Interfaith Partners of South Carolina

Last updated
Interfaith Partners of South Carolina
AbbreviationIPSC
Formation2010;14 years ago (2010)
Type Nonprofit
Region served
South Carolina
Website interfaithpartnersofsc.org
Leadership of Interfaith Partners of South Carolina holding a media event at the S.C. State House in 2019. IPSCatSH2019.jpg
Leadership of Interfaith Partners of South Carolina holding a media event at the S.C. State House in 2019.

Interfaith Partners of South Carolina (IPSC) is an organization formed in 2010 to promote better understanding among people of the many religious, spiritual, and secular-ethical traditions throughout South Carolina. [1] [2]

Contents

History

FBI Director Christopher Wray presents Dr. Adrian Bird, Chair of Interfaith Partners of South Carolina, with the Director's Community Leadership Award, 2019. Columbia-dcla-2018-interfaith-partners-of-south-carolina-050319.jpg
FBI Director Christopher Wray presents Dr. Adrian Bird, Chair of Interfaith Partners of South Carolina, with the Director's Community Leadership Award, 2019.

In a state often noted for its predominantly conservative and religiously Christian population, Interfaith Partners of South Carolina works to draw public attention to the broad diversity of religious, spiritual and secular-ethical traditions and practice in South Carolina. Regional affiliated chapters include Aiken and Florence.

Initially, IPSC held meetings of an advisory committee drawn from around the state, occasional panel discussions, festivals, and book studies. Additionally, as an effort to recruit wider participation in the Charter For Compassion, there was a project of author and religious studies pertaining to scholar Karen Armstrong.

A key initiative since 2011 has been South Carolina Interfaith Month. Beginning that year, then-Governor Nikki Haley issued an official proclamation declaring January as South Carolina Interfaith Harmony Month. Her successor, Governor Henry McMaster, has continued to issue the proclamation. IPSC has held a yearly kickoff media conference the last week of December at which time a calendar of January events has been announced. Open events have been held by houses of worship and religious and other groups for the entire month. In 2019 and 2020, the mayors of Charleston and Aiken (S.C.) issued similar proclamations in their respective cities in collaboration with IPSC.

The group supports minority groups and those at risk because of hate speech. Some examples are:

IPSC leadership visited the FBI in Washington, DC, in 2019 to receive the Director's Community Leadership Award for the state. [4] Regional affiliated chapters include Aiken and Florence. [5]

Mission

The mission of Interfaith Partners of South Carolina is to bring together people of diverse religious, spiritual, and secular paths throughout our state to cultivate a more harmonious community. [6] [7]

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References

  1. "Interfaith Partners of South Carolina (Formerly: Partners in Dialogue)". 7 May 2020. Retrieved 1 Feb 2021.
  2. "SC Religious Leaders Share Hopes for New Year". WLTX News CBS. 30 Dec 2016. Retrieved 2 Feb 2021.
  3. "Action Plan for Election Season Peace". Interfaith Partners of South Carolina. Retrieved 7 Feb 2021.
  4. "Columbia: Interfaith Partners of South Carolina 2018 Director's Community Leadership Award Recipient". FBI. 3 May 2019. Retrieved 2 Feb 2021.
  5. "Interfaith group wants to create religious dialogue". SCNow. 14 Jun 2014. Retrieved 5 Feb 2021.
  6. "Mission – Interfaith Partners of South Carolina" . Retrieved 2021-02-07.
  7. "Interfaith Partners of South Carolina". Charter for Compassion. Retrieved 2021-02-07.