Committee Members
Faith Communities
During every election season, it’s important for us to contribute our voices in the public square to help build communities of justice, peace, and prosperity for all. As faith leaders in our local communities, we believe this must be done in ways that respect the dignity of our neighbors and fellow citizens. This extends to people with whom we disagree when it comes to politics, principles, and beliefs. While standing up for our convictions, we must be ready to listen, to seek to understand, to presume best intentions, and to observe civility in our debates and dialogues. The first step in building a welcoming and just community for everyone is to love our neighbor and treat them with respect. Let’s commit ourselves to this as we strive to build a better world and a future full of hope.
Greater St Cloud Faith Leaders
This conference is a call to action, a space for reflection, and a gathering of hearts and minds committed to building bridges in a time of profound division.
We are a volunteer group with members representing diverse faith traditions who share a commitment to advance human dignity, respect for religious diversity, and working together for collective peace, unity and healing.
| Community Partner | Name | Website |
|---|---|---|
| Arrive Ministries | Samantha Grimsley | https://arriveministries.org/stcloud/ |
| Bahá’ís of Central Minnesota | Ronald Marotte | https://bahaicentralmn.org/ |
| CAIRO Center for African Immigrants and Refugees of Organization | Abdi Ibrahim | https://cairomn.org/ |
| Catholic Relief Services | Fr. Bill Vos | https://www.crs.org/ |
| Central Minnesota Community Empowerment Organization | Shirwa Adan Jama Alimad | https://www.cmceogroup.org/ |
| Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints | Becky Martinez | https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/ |
| Cultural Bridges | Jamal Elmi | https://www.facebook.com/groups/515695316275405/ |
| Diocese of St Cloud | Most Rev. Patrick Neary
Mayuli Bales Kateri Mancini Joe Towalski | https://www.stcdio.org/ |
| ELCA Synod Bishop | Rev. Dr. Dee Pederson | https://www.swmnelca.org/ |
| Episcopal Church of St. John | Rev. Deacon George Ham | http://stjohns-episcopalchurch.org/ |
| First Presbyterian | Rev. Darin Seaman | https://www.fpcstcloud.org/ |
| First United Methodist | Pastor Leah Rosso
Randy Johnson | https://lovefirstumc.org/ |
| Grace United Methodist Church of St Cloud | Pastor Faith Totushek | https://graceumcstcloud.net/ |
| Higher Ground Church of God | Pastor James Alberts II | https://www.highergroundmn.org/ |
| Higher Works Collaborative | Buddy King | https://www.hwcmn.org/ |
| Jewish community | Loren Weinberg | https://www.facebook.com/groups/2154651448149601/ |
| Minnesota Multifaith Network | Rev. Dr. Tom Duke
Dr. Jen Kilps Ph.D. | https://www.mnmultifaith.org/ |
| Presbyterian Minister | Professor Jon Armajani Ph.D. | https://www.csbsju.edu/ |
| Salem Lutheran Church | Rev. Pastor Kirsten Nelson-Roenfeldt | https://www.salemstcloud.org/home |
| St Benedicts Monastery | Sister Eunice Antony OSB | https://sbm.osb.org/ |
| St Cloud Area School District 742 | Ayan Amoud Omar | https://www.isd742.org |
| St Cloud Islamic Center | Mohayadin Mohamed | https://www.facebook.com/ICSCmn/ |
| St Cloud Unitarian Universalist Fellowship | Charlotte Stephens | https://www.uufstcloud.org/ |
| St Cloud Unitarian Universalist Fellowship | Charlotte Stephens | https://www.uufstcloud.org/ |
We need your help as we strive to shape a more loving, tolerant, just and vibrant community.
There are so many way to get involved and engaged -- as a partner, a collaborator, a supporter, a promoter -- and share your talents to help our community become more vibrant, inclusive, and just.
Call with any questions or concerns: 320-291-1197
represent, volunteer, promote, share talents and resources
With your help, together we can shape a better future.
