June 29 - Faith, Family, Fairness Alliance

The Faith, Family, Fairness Alliance (FFFA) is a faith-based coalition of people in Minnesota from diverse religious backgrounds and beliefs. As people of faith they are committed to upholding the inherent humanity of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender (GLBT) people as beloved children of God, and as Americans equally deserving of full rights, responsibilities, and legal protections for themselves and their families.


Faith Family Fairness Alliance
Human Rights Campaign

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June 22 - Center for Victims of Torture - Douglas Johnson

It is truly tragic that Americans are being called to hold their government accountable over such an evil practice as torture. But the horrible fact remains: our nation is committing torture in countries around the globe. A bitter irony of this is that for much of our history, we were considered a safe haven for world citizens escaping torture in their home lands. Here in Minneapolis, we're honored to host a pioneering organization that welcomes our brothers and sisters who have been persecuted elsewhere. The Center for Victims of Torture has been at the forefront of survivor therapy - and is recognized internationally as a model for transformational healing. This week, we'll be joined by the CVT's Executive Director, Douglas Johnson.


Center for Victims of Torture
National Religious Coalition Against Torture
Evangelicals for Human Rights
contextual timeline article from salon.com

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June 15 -Interfaith Youth - Congressman Keith Ellison and Eboo Patel

PLEASE NOTE: THIS WEEK'S GUESTS HAD SCHEDULING CONFLICTS ARISE.
LOOK FUR FUTURE DATES FOR INTERVIEWS WITH CONGRESSMAN ELLISON AND DR. PATEL.

Eboo Patel is the founder and Executive Director of the Interfaith Youth Core, a Chicago-based international nonprofit working to build mutual respect and pluralism among religiously diverse young people by empowering them to work together to serve others. He is the author of "Acts of Faith: The Story of an American Muslim, the Struggle for the Soul of a Generation" - and he holds a doctorate in the sociology of religion from Oxford University, where he studied on a Rhodes scholarship. He serves as an online panelist for the "On Faith" blog, co-hosted by The Washington Post and Newsweek Magazine.

Congressman Keith Ellison is making history on two fronts: he is the first African American elected to the U.S. House of Representatives from the state of Minnesota - and the first Muslim elected to U. S. Congress. Congressman Ellison continues to elevate youth empowerment and pluralism as an integral part of his work, along with other core progressive values: peace, support for our veterans, prosperity for working families, environmental sustainability, and civil and human rights.

This Sunday both men will join host Chris Morton to talk about empowering youth - and ways that faith communities can contribute to building a more just, generous, pluralistic nation.

Interfaith Youth Core
Congressman Keith Ellison

June 8 - Minnesota United Church of Christ Annual Meeting - Reverend John Thomas

This week the 2008 Annual Meeting of the United Church of Christ Minnesota Conference will be held at the College of St. Benedict in St. Joseph. The conference theme is “Extravagant Welcome... Evangelical Courage” - and the phrase comes from the UCC's General Minister and President, Reverend John H. Thomas.
Reverend Thomas has been pretty busy talking to the press these last few months. As
Americans have been learning about presidential candidates, we've also come to know a bit more about the candidates' religious lives – and certain statements lifted out of UCC Reverend Jeremiah Wright's sermons have prompted some heated responses. Reverend John Thomas has been at the center of those discussions – and numerous other discussions about liberation theology, social justice, and the role of the UCC in national politics. Reverend Thomas will be the keynote speaker and worship leader for this week's conference - and then he'll zoom down to the Air America studio to visit with host Reverend Peg Chemberlin about all things UCC.

United Church of Christ

image courtesy of United Church of Christ

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