Building A Local Grassroot Interfaith Movements: Principled Pluralism in the American Midwest

What lessons can the Kaufman Institute learn from the interfaith experiences of Muskegon and Grand Rapids, and could those lessons be useful for similar initiatives in other communities? Some elements of West Michigan’s interfaith experiences are unique to the area. The area is rich with religious resources, including Christian colleges, publishing houses, social outreach programs, and ministries. Both Grand Rapids and Muskegon’s initiatives were led by individuals with extensive religious, civic, and academic connections. The Kaufman Interfaith Institute benefits from the support of a public university. While the scope of the region’s interfaith initiatives is limited to the geographic community, it also attracts international religious figures and scholars. The two cities’ interfaith activities feature common elements that can be applied to similar efforts in other communities.