Council Denounces the Massacre in Buffalo and Extremist Rhetoric
May 20, 2022 | The Council of Religious Leaders of Metropolitan Chicago condemns the racist massacre at Tops Market in Buffalo this past Saturday. We are horrified that African Americans shopping in their own neighborhood were executed solely because of their race. We mourn those who died and honor those who sought to defend them against such senseless hatred. We pray for comfort for the families and friends of those touched by this horrific act.
We also condemn the extremist rhetoric undergirding this violence. "Replacement theory" and other racist lies have been used to promote racial hatred. While deceitful speech is permitted under the First Amendment, a lie remains a lie.
As religious leaders, we acknowledge that truth is essential for a healthy society. We face many challenges, but we will not long survive if we substitute lies for facts. Our freedom and our democracy depend on knowing and telling the truth.
Truth also requires us to acknowledge that this is asymmetric extremism. Sowing lies that continue to have destructive effects on our communities and abetting their circulation deserve every condemnation. Therefore, we call on all who profit from purveying these hateful lies, including members of the media, to stop repeating and spreading a destructive fiction that leads directly to violence.
We also cannot allow officeholders to reap the harvest of this distrust. Therefore, we call on all elected leaders of every party to condemn replacement theory and similar extremist doctrines categorically and publicly. We call on all elected leaders to rebuke commentators and public officials for promoting these ideas.
Let us have the courage to speak up and speak out whenever we see hate, whenever we hear falsehoods. Until we search and reform our own hearts and pledge to speak the truth, we cannot hope to end the violence hate causes.
We also condemn the extremist rhetoric undergirding this violence. "Replacement theory" and other racist lies have been used to promote racial hatred. While deceitful speech is permitted under the First Amendment, a lie remains a lie.
As religious leaders, we acknowledge that truth is essential for a healthy society. We face many challenges, but we will not long survive if we substitute lies for facts. Our freedom and our democracy depend on knowing and telling the truth.
Truth also requires us to acknowledge that this is asymmetric extremism. Sowing lies that continue to have destructive effects on our communities and abetting their circulation deserve every condemnation. Therefore, we call on all who profit from purveying these hateful lies, including members of the media, to stop repeating and spreading a destructive fiction that leads directly to violence.
We also cannot allow officeholders to reap the harvest of this distrust. Therefore, we call on all elected leaders of every party to condemn replacement theory and similar extremist doctrines categorically and publicly. We call on all elected leaders to rebuke commentators and public officials for promoting these ideas.
Let us have the courage to speak up and speak out whenever we see hate, whenever we hear falsehoods. Until we search and reform our own hearts and pledge to speak the truth, we cannot hope to end the violence hate causes.
CRLMC Denounces Antisemitic Vandalism in Rogers Park
February 2, 2022 | The Council of Religious Leaders of Metropolitan Chicago denounces the criminal acts of vandalism perpetuated this past weekend against Jewish synagogues and businesses in the Rogers Park neighborhood. Once again, houses of worship in our community have been targeted and profaned by violence. We are particularly aggrieved to see such actions directed against Jews and the Jewish community just two weeks after the assault on Congregation Beth Israel in Colleyville, Texas.
We are grateful that no lives were lost in Chicago. Nevertheless, we deplore these attacks and any assault motivated by prejudice and hate against members and institutions of every faith tradition in our community. An attack on any faith community is attack against us all.
We commend Mayor Lightfoot for her forceful and unequivocal denunciation of these acts. We also commend the Chicago Police Department for swiftly investigating these incidents. The response of our city demonstrates the importance of speaking out against hatred and acting quickly to stop perpetrators of intolerance.
As people of faith, we are called to protect and defend the dignity of all human beings. We are all part of the human family, and we bear witness to this solidarity in the face of injustice and persecution. We pray that everyone in our city will redouble their efforts to care for each other at this time.
We are grateful that no lives were lost in Chicago. Nevertheless, we deplore these attacks and any assault motivated by prejudice and hate against members and institutions of every faith tradition in our community. An attack on any faith community is attack against us all.
We commend Mayor Lightfoot for her forceful and unequivocal denunciation of these acts. We also commend the Chicago Police Department for swiftly investigating these incidents. The response of our city demonstrates the importance of speaking out against hatred and acting quickly to stop perpetrators of intolerance.
