7 Ways for Interfaith Families to Find Community

Posted: 09/11/2014 2:39 pm EDT
Updated: 09/11/2014 2:59 pm EDT
Susan Katz Miller
Author, Being Both: Embracing Two Religions in One Interfaith Family

Chelsea Clinton and Marc Mezvinsky are about to become interfaith parents. And as interfaith parents, they are about to face an ongoing series of decisions about the religious affiliation and education of their interfaith children. This time of year, with the nip of autumn in the air to remind us of the passage of time, and the Jewish High Holidays fast approaching (September 24th and October 3rd), many interfaith families are making the annual decision on whether to affiliate with a church, a synagogue, or neither. Or both.

Even though we bridge contrasting theologies, many interfaith families still seek the benefits of religious community: a place for children to gain religious literacy, a place to reflect and sing and experience rituals together, a source of support in times of trouble. And no single type of religious community is going to be perfect for every interfaith family. Here, as an adult interfaith child and as the parent of two grown interfaith children, I lay out a number of options for finding a spiritual (or secular) home for your interfaith family:

1. Pick one. Even if you are going to practice only, or primarily, one religion in the home, your family will benefit from finding a progressive house of worship that welcomes you as an interfaith family. Many churches welcome interfaith families, though almost none have programs specifically for us. The Jewish organization InterfaithFamily runs programs in Chicago, San Francisco, Philadelphia and Boston to help interfaith families connect to Judaism in those cities. Be sure to check on the policies at each synagogue to make sure you understand their policies on the participation of interfaith partners and children, as these policies vary greatly.

2. Pick none. If both parents are secular humanists or atheists, you have a number of options. Traditionally, many such intercultural (a better term in this case than interfaith) couples from Jewish/Christian backgrounds have found comfortable homes in the network of more than 20 Ethical Societies in 12 states. Many Ethical Societies have regular gatherings, community service programs, and youth education programs to foster ethical engagement with the world.

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