Festival of Faiths History

The Festival of Faiths was created in 2007 in conversation with community leaders. Dr. Diana L. Eck, inspired this dream in a Visiting Scholar program at Village Presbyterian Church, Prairie Village, Kansas. Dr. Eck is Professor of Comparative Religion and Indian Studies at Harvard University.

An ad hoc group of individuals from several faith traditions committed to advancing interfaith understanding and relationship building initiated the Festival of Faiths. Village Presbyterian Church helped launch the Festival through a grant from the Endowment Trust.

In its short history, the Festival has achieved a powerful impact. Its goals are set to expand public participation in interfaith activity and to showcase the rich and diverse interfaith opportunities that exist in our area.

Festival Highlights:

• Keynote speakers:

  • 2007: Akbar Ahmed & Judea Pearl, The Daniel Pearl Dialogue forMuslim-Jewish Understanding
  • 2008: Jon Meacham, (former) Editor, Newsweek,
  • 2009: Eboo Patel, Founder and Executive Director, Interfaith YouthCore
  • 2010: Bruce Feiler, author and journalist
• Promotional support of community-wide interfaith programs – including the annual Table of Faiths Luncheon sponsored by the Greater Kansas City Interfaith Council
• Expansion of interfaith programs at the high school level
• Encouragement and consultation for new endeavors including the Kansas City Interfaith Youth Alliance
• Collaborative partnerships with many organizations including The Greater Kansas City Interfaith Council, The Jewish Community Center of Greater Kansas City, Johnson County Public Library, Kansas City Public Library, Midland Islamic Council, Notre Dame de Sion High School, The Writers Place, and many others.
• Free-to-the-public performances, The Hindu and the Cowboy has been performed twenty-five times for audiences including conferences, congregations, colleges, high schools and diversity training programs. It premiered at the 2004 Kansas City Harmony Lunch.

The Festival operates through the volunteer leadership of individuals from several faith traditions and is funded by gifts from individuals, foundations and corporations. It operates independently with Village Presbyterian Church as its fiscal agent.