Interfaith Banquet

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2023 Interfaith Banquet Sponsorships

 

March 19, 2023
Indiana Roof BallRoom
Honoring the 2023
Interfaith Ambassador
Jerry Zehr

 

 

Jerry Zehr is an ordained minister and has been a parish minister for over 35 years. He has had a passion for interfaith work from the beginning of his ministries. In 1989 while serving his first pastorate, he helped form and became the President of the Indianapolis Interfaith Alliance. Before this time, there were Jewish/ Christian dialogue groups but no organization that included Muslims, Bahai, and other faith traditions.  

He has been a leader in Interfaith ministries for over 35 years, helping to create four interfaith organizations, including the Carmel Interfaith Alliance and the Indiana Multifaith Network. He was a member of the Northern Kentucky Interfaith Commission. He was on the planning team that hosted the Yom Ha Shoah service every year for Jewish and Christian remembrance of the Holocaust in Florence, Kentucky. He was on the Board of Associated Churches and United Way in Fort Wayne, Indiana.

He was the Chairperson of Vision Southside (a coalition of Faith communities and businesses seeking to make the Southside of Fort Wayne, Indiana, a more viable area for business and residence).  They developed a video that received three different awards from the state of Indiana.

Rev. Zehr led congregational efforts that have made possible many specific projects in the rebuilding of Bosnia after the war in 1995, including supplying tractors, orchards of fruit trees, and 50,000 of seed money for micro-credit loans. The different faith communities were required to work together, or they would not receive these funds. He has led several Habitat house builds resulting in over a dozen local churches funding and framing seven houses.

Retired from parish ministry after serving Carmel Christian Church in Carmel, Indiana, he received the Range Line Pioneer Award from Mayor Brainard in 2021.

He has a new book entitled “The Peacemaker’s Path: Multifaith Reflections to Deepen Your Spirituality.” Through daily readings that explore the tenets, teachings, writings, and prayers of these diverse faith traditions, you will gain new insight, understanding, and connection with people from different religious backgrounds. Each day offers a reflection, scripture passages from the world’s religions, questions to contemplate, a call to action, and a closing prayer.

Jerry and his wife Diane have been married for over 37 years with two daughters and two grandchildren.”

Center for Interfaith Cooperation has hosted the Interfaith Banquet since 2015. Each year we gather to recognize an Interfaith Ambassador of the Year, and we enjoy a meal and entertainment that reflects the faith and culture of the person or organization that is being honored. 

Save the date for the next Banquet on Sunday March 19th 2023!

Past recipients

2015
Donald E. Knebel

2016
KP Singh

2017
Sister Norma Rocklage

2018
Rabbi Sandi Sasso & Rabbi Dennis Sasso

2019
Imam Michael “Mikal” Saahir

2020
Betty Brandt

2021 Interfaith Banquet

2021
Ascension St. Vincent Hospital

2022

Dr. Vimal Patel

2022 Dr. Vimal Patel

Watch our honoree videos