AMAZING FAITHS PROJECT
AMAZING FAITHS DINNER DIALOGUES
People of all faiths and no faith, all spiritualities and theologies gather in small groups to share a meal and participate in a moderated discussion using a proven model, evoking deep exchanges about lived experiences and the role of faith and/or spirituality in their lives. Through exploration and dialogue, participants learn about the beliefs and traditions of others within an atmosphere of respect and understanding, and are empowered to stand as witnesses for tolerance and inclusion.
You are Invited to join the dialogue. Change your life. Change the world.
We will be holding these dinner dialogues on the last Wednesday of the month at 6-8pm
Register each person with the form below for the next AFDD:
June we will be at Tricklebee Cafe. Registration for June 25 will be live after the May event.
Those interested in being moderators or for any questions please reach out to
Rev. J.C. Mitchell, email: JCMitchell@interfaithconference.org
414-276-9050 Ext. 2
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ABOUT AMAZING FAITHS DINNER DIALOGUES
What happens at an Amazing Faiths Dinner Dialogue?
- Guests must register for the dialogue to help us create maximum religious and cultural diversity among group members. Click here for Guest FAQs.
- Hosts volunteer a meeting place large enough for a few dialogue tables and provide a simple, vegetarian meal or snacks for the guests and provide a host team and we will provide a moderator for each table. Some events feature a presenter/speaker. Click here for Host FAQs.
Guests get accquainted while they dine together. There will be a presentation or speaker. During the moderated portion, participants pick their own question card and are given 5 minutes to respond. The format can change depending on the time available. Some events will have break out sessions where guests interact one-on-one. Moderators will make time for an afterglow sharing to hear how the experience was for each person. Evaluations are given to study the process for improvements and track statistics of the program.
Why participate in an Amazing Faiths Dinner Dialogue?
- Practice appreciative listening
- Talk about matters of faith and spirituality in a safe, guided environment
- Increase religious literacy
- Build appreciation of diversity
- Engage on a meaningful level
- Increase trust and remove barriers
What are the core values of Amazing Faiths Dinner Dialogues?
- Hospitality - welcoming those who are strangers to us
- Friendship - seeking connection with people regardless of their faith
- Responsibility - making a difference for respect and understanding in our world
- Faith neutrality - affirming equally people of all faiths and no faith
HISTORY OF AMAZING FAITHS DINNER DIALOGUES
The Dinner Dialogues are based on the Amaxing Faith Project co-founded in 2006 by The Boniuk Center for Religious Tolerance at Rice University and Interfaith Ministries for Greater Houston with official sponsorship from the Office of the Mayor of the City of Houston.
The cornerstone event of the Project, the Dinner Dialogue, was initially created in 2006 by Dr. Jill Carroll, who at that time was the Executive Director of the Boniuk Center for Religious Tolerance at Rice University in Houston, Texas. Dr. Carroll was part of a team of community interfaith leaders in Houston convened by Mayor Bill White in the fall of 2006 to create an initiative that would capture the spirit of The Amazing Faiths of Texas, a beautiful book of photography and spiritual expression by Roy Spence.
Interfaith Ministries for Greater Houston partnered with the Boniuk Center at Rice to begin the Project, and produce the first Dinner Dialogue in Houston in January 2007 with 250 people and 20 host homes. The Dinner Dialogue was repeated in Houston and two other Texas cities in November 2007 with 850 people and 75 host homes. In November 2008, ten cities throughout the United States produced the Dinner Dialogue with over 1500 participants - all on the same night in hundreds of host homes.
The Interfaith Conference of Greater Milwaukee has piloted Amazing Faiths Dinner Dialogues since 2011.