As people of faith, we are called to protect and defend the dignity of all human beings. We are all part of the human family, and we bear witness to this solidarity in the face of injustice and persecution. We pray that everyone in our city will redouble their efforts to care for each other at this time.
2022 InterFaith Calendar Now Available!
|
CRLMC's 2022 InterFaith Calendar is a 14" x 22" full-color, twelve-month wall calendar produced in cooperation with 17 religious communities.
All orders for the InterFaith Calendar also will include a free download of the InterFaith Calendar App for iPhone or Android. The app puts the power of the InterFaith Calendar in your smart phone. Order your calendar today! |
|
Join Us at the 2021 Interfaith Thanksgiving Observance
|
Wednesday, November 24, 2021 | 12:00-1:00 PM
First United Methodist Church at the Chicago Temple 77 W. Washington, Chicago The Interfaith Thanksgiving Observance is conducted by the Council of Religious Leaders of Metropolitan Chicago in celebration of this most American holiday. Hosted and co-sponsored by the Chicago Temple at First United Methodist Church, this annual observance features music and prayer offerings from more than a dozen faith communities in Metropolitan Chicago. There is no charge to attend, and the public is invited.
Donate to the Interfaith Collection for the Hungry
As part of the Interfaith Thanksgiving Observance, funds will be collected to be shared with direct meal providers affiliated with Members of the Council. All proceeds will be shared. Please remember our neighbors in need during this season.
|
Council Presents 2021 Community Excellence Awards
|
On November 4, the Council of Religious Leaders of Metropolitan Chicago presented the 2021 Community Excellence Awards to Dr. Allison Arwady & Chicago Department of Public Health and to Housing Forward.
Through the Community Excellence Award, the Council recognizes individuals and organizations in both public and private sectors that promote interreligious harmony and the public good either independently or in concert with the Council’s activities. The 2021 honorees were selected for their extraordinary contributions to the Metropolitan Chicago community during the COVID-19 pandemic.
|
|
Council Urges Every Eligible Person to Receive COVID-19 Vaccination
June 9, 2021 | We, the members of the Council of Religious Leaders of Metropolitan Chicago, urge every eligible person in our faith communities and in our region to receive the COVID-19 vaccination and to ensure that it is available to all.
Read the full statement here
Read the full statement here
Vaccination Programs in Chicago and the Metropolitan Area
Updated May 19, 2021| All Illinoisans age 12 and up are eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine. The State of Illinois is working with local health departments and providers across the state to provide COVID-19 vaccinations. A list of statewide vaccination sites is available here. A tool for tracking down COVID-19 vaccine appointment openings at Illinois pharmacies is available here.
Below is vaccine information for the City of Chicago and the Metropolitan area--Cook, DuPage, Kane, Lake, McHenry, and Will Counties.
Below is vaccine information for the City of Chicago and the Metropolitan area--Cook, DuPage, Kane, Lake, McHenry, and Will Counties.
How Congregations Can Serve as Vaccination Sites
June 8, 2021| The White House Office of Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships has released a new toolkit that highlights how houses of worship can collaborate with a pharmacy partner to become an on-site COVID-19 vaccination clinic. Using the On-site Vaccination Toolkit, congregations can help people get vaccinated in a place they know and trust (note: in the toolkit, houses of worship are referenced as “host organizations”). The toolkit is also available in Spanish.
Response to Police Shooting of Adam Toledo
April 15, 2021 | The members of the Council of Religious Leaders of Metropolitan Chicago express our sorrow and sadness at the tragic shooting of Adam Toledo. Our prayers and support are with his family in their time of grief.
As we all witness the CPD body cam video of his shooting, we offer guidance for responding.
First, we must remember that we are responsible for one another. Persons of faith are called to speak to unjust situations and to make common cause with all people of good will to correct them.
Second, we ask everyone to follow a path of peace. Each of our faith traditions teaches that human life is sacred.
The work of justice and healing in our city must continue. We call on the faith leadership within our networks as well as across the city to join us in this essential effort.
As we all witness the CPD body cam video of his shooting, we offer guidance for responding.
