The intention of Amazing Faiths Project and the moderated Dinner Dialogue program is to create a more hospitable and connected society.
People of all faiths, no particular faith, spiritual paths or philosophy are gathered to appreciate and understand the beliefs and traditions of others in an atmosphere of respect.
Please visit and like our Amazing Faiths Facebook page to find out more. Everyone is welcome!
A fresh way of gathering together is just around the corner after we had to be on hiatus since the pandemic. Please contact our Program Coordinator if you are interested in participating.
AMAZING FAITHS MODERATORS aka "MOD SQUAD"
Moderators are specifically trained to ensure that people feel safe and comfortable sharing their life experience with others. This is a volunteer position.
Upcoming trainings TBA
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What happens at an Amazing Faiths Dinner Dialogue?
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?
What are the core values of Amazing Faiths Dinner Dialogues?
The Dinner Dialogues are based on the Amazing Faiths 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. From summer 2013 through spring 2014, a generous grant from the First Unitarian Society of Milwaukee enabled the Interfaith Conference to expand the program. In 2020, Cherrie Hanson accepted the position of Amazing Faiths Program Director.