Convening Groups to Foster Dialogue on Vital Issues

 

“Bridge Building is a ministry we all share.  At The Council of Churches we strive to leverage hope in this divided world.  When we come together trying to understand differing points of view, we demonstrate our own openness and our willingness to go wherever God’s people are gathered.  This results in building relationships with peaceful goals.”

Rev. Linda J. Kraft ~ Co-Chair of BBM
Holy Trinity Lutheran Church

The Council’s Bridge Building Ministry brings together diverse groups of people–adults and young adults, community leaders and concerned individuals–to heighten understanding, enhance interpersonal relationships, and encourage collaboration. Activities focus on areas of common interest and concern.  The banking and mortgage crisis was addressed in a two-part fall series by three banking professionals: one Jewish, one Christian and one Muslim.  We continued our annual regional youth conference, this year held at Fairfield University with 120 area high school and college students participating.  With Congregation Relations, we sponsored a fourth annual Week of Prayer for Christian Unity service at St. John’s Episcopal Church and continued the 67th Good Friday service at Golden Hill United Methodist Church.  A fall action by CONECT found 50 CCGB leaders among over 1,000 attendees at Mt. Aery Baptist Church to meet with the Connecticut candidates for governor, attorney general, comptroller and treasurer.

 

DID YOU KNOW? Bridge Building …

• Is the only partnership promoting continuing Jewish-Christian-Muslim dialogue in Greater Bridgeportthrough the Tent of Abraham series of dialogues
• Is the only provider of chaplain services to Greater Bridgeport Community Mental Health Center
•    Responded in person and print to anti-Muslim harassment at An-Noor Islamic Center
• Is a founding and continuing member of CARE: Citizens Addressing Racial Equity in Stratford
• Is a founding member of CONECT: Congregations Organized for a New Connecticut, a faith-based advocacy organization in Fairfield and New Haven counties

 

 

Learn more about them:

 

 

Larri W. Mazon, M.S.W.

Director of Institutional Diversity Initiatives

Fairfield University, Fairfield, CT

 

Larri Mazon was elected to the Board of Directors of The Council of Churches of Greater Bridgeport in 2000, and has served as Co-Chair of The Council’s Bridge Building Ministy for nine years. 

In this special work of building bridges of understanding across cultural divides, Larri brings profound personal and professional perspective.   Mr. Mazon has been with Fairfield University for 26 years and currently serves as the Director of Institutional Diversity Initiatives and Chair of the President’s Diversity Council. r. Mazon participated in the design and implementation of several programs within the Bridge Building Ministry.  In 1995 he was one of the founders of the Study Circles Project, and has facilitated numerous study circles and dialogue groups.  As a trainer he has personally trained dozens of facilitators.

A member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc., Mr. Mazon is a consultant who conducts workshops on Diversity and Multiculturalism at public and private schools, colleges and universities, community organizations and corporations.

For Larri’s leadership in cultivating respect and tolerance for religious, cultural, ethnic, and economic differences and fostering understanding and collaborations for the betterment of our Greater Bridgeport community, we give great thanks!
 

Dr. Margaret A. Palliser, O.P., S.T.D

Editor, Living with Christ

 

Dr. Margaret A. Palliser has served on The Council's Board of Directors as a CO-Chair of the Bridge Building Ministry since 1999, and was involved in that advisory committee for two years prior to joining the Board.

 

A key orchestrator for Bridge Building activities, she is always ready to take on any task, whether it be to manage logistics, coordinate arrangements with a guest speaker, supervise catering details, rearrange a room full of chairs at the last minute, create a flier or PowerPoint presentation, or  serve as a group facilitator.  Since 2005, her sensitive and practical leadership skills have been especially appreciated by the steering committee for the Tent of Abraham programs, co-sponsored by The Council with the American Institute for Islamic & Arabic Studies, The Jewish Center for Community Services, and Sacred Heart University.  

 

Sr. Margaret earned a doctorate in Sacred Theology from the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome as well as a master’s degree in Music from Boston University.  Arriving in Connecticut in 1993, she ministered at Sacred Heart University for 15 years in various capacities, including Director of Campus Ministry, Assistant Vice President for Mission, Director of the Center for Mission Education and Reflection, and Director of the Center for Spirituality and Ministry.  Margaret notes “I am very passionate about bringing people together for meaningful discussions that lead to better understanding.  Once we have come to know the “other” through personal experience, we are so much more ready to work for changes that respect each person’s dignity and worth as a son or daughter of God.  It is through the personal encounter with the “other” that hearts are changed!” 

 

Other members of the Bridge Building Advisory Committee are: Robert Lindquist, Bruce Dillingham, Carl Johnson, John Cottrell, Lena Warren, Rev. Marjorie Nunes, Rev. Bryan Leone, Rev. Dr. Brian R. Bodt, Rev. Hopeton Scott, Rev. Linda Kraft, Rosa Correa, Sandra Valdes-Lopez and Thomas Larson.