Interfaith Dialogue: An annual event of TMU’s Robinson Institute for Religious Liberty

By Andy Furman
NKyTribune reporter

For Brian Adams, this will be his first. But, at the same time he is no stranger serving as moderator for “Who’s My God?” Part II, Interfaith Dialogue, Thursday, September 19, 7 p.m. at new Ziegler Auditorium on the campus of Thomas More University’s newly dedicated Academic Center.

“I’m passionate on interfaith dialogues,” he told the Northern Kentucky Tribune . “I’ve been doing these sessions for at least a dozen years and worked in almost 40 different countries.”

The chair of the governing board for A Common Word Among the Youth (ACWAY) – an international NGO supporting youth leadership in interfaith and intercultural dialogue — Adams received a Doctor of Philosophy in Political Science at the University of Queensland, Australia.

“He is a specialist in interfaith dialogue and is the former director of the Center for Interfaith and Cultural Dialogue in Brisbane, Australia,” Ray Hebert, PhD History at Thomas More University, told the Northern Kentucky Tribune .

So, why moderate such an event?

“There is potential for tremendous growth,” Adams said, “and discussion is integral to the region’s growth in building strong communities.

“These dialogues are what all colleges and universities should be doing, not just education or research, but true dialogues.”

The Thomas More University William T. (Bill) Robinson III Institute for Religious Liberty (IRL) – established in 2015 — has played an active role in advancing the American concept of religious freedom as an unalienable right, and the protection of that right for all people.

The IRL has accomplished this mission through education and dialogue in the form of academic symposia and lectures featuring distinguished and internationally renowned speakers.

This year’s four speakers:

• Brady Lighthall, representing the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, is the current Stake President of the Cincinnati Ohio Stake of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He earned his Juris Doctorate and Master of Business Administration degrees from Northern Kentucky University and the Salmon P. Chase College of Law and undergraduate degrees from Utah Valley University and Brigham Young University-Idaho. In addition to his voluntary church service, Lighthall is a managing attorney with the Law Office of Sarah A. Okrzynksi, LLC, located in Noerthern Kentukcy.

• Msgr. William Cleves, representing the Roman Catholic faith, presently serves as pastor of Holy Spirit Parish in Newport and is director of Ecumenism for the Diocese of Covington. He entered seminary studies after graduating Covington Latin High School (1970), studying at St. Pius X Seminary, the Athenaeum of Ohio, and the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome, Italy. In October, 1979, St. John Paul II awarded him the Papal Silver Medal in Theology for his research on miracles at the Gregorian University. He taught at Thomas More for 24 years and served as president for nine.

• Rabbi Meredith Kahan, representing the Jewish religion, who serves the 200-year-old Rockdale Temple. She earned her bachelor’s degree in social work at The Ohio State University and returned home for her rabbinical education at Hebrew Union College (HUC). She was ordained from HUC in 2013, completing her thesis focused on the use of sacred music in teaching children how to pray as Jews. Following ordination, she served as associate rabbi and educator at Rockdale before being elected the congregation’s 10th senior rabbi.

• Imam Ayman Soliman, representing the Muslim religion, is a local imam, scholar and currently serves as Muslim chaplain at Cincinnati’s Children’s Hospital. Soliman holds two master’s degrees in Islamic studies and Muslim chaplaincy and is a doctoral candidate in the same field. His focus is on interfaith, islamophobia and bioethics. Soliman has served as an imam for over two decades and is a member of the Assembly of Muslim Jurists of America.

“I have already met one-on-one with all the speakers,” Adams said, “And will meet with them as a group next week. Our theme is Right to Pursue – Around Death.”

“We have concluded that many who attend our events, especially among the students, have not had adequate exposure to the four religions – Catholic, Muslim, Jewish and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints – or at least three of them, to be able to effectively participate in a true interfaith dialogue,” Hebert said.

“A major goal then,” he continued, “is the practical one of expanding the knowledge base and understanding of the four religions among those present in the audience. What we are most looking forward to with this panel is the sharing of details and personal stories that bring to life what is most important to each of the panelists within their respective faith structure or worlds – customs, holidays, traditions, foods, view of the afterlife and more.”

The Interfaith Dialogue on Thursday is free and open to the public.

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