Faith Leaders Share Messages of Peace and Civility

As Election Day approached, faith leaders across Greater Philadelphia came together to share a powerful message of unity, healing, and respect. The Religious Leaders Council of Greater Philadelphia (RLC), representing 36 senior leaders from diverse religious traditions, launched a month-long Peace and Civility series aimed at promoting understanding during a season often marked by division.

The initiative began on October 1 and culminated on Election Day, November 5. Each week, a new video message or prayer was released, featuring leaders from Christian, Jewish, Muslim, Buddhist, Hindu, Sikh, and other faith communities. These videos, shared on Interfaith Philadelphia’s YouTube channel and social media, invited Philadelphians of all backgrounds to embrace values of civility and mutual respect.

“This initiative seeks to rise above partisanship, emphasizing shared values that strengthen our community,” said Rev. Edward Livingston, Director of Religious Community Initiatives.

The messages were as diverse as the faiths represented but united in their call for peace. From prayers for harmony to reflections on shared humanity, the videos encouraged viewers to approach conversations with empathy, even when perspectives differ.

While the Peace and Civility series concluded on Election Day, its impact will continue to ripple across the region. For those who missed the series, the videos remain available on Interfaith Philadelphia’s YouTube channel.

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Religious Leaders Council of Greater Philadelphia (RLC)
The Religious Leaders Council of Greater Philadelphia was founded in April 2006 to build relationships of mutual support, offer a moral and spiritual voice in the region, and identify issues of local concern for dialogue and action. The Council is coordinated by Interfaith Philadelphia.

Co-Conveners:
Archbishop Nelson J. Pérez, Archdiocese of Philadelphia
The Rt. Rev. Daniel Gutiérrez, Episcopal Diocese of Pennsylvania Rabbi David Straus, Jewish Community Relations Council of the Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia
Imam Anwar Muhaimin, Quba Masjid

Members:
Bishop Samuel Lawrence Green Sr., African Methodist Episcopal Church
Imam Mohamed Shehata, Al-Aqsa Islamic Society
Kavneet Singh Pannu, American Sikh Council
Bishop J. Louis Felton, Black Clergy of Philadelphia and Vicinity
Rabbi Beth Janus, Board of Rabbis of Greater Philadelphia
Bishop Guy Glimp, Church of God in Christ
Rabbi Yosef Zarnighian, Congregation Mikveh Israel
Bishop Peter Hwang, Council of Korean Churches of Greater Philadelphia
Rabbi Eli Freedman, Delaware Valley Association of Reform Rabbis
Bishop Cynthia Moore-Koikoi, The Eastern Pennsylvania Conference, United Methodist Church
Dr. Gity Etemad, Greater Philadelphia Bahai Community
The Very Rev. Archimandrite Avgoustinos Psomas, Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America
Rev. Luis Cortes, Hispanic Clergy of Philadelphia and Vicinity
Dr. Tahir Wyatt, Majlis Ash Shura of Philadelphia and the Delaware Valley
Rev. Stephen Kriss, Franconia Conference, Mennonite Church USA
Rev. Dr. Calenthia Dowdy, Metropolitan Christian Council of Philadelphia
Imam Muhammad Abdur-Razzaq Miller, Mosque of Shaikh M. R. Bawa Muhaiyaddeen
Rev. William Worley, Pennsylvania Southeast Conference United Church of Christ Archbishop Mary Floyd Palmer, Philadelphia Council of Clergy
Rev. Terry Davis, Philadelphia Gospel Movement
Dr. Wilson Goode, Philadelphia Leadership Foundation
Christie Duncan-Tessmer, Phila. Yearly Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends Rev. Ruth Faith Santana-Grace, Presbytery of Philadelphia
Rabbi Abe Friedman, Rabbinical Assembly, Philadelphia Region
Rabbi Shawn Zevit, Reconstructionist Rabbinical Association
Fr. Mina Mina, St. Mary Coptic Orthodox Church in Delaware
Lt. Colonel Larry Ashcraft, Salvation Army of Eastern Pennsylvania and Delaware Bishop Bryan Penman, Southeastern Pennsylvania Synod, ECLA
Pres. Kim McNaughton, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Archbishop Borys Gudziak, Ukrainian Catholic Archeparchy of Philadelphia
Rev. Kevin Jagoe, Unitarian Universalist Assoc., Central Eastern Region
Rev. Dr. Hojin Park, Won Institute of Graduate Studies