Barb Anderson has been pleased and honored to serve as Interfaith Outreach Facilitator at Dublin Community Church for the past several years. This was a new volunteer staff position created at DCC to acknowledge and formally support the work that Barb had already been doing in the NW Central Ohio area in regard to interfaith work.
Barb was already co-facilitator and co-founder of WORD, Women of Religious Diversity, a multi-faith women’s group of 40-50 women who were already meeting on Friday mornings for Bible study, book discussion, support and fellowship. That group began in 2003, and still continues today with an additional evening group that meets twice a month. The groups are comprised of primarily Protestants of many denominations, Catholics and Muslim women.
After being named DCC Interfaith Outreach Facilitator, Barb became the DCC representative to SAIL, Safe Alliance of Interfaith Leaders. Barb has recently served a 2 year term as President of SAIL, whose mission is to promote dialogue, understanding and acceptance among people of various faith traditions. SAIL sponsors several events throughout the year in cooperation with several Christian churches in the area, as well as NOOR Islamic Center, Turkish American Society of Ohio and Congregation Beth Tikvah. 2 of our main events are a Thanks and Giving Service, held annually the Thursday before Thanksgiving, and an Interfaith/Ecumenical National Day of Prayer Breakfast held the first Thursday in May.
Dublin Community Church also hosts and Barb facilitates Iftar dinners with our friends of the Islamic faith during the season of Ramadan. There are also bake sales/lunches yearly held at DCC with food provided by TASO, and funds from this event have been used to support the Dublin Food Pantry and DCC’s involvement with the Deep Griha program for children and families in Pune, India.
Barb is also the representative from DCC to Deep Griha USA, a program to support the children and families in Pune, India as mentioned above. Together with 4 other local churches, these children in poverty stricken areas are provided education, medical assistance and material goods to improve their lives.
Barb is pleased that Dublin Community Church is supportive of exploring and accepting other faith traditions, and works toward cooperation with other faiths in all areas.
Our differences may at times define us,
but they need not divide us.
At all times, and in all places,
may our common goals unite us.