The Los Angeles Religious Leaders Forum

The Los Angeles Religious Leaders Forum
Name	The Los Angeles Religious Leaders Forum
Formation	1990s
Founder	Community clergy and faith leaders
Type	Interfaith coalition
Headquarters	Los Angeles, California
Region served	Greater Los Angeles
Leader title	Chair

The Los Angeles Religious Leaders Forum is an interfaith coalition based in Los Angeles, California that convenes clergy and lay leaders from diverse faith traditions to address civic, social, and moral issues. Founded in the late 20th century amid growing multicultural demographics, the forum brought together representatives from Roman Catholic Church, Southern Baptist Convention, United Methodist Church, African Methodist Episcopal Church, Orthodox Church in America, Reform Judaism, Conservative Judaism, Orthodox Judaism, Islamic Society of North America, Sunni Islam, Shia Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, and Sikhism communities. It has engaged with civic institutions such as the City of Los Angeles, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors, and philanthropic organizations including the California Community Foundation and the United Way of Greater Los Angeles.

History

The forum emerged in response to intercommunal tensions and opportunities for cooperative civic engagement in the 1990s, a period marked by events like the 1992 Los Angeles riots, the expansion of immigrant communities from Mexico, Korea, and Central America, and public debates involving the Los Angeles Police Department and elected officials such as Tom Bradley and later Richard Riordan. Early meetings included clergy who had worked with leaders from United Farm Workers, Catholic Charities USA, Jewish Federation of Greater Los Angeles, and activists associated with Los Angeles Community Action Network. Through the 2000s the forum convened leaders tied to institutions such as Loyola Marymount University, University of Southern California, Claremont School of Theology, and neighborhood organizations influenced by figures like Bishop T.D. Jakes-type pastors and rabbis from synagogues affiliated with American Jewish Committee networks. The forum adapted after incidents such as the 2000s immigration protests and policy shifts at the State of California level.

Mission and Objectives

The forum’s stated mission emphasizes fostering interreligious understanding, promoting public policy engagement, and responding to crises affecting congregations and neighborhoods. It aligns with objectives espoused by national organizations like Interfaith Alliance, Religions for Peace, National Council of Churches USA, American Jewish Committee, and Council on American-Islamic Relations by advocating for civil rights, social services, and civic participation. Core goals include reducing religiously motivated conflict, coordinating humanitarian responses during disasters such as the Northridge earthquake aftermath, and shaping municipal policy discussions involving the Los Angeles Unified School District and housing initiatives tied to Measure HHH debates.

Membership and Organization

Membership comprises clergy, imams, rabbis, monks, and lay leaders from institutions including major dioceses like the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, evangelical networks such as the Calvary Chapel movement, and faith-based nonprofits like PATH (People Assisting The Homeless). The forum’s governance model borrows practices from coalitions like Faith in Action and uses rotating chairs drawn from affiliations with universities such as Pepperdine University and seminaries like Fuller Theological Seminary. Committees focus on public policy, disaster response, youth engagement, and prison ministry, interfacing with legal advocates from groups such as the ACLU and policy researchers from think tanks like the RAND Corporation.

Activities and Initiatives

The forum organizes regular roundtables, joint worship services, and public statements addressing issues including homelessness, immigration reform, policing, and public health crises such as COVID-19 pandemic in California. Initiatives have included coordinated shelter programs with Los Angeles Mission, voter registration drives parallel to efforts by League of Women Voters of Los Angeles, and interfaith vigils following incidents tied to national debates like those involving Department of Justice investigations or high-profile trials in the Los Angeles County Superior Court. Educational workshops have been held with partners such as the Skirball Cultural Center and faith literacy programs modeled on curricula from Planned Parenthood collaborations on public health.

Interfaith Dialogue and Programs

Dialogue programs emphasize theological exchange and joint service projects, taking cues from historical models like The Parliament of the World’s Religions and organizations such as United Religions Initiative. The forum has sponsored interfaith prayer breakfasts with participation from leaders connected to institutions like The Getty Center and cultural events at venues such as Walt Disney Concert Hall. Youth interfaith councils have collaborated with civic youth programs run by LA County Department of Arts and Culture and educational outreach through partnerships with Los Angeles Public Library branches. Training in conflict mediation has been provided by experts from Mediation Center of Los Angeles and civic leadership programs tied to LA Chamber of Commerce initiatives.

Community Impact and Partnerships

The forum’s partnerships have produced measurable outcomes in collaborative service delivery, influencing municipal policy deliberations and emergency response protocols. Collaborations with Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority and health departments have mobilized congregational networks to provide vaccine sites and food distribution during crises. It has engaged philanthropic partners including Annenberg Foundation and social service organizations like Jewish Family Service of Los Angeles to expand shelter capacity. The forum’s leverage in convening diverse constituencies has been cited in municipal hearings before officials such as the Mayor of Los Angeles and county supervisors.

Controversies and Criticism

Critics have argued the forum sometimes reflects unequal power dynamics among large institutional members such as the Archdiocese of Los Angeles and prominent megachurches, marginalizing smaller faith communities and grassroots groups tied to activists from locales like South Central Los Angeles and East Los Angeles. Tensions have arisen over political endorsements, alliances with law enforcement during protests, and positions on immigration policies promoted by entities like U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Some civil liberties advocates and progressive clergy aligned with organizations such as Faith in Public Life and Black Lives Matter Los Angeles have challenged the forum’s stances as insufficiently critical of structural injustices.

Category:Religion in Los Angeles