A Bit About Us
IAG is an organization consisting of members who are representative of diverse faith traditions. IAG's approach and objective is to create platforms and forums for the exchange of each other's theologies, religions, mores, and conventions - both cultural and ethical - within an environment of mutual respect and stimulated by curiosity about each other.
Different viewpoints and perspectives are encouraged, acknowledged, and accepted without call for alteration or retraction. We encourage and occasionally host participation in community, faith, and individual programs supporting such positive perspectives.
We meet monthly for a general session, often with a keynote presenter, and assemble from time to time for an educational or informational panel discussion. Typically, there are refreshments. Our exchange of ideas can be highlighted by the phrase "help me understand your faith tradition".
There is an abundance of faith traditions doing good work as well as trying to make the world a better place and its citizens nobler. IAG strives to connect them to each other in a faith-based relationship of equals.
Religions Represented
Many faiths. One mission.
Presbyterian
Islam
Quaker
Unity
Lutheran
Jewish
House of Prayer
Episcopal
Latter-Day Saints
Unitarian
Roman Catholic
Buddhist
Jewitarian
Buddhist/Catholic
Non-denominational
Christian Science
Agnostic
Unaffiliated
And more...
Meet our Board Members
Mohamed Al-Darsani
President
Islam
"Cooperating with others is an Islamic virtue I want to put to practice"
Mary Tracy Sigman
Board Member:
Internal Community Building Committee Chair
Buddhist
"Our Founder of Rissho Kosei-kai Buddhism believed interfaith cooperation was one means to achieve world peace.”
Ashley Ruttenberg
Board Member:
PR/Communication Chair
Unaffiliated
"I joined IAG because I have deep love and respect for all religions and cultures and want to help us strive to co-exist peacefully."
Carol Titus
Secretary
Baha'i
I was thrilled to find out about the Interfaith Action Group last fall. Their goals and philosophy were completely in line with my own Baha’i beliefs of peace and unity through understanding. It seemed like a perfect fit for me and I was happy to join.
Russell Bogen
Board Member:
Education/Program Committee & Internal Community Building Committee
A past-president of Temple Beth El of Fort Myers, I am Jewish and a layperson. A founding member of IAG, I am retired from a career in business and banking.
Why am I involved with The Interfaith Action Group of Southwest Florida? My goal, and hope, is to improve our world through acts of kindness and promote understanding and cooperation among people of diverse traditions and faiths. Learning about each other reveals our similarities; differences disappear.
Ann Kaplan
Treasurer
Muslim
I joined IAG to help remove the barriers and misunderstandings between people of different faiths. This group is a great example of people from all different backgrounds coming together in a non-judgmental atmosphere to inquire, learn and share our different beliefs.