Statements
The Interfaith Conference of Greater Milwaukee holds many events, participates in many initiatives, and takes various actions throughout the year.
The statements are often in response to hate and/or violence. You can find many on the pull down menu with our most recent below:
STATEMENT ON THE DETENTION OF ISM PRESIDENT SALAH SARSOUR. (April 2, 2026)
The Interfaith Conference of Greater Milwaukee expresses deep concern regarding the detention of Mr. Salah Sarsour, President of the Islamic Society of Milwaukee (ISM), by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents on Monday, March 30, outside of his home in Milwaukee. No public explanation has been provided for his detention, and his family has had difficulty obtaining information about his status and location from the government. Mr. Sarsour has been a legal resident of the greater Milwaukee community for over 32 years and has served as a prominent leader in the ISM.
We call on the federal government to uphold the transparency that should accompany any proceeding that deprives a legal U.S. resident of his freedom. Furthermore, we urge the government to ensure that Mr. Sarsour's due process rights are respected and to release him to his family and community prior to any court proceedings. We also call on federal, state, and local government officials to leverage their positions to hold the federal government accountable for Mr. Sarsour's rights and welfare.
In January of this year, the Interfaith Conference issued a statement on “Immigration, Asylum and the Right to Peaceably Assemble,” which included the following:
We also call for our society to respect the values upon which it was founded, whether from our individual religious traditions or the guiding documents of this country. The rights of all people, including neighbors, immigrants, and asylum-seekers, to humanitarian treatment is explicit in our national foundation and our international treaty obligations.
Every religious tradition contains a version of “The Golden Rule.” Whether articulated as “What is hateful to you, do not do to your neighbor,” (Jewish), “Do to others as you would have them do to you,” (Christian), or “Love for mankind what you love for yourself,” (Muslim), this principle affirms our duty to treat others with respect.
At a time when we have just celebrated Ramadan for Muslims, are currently observing Passover for Jews, and are in the midst of Holy Week for Christians, we offer our prayers for Mr. Sarsour and all others who are detained. We hope that the values of mercy, justice, and compassion will guide the actions of our elected officials and law enforcement.
None of us stands alone. All of us are loved. No one has rights if the rights of any are in question.
CONDEMNS ANTISEMITIC ATTACK ON TEMPLE ISRAEL IN MICHIGAN (3/13/2026)
The Interfaith Conference of Greater Milwaukee unequivocally condemns the attack yesterday targeting Temple Israel in West Bloomfield Township, Michigan. This antisemitic attack by one man, which resulted in injuries to a security guard at the Temple and to many first responders, is another unacceptable act of violence on both a place of worship and a place of education for preschoolers. Places of worship are for prayer and celebrating faith. Places of education are sacred, too, as they are meant for learning and reflection. While the motive of the attacker is still under investigation at the time that this statement was drafted, we state that places of worship and schools should never be a target for terror, murder, or violence. Nor should anyone ever fear for their safety while studying, teaching, or worshiping.
We are grateful to the security guard and the first responders, who were able to thwart the attack with no loss of life, and the staff of the temple who bravely escorted the preschoolers from the building. The Interfaith Conference prays for the injured, and for their families.
This tragic incident follows three other recent widely known acts of violent antisemitism in this country last year. On April 13, 2025, an assailant attempted to set fire to Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro’s residence while he and his family were observing Passover. On May 21, 2025, two Israeli embassy staff members were killed outside the Capital Jewish Museum in Washington, D.C. On June 1, 2025, on the eve of Shavuot, a man threw incendiary devices at a group of peaceful Jewish marchers in Boulder, Colorado, injuring many and murdering a Holocaust survivor.
Our prayers, our support, and our commitment to continue to act in solidarity are with those in our local Jewish community as they continue to struggle with the immoral scourge of antisemitism.
We also take this time to strongly condemn the tragic acts of violence reported yesterday at another place of education, Old Dominion University.
The Interfaith Conference reaffirms our determination to speak out together against antisemitism, Islamophobia, and all forms of hate-fueled violence. Hate has no place in our communities. Let us recommit ourselves to building a society rooted in justice, compassion, and the shared human dignity that binds us all.
***
Founded in 1970, the Interfaith Conference of Greater Milwaukee is a nonprofit organization of 22 member faiths and denominations, whose mission is to build relationships among people of faith to promote greater understanding, dignity, and respect, and to advocate for the inclusion and acceptance of all.
