InterfaithNews.Net

NAIN Survey: Comments from Members

By Elizabeth Esperson

Bravo NAIN!

You are to be commended for your use of the Survey method to elicit responses from us members. As a famous philosopher once wrote, "If you want to discover what people want, need or change, ASK THEM INDIVIDUALLY!" – not bothering to listen to what their political "leaders" might tell you what they think

I have personally enjoyed NAIN. It has not significantly benefited my organization. Higher visibility for interfaith relationships and organizations is needed, but beware the burden of staff. It will bend to change NAIN from a network to an organization. I suggest using contract consultants for necessary and desirable projects rather than opening an office and hiring staff.

I have lived in Columbus for four months and am just getting acquainted with local people and organization. Previously, I spent 16 years in New York City at Auburn Seminary where I was involved in developing interfaith programs such as "Building Bridges: Understanding Our Neighbors Faiths" and "A Spiritual Journey: Interfaith Perspectives". I hope to get more involved in interreligious activities as a volunteer.

Let's brainstorm about the fundraising. I appreciate this questionnaire. A staff person is a very important addition – the time has come!

Contact interfaith staff persons for all major faiths and denominations. Most have such a person or department. Good survey! Interesting that the word "advocacy" is used several times. I’d like to encourage such advocacy – but have always been rebuffed by comments such as "No, we're just a network." "We don't advocate for anything. We don't take stands."

I'm not certain Mexico belongs in NAIN at this time, as I have mentioned to Don Mayne. Until such time as some NAIN member groups have Latino participants from the USA or Canada, it seems premature for the Mexican Interfaith Council to be a member of NAIN. Nevertheless I am encouraging Mexican participation at Wichita by a Catholic priest (who went to Fullerton) and a 33 year old Anglican priest who is applying to Christy Lohr for a Youth Scholarship.

Thanks for this survey. I wish it had been on line. About five years ago, the Religious Education Association retired its staff associate – a very big mistake. I am glad you are thinking about adding staff. We are a non-profit organization founded in 1908.

The question of a staff person needs to be considered very thoughtfully because this person (is the organization he/she is attached to, if applicable) could become "the face" of NAIN thus moving the "imagery" from an association of interfaith organizations to an individual. This is not necessarily a problem, but something that simply needs to be acknowledged and considered. (Alison Van Dyk, Temple of Understanding)

Thank you for your excellent initiative on this survey.

NAIN was structured as a network but the quality of Board participation and governance has crippled its effectiveness. A staff member does not solve this dysfunction. Before NAIN embarks on a commitment to staffing, it needs to hold a board retreat and engage in strategic planning with a facilitator.

Since NAIN has always avoided program commitments, it is hard to define what a staff person should do beyond networking. I feel that most of the board is pretty much unengaged in the organization, providing no networking to speak of. So perhaps we – the board and member organizations – first have to define new possibilities for, and values of, networking.

I think others besides myself (newsletter editor/web editor) should be responsible for communications, and should provide substantive communications of networking value. Very few board members or organizations provide news or resource info. At this time, the only communications members get, besides the newsletter and nascent Interfaith E-Digest (also from me) are membership renewal reminders.

It is important that people in North America (and elsewhere) realize the degree of inter-religious cooperation and community that exists and continues to thrive in North America. It can easily be the role of NAIN to help educate the general public about successful and positive models of living together. Media contacts and news stories should go beyond our NAIN membership to the broader public. These stories can play a vital role in reinforcing the strengths of a religiously plural democracy, particularly now.

This cannot be done on a volunteer basis without having at least staff-based coordination. Our website is a first step in a very large area of growth.