--Ramadan greeting (April) – letter we sent (Word)
--Letter of Solidarity amidst Covid (May) – Read at vigil at Pilgrims Poultry Plant in Cold Spring, and printed in Opinion in St. Cloud Times (see PDF) (St Cloud Times)
--Service for Unity and Justice (August) (see PDF) (event hand-out)
--Civility Statement (October) –
• Opinion in St Cloud Times
• highlighted on WJON
• and MPR
--Published statement recognizing World Day of Peace (January). More here.
--Faith leaders and community members gathered in the St. Cloud Islamic Center (September) to discuss the impact of a break-in at the mosque and encourage peace and love. St Cloud Times articles:
https://www.sctimes.com/story/news/2022/09/15/faith-leaders-emphasize-love-following-st-cloud-mosque-break-in/69494610007/
https://www.mprnews.org/story/2022/09/15/minnesota-faith-leaders-gather-in-st-cloud-to-decry-recent-mosque-attacks
--Published a statement and a video encouraging everyone to change the tone of political discourse (November). More here.
-- February, Event: World Religion Day celebration (January 21). Organized and collaborated with 8 faith traditions to model interfaith harmony and celebrate together our spiritual heritages. (PDF)
-- February, Event: (Feb 9) Members of the Greater Saint Cloud Faith Leaders gathered together to thank Bishop Kettler for his dedication since the group's founding. Bishop Patrick Neary will succeed Bishop Kettler upon his ordination February 15 at the Saint Cloud cathedral. More...
--October, Collaboration: Joined Minnesota MultiFaith Network as a network partner (mnmultifaith.org)
-- January, Statement: We speak out against the rising tide of antisemitism and Islamophobia (PDF)
-- February, Sponsor Event: World Religion Day celebration (Report PDF)
-- January, Promote: Martin Luther King Jr celebration community sponsored
-- February, Promote: Celebrate Black History Month At the Nelson Mandela Center
-- February, Promote: Antisemitism: From Awareness to Action workshop sponsored by Spirituality Center at St. Benedict’s Monastery
-- March, Promote: 2nd Annual CommUnity Iftar sponsored by Center for African Immigrants & Refugees Organization (CAIRO)
Once a month, on the first Thursday of the month.
Initially, membership was limited to only leaders of faith communities. But we also recognize that individuals -- motivated by the desire for greater unity within our community, and driven by the promotion of common spiritual values -- are valued voices and contributors toward the collective goal of equality, justice, safety, and peace.
Financial support is always appreciated. Contact Kateri Mancini (info below) to make financial arrangements.
But the contribution of your time and talent is most appreciated during these turbulent times. Together we need to change minds and hearts - to restore our sense of community and be reminded of our common humanity. We all seek equality, justice, safety, and collective peace. Working together we can make that happen.
1) As a multi-faith collective, it is important to recognize and respect our varying faith traditions and work together to support our common spiritual values of Faith, Love, Justice, and Unity.
2) We plan and support initiatives that advance the dialogue on race and justice issues and seek opportunities to bring together all the diverse members within our community so that we can experience each other in our lives.
3) We support and assist immigrants in their efforts to settle in our community and condemn the racist and ethnic injustices, prejudice and oppression that they sometimes face.
The group was first convened in 2015, in response to acts of vandalism at a local St. Cloud mosque. Initiated and founded by Bishop Donald Kettler of the Catholic Diocese of St. Cloud, the group gathered hoping to inspire leaders of other faiths to offer support for the mosque leaders and Muslim community going through that trauma. Due to the group’s meeting and the relationships built following that initial gathering, when another tragedy—a stabbing at a local mall—occurred in 2016, the group was able to stand in solidarity with a torn community, witnessing to the need for unity and peace and once again helping the whole community through an experience of turmoil and trauma. The group continues to meet monthly. By building relationships of mutual respect and friendship through ongoing dialogue – both as a group and within larger community-wide events they sponsor, the group hopes to keep moving the community forward towards more peace, justice and unity.
Founding members of this group: Bishop Donald Kettler and Kathy Langer of Catholic Charities’ Social Concerns Department, with other founding members including Imam Muhumed Ahmed, Jama Alimad, James Alberts, Mayuli Bales, Dee Peterson, Darin Seaman, Leah Rosso, Fr. Bill Vos, Abdul Kulane, Randy Johnson.