Its programs include:
- Dialoguing to build personal relationships
- Conducting public programming to counter hate and fear while fostering interfaith, intercultural, and interracial understanding, tolerance, and friendship
- Working together on hunger, unemployment, environmental challenges, and other social issues to create a better society for everyone
We stand with one another against hate, racism, and discrimination to promote a just community; and we serve together to strengthen our communities and build relationships across diverse faith traditions and racial, cultural, ethnic, and generational divides.
STATEMENT ON IMMIGRATION, ASYLUM, AND THE RIGHT TO PEACEABLY ASSEMBLE (January 22, 2026)
It is the mission of the Interfaith Conference of Greater Milwaukee to build relationships among people of faith to promote greater understanding, dignity, and respect, and to advocate for the inclusion and acceptance of all.[i] Our diverse faith traditions teach us to welcome our brothers and sisters with love and compassion regardless of their place of birth,[ii] and we stand together to “preserv[e] the dignity of every person and the solidarity of the human community.”.[iii]
We consider the exploitation of human beings, the separation of families, and the use of violence and intimidation, to offend the human dignity not only of the oppressed but the oppressor. Apart from the Native Americans, all racial and ethnic groups are immigrants to the United States. Waves of people arrived at different times – some willingly, some unwillingly - from far and varied backgrounds to forge a unique experiment. Some have been oppressed, while others have been favored. The struggle continues to the present day as race, ethnicity, religion, and immigration remain topics of deep passion in our society. However, during this time of deep disagreement, we call for civility and mutual respect.
We also call for our society to respect the values upon which it was founded, whether from our individual religious traditions or the guiding documents of this country. The rights of all people, including neighbors, immigrants and asylum-seekers, to humanitarian treatment is explicit in our national foundation, and our international treaty obligations. In a soaring statement that sums up our aspirations even as we still struggle towards its fulfillment, The Declaration of Independence states that all human beings are “endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.” The United States is also a signatory to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which in Article 14(1), provides, “Everyone has the right to seek and enjoy in other countries asylum from persecution.” Further, the Constitution of the United States in its First Amendment guarantees our rights of freedom of speech and “the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.”
Every religious tradition holds some form of “The Golden Rule” in its teachings.[iv] Whether we are taught to say, “What is hateful to you, do not do to your neighbor” or to say, “Do to others as you would have them do to you” or to say, “Love for mankind what you love for yourself”, let us commit to treat each other with the dignity and civility that we would wish for ourselves.
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The Interfaith Conference of Greater Milwaukee, founded in 1970, is an organization of 22 faith organizations in the Milwaukee area.
[i] https://www.interfaithconference.org/mission-statement
[ii] The Interfaith Conference held a webinar and collected statements from its members about how our faiths welcome the stranger. The webinar and the statements may be viewed here: https://www.interfaithconference.org/committee-for-interfaith-understanding Without any attempt to be complete, we also note the following scriptures. The Hebrew Bible tells us: "The strangers who sojourn with you shall be to you as the natives among you, and you shall love them as yourself; for you were strangers in the land of Egypt" (Leviticus 19:33-34). In the New Testament, Jesus tells us to welcome the stranger, for "what you do to the least of my brethren, you do unto me" (Matthew 25:40). The Qur'an tells us that we should "do good unto … the needy, and the neighbor from among your own people, and the neighbor who is a stranger…" (4:36). The Hindu Taitiriya Upanishad tells us: ''The guest is a representative of God" (1.11.2).
[iii] Interfaith Conference of Greater Milwaukee’s Articles of Incorporation’s Restated Articles of Incorporation, Article II (1990).
[iv] Generally see: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Golden_Rule The three statements that follow represent sayings (in order) from Jewish, Christian and Muslim traditions. The Jewish statement is attributed to Rabbi Hillel the Elder and comes from the Babylonian Talmud, specifically the tractate Shabbat, page 31a. The Christian statement is attributed to Jesus in Matthew 7:12. The Muslim statement is attributed to Prophet Muhammad in the collections of his sayings in al-Tirmidhī and Ibn Mājah.
ICGM CONDEMNS ANTISEMITIC ATTACK AT BONDI BEACH (12/15/2025)
INTERFAITH CONFERENCE OF GREATER MILWAUKEE
CONDEMNS ANTISEMITIC ATTACK AT BONDI BEACH (12/15/2025)
The Interfaith Conference of Greater Milwaukee unequivocally condemns the deadly attack against Jewish worshippers celebrating Chanukah that occurred yesterday on Bondi Beach in Sydney, Australia. This horrendous antisemitic attack by two men, which has resulted in the deaths of at least 15 persons, including a Holocaust survivor, and wounded at least 27 others, is unacceptable: an event meant to celebrate faith should never be a target for terror or murder.