First, we must remember that we are responsible for one another. Persons of faith are called to speak to unjust situations and to make common cause with all people of good will to correct them.
Second, we ask everyone to follow a path of peace. Each of our faith traditions teaches that human life is sacred.
The work of justice and healing in our city must continue. We call on the faith leadership within our networks as well as across the city to join us in this essential effort.
COVID-19 Vaccination Programs in Chicago and the Metropolitan Area
Updated April 19, 2021| Vaccinations are available to all Illinois residents age 16 and older regardless of zip code, including the City of Chicago. The State of Illinois is working with local health departments and providers across the state to provide COVID-19 vaccinations. A list of statewide vaccination sites is available here. A tool for tracking down COVID-19 vaccine appointment openings at Illinois pharmacies is available here.
COOK, DuPAGE, KANE, LAKE, McHENRY, AND WILL COUNTIES | CITY OF CHICAGO
The City of Chicago is now in phase 2 of the vaccine rollout. All Chicagoans age 16 and older are eligible for COVID-19 vaccines. Vaccinations are available by appointment only, and the best way to schedule an appointment is through a healthcare provider. For those without a healthcare provider, visit Zocdoc.com/vaccine (the City’s vaccine appointment tool) or Chicago.gov/VaccineFinder to find a vaccine provider nearby. For those without internet access, call 312.746.4835.
Click on the link below for vaccine information in the City of Chicago and in Cook, DuPage, Kane, Lake, McHenry, and Will Counties. A listing for other vaccinations locations in Illinois is available here.
Click on the link below for vaccine information in the City of Chicago and in Cook, DuPage, Kane, Lake, McHenry, and Will Counties. A listing for other vaccinations locations in Illinois is available here.
Council Opens Chicago's Martin Luther King Celebration with
Call for the Elimination of Racism
|
|
January 15, 2021 | The Council of Religious Leaders of Metropolitan Chicago opened the City of Chicago's 35th Annual Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Interfaith Celebration this morning with a call for the elimination of racism. The virtual program featured a welcome message from Chicago Mayor Lori E. Lightfoot and a keynote address from Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms. The program also celebrated the Lawndale Christian Health Center, The Chicago Community Trust, and YWCA Metropolitan Chicago as Chicago Community Healer honorees.
|
Religious Congregations Respond during COVID-19 | Impact Report
SPECIAL REPORT FROM COUNCIL OF RELIGIOUS LEADERS OF METROPOLITAN CHICAGO
CAPTURES EXPERIENCES AND CHALLENGES OF LOCAL FAITH COMMUNITIES
CAPTURES EXPERIENCES AND CHALLENGES OF LOCAL FAITH COMMUNITIES
October 29, 2020 | Despite differences in size, budget, location, and tradition, Chicago area religious congregations are grappling with many of the same challenges as they respond to the COVID-19 pandemic. That’s one of the key findings from the Council of Religious Leaders of Metropolitan Chicago’s newly released report, Religious Congregations Respond during COVID-19. The report is based on responses from more than 120 congregations in Northern Illinois, representing 24 different faith traditions, to a survey conducted in July and August.
Among the report’s key findings:
Among the report’s key findings:
- In-person routines have given way to myriad other ways to enact the rituals of fellowship and worship, mourning, and celebration.
- Some congregations are finding new benefits to regular telephone calls, more frequent contact, and more attention to those most in need of companionship and safety.
- Congregations have revamped arrangements for providing material support, and food in particular, for service activities.
- Financial supports have become more uncertain. While some income loss is partially offset with fewer in-person activities and associated costs, 40% of respondents express concern (from slight to extreme) that they may not be in operation at all within 12 months.
Response to Ongoing Violence in Chicago
July 2020 | Our city and our nation are at a tipping point. COVID-19 is not the only pandemic we face. We, the people who live, work, raise our families, and worship in this city must also acknowledge the pandemics of racism, violence, and fear that have separated us from each other. We, the Council of Religious Leaders of Metropolitan Chicago, see the anguish and pain of our friends and neighbors whose communities have been torn apart by violence of all kinds for far too many years.
