Celebrating Religious Freedom
Protecting Iowa’s rich diversity of religious expression; ensuring that the influence of government and religious entities remain separate.
Creating a Welcoming State
Ensuring equality for all people in keeping with Iowa’s long heritage of leadership in civil rights.
Encouraging Committed Community Activism
Empowering each person to make a difference in the political process by providing educational and advocacy resources.
Interfaith Alliance on Iowa Public Radio's The Exchange
Rev. Dr. Welton Gaddy, national president of Interfaith Alliance, and Connie Ryan Terrell, executive director of Interfaith Alliance of Iowa discussed the intermingling of religion and politics on Iowa Public Radio’s The Exchange on Tuesday, November 29 with host Ben Kieffer. Listen here.
Rev. Dr. C. Welton Gaddy, president of Interfaith Alliance, will discuss the dangers our country faces as politics and religion become increasingly intertwined. Public Forums in Iowa on Wednesday, November 30 and Thursday, December 1. Click here for more information.
“But God said I could be President!” Is God confused or are we?
A joint project of Interfaith Alliance and Human Rights First, “Faith Shared” creates opportunities across the United States for faith communities to strengthen ties with each other. We will counter the misperception, including in the Arab and Muslim worlds, that the United States is a nation defined by the widely covered images of the marginal few who would burn a Qur’an, rather than by a proud and longstanding tradition of religious freedom, tolerance and pluralism. In communities across the United States, this project will not only serve as a model for tolerance and cooperation and promote local faith leaders as champions of such, but it will also create a concrete opportunity to build and strengthen working ties between faith communities moving forward.
Learn more at Faith Shared.
If you are interested in hosting a Faith Shared event in Iowa, please contact the Iowa office at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or by calling 515.279.8715.
Common Ground
An Interfaith Service commemorating the 10th Anniversary of September 11
An interfaith service focused on the Common Ground found between religious traditions was held on Sunday, September 11, 2011 at Drake University in Des Moines. The event was a commemoration of the 10th Anniversary of the September 11 tragedies while also looking to the future, the commonalities of religious communities, and how we can work together.
The Collaborating Partners for the event were the Interfaith Alliance of Iowa, the Des Moines Area Religious Council, the American Friends Service Committee and the Des Moines Ecumenical Committee for Peace. Leaders from many traditions found in central Iowa helped to plan the service and participated in the service itself including faith leaders from Islamic, Christian, Jewish, Unitarian Universalist, Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist and other faith communities.
See some of the Common Ground service.
