Speakers
Father Innocent Okozi, PhD
Catholic Priest, The Southdown Institute, Holland Landing, Ontario, Canada and Seton Hall University, South Orange, New Jersey
Father Okozi joined The Southdown Institute, Holland Landing, Ontario, Canada this April 2020. He graduated from Seton Hall University in 2010 with his PhD in counseling psychology and he has taught there as adjunct faculty. Prior to joining The Southdown Institute, Fr. Okozi worked in pastoral ministry with the Roman Catholic Diocese of Portland, ME, both as Parochial Vicar and Pastor for many years. Having been trained in the Scientist-Practitioner model of Counseling Psychology, Fr. Okozi has been involved in psychological research and counseling. His doctoral dissertation is titled, “Attachment to God: Its Impact on the Psychological Wellbeing of Persons with Religious Vocation,” and it examines how the different styles of attachment could help us understand some of the underlying mental health challenges that some persons face as adults, especially those seminarians studying for the priesthood.
Reverend Josh Blakesley, MDiv
Minister, United Church of Christ, Hatboro, Pennsylvania
Josh is the Founder & Executive Director of The Welcome Project PA, a community-based non-profit in the Philadelphia suburbs, and he also is the Pastor of Love In Action United Church of Christ, an LGBT+ and interfaith-affirming church, featured in a Vox Media episode of Divided States of Women with Liz Plank and in the Philadelphia Inquirer. Josh is a also a fellow of Interfaith Philadelphia, designing and coordinating HS and University student groups for interfaith immersion service-learning weeks, called “Alternative Break Interfaith Encounters.” Josh also co-facilitates “How to be an Interfaith Ally” trainings for Philly Peace Day and recently, in Toronto at the Parliament of the World’s Religions. He also performs regularly with the dinner theatre company, Without a Cue Productions, and has developed theatre arts curriculum for use in religious and secular settings.
Rabbi David Shneyer
Rabbi, Am Kolel Jewish Renewal Community of Greater Washington, Beallsville, Maryland
Rabbi Shneyer is a past president of Ohalah, the Association of Rabbis for Jewish Renewal, an accomplished musician and a founder of Jews United for Justice. He is also an active member of the Chesapeake Climate Action Network and the Faith Community Advisory Council of Montgomery County. He directs the Sanctuary Retreat Center (http://SanctuaryRetreatCenter.com) and is the spiritual leader of Kehila Chadasha and Am Kolel.
Reverend Kate R. Walker, DMin
Minister, Mt. Vernon Unitarian Church, Alexandria, Virginia
The Reverend Dr. Kate R. Walker is parish minister at Mount Vernon Unitarian Church. Her father and stepmother were both Unitarian Universalist ministers. She is an outdoor enthusiast, enjoying many activities including hiking, biking, canoeing, and camping, as well as an avid reader with a husband, three adult stepchildren, two dogs, and two cats. Kate earned her Masters of Divinity from Starr King School for Ministry, a Bachelors of Arts in Mass/Speech Communication from the University of Denver, and a Master of Arts in Social Ecology from Goddard College in Vermont. She is passionate about spirituality and social justice.
Nathan Lamkin, PsyD
Buddhist Practitioner, Western Reserve Psychological Associates, Akron, Ohio
Dr. Nathan A. Lamkin is a Zen Buddhist practitioner and a clinical psychologist who provides treatment for individuals (14 years to elderly), couples and families. Areas of practice include, but are not limited to, anxiety, depression, personality and adjustment disorders, chronic pain, panic attacks, stress management, anger management, sports psychology, relationship difficulties, job satisfaction, sexual identity issues, sleep disorders, end-of-life issues, PTSD, health issues, grief, abuse issues, as well as substance abuse. He also provides intellectual and achievement assessments, and government and safety forces assessments. He uses cognitive behavioral therapy, integrative therapy and meditation. Dr. Lamkin received his Psy.D. in Clinical Psychology from Indiana State University and is a member of APA.
Kevin A. Harris, PhD, LP
Chair and Discussant, Algos Behavioral Health Services, Inc. and Our Lady of the Lake University, San Antonio, Texas
Dr. Kevin Harris is a licensed psychologist and health service psychologist. He specializes in the assessment and measurement of health psychology and the psychology of religion and spirituality. Originally from Indiana, Kevin has more than 20 years of experience as a former professor at two Texas universities, an addictions counselor in Florida, and a community mental health care provider in Florida and Indiana. His research team also does research on sexual violence awareness and prevention and on music psychology.
Steven E. Handwerker, PhD, DDiv
Discussant, The International Association for the Advancement of Human Welfare, Inc., South Burlington, Vermont
Dr. Steven E. Handwerker is a Board Certified Licensed Psychologist (FL, NY, SD) and D.Div. He is Founder and CEO of The International Association of the Advancement of Human Welfare, Inc., a 501 c-3 since 1997. His 45 year practice as a clinical psychologist included interfaith group venues. Dr. Handwerker utilizes common core values as catalysts for promoting peace in individuals and groups. He integrates humanistic, religious/ esoteric and peace psychology principles in his practice.
