For more than 15 years, the Spartanburg Community Thanksgiving Service has provided an annual celebration for people of faith to gather together in gratitude and camaraderie. Following the 2013 service, a group of Foundation staff and clergy met to discuss how the faith community could come together more than just once a year. After researching various faith community networks, the group formed the Spartanburg Interfaith Alliance in 2014.
The Spartanburg Interfaith Alliance is a network of clergy, lay leaders, and faith communities that have joined together for the purpose of contributing to the common good. Formed as a partnership between area clergy and The Spartanburg County Foundation, the Alliance began hosting an annual program of events in 2016. These programs focus on different community issues and opportunities to connect and serve together.
The central goal of the Spartanburg Interfaith Alliance is to serve as a resource hub for community engagement and to create a network to leverage the faith community and its many assets to meet the needs of the greater Spartanburg County community.
Membership is free and open to clergy and lay leaders representing diverse faith communities in Spartanburg County. We encourage those interested in becoming a member to attend an upcoming event.
To join, complete the form below, or download the Membership Form and email to Ashley Whitt at awhitt@spcf.org.
PROGRAM OF EVENTS
The Spartanburg Interfaith Alliance hosts events throughout the year as an opportunity for clergy and lay leaders to stay informed about issues in the community, network with other faith leaders, and discuss opportunities to work together to improve Spartanburg County. You do not have to be a member of the Alliance to attend the events.
LEADERSHIP
The Spartanburg Interfaith Alliance is led by three co-leaders, known as the Triumvirate.
Reverend Christi Brown, First Presbyterian Church of Spartanburg
Reverend James Hailstock, New Day Baptist Church of Spartanburg
Minister Scott Neely, Unitarian Universalist Church of Spartanburg
Additionally, the Spartanburg Interfaith Alliance Steering Committee helps to guide the work of the Alliance, and includes:
Rev. Christi Brown
First Presbyterian Church
Rev. Timothy Drum
Spartanburg Methodist College
Dr. Tom Evans
First Presbyterian Church
Rev. Jerry Louis Gadsden
Silver Hill Memorial United Methodist Church
Rev. James Hailstock
New Day Baptist Church
Rabbi Yossi Liebowitz
Temple B’Nai Israel
Rev. Jason Loscuito
Converse College
Deacon Bob Mahaffey
St. Paul the Apostle Catholic Church
Rev. Dr. Keith McDaniel
Macedonia Missionary Baptist Church
Rev. Mia McDowell
St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church
Rev. Demetrius Middleton
Zion Tabernacle Church of God in Christ
Rev. Ned Morris
The Episcopal Church of the Advent
Rev. Scott Neely
Unitarian Universalist Church
Rev. Tom Norrell
Central United Methodist Church
Jane Spann
The Church of the Epiphany
Dr. Jim Thomas
Abner Baptist Church
Pastor Lawyer Watson
Life With Jesus Ministries
Rev. Neal Woods
Trinity United Methodist Church
THE COMPASSION FUND
In 2014, the Alliance established The Kirk H. Neely Spartanburg County Compassion Fund to honor the Rev. Dr. Kirk H. Neely. His instrumental work in uniting the faith community to collectively meet the needs of worthy causes is reflected through the offerings collected each year at the Spartanburg Community Thanksgiving Service. The Alliance is currently working to build this fund and has not yet reached the point of awarding grants. Once fully funded, the Compassion Fund will award grants to faith-based and community-based organizations meeting the immediate needs of the poor in Spartanburg County.
If you would like to contribute to the Compassion Fund, click Give Now and type in Compassion Fund.
More Information
To receive regular updates, or if you have any questions, please contact Ashley Whitt.
Confirmed in compliance with National Standards for U.S. Community Foundations.