We are grateful to the first responders and in particular to the heroic bystander, who bravely wrestled a rifle from one of the attackers and was wounded in the process of saving countless lives. The Interfaith Conference prays for the victims, the injured, and for their families.
This tragic incident follows three other recent widely known acts of violent antisemitism in this country, two of which also occurred on or near Jewish holidays. On April 13, 2025, an assailant attempted to set fire to Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro’s residence while he and his family were observing Passover. On May 21, 2025, two Israeli embassy staff members were killed outside the Capital Jewish Museum in Washington, D.C. On June 1, 2025, on the eve of the Jewish holiday of Shavuot, a man threw incendiary devices at a group of peaceful Jewish marchers in Boulder, Colorado, injuring many and murdering a Holocaust survivor.
Although yesterday’s attack did not take place in our country, nor did the other atrocities take place in our geographic area, we are aware of the effect such acts of terror, including those that appear to be tied to a Jewish holiday, can have on our local community. Our prayers, our support, and our commitment to continue to act in solidarity are with those in our local Jewish community as they continue to struggle with the immoral scourge of antisemitism.
The Interfaith Conference reaffirms our determination to speak out together against antisemitism, Islamophobia, and all forms of hate-fueled violence. Hate has no place in our communities. Let us recommit ourselves to building a society rooted in justice, compassion, and the shared human dignity that binds us all.
***
Founded in 1970, the Interfaith Conference of Greater Milwaukee is a nonprofit organization of 22 member faiths and denominations, whose mission is to build relationships among people of faith to promote greater understanding, dignity, and respect, and to advocate for the inclusion and acceptance of all.
Its programs include:
- Dialoguing to build personal relationships
- Conducting public programming to counter hate and fear while fostering interfaith, intercultural, and interracial understanding, tolerance, and friendship
- Working together on hunger, unemployment, environmental challenges, and other social issues to create a better society for everyone
We stand with one another against hate, racism, and discrimination to promote a just community; and we serve together to strengthen our communities and build relationships across diverse faith traditions and racial, cultural, ethnic, and generational divides.
Statements from most of our Faiths on Welcoming the Stranger from June 18, 2025 (You can also watch the webinar at this link: https://tinyurl.com/WebinarWelcome
American Baptist
Our Christian faith places a strong emphasis on welcoming and integrating new members into our community. This practice is deeply rooted in our faith, mirroring the compassionate and inclusive nature of Christ's teachings, as exemplified in passages such as Matthew 25:35 and Mark 12:30-31. We believe that fostering a supportive and welcoming environment is essential to nurturing spiritual growth and strengthening our fellowship. -Rev. Victoria Nelson
Baháʼí Faith
All the teachings of the Baha’i Faith revolve around one basic principle: that all of humanity was created as one single unit. This principle is entwined in all the teachings and practices in the Faith. We will explore what this means when we highlight how we welcome the stranger or anyone into our lives. -Doug Jordan .
Buddhism
Buddhism recognizes every being as sacred. Humans are singled out only because their minds make them suffer in a significant way. No person is a stranger in themselves, but we create these differences and separations through our dualistic thinking. How can that be overcome? -Rev. Reirin Gumbel
Episcopalian
In the Baptismal Covenant of the 1979 Book of Common Prayer, Episcopalians promise to “Strive for justice and peace among all people and respect the dignity of every human being.” This understanding flows from the teaching in Genesis that all humans are made in the image of God and called “Very Good” at their creation. In the Parable of the Good Samaritan, Jesus reminds us that the essence of being a neighbor is showing mercy to each other. Therefore, we are to do likewise in his name, proclaiming the love and mercy of God to the entire world, remembering that even the most unlikely or unlikable person is our neighbor and deserving of respect and dignity. -The Rev. David Simmons
Hindu
In the Hindu tradition, welcoming strangers is not just a social gesture—it is a Dharma (sacred duty)rooted in the teachings that “The Guest is Divine” (Atithi Devo Bhava) and “The World is One Family”(Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam). These timeless principles inspire us to see the divine in every guest and recognize all of humanity as our kin. At the Hindu Temple of Wisconsin, we embody this through open doors and open hearts—welcoming all visitors regardless of background, sharing prasadam (blessed food), inviting the community to our festivals like Diwali, and fostering interfaith dialogue and understanding. Through these actions, we transform hospitality into a spiritual practice that celebrates unity, respect, and shared humanity. -Sarvesh Geddem
Islam
