The University hosted its annual Illinois Interfaith Conference on Friday and Saturday. The conference aimed to create a community and dialogue across important issues surrounding spiritual and secular issues in Champaign-Urbana.
The conference lasted all day Saturday and consisted of seminars, lunch and workshops. Workshops consisted of discussion-based exercises ranging from a variety of topics, such as healing from trauma, self-care and ways to find a community.
“I would say it’s about building bridges,” said Emily McKown, president of the Religious Workers Association on campus and workshop leader. “Getting folks in conversation with each other about tough topics, some of that being sexuality and gender in religious contexts, but not all of it.”
The theme of this year’s conference was to brainstorm ways to create inclusive spaces and conversations around religion. Sexuality was also a theme in the discussion, sparking conversations about where it fits in religious contexts while also being inclusive and understanding of the experiences of others.
Workshops on how to facilitate discussions effectively and inclusively were presented with interactive activities for participants to learn from their interfaith peers. Students were able to facilitate discussions to lead productive and welcoming conversations.
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“We led a discussion with about eight or nine other people and helped them get to know each other and share their experience,” said Maya Crystal, junior in LAS and a member of the Interfaith in Action organization.
The conference also offered interfaith-friendly food and beverages to make sure participants of all backgrounds would be able to enjoy lunch. A room was also set aside for any of the participants to take a break, pray or reflect on what they had learned.
“We have to think about who we’re going to invite,” said Ross Wantland, director of Curriculum Development and Education at the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Diversity, Equity & Inclusion. “And what we’re going to do during that time together and how we can accommodate all the groups.”
The conference concluded with a service project for Strides Shelter, in which participants packed backpacks with essential needs, toiletries and other personal care items for unhoused youths in the C-U community.
“We know that there are a lot of homeless youth in our community, and we also know that queer youth are overrepresented in that population,” Wantland said.
“I hope that by coming to this conference, folks can begin to say, ‘How do I care for people that get pushed to the margins, that are overlooked, that are mistreated due to systemic homophobia and racism?’ and other things like that,” Wantland said.
