Dear Colleagues and Friends, Our extended holiday season spanning Diwali, Advent, Hanukkah, Gita Jayanti, Christmas, Kwanza, and New Year celebrations remind us that life is filled with cycles. Serving as the Interfaith Community Liaison for Montgomery County from 2013 to 2020 has been among the most rewarding cycles of my life. I will leave it on December 31 with deep gratitude and want to identify several of the people, programs, and events deserving special recognition.   I will never be able to adequately thank County Executives Leggett and Elrich for the opportunity of serving within their administrations. It was their support and working on a peer level with county officials that made our work successful.

The Directors of the Office of Community Partnerships (OCP), Bruce Adams and Diane Vu, together with my highly resourceful and dedicated OCP teammates, and the Regional Directors deserve special credit for magnifying the impact of our programs.

The highly credentialed and respected leaders of faith traditions ranging from Anglican to Zoroastrian serving on the FCAC Executive Committee and chairing working groups and committees deserve the greatest credit. It was their commitment to the mission of creating a more compassionate, pluralistic, equitable and resilient Montgomery County that made everything we did possible.

Here are examples of their contributions:  The Religious Land Use Working Group (RLUWG) shepherds faith communities through the rigorous regulative process, hosts educational workshops and through advocacy have saved faith communities hundreds of thousands of dollars, and hastened the process of building and renovation.   The Faith Community Working Group (FCWG) has formed partnerships with security related departments, trained and certified Spiritual Emotional Care Volunteers to serve as first responders, formed the Interfaith Mobilization Team responding to acts of hate and violence, and led “Multicultural Dialogues on Facing Our Racism” for four years followed by “Candid Conversations on Race,” small discussion groups across the county, providing a safe and brave space to talk about the content of recommended books or film, and how racism has negatively affected everyone.  The FCWG also created the Montgomery County Model for Creating Social Cohesion and Public Safety that has been featured at two National Summits of Police Chiefs, the State Department and two Strong City Network Global Summits. They have hosted international delegations from 67 countries learning the valuable role faith leaders play in linking public officials with grass roots communities.  The Education Committee serves as a bridge between MCPS and faith communities. Working in partnership with MCPS, it produced ‘Guidelines for Respecting Different Faith Traditions’, hosted Parent Academies, provides an annual annotated interfaith calendar, and recently hosted a town hall on “Coming Together for Education," discussing the MCPS virtual model of learning, returning to in-person instruction, technology access, mental health, racial equity, special education, preK services and more. The Neighbors in Need Working Group formed a coalition of private and public hunger related programs leading to the 5-Year Strategy for making Montgomery County Hunger Free. Today faith communities are providing valuable sites, volunteers and funds for food delivery, COVID-19 testing, community gardens and service hubs.   It is impossible to overstate the contributions of faith leaders and volunteers reaching out beyond their comfort zones, crossing all lines of difference, and supporting our programs and events. Their leadership and financial contributions account for a database of more than 5,000 subscribers and supporters, and an international reputation for creating social cohesion and public safety. Thank you! The impact of faith leaders working in partnership with government officials is immeasurable in creating a more beloved community. Viewing the video below should encourage greater engagement, and empower the work being done in burgeoning interfaith networks in Silver Spring, Olney, Bethesda, Poolesville, and Potomac.

Last and most importantly, I am grateful for the welcome I received in houses of worship spanning Anglican to Zoroastrian. Nothing beside individual soul mates has inspired me as much as experiencing the reconciling and unifying power of divine love found in corporate worship. My spiritual roots have deepened, and I have holy envy for the spiritual practices, wisdom of sacred texts, and fellowship found in sanctuaries throughout Montgomery County.

In the end, it is the love nourished within our individual hearts that can transcend religious doctrine, political ideology, race and gender, and reveals that while we are different, we are the same and while separate from one another (even quarantined) we are one.   Click the video below to witness our unity.

Hearty best wishes for a blessed, joyous and hope filled holiday season. Believing in you, Kasey

Celebrate with Us!

The Rev. Mansfield "Kasey" Kaseman is retiring this month from his position as Interfaith Community Liaison in the Montgomery County Office of Community Partnerships.     All are invited to join us virtually as we celebrate Rev. Kasey's work with the Faith Community Advisory Council, as well as his long career as a pastor, nonprofit founder and leader, and academic.     Help us thank Rev. Kasey for his dedicated service to our community, applaud his vision and leadership, and wish him well in his retirement.

Monday, December 28  5:30-6:30 pm     Click here to join the virtual celebration and write Rev. Kasey a personal note

In the Interim... Questions formerly posed to Rev. Mansfield "Kasey" Kaseman, inquiries regarding transition of leadership, and other concerns may be sent to: interfaith@montgomerycountymd.gov These will be responded to by the staff of the Office of Community Partnerships.   The FCAC Executive Committee will be sustaining their programs, and periodically sending newsletters including contact information pertinent to programs and events.