Islam contains many teachings that require Muslims to treat the needy, our neighbors, and strangers with kindness and goodness, indeed, just as you are to treat your parents, your family or orphans. One of the many examples from the Qur’an (4:36) is the command to: “Serve God, and join not any partners with Him; and do good – to parents, kinsfolk, orphans, those in need, neighbors who are near, neighbors who are strangers, the companion by your side, the wayfarer (ye meet),and what your right hands possess.” In addition to revelation, the migration of the Prophet Muhammad from Mecca to Medina in 622 CE, and how immigrants were treated, is the best example regarding this issue in Islamic history. -Ahmed Quereshi
Islamic Sufism
A stranger is defined as someone different in belief, background, or identity than ours. Most major world religions and faiths, have advocated kindness and compassion toward others, especially those in need. Despite centuries of spiritual guidance, humanity still struggles with truly embodying these teachings. Respecting others begins with self-respect and self-knowledge, emphasizing the need to understand our shared origin and metaphysical connection. Citing the Sufi teachings and Sufi poet Saadi, I conclude that all humans are interconnected, so lacking empathy for others denies our own humanity. -Dr. Kourosh Hassani
Judaism
In the Torah (the Five Books of Moses), the injunction most often repeated is not to oppress the stranger for you, the Israelites, were a stranger in a strange land when enslaved in Egypt. From this teaching emerges centuries of clear laws on welcoming the stranger, values that guide our day-to-day practices, and the principles behind creating a safe space for all. Indeed, we learn in Genesis that every single person was created in God's image, and it is our responsibility as Jews and as human beings to uphold and embody that ideal. -Rabbi Moishe Steigmann
Lutheran
The Lutheran understanding of the Christian faith places a great emphasis on the call to love and serve our neighbor, following the example of Jesus. We affirm the dignity and value of every single person as created in the image and likeness of God, and we strive to follow the teaching of Jesus as articulated in the 25th chapter of the Gospel of Matthew: "for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me." (Matthew 25:35-36) -Bishop Paul Erickson
Roman Catholic
The Catholic Church in the United States is an immigrant Church with a long history of embracing diverse newcomers and providing assistance and pastoral care to immigrants, migrants, refugees, and people on the move. Our Church has responded to Christ’s call for us to “welcome the stranger among us,” for in this encounter with the immigrant, the migrant, and the refugee in our midst, we encounter Christ. -Susan McNeil
Sikhism
The way in which Sikhi intentionally welcomes the stranger is to hold true that there is no such thing as a stranger. There is only the illusion of separation in this lifetime, but the truth of sacred consciousness and our earthly journey towards God reveals through sacred scripture and tradition that we are all one and belong to that same One, and will return to that same One. -Pardeep S. Kaleka
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Jesus Christ taught, “Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.” Echoing this, our modern prophets have taught that we are to be “a defense” and “a refuge from the storm.” We have found refuge. Let us come out from our safe places and share with the stranger, from our abundance, hope for a brighter future, faith in God and in our fellowman, and love that sees beyond cultural and ideological differences to the glorious truth that we are all children of our Heavenly Father. “He that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him." 1 John 4:16 -Brooke Cutler
United Church of Christ
Welcoming the stranger is more than a polite gesture—it is a deep act of hospitality, compassion, and justice—core values in the United Church of Christ. To welcome someone who is unknown, unfamiliar, or different is to affirm their dignity and worth, to create a space where they can be seen and valued, and to remind ourselves of our shared humanity. When we open our hearts and doors to those who arrive—whether neighbors new to town, refugees seeking safety, or visitors who cross our paths—we create the possibility of transformation, not only for the one received but also for the one who welcomes. In such encounters, we discover that strangers often bring unexpected gifts, and that in welcoming them, we may ourselves be welcomed into a wider, richer, more generous life. -Rev Jane Anderson
United Methodist Church
The United Methodist Church understands that at the center of Christian faithfulness to Scripture is the call we have been given to love and welcome the sojourner. We call upon all United Methodist churches to welcome newly arriving migrants in their communities, to love them as we do ourselves, to treat them as one of our native-born, to see in them the presence of the incarnated Jesus, and to show hospitality to the migrants in our midst, believing that through their presence we are receiving the good news of the gospel of Jesus Christ. -Rev. InSun Lee
STATEMENT OF SOLIDARITY AND CONDEMNING ANTISEMITISM ( June 2025)
INTERFAITH CONFERENCE OF GREATER MILWAUKEE
STATEMENT OF SOLIDARITY AND CONDEMNING ANTISEMITISM (2025)
The Interfaith Conference of Greater Milwaukee is horrified by and unequivocally condemns the antisemitic terror attack that occurred on June 1, 2025, on the eve of the Jewish holiday of Shavuot. A man identified as Mohamed Sabry Soliman hurled “makeshift incendiary devices” at a group of peaceful walkers advocating for return of Israeli hostages in Gaza, injuring twelve persons, some severely, while stating afterward that he wanted to kill all Zionist people. He has been charged with a federal hate crime and 16 counts of attempted murder. The Interfaith Conference prays for the recovery of the victims and for their families.
