In Good Faith

Carla Fortmann shares how the Lexington Interfaith Garden began, how it contributes to the community, and what lessons we learn from gardening. Carla Fortmann is the leader of the Lexington Interfaith Garden, a community project beside the historic Lexington Battle Green that has supplied fresh produce to the local food pantry for 15 seasons. Carla is also a registered nurse, the manager of the museum shop at the Buckman Tavern, and the former owner of The Crafty Yankee, a gift shop in Lexington, MA.

Reverend Frederick Davie shares how mentors pointed him in the direction of education and service, and how faith and social change have always been connected in his life and community. Rev. Frederick Davie is Senior Executive Vice President for Public Theology and Civic Engagement at Union Theological Seminary. He is also the Co-Chair of the Interfaith Center of New York and the Co-Chair of the Advisory Board for the Center of Earth Ethics, and a member of the Bureau of the NGO Committee for Freedom of Religion or Belief. Mr. Davie serves on the Board of Trustees of Greensboro College, his alma mater. He has served for decades as a member of the Advisory Board of the Interfaith Assembly for Homelessness and Housing. Mr. Davie is a founder and past Chair of Faith 2020/Faith Forward. A Presbyterian minister in the Presbytery of New York City, Mr. Davie has served the national Presbyterian Church, the NYC presbytery, and local congregations in various volunteer capacities.

Rabbi Danya Ruttenberg, Daisy Khan, and Chris Hays join Steve to discuss how the story of Hagar, Sarah, and Abraham infuse the Jewish, Muslim, and Christian traditions and thought. Named "rabbi to watch" by Newsweek, Danya Ruttenberg is the author of 8 books about the intersection of Jewish theology, parenting, feminism, and other topics. Her primary writing home is now at LifeIsASacredText.com. She was previously a guest on IGF in Episode 122: “Making Amends in an Unapologetic World.” Daisy Khan is the author of 30 Rights of Muslim Women: A Trusted Guide (2024). She is also the founder of Women’s Islamic Initiative in Spirituality and Equality (WISE), a global network of Muslim women committed to peace-building, gender equality, and human dignity. Daisy was on the show in Episode 138 when she spoke about her memoir Born with Wings (2018) and her experience with the hajj. She spoke about her book “30 Rights…” on Episode 263. Chris Hays teaches at Fuller Seminary and directs the master’s program in Ancient Near Eastern Studies in the School of Mission and Theology. He served as the US State Department Educational and Cultural Affairs Annual Professor at the Albright Institute of Archaeological Research in Jerusalem for 2022–23. He is ordained in the Presbyterian Church (USA).

Cherie Harder of the Trinity Forum shares the need for hospitality and civil discourse in times of political division, as well as how to ground oneself in faith in order to navigate political challenges while maintaining belief. Plus, Ms. Harder shares her recent experience on the Camino de Santiago. Cherie Harder is President of the Trinity Forum, a DC-based think tank, whose mission is to work “for the renewal of society by cultivating, curating and disseminating the best in Christian thinking for the common good, and by helping leaders to think, work, and live wisely and well.” Previously, she has worked in politics including as Special Assistant to the President and Director of Policy and Projects for First Lady Laura Bush and Senior Counselor to the Chairman of the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH). She is also a Senior Fellow at Cardus, an Editorial Board member of Comment magazine, a current board member of the Convergence Center for Policy Resolution and Faith and Law, and an advisory board member of the National Museum of American Religion.

Pastor Amy Butler joins Steve to discuss her struggle with faith, coping with loss, and experiences as a female pastor in a male-dominated tradition--and how community and ritual brought her healing and peace. Pastor Amy Butler is the Designated Pastor at the Community Church of Honolulu in Hawai’i. Previously, she served for five years as Senior Minister and first woman at the helm of The Riverside Church in the City of New York. She’s also served as pastor in churches in Washington, D.C., and New Orleans. She recently founded Invested Faith, which helps individuals and religious institutions use their assets to fund the work of faith-rooted social entrepreneurs building businesses that are changing unjust systems. Pastor Amy grew up in Hawaii, the daughter of a leader in the Hawaiian community. She is the author of a memoir, Beautiful and Terrible Things, and more recently, Holy Disruption.

Adam Davis joins Steve in studio to share how music was important to his faith journey and his identity as a Jew. Cantor Adam Davis is the Cantor at Congregation Kol Ami in Salt Lake City, UT. He has served Temple Beth-El of Great Neck in New York, having also done so for communities in California, Illinois, Maryland and Virginia. Cantor Davis has composed many original songs and musical settings of Jewish prayers. His Uvchein was published in 2023 by Transcontinental Music Publications as part of High Holy Days Anthology, Volume II. Cantor Davis is a graduate of University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music and Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion's Debbie Friedman School of Sacred Music. Prior to his pulpit work, Cantor Adam founded KFAR Jewish Arts Center in Chicago. Under his leadership, KFAR produced and presented dozens of concert events and engaged thousands of attendees in cutting edge Jewish cultural and musical experiences.

Dr. Najeeba Syeed discusses how peacebuilding and lived religion unify us and how they're crucial to a democratic society. Najeeba Syeed is the inaugural El-Hibri endowed chair and executive director of Interfaith at Augsburg University in Minneapolis MN. She co-edited the book “Critical Approaches to Interreligious Education,” and she’s been feature in the Los Angeles Times, or NPR, PBS, and other television shows, and she lectures at major universities across the US.

Ellen Skrmetti talks to Steve about her faith, her family, and the way humor has helped her navigate life's challenges. Ellen Skrmetti is the comic talent behind “Hey Jesus, It’s Me”--Instagram sketches about a middle-aged, southern-woman’s opinions on mamas, menopause, and menus. Based in Birmingham, Alabama, Ellen has trained with Second City and tours as a stand-up comedian. She has recently published her story in a new book, called Hey Jesus It’s Me.

This episode  is a conversation about suicide and ways to prevent it. We know this can be a difficult topic, so please take care while listening. If you or someone you know is in emotional distress or thinking about suicide, you can call or text 988 in the US or visit 988lifeline.org for free, confidential help anytime. -------- Jacob Coyne shares how his ministry StayHereLive is transforming lives through suicide prevention and faith. He speaks powerfully about how community can make a difference. Jacob Coyne is a preacher, a Christian content creator, and the founder of Stay Here, a mental health organization that raises awareness through bold and encouraging messaging and equips others to save lives from suicide. He and his wife, Mariah, have three daughters and live in east Tennessee.

We'll be back with more episodes of In Good Faith on Sept 7, bit for now here's a taste of Take a Leap, our faith & spirituality show that we spun off with the work and commitment of IGF student producers. Take A Leap hosts talk to you people of faith who are changing the world. Please share with a young person in your life.