By Branden Matassa ’22, staff writer

The Sustained Interfaith Dialogue series was organized to give the LVC community an opportunity to hear people from diverse religious communities engage in discussion over issues central to society.

“Our hope is to model for students and other community members a healthy public conversation about the differences in our religions that enrich our culture and our shared religious values that could allow us to cooperate to make our society better,” Dr. Matthew Sayers, Professor of Religion and Coordinator of the Dialogues, said.

Each dialogue is planned and coordinated around a specific theme with guest speakers invited to discuss the proposed topic. As such, managing the dialogues presents event coordinators with their own set of tasks.

“The challenges from my perspective were simply coordinating the platform, hoping people showed up and any awkwardness during the event,” Sayers said.

Due to the overhanging pandemic, the events will be held online through zoom. People from any religious background may attend. For those who attend, discussion is openly encouraged.

The next dialogue of the semester will be held March 16. The topics of discussion at this dialogue will be transgression, contrition, and redemption.