This tragic incident follows two other recent widely known acts of violent antisemitism. On April 13, 2025, an assailant attempted to set fire to Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro’s residence while he and his family were observing Passover. The suspect, Cody Allen Balmer, expressed hatred toward Governor Shapiro for his support of Israel and has been charged with terrorism and attempted murder.
And on May 21, 2025, two Israeli embassy staff members, Yaron Lischinsky and Sarah Milgrim, were killed outside the Capital Jewish Museum in Washington, D.C., by Elias Rodgriguez, who shouted after the attack that he did it for Gaza. He has been charged with murder and the act is being investigated by the FBI as targeted antisemitic violence.
We urge law enforcement to conduct a full and transparent investigation and to hold the perpetrators accountable. We also call on public officials, faith leaders, and civil society to unite against the rising tide of hate that continues to endanger communities across the country.
Although these atrocities have not taken place in our geographic area, we are aware of the effect such acts of terror can have on our local community. Our prayers, our support, and our commitment to continue to act in solidarity are with those in our local Jewish community as they continue to struggle with the immoral scourge of antisemitism.
Such acts of violence, hatred and bigotry have no place in our society. The Israel-Hamas war has elicited many strong feelings. Regardless of how anyone feels about the Israeli government, Hamas, Israelis or Palestinians, there is no justification - ever - for targeting Jewish individuals or communities. Holding Jewish Americans collectively responsible for the actions of a foreign state is both morally wrong and deeply dangerous. Such thinking echoes the very logic of bigotry and collective blame that has harmed countless innocent people throughout history.
We are blessed to live in a country where we have been granted the right to peaceably assemble, exercise free speech, and worship as we please, among other rights. Let us resolve to protect for others those same rights that we claim for ourselves.
The Interfaith Conference also reaffirms our determination to speak out together against antisemitism, Islamophobia, and all forms of hate-fueled violence. Hate has no place in our communities. Let us recommit ourselves to building a society rooted in justice, compassion, and the shared humanity that binds us all.
***
Founded in 1970, the Interfaith Conference of Greater Milwaukee is a nonprofit organization of 22 member faiths and denominations, whose mission is to build relationships among people of faith to promote greater understanding, dignity, and respect, and to advocate for the inclusion and acceptance of all.
Its programs include:
- Dialoguing to build personal relationships
- Conducting public programming to counter hate and fear while fostering interfaith, intercultural, and interracial understanding, tolerance, and friendship
- Working together on hunger, unemployment, environmental challenges, and other social issues to create a better society for everyone
We stand with one another against hate, racism, and discrimination to promote a just community; and we serve together to strengthen our communities and build relationships across diverse faith traditions and racial, cultural, ethnic, and generational divides.
Statement against Political Violence
The Interfaith Conference of Greater Milwaukee condemns in the strongest possible terms the assassination attempt on former President Trump. We mourn for the lives that were lost and pray for the recovery of the former President and the other wounded, as well as for their families and loved ones. While this attempt did not occur here, we are aware of the upcoming Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, and we stand against political violence and with a particular additional prayer for peace during the Convention this week and beyond.
We call on our political leaders to publicly model unequivocal condemnation of all political violence in their words and actions, while pledging to hold all who would commit such violence accountable.
Founded in 1970, the Interfaith Conference of Greater Milwaukee is a nonprofit organization through which the regional leaders and adherents of 22 member faiths and denominations seek to counter misunderstanding, fear, anxiety and hate while fostering interfaith, intercultural, and interracial understanding, tolerance and friendships across county and city-suburban lines. We envision a strong, peaceful, and sustainable community where all are treated with justice, mutual respect, and dignity, and we stand with one another against hate, racism, and discrimination to promote a just community.
UPCOMING EVENTS
