Creating Safe Places for Interfaith Encounters

Interfaith engagement invites leaders to become more familiar with a range of religious traditions. It also encourages leaders to become adept at creating safe and caring environments in which youth and adults from diverse religious backgrounds (including those who are not religious) feel welcomed, respected, and included.

Basic Guidelines

  • Make leadership inclusive of religious pluralism. Specifically, include representatives from the participating faith communities in your leadership team. They will be aware of what will be needed to ensure that people from diverse traditions will be comfortable participating. If it’s not possible to include some leaders on the committee, communicate regularly to confirm that you’re addressing concerns.
  • Be careful about religious content and language. Avoid hosting activities that would be uncomfortable or off limits for someone’s religious tradition.
    • Some young people cannot participate in prayer, meditations, religious music, or other rituals with people from other traditions.
    • Refrain from speaking of another tradition in your religion’s terms. Use the specific terms within a tradition.
  • Address logistical issues that can interfere with full participation. Although logistical issues may seem small (and most are easy to address), they can make a significant difference in people feeling valued, welcomed, and able to participate. For example, when scheduling, pay attention to religious holidays and festivals. Specific issues to consider include these:
    • Rituals (music, meditations, etc.): Remember that any religious ritual may be off-putting to a first-time participant, particularly if it is perceived as exclusionary. (These activities may also be illegal if you are using public funding to support the event.)
    • Food: Will you be having food at your event?  Think and ask about diffeetary guidelines you need to consider for different faiths (Kosher, Halal, Vegan).
    • Gender: Are you having both genders work on a project together?  Consider the implications of appropriate gender interactions in different religions.
    • Cleanliness: Consider purity concerns for any service project. What kind of service work will you be doing? Are you asking participants to get dirty or expose themselves to ritually impure products or substances?
    • Prayer: What are the prayer needs of the diverse faith communities who will be attending, will you need to set aside time or space for regular prayers (without requiring anyone to participate)?
  • Ask. Remember that people within any religious tradition follow the tenets and practices of their faith differently. Though general guidelines are important, you won’t know for sure unless you ask.
  • Listen to each other. If you’re wondering if something would be appropriate or inappropriate, ask people from the different traditions represented. Respect their responses.
  • Dress modestly, even if the event does not involve a religious activity. And use appropriate language. Do not swear or use ethnic or religious slurs.
  • Contact houses of worship before you visit them. Ask whether visitors are allowed and what conduct is appropriate.
  • Give time and space for trust and openness to grow. People aren’t used to working interfaith. It can be awkward. Help people learn to talk with each other, learn from each other, and grow to trust and respect each other. Work to create an environment that is safe for all.

Creating a Safe Space for Interfaith Dialogue: Facilitator's Guidelines

Introduce the discussion by saying: “You will be asked to talk about your faith and your values today with others who don’t necessarily share your beliefs and ways of life.” 

Brainstorm: What do you need from yourself and others in order to feel safe having this conversation? Take notes on your group’s responses, and then read the responses aloud to conclude the discussion. 

Here’s a list of key safe space guidelines.  When your group is done brainstorming, add to the list anything you might have missed:

  • Everyone has the right to pass.
  • Everything said is confidential.
  • Seek clarification if you don’t understand something someone else is saying.
  • Make sure to listen to others without interrupting.
  • Suspend your judgment.
  • Use “I” statements.
  • Remember the importance of the other person’s faith or moral tradition in his or her own life.
  • Don’t expect others to know everything about your own tradition.
  • No question is stupid.

Try It Out: Activities to Increase Comfort with Interfaith Reflection

Here are two activities from Philadelphia's Walking the Walk program that help youth develop skills and comfort for interfaith dialogue and reflection:

  • Asking Good Questions (PDF)—A 60-minute activity guide that helps youth learn to ask honest and respectful questions that reflect curiosity, not judgment.
  • Sharing Meaningful Objects (PDF)—A 45-minute group activity in which young people share something meaningful to them from their own tradition or culture.

More Resources