part of the Great Sioux Nation. Historically, the Dakota hunted wild game, fished in the rivers and lakes, gathered wild rice, and aligned their lives with the changing seasons.

Directory of Quaker Meetings in Minnesota

The Sikh Society of Minnesota

  • Sikh Society of Minnesota: Sikh Society of Minnesota has been a pillar of Sikhism in Minnesota for over 25 years. As the only Gurdwara in the state of Minnesota, the Sikh Society of Minnesota is proud to be an active and steadfast institution that promotes and practices Sikhism.  The Gurdwara is open everyday to everyone. Sikhism believes in equality, during the service everyone sits down together on the carpeted floor in the Diwan hall.

Unitarian Universalists in Minnesota

  • Minnesota Unitarian Universalist Social Justice Alliance (MUUSJA): MUUSJA equips individual Unitarian Universalists and UU congregations to be skilled, accountable, faithful partners with broad movements working for justice and collective liberation. We strive to work in solidarity with all communities, rooted in our understanding of the inherent worth and dignity of all humans and our radical interdependence with all of creation.

Christian Councils of Churches in Minnesota

  • Minnesota Council of Churches: Unity Built on Justice. Strong communities are made up of meaningful relationships and guided by our deepest values. The Minnesota Council of Churches is your partner in living out your faith in your community. The Minnesota Council of Churches consists of 27 members representing the regional governing and administrative bodies of Historic Black, Mainline Protestant, Peace Church, and Greek Orthodox judicatories.
  • Transform MN:  Transform Minnesota started in 1965 as the Greater Minnesota Association of Evangelicals (GMAE). Together, we believe we can do more together than we can alone. We exist to connect Christian leaders, develop Biblical solutions, and equip churches that transform communities.

INTERFAITH ORGANIZATIONS

Description Title

  • Beacon Interfaith Housing Collaborative: This is a collaborative of over 80 interfaith congregations in the Twin Cities metro area. Beacon congregations are committed to making sure that all people have a home and live out their faith by creating affordable homes, sheltering families experiencing homelessness, and working for policy change to grow housing resources.
  • Greater Minneapolis Community Connections (GMCC):  Formerly the Greater Minneapolis Council of Churches, GMCC was founded in 1905 as a faith-based initiative to serve the community. For 118 years, we have fulfilled our mission of “uniting people of faith, serving people in need,” through a range of programs and services, including advocacy and education around equity and poverty; volunteerism and service learning; mentoring and youth development; support services for seniors; and hunger-relief. Today, GMCC embraces our legacy through an intercultural, interfaith approach that intentionally welcomes all belief communities in our work.
  • Interfaith Action of Greater Saint Paul: People of faith will relieve the effects of poverty and address its causes through the transformative work of thousands of volunteers. Interfaith Action aims to unite the people, resources, and voice of the faith community to build a more just, safe, and livable East Metro for all.
  • ISAIAH: Faith in Democracy: ISAIAH is a vehicle for congregations, clergy, and people of faith to act collectively towards racial and economic equity in the state of Minnesota.
  • Joint Religious Legislative Coalition (JRLC): Guided by God’s vision of the common good as reflected in Jewish, Christian, and Islamic traditions, JRLC mobilizes religious communities to influence public policy in Minnesota.
  • The Kaleo Center for Faith, Justice, and Social Transformation: Housed at the progressive United Theological Seminary, The Kaleo Center works with people from diverse spiritual traditions and faith communities to support beloved community through action in the world. Using an innovative praxis model that combines theory and practice, they train faith leaders in the art of social transformation and organize in community to build solidarity with front-line movements for justice and liberation. They are intersectional, pro-LGBTQ, and place racial justice at the center of their work.
  • Multifaith Anti-Racism, Change and Healing (MARCH): MARCH is an open coalition of explicitly pro-LGBTQ faith leaders from diverse communities, religious institutions, and spiritual traditions. They are building a movement of people of faith and conviction in spiritual and religious communities as partners in the spiritual, moral, and political work of dismantling white supremacy and other intersecting oppressions in solidarity with movements for justice led by frontline communities.
  • Metropolitan Interfaith Council for Affordable Housing (MICAH): MICAH is a housing and homeless-advocacy organization working towards housing solutions in Minnesota.
  • Minnesota Interfaith Clergy for End-of-Life Options: Who We Are: Spiritual leaders united in support of a full range of end-of-life options, including medical aid in dying. Our Mission: To promote understanding and acceptance of diverse spiritual beliefs related to end-of-life decisions.
  • Minnesota Interfaith Power & Light (MNIPL): Through leadership and guidance to Minnesota’s faith communities, this organization responds to climate change by bringing faith communities together and providing opportunities for congregations to join the growing movement.
  • Minneapolis Area Interfaith Initiative (MAII): Email maiimpls@gmail.com for more information.
  • Protect Minnesota’s Interfaith Alliance for Gun Safety: The Interfaith Alliance for Gun Safety brings together faith organizations, faith leaders, and people of faith from all traditions to work for common sense gun laws and to educate Minnesotans about gun violence prevention. It is a member caucus of Protect Minnesota, the only independent, state-based gun violence prevention organization in Minnesota.
  • Wisdom Ways Center for Spirituality: A Center of innovative programs that explore the spiritual dimensions of contemporary life for women and men. They reimagine and embody what women can be as agents of transformation in church and society.