Every week our community adds to the tally of loss. By mid-July, the City of Chicago had recorded in 2020 the highest total of annual homicides in nearly a decade. The majority of those killed are young African American men. The collateral damage of murdered children, grieving families, and shattered neighborhoods extends far beyond.
Every faith tradition on the Council of Religious Leaders of Metropolitan Chicago teaches that human life is sacred and that we are responsible for one another. Yet we, too, have failed to instill the truth that when we look into the faces of other people, we are seeing our brothers and our sisters.
We can no longer look away and distance ourselves from the tragedy unfolding around us. Each of us has the responsibility to address the root causes of the problem. Without dignity, safety, and hope, all of us are lost.
We must renew our responsibilities to one another. We must rededicate ourselves to sustained, long-term efforts to invest in all our neighborhoods and support all of our neighbors. And we must rebuild the spaces for hope in our city. In the days, weeks, months, and years ahead, we commit ourselves to work with all those of good will to build the beloved community.
Every week our community adds to the tally of loss. By mid-July, the City of Chicago had recorded in 2020 the highest total of annual homicides in nearly a decade. The majority of those killed are young African American men. The collateral damage of murdered children, grieving families, and shattered neighborhoods extends far beyond.
Every faith tradition on the Council of Religious Leaders of Metropolitan Chicago teaches that human life is sacred and that we are responsible for one another. Yet we, too, have failed to instill the truth that when we look into the faces of other people, we are seeing our brothers and our sisters.
We can no longer look away and distance ourselves from the tragedy unfolding around us. Each of us has the responsibility to address the root causes of the problem. Without dignity, safety, and hope, all of us are lost.
We must renew our responsibilities to one another. We must rededicate ourselves to sustained, long-term efforts to invest in all our neighborhoods and support all of our neighbors. And we must rebuild the spaces for hope in our city. In the days, weeks, months, and years ahead, we commit ourselves to work with all those of good will to build the beloved community.
Reopening Illinois Places of Worship
COVID-19 IMPACT SURVEY FOR CHICAGO-AREA CONGREGATIONS
In July 2020, the Council of Religious Leaders of Metropolitan Chicago is conducting an on-line survey of local religious leaders about the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on their congregations. Stephen Baker, PhD, a researcher and evaluator at the University of Chicago, is conducting this survey on behalf of the Council.
The COVID-19 Impact Survey survey addresses how the pandemic has affected worship, education, and service activities. It asks leaders about the impact of the pandemic on the administrative procedures and financial security of their congregations. And it asks local leaders what resources they need to weather the crisis. Individual responses are confidential and anonymous.
The Council will share the aggregate findings from the COVID-19 Impact Survey with public policymakers and private funders to help identify ways to support religious institutions. The deadline for participating in the survey is July 20.
The COVID-19 Impact Survey survey addresses how the pandemic has affected worship, education, and service activities. It asks leaders about the impact of the pandemic on the administrative procedures and financial security of their congregations. And it asks local leaders what resources they need to weather the crisis. Individual responses are confidential and anonymous.
The Council will share the aggregate findings from the COVID-19 Impact Survey with public policymakers and private funders to help identify ways to support religious institutions. The deadline for participating in the survey is July 20.
FRAMEWORK FOR REOPENING ILLINOIS PLACES OF WORSHIP
Reopening a place of worship is the fullest expression of hope. Illinoisans of every faith are anxious to return to their congregations and to renew themselves and their work on behalf of the common good. Yet reopening without careful planning can prove literally disastrous.
The Council has prepared this Framework for Reopening Illinois Places of Worship which reflects the experience and wisdom of our interfaith community. It offers general guidelines for that process in two parts: (1) Preparation, which outlines basic issues each congregation must consider before reopening a facility for members and the general community; and (2) Reopening, which offers a checklist of practices that congregations should follow upon reopening to protect the health of their members and the general public.
The pandemic has highlighted that our actions have consequences for other people beside ourselves. The Framework for Reopening Illinois Places of Worship illustrates how working together can aid each of us and provide benefits for us all.
NOTE: Many member institutions of the Council have already prepared specific guidelines/plans for reopening their places of worship. Congregations are urged to consult with leaders in their own traditions and denominations for specific instructions.
