News

Preparing for the November 2024 Election

Over 180,000 Ohio voters have been removed from the Ohio voter registration list without notification.  Also, new regulations require that your name on your ID, such as your driver's license, must match your name on your registration exactly.  If it does not, you need to either re-reregister or complete a name-change form from the Ohio Board of Elections. Check your registration.

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The Interfaith Center to Celebrate Coming Out Day

OXFORD, OHIO — The Interfaith Center at Miami University will be hosting a Coming Out Day Celebration on October 4th, 2024, from 6:00pm – 8:00pm (Doors at 5:30pm) at 16 S. Campus Avenue, Oxford, OH 45056. This event will feature:

• Free refreshments!
• An opening interfaith prayer
• Drag performances by P.H. Dee (https://phdeedragqueen.com/)
• Performances by members of the Cincinnati Men’s Chorus(https://www.cincinnatimenschorus.org/)
• An art exhibition and art talks by Saad Ghosn (https://sosartcincinnati.com/)
• A workshop led by Interfaith Photovoice (https://www.interfaithphotovoice.org/)

We, The Interfaith Center, as with all our programming, seek to unify people in our Oxford, OH, community. We are delighted to host this free community event on 4th October, to show our admiration, love and support especially to the LGBTQ+ community in Oxford, OH, and everywhere, for their journey and their courage in coming out and in just wanting to be themselves. While we celebrate their courage, we believe that no one should have to face a difficult time in their families or in society as they are going through their personal journey in coming out.

This event is an attempt by The Interfaith Center and all our partner organizations to honor the journey of self-discovery and the freedom of being true to oneself.  We all belong to one global human family. We hope this event is one more attempt by us to make everyone realize that we all belong to this one large human family, and we all have to be there for one another always.

To attend, please register for free at: https://form.jotform.com/242053259860356

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Stories from the Heart: Voices of Refugees and Immigrants

Catholic Relief Services of Southwest Ohio has started the Voices Project to tell the stories of refugees and immigrants who have settled in our community. If you want to get beyond the media spin and shrill politics, this interactive presentation is for you and your congregation or organization. To learn more or schedule a meeting, please contact Paul Bergman at paulbergman@live.com.  

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Cincinnati Leader in Interfaith Work Publishes Book on Sacred Spaces

Sacred Spaces: Experiencing Liminality By Thomas R. Schiff and James P. Buchanan Foreword by Gary P. Zola The photographs in this book were taken over several years and the project originated when Thomas Schiff approached James Buchanan about working together. At that time, Buchanan was a professor and the Executive Director of the Edward B. Brueggeman Center for Dialogue at Xavier University in Cincinnati. One of the areas of focus of the Center’s work was interfaith dialogue and collaboration. Based on some initial conversations, Tom and James  decided to produce a book of panoramic photographs of sacred spaces—old missions, churches, cathedrals, synagogues, mosques, and temples—across the United States, accompanied by an essay. Tom already had some photos but subsequently embarked upon a multi-year journey around the U.S., producing this stunning collection of photographs. All proceeds from the sale of this book go to support nonprofit interfaith work.  Those interested in buying this book can purchase a copy through the publisher or Amazon.

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Festival of Faiths Returns to Cintas Center This August

By: Jan Armstrong Cobb Cincinnati, OH -- "The best way to accept diversity of religion is to be educated about all the different religions." To further this vision, the annual Cincinnati Festival of Faiths will begin on Sunday, Aug. 25 from 12 - 5 PM at the Cintas Center, continue with online programming, and culminate with a Peace Walk on Aug. 29 from 6 - 8 PM. The festival is a celebration of all faiths where we can have fun and learn from one another.  This is the seventh year we have gathered at the Cintas Center.  Nearly 2,000 people come to learn about the many religious organizations that are represented. Entertainment includes choral groups and dancers from many cultures. The exhibition features over 60 organizations representing 13 world religions and over 30 faith traditions. It is the flagship program of EquaSion and is open to the whole community. Admission is free. 

EquaSion is a non-partisan civic organization founded upon interfaith dialogue that works to develop educational and community service programming to foster greater understanding, respect, compassion, inclusion, and engagement for all people and faith communities in Greater Cincinnati and beyond. Living our mission everyday through compassion and collective action, we engage people of all faiths to discover their shared humanity and spirituality, and to work together for an equitable and just community for everyone.

The Sunday programming includes breakout sessions about compassionate conversations, sacred connections, spiritual meditations, and Faith Communities Go Green. Following the Sunday celebration, there will be virtual sessions for these topics as well. 

Thursday is our second Peace Walk. Held at Ault Park from 6-8, we will gather to march together, sing, and enjoy ice cream. The Peace Walk is open to the entire community and we hope to draw many who want to make their personal and communal statement about the need for peace in our world.

For more information about these events, please see the EquaSion.org website.

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