Who We Are
Our Mission
The Interfaith Service Bureau exists to encourage and celebrate
understanding, acceptance, and cooperation among all people
of faithand to serve human need. To this end, we sponsor,
promote, and coordinate programs of communications, dialogue,
spirituality, and community service.
History
The Interfaith Service Bureau was incorporated in 1920 as
the Federation of Churches. As that first name implies, it
was begun as a means of building connections within the Christian
community and for the Christian church to address the wider
community with a common voice. The Federation maintained good
ties with other religious groups in Sacramento, especially
the Jewish and Buddhist communities.
As Sacramento continued to grow, so did the diversity of the religious community and the challenge to minister to expanding needs of people in the Capital City. In 1978, the organization’s name was changed to the Interfaith Service Bureau (ISB), reflecting the recognition that the entire faith community needs to work together in fostering greater understanding and respect among people of different faiths and in addressing human needs in the community. Sharing worship experiences, educational forums about different faiths, and breaking bread together are some of the ways that people have discovered the common goal of encountering the Holy in the middle of life. Working together to feed, clothe, and house people; joining together to clean up the community and respond in time of disasters; standing together for love rather than hate, understanding as opposed to discrimination, involvement instead of indifference - these are some of the ways that the Interfaith Service Bureau has helped people of different religious backgrounds discover the common call of faith to work for justice, mercy, and compassion.
Governance
A board of Trustees made up of clergy and laypersons from
various faith traditions governs the ISB. Much of the work
of planning and putting on events is done by the Congregational
Representatives, a board made up of volunteers from many congregations.
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