Universities with Interfaith Programs

  • Augsburg Interfaith Institute - Situated in a neighborhood home to numerous immigrant communities and with an increasingly diverse student body, Augsburg University is uniquely positioned to facilitate building bridges in a polarized world through interreligious communication, understanding and relationships. Because we are shaped by the faith and values of the Lutheran Church, Augsburg is committed to religious diversity being a constructive force serving the common good
  • Collegeville Institute Multi-Religious Fellows Program: The Collegeville Institute for Ecumenical and Cultural Research, rooted in Christian tradition, brings together people of diverse backgrounds and perspectives to foster the world’s healing through the power of religious ideas, insight, and practices.  The Collegeville Institute Multi-Religious Fellows Program is an initiative with the backing of a distinguished board of Twin Cities religious leaders. This program brings together a group of early-career leaders, five to fifteen years into their religious calling, from five of the largest religious communities in the larger Metro area.
  • Carleton College Religions in Minnesota: Religions in MN brings together scholars specialized in a range of religious traditions with Minnesota’s communities and professional organizations to help Minnesotans navigate challenges, promote greater religious literacy, foster nuanced and informed public conversation about and across religious difference, and provide publicly accessible web-based local resources to support that effort.
  • Jay Phillips Center for Interfaith Learning at the College of St. Benedict and St. John’s University: The Center serves the CSB/SJU community and hosts events open to the public. The center collaborates with the Jay Phillips Center for Interreligious Studies at the University of St. Thomas, promoting dialogue, understanding, friendship, and civic engagement across lines of difference. Both centers do this by sponsoring a host of interfaith activities, including artistic performances, lectures, panels, conferences, retreats, and service programs.
  • Jay Phillips Center for Interreligious Studies at University of St. Thomas: The center has a mission to foster understanding, cooperation, and friendship among people of diverse religious identities through academic study and civic engagement. This center, does this by sponsoring a host of activities, including artistic performances, lectures, panels, conferences, research, and engagement programs. It collaborates with the Jay Phillips Center for Interfaith Learning at Saint John's University in Collegeville.
  • St. Olaf College - Lutheran Center for Faith, Values, and Community: St. Olaf encourages the exploration of faith, values and personal fulfillment. While the college is grounded in its Lutheran tradition, students and faculty participate in many different faiths, or none at all. St. Olaf respects others’ beliefs and allows for the exploration of religion and faith in all cultures both in and out of the classroom.

National Organizations


International Multifaith Organizations


Other State Interfaith Organizations

Arizona Faith Network

Faith Action Network: Washington State

Multi-Faith Neighbors Network: Texas

New Jersey Coalition of Religious Leaders

Tri-Faith: Omaha, Nebraska


Funding and Donation Opportunities

  • The One Fund is a partnership of Transform Minnesota, Hope United CDC, and the Pilgrim Center for Reconciliation to support the work of local African American churches and ministries. The One Fund is hosted at the National Christian Foundation - Twin Cities. The web site provides opportunities to give and it has grant guidelines for those churches or organization needing financial assistance.
  • The Minneapolis Interfaith Relief Fund (MIRF) has been established by the downtown interfaith congregations in response to requests for financial support following the police killing of George Floyd. Funds will be disbursed to agencies and partners in communities of color and in the indigenous community that are working directly with those most affected. Westminster Presbyterian Church is fiscal sponsor.

MAP OF MINNESOTA'S

MULTIFAITH ORGANIZATIONS

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