- by Greg Lebel
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- The Interfaith Alliance's field organization has continued on its upward trajectory as we
celebrate our second anniversary. State and local alliances formed or in formation around
the country now number 109 in 36 states. At this rate, we will have organizations and
organizers in all fifty states before we celebrate our third anniversary. The newest areas
where TIAs are building organizations and speaking out against radical religious
extremism include Lake County, Florida; Reno, Nevada; Harrisonberg, Virginia;
Madison, Wisconsin; Baton Rouge, Louisiana; Fargo, North Dakota; Cleveland, Ohio;
Detroit Michigan; Wilmington, Delaware; Savannah, Georgia; Northern New Jersey;
Greensboro, Raleigh, and Chapel Hill, North Carolina; Lancaster, Pennsylvania; Yakima,
Washington; Manhasset, New York, and Newfane, Vermont.
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- Established Alliances continue to speak out in support of civility and tolerance and against
the use of religion as a weapon in politics and public policy debates. The Des Moines,
Iowa Alliance recently led the fight against extremist attempts to remove sexual
orientation from protections afforded to the city's school employees. In Montgomery
County, Maryland, members of the local alliance issued their own statement opposing a
similar attempt in their county's school system. The Florida Alliance joined a statewide
coalition which successfully lobbied Governor Lawton Chiles to veto a school funding bill
that included an amendment requiring school prayer in the state's public schools. The
Oklahoma Alliance participated in public interfaith services marking the first anniversary
of the bombing of the federal building in Oklahoma City, and was joined by TIAs
nationally in calling for an end to divisive and hate-filled rhetoric.
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- The Minnesota and Southeast Pennsylvania Alliances have held very successful public
forums dealing with family values and the role of religion in politics and public life. The
Washington State Alliance held a statewide annual meeting attended by several hundred
members with TIA board member Reverend Herb Valentine as a speaker. TIA board
member, Bishop Frederick James, and Denise Davidoff, Moderator of the Unitarian
Universalist Association addressed a gathering of more than 100 in Greensboro, North
Carolina as part of that state's organizational process. The New York Sate Interfaith
Alliance held five simultaneous press conferences around the state, including one on the
steps of the Cathedral of Saint John the Divine in Manhattan, announcing TIA's formation
in the state.
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- On the national level, TIA national board member, Dr. Robert Meneilly, traveled to
Raleigh, NC and Nashville, TN to inaugurate TIA's natioal Road to Renewal campaign of
public education voter mobilization. Dr. Meneilly was a guest on local radio call-in shows
as well as the main speaker at press conferences in both cities pointing to positive
interfaith initiatives that are emblematic of TIA's philosophy of religion as a force for
healing and building in our communities. Dr. Meneilly also met with local TIA members
and editorial boards of local newspapers.
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- TIA conducted a successful press conference in Manchester, New Hampshire the
weekend before that state's presidential primary featuring a broad range of members of
the clergy who reminded the press and voters that the Christian Coalition does not speak
for all people of faith. In the fall, TIA confronted the Christian Coalition in Boston
Massachusetts, as the Coalition held a meeting of its newest subsidiary, the Catholic
Alliance. Prominent and local Catholic leaders pointed out the discrepancies between the
Christian Coalition's narrow political agenda and the Catholic social justice tradition.
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- TIA's grassroots network continues to flourish. Continuing a staple of local TIA activities,
Connecticut, Minnesota, New York, North Carolina and Southwest Pennsylvania Alliances
are all planning public education issues forums for this fall. The coming months will
provide ample opportunities for alliances to conduct voter and public education activities
aimed at countering the voice of the extreme religious right, including urging political
candidates to sign civility pledges and seeking from members of their own communities
"Call to Faithful Decision" pledges. In the latter, people of faith will be given an
opportunity to commit themselves to participation in this fall's election as informed and
discerning voters who reject divisive political rhetoric and support candidates who appeal
to the best in us as citizens and as people of faith and good will.
