The Minnesota Council of Churches is the state's leader in interfaith and ecumenical relationship building.

Our strength lies in decades of relationship building, over meals, in dialogues, and by working for justice together. Our Taking Root program organizes interfaith teams to welcome refugee arrivals. Through the Joint Religious Legislative Coalition, co-sponsored by the Minnesota Council of Churches and Jewish, Muslim, and Catholic partners, you bring a powerful interfaith voice to the state Capitol.

Increasingly leaders of of other faiths come to MCC for leadership in convening the community in times of need. Here's one story. Early last summer the city council of the village of St. Anthony voted to deny a zoning variation to a group of Muslims seeking to convert office space into an Islamic Community Center and mosque. The public testimony contained several demeaning statements about Islam. MCC quickly convened a meeting of Muslim leaders to decide next steps. About six weeks later, during the month of Ramasan, MCC co-hosted a Taking Heart open house in the community, bring more than a hundred Muslim and Christian community members together. At the end of the event the elderly Shiekh of the community spoke through an interpreter and offered a heartfelt thanks to MCC for their support during this time.

MCC has been called on to bring people together after the collapse of the 35W bridge, to respond to Islamophobia at the 9th anniversay of 9/11, and most dramatically for leading the planning of the Minnesotans Standing Together ceremony commemorating the 10th anniversary.

In the last year, the MCC has taken the lead in moving Minnesota toward a society of respect through the Respectful Conversations Project. More than 50 congregations took part in these neutral conversations designed to give people a safe space to express their deeply held values while building empathy for those who hold different beliefs.

Your gift is an investment in the social capital necessary for a powerful public voice for interfaith understanding for the common good of Minnesota.