Symposium
Interfaith Talks
Kevin A. Harris, PhD, Chair
Interfaith Dialogue: Views from Diverse Clergypersons
Father Innocent F. Okozi, PhD
A Catholic Approach to Creating Interfaith Dialogue
The digital world has greatly facilitated globalization, in spite of the recent upsurge in nationalism and conflicting ideologies that lead to divisions and attacks on civil and religious liberties as well as polarization of peoples or nations. It is sometimes disheartening to learn that persecution and discrimination based on religious differences still occur in different parts of the world. There is need to build harmony by highlighting and actively working for interfaith dialogue and collaboration. In his Angelus message on September 1, 2013, Pope Francis stated: “It is neither a culture of confrontation nor a culture of conflict which builds harmony within and between peoples, but rather a culture of encounter and a culture of dialogue; this is the only way to peace.” Therefore, in a world with growing tension and conflict both within and between nations or diverse groups of people, the call to dialogue and invitation to facilitate interfaith dialogue is inevitable for the healing of divisions and harmony in the society. The Catholic Church encourages her members to engage in dialogue and collaboration with members of other religions. The Second Vatican Church’s Declaration of the Relation of the Church to Non-Christian Religions, Nostra Aetate, highlights the importance for the Catholic Church to engage in positive relationship with people and communities of other religious traditions. Since the Second Vatican Council, the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue (PCID) has provided several documents that facilitate Catholic approach to interfaith dialogue. In this panel discussion, I would share some of those approaches that will enhance interfaith dialogue.
Reverend Josh Blakesley, MDiv
Promoting Interfaith Dialogue: A Protestant Perspective
I grew up in the Midwest before completing a Masters of Divinity [M.Div.] at Princeton Theological Seminary [NJ]. I identify as a Progressive Christian and I am an ordained minister in the United Church of Christ (UCC). I have worked in interfaith programs in a variety of settings, including Philadelphia, Hawai’i, Mexico, Michigan, and Toronto. I’m committed to promoting religious pluralism and partnering with people of all faiths and those who identify as atheist or agnostic to build bridges of shared values and cooperation. I am a fellow and consultant with Interfaith Philadelphia. This past November I was asked to lead a workshop “How to Be an Interfaith Ally” at the Parliament of the World’s Religions. My focus areas include: University alternative break programs that incorporate religious immersion and service-learning; workplace diversity programs that promote understanding in organizations, corporations, schools, and hospital settings. The question I pose is: what can we do in our academic institutions and in the public square to promote not only tolerance and knowledge, but the building of bridges across lines of difference and cooperative activities that set the foundation for a more peaceful world? In light of intensive work over a number of years with people of all ages, my conclusion is that the work called “interfaith” or “interreligious” must not be limited to dialogue or to academic programs that focus on classroom-based knowledge or literature; rather, as a facilitator, director, and program manager for interfaith immersion experiences in the corporate, academic, and public context, I am convinced that organized, experiential, and immersive learning is the key to breaking down the existing barriers and to making the largest social impact.
Rabbi David Schneyer
The World to Come: A Jewish Perspective on Interfaith Dialogue
Interfaith dialogue is important from the perspective of Judaism. Jews believe in the vision of the Messianic Age, a time when all peoples are living in harmony with each other and with their natural environment. In addition to humans practicing the moral instructions of their traditions, we must also nurture each other through bridge building, interfaith dialogue, healing experiences, and joint community service. Interfaith dialogue has a multifaceted meaning, depending on the context. As some examples, there are several programs that I have initiated or been part of over a number of years. Among them are (1) The Daughters of Abraham, (2) Montgomery County Dialogue Evenings, (3) Town Hall Meeting on three Abrahamic faiths, (4) Festivals of the Spirit, (5) Our ecumenical Sanctuary Retreat Center, (6) Interfaith Seders, (7) Imams-Rabbis Summit, (8) Clergy Beyond Borders, (9) Interfaith ceremonies, and (10) Interfaith retreats in Yogaville. Dialogue topics include dealing with religious supremacy, healing generations of persecution, taking God’s name in vain, and others. I discuss what interfaith dialogue means to me from my perspective as the founder and director of the Am Kolel Jewish Renewal Community of Greater Washington.
Reverend Kate R. Walker, DMin
Do We Need a Paradigm Shift? Expanding our Worldview from a Single Creed to Multiple Truths
I was raised in a multifaith church and home. My father was a Unitarian Universalist (UU) minister, and my step mother still is a UU minister. I have been serving as a UU minister for 22 years. Unitarian Universalism is a multifaith church, attracting humanists, atheists, agnostics, Christians, Jews, Buddhists, Pagans and generic theists. This feels like a natural space for me and represents a broad pluralistic world view. I deeply appreciate and celebrate all faiths for each brings profound truths and wisdom for its followers. I keep asking how can we accept that while many proclaim a singular path to the holy, that does not mean everyone else’s path is not valid or hold equally important truths? Do really have to be right about our faith? We can celebrate multifaith dialogue when we can grasp “truth” is not singular; it is deeply personal, multifaceted, and subject to change.
Nathan Lamkin, PsyD
The Openness of Buddhism
Buddhism is a religion with its essential purpose to end suffering. Its lack of interest in theology, valuing experience over belief, Middle Way approach, and its Eightfold Path has allowed it to adapt and often live harmoniously with other religious traditions during its 2500 years. With that stated, I will contribute to the interfaith dialogue through providing understanding about the Buddhist traditions, potentially dispel misconceptions of Buddhism, and point out similarities between Buddhism and other faiths. If or when differences arise, having the spirit of understanding and knowing that beliefs do not supersede sentient beings. I look forward to being part of this interfaith dialogue, because such dialogues help bring further religious understanding and cooperation.
Steven E. Handwerker, PhD, DDiv
Steven Handwerker leads a discussion of the symposium, followed by a Q&A session where panelists pose and respond to questions from each other.
Discussion
Get in Touch
