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Interfaith Center of New York

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The Interfaith Center of New York seeks to make New York City and the world safe for religious difference by increasing respect and mutual understanding among people of different faith, ethnic, and cultural traditions and by fostering cooperation among religious communities and civic organizations to solve common social problems.

The Center is one of six of New York’s most prominent interfaith organizations -- including Auburn Seminary, Intersections International and Odyssey Networks -- in a new coalition to equip New Yorkers to promote religious pluralism and counter intolerance of religious differences in anticipation of the 10th anniversary of 9/11. Learn More

Methodology
We define interfaith as the positive awareness of religious diversity, and the intention or actual practice of engaging people of different faiths for the betterment of society as a whole.  For our purposes social change is defined as the integrated effect of changing attitudes and social patterns towards other religious communities while at the same time improving the social well being of ones own community and the community at large. What follows is both a description of how the process works, as well as a description of key elements of the methodology. Read more

History of the Interfaith Center of New York
The Interfaith Center of New York (ICNY) is a secular educational nonprofit organization founded in 1997 by the Very Reverend James Parks Morton after his retirement from 25 years as Dean of the Cathedral of St. John the Divine. According to its Certificate of Incorporation, ICNY was organized "for the purpose of promoting interfaith dialogue and harmony among all of the world's religions and the prevention and resolution of conflicts arising there from." Early programs included the Rabbi Marshall T. Meyer working retreats for religious leaders, a series of one-day educational seminars entitled "Religions of New York," retreat programs for women religious leaders, and Dialogues on Religion and Psychology. The International and UN Affairs department worked to forge partnerships with international leaders and communities in order to integrate the spiritual ethical and moral aspect of the world's religious traditions in the peacemaking process.

After September 11, 2001, ICNY's mission became increasingly centered on providing assistance to immigrant and disenfranchised communities whose religious leaders were often the only source of knowledge for new immigrants about coping with a new life in an urban environment like New York City. New programs were launched that responded to the needs of these constituents, combining practical information about establishing civic connections and information about other religions with insight about common social concerns. New programs included Religious Communities and the Courts System (2003), Teacher Education in American Religious Diversity (2003), Mediation for Religious Leaders (2005), and Religious Diversity Training for Social Workers (2005).

ICNY continues to extend its connections with the grass roots religious and community leaders groups across New York City, including Buddhist, Christian, Hindu, Jewish, Muslim, Native American, Shinto, Sikh and Yoruba, Zoroastrian and Afro-Caribbean faiths. ICNY also reaches out to universities and other partners including the NYU School of Continuing and Professional Studies and the University of Pennsylvania to collaborate in the development of programs. ICNY has also been approached by civic organizations that wished to utilize the Center's connections to immigrant communities.

About Us

Methodology
We define interfaith as the positive awareness of religious diversity, and the intention or actual practice of engaging people of different faiths for the betterment of society as a whole.  For our purposes social change is defined as the integrated effect of changing attitudes and social patterns towards other religious communities while at the same time improving the social well being of ones own community and the community at large. What follows is both a description of how the process works, as well as a description of key elements of the methodology. Read more

History of the Interfaith Center of New York
The Interfaith Center of New York (ICNY) is a secular educational nonprofit organization founded in 1997 by the Very Reverend James Parks Morton after his retirement from 25 years as Dean of the Cathedral of St. John the Divine. According to its Certificate of Incorporation, ICNY was organized "for the purpose of promoting interfaith dialogue and harmony among all of the world's religions and the prevention and resolution of conflicts arising there from." Early programs included the Rabbi Marshall T. Meyer working retreats for religious leaders, a series of one-day educational seminars entitled "Religions of New York," retreat programs for women religious leaders, and Dialogues on Religion and Psychology. The International and UN Affairs department worked to forge partnerships with international leaders and communities in order to integrate the spiritual ethical and moral aspect of the world's religious traditions in the peacemaking process.

After September 11, 2001, ICNY's mission became increasingly centered on providing assistance to immigrant and disenfranchised communities whose religious leaders were often the only source of knowledge for new immigrants about coping with a new life in an urban environment like New York City. New programs were launched that responded to the needs of these constituents, combining practical information about establishing civic connections and information about other religions with insight about common social concerns. New programs included Religious Communities and the Courts System (2003), Teacher Education in American Religious Diversity (2003), Mediation for Religious Leaders (2005), and Religious Diversity Training for Social Workers (2005).

ICNY continues to extend its connections with the grass roots religious and community leaders groups across New York City, including Buddhist, Christian, Hindu, Jewish, Muslim, Native American, Shinto, Sikh and Yoruba, Zoroastrian and Afro-Caribbean faiths. ICNY also reaches out to universities and other partners including the NYU School of Continuing and Professional Studies and the University of Pennsylvania to collaborate in the development of programs. ICNY has also been approached by civic organizations that wished to utilize the Center's connections to immigrant communities.