The Council has prepared this Framework for Reopening Illinois Places of Worship which reflects the experience and wisdom of our interfaith community. It offers general guidelines for that process in two parts: (1) Preparation, which outlines basic issues each congregation must consider before reopening a facility for members and the general community; and (2) Reopening, which offers a checklist of practices that congregations should follow upon reopening to protect the health of their members and the general public.
The pandemic has highlighted that our actions have consequences for other people beside ourselves. The Framework for Reopening Illinois Places of Worship illustrates how working together can aid each of us and provide benefits for us all.
NOTE: Many member institutions of the Council have already prepared specific guidelines/plans for reopening their places of worship. Congregations are urged to consult with leaders in their own traditions and denominations for specific instructions.
Faith Communities and COVID-19
|
|
As Chicago confronts the global COVID-19 pandemic, everyday activities have been fundamentally altered. The religious communities of Metropolitan Chicago, like communities across the nation, have made dramatic changes.
This interview features Dr. Allison Arwady, Commissioner of the Chicago Department of Public Health, and The Rev. Vance T. Henry, Chief of Faith Engagement, Office of the Mayor for the City of Chicago, as they discuss what steps faith communities have made to slow the spread of the disease, how these changes have affected faith institutions and the people they serve, and what can people of faith do to help their neighbors during this crisis. |
COVID-19 | Resources for Faith Leaders and Faith Communities
DIVERSE TRADITIONS UNITED TO SERVE IN TIME OF CRISIS
The Council of Religious Leaders of Metropolitan Chicago joins with religious leaders across the nation and around the world in responding to the COVID-19 pandemic. Our faith communities support and practice the recommendations of local, state, and national health officials to help flatten the curve of the pandemic so it does not overwhelm our health care professionals and facilities. We have suspended worship services, in-person study and devotional opportunities, and even life cycle events in order to slow the spread of the disease.
We pray for the welfare of those who serve our communities in health care, public safety, emergency response, and public office. We also remind everyone that COVID-19 strikes regardless of religious viewpoint, race, or social class, and that it does not distinguish between immigrant and native-born. We must respond to this pandemic through science and not scapegoating. We are all neighbors and allies for the common good.
The Council asks each of us to do our part by respecting social distance and taking care of each other wherever we shelter. We pray that you remain healthy and safe and that we all return speedily and in good health to normal life.
We pray for the welfare of those who serve our communities in health care, public safety, emergency response, and public office. We also remind everyone that COVID-19 strikes regardless of religious viewpoint, race, or social class, and that it does not distinguish between immigrant and native-born. We must respond to this pandemic through science and not scapegoating. We are all neighbors and allies for the common good.
The Council asks each of us to do our part by respecting social distance and taking care of each other wherever we shelter. We pray that you remain healthy and safe and that we all return speedily and in good health to normal life.
Words of Hope & Comfort | Responses to COVID-19 by
The Council of Religious Leaders of Metropolitan Chicago
As all of us shelter in place during this time of COVID-19, there is still much that we can do to support each other. We believe in the wisdom of our sacred teachings and in the power that they offer to all persons in moments of crisis. In that spirit, members of the Council of Religious Leaders of Metropolitan Chicago share these words of hope and comfort drawn from our faith traditions. We will continue to update this listing with additional selections.
We offer these brief prayers and sacred writings as a reminder that we have overcome great trials in the past and that together we have the strength to sustain and restore our community in days to come.
We offer these brief prayers and sacred writings as a reminder that we have overcome great trials in the past and that together we have the strength to sustain and restore our community in days to come.
About the Council
Welcome to the official site for the Council of Religious Leaders of Metropolitan Chicago. Our office is located in Hyde Park, across from Catholic Theological Union. But our presence extends far beyond that residence. As a council, we work to promote peace and unity among all of the respective faith traditions on a local, national, and international scale. Here on this site, you can find important information from past events and for upcoming events, learn more about the members of the Council and the different faith traditions that they represent, and discover ways to get involved with the mission and service of the Council.
Click here for more information.
Council of Religious Leaders of Metropolitan Chicago
We Represent a kaleidoscope of diversity!
For More photos, Click here
We Represent a kaleidoscope of diversity!
For More photos, Click here
