POVERTY - Addressing problems of poverty in the Rochester area.

STATE / NATIONAL ISSUES - Elections, Fair Campaign Practices Project, and legislation, including First Amendment issues.

HEALTH CARE - Working with the Interfaith Healthcare Coalition on universal health insurance and related issues.

LEAD PAINT - Working with the Lead Paint Coalition, education about the problem and responses.

Sr. Gratia L'Esperance, TIAR President