Do you ever feel that each year goes by faster than the one before? I sure do. In fact, it doesn’t seem that long ago that I was writing to you at the end of 2009, and now here we are, talking about 2011. I’d like to think that the time goes by so quickly because it’s so full – of time spent with cherished friends and loved ones, of worthwhile pursuits and of accomplishments of which we can all be proud.

And I am very proud of everything that you and Interfaith Alliance supporters nationwide have accomplished in 2010. Together we have stood up to intolerance and have finally begun making much-needed progress against Islamophobia and other religiously motivated hatred. Together, we’ve taken the first steps to push back against decades of religious bias in the military. And, after years of hard work with you at our side, it was just last month that we were finally able to celebrate the first meaningful changes to the White House’s faith-based initiative that are beginning to bring it in line with our Constitution.

In this, Interfaith Alliance’s final e-newsletter of 2010, you’ll find celebrations of accomplishments like these, photos of one of my favorite nights of the year and articles that examine the state of religious freedom in our nation and the steps that remain to be taken to protect it. Take a look, let us know what you think and remember that you are Interfaith Alliance – without you, without your support and your belief in our work, there is no ‘we:” We quite simply would not exist. So thank you, for everything you do. It’s a pleasure to work together.

Photo Credit: Chaplain Zeb Beck

In mid-November, Rev. Gaddy and I had the privilege of attending a conference on religious respect at the United States Air Force Academy (USAFA) in Colorado Springs, Colorado, Rev. Gaddy as a participant and I as an observer. We were part of a diverse group of invitees from a variety of perspectives on religion and religious freedom, most of whom represent chaplain-endorsing organizations. One of the truly notable things about the group assembled by the Academy was that, for the first time, a military atheist and an Earth-Centered spirituality group were included. The task at hand was to provide the Academy with feedback on its soon-to-be implemented program for cadets on religious respect. We also received an inside look at the oft-discussed (and in the past deeply troubled) religious climate at the Academy and were able to provide insight into maintaining a climate of respect there more broadly. The conversations were candid and productive and both Rev. Gaddy and I came away from the conference encouraged by what we saw and eager to track the Academy’s follow-up on helpful recommendations.

On October 24^th, Interfaith Alliance supporters gathered together at New York City’s Prince George Ballroom to honor the Rev. Dr. Joan Brown Campbell, Director of the Department of Religion at the Chautauqua Institution, and Rachel Maddow of MSNBC’s The Rachel Maddow Show, 2010 recipients of the Walter Cronkite Faith & Freedom Award. Take a look at the highlights of the evening with us…

After months of petitioning the House Judiciary Committee’s Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights, and Civil Liberties to schedule a hearing on the White House Office of Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships, Interfaith Alliance was pleased when Rep. Jerrold Nadler (D-NY), subcommittee chairman, scheduled a hearing for November 18^th.

Not coincidentally, the day before the hearing, the Obama Administration released an executive order amending the Bush Administration’s 2001 order, which had established the White House Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives – renamed the Office of Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships by President Obama upon taking office. The new executive order took center stage on the hearing’s agenda, specifically its neglect in tackling the issue of religion-based employment discrimination.

On Friday, November 19th, Interfaith Alliance enthusiast and advisor Donna Red Wing joined me for the start of a Weekend LEADD program at the Armand Hammer United World College of the American West (UWC) in Montezuma, NM. Situated above 6,000 feet among the foothills of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains, UWC is part of a program for high school juniors and seniors that brings together 200 students from 70 countries in a unique, high-level learning experience. Fifty students are from the United States and 150 from other countries; students range in age from 16 to 19.

Interfaith Alliance is pleased to welcome our newest staff members.

We welcomed Heidi Combs-Janda as our Deputy Director of Development in August, and are excited to have her on board! Heidi studied political science and accounting at South Dakota State University.

Ray Kirstein, State of Belief’s new Producer, is a veteran radio broadcaster who quite literally was born into the medium: at age 6, he debuted in the role of the Easter Bunny on a community radio program produced by his parents in Rochester, NY.

Year-end gifts are very important to many of our donors, but wading through all the options out there can be both time-consuming and confusing. Donors often set out to make a meaningful gift to an organization they care about, only to end up throwing up their hands in frustration with the red tape. With that in mind, we’ve tried to paint a clear picture of some of the most common ways to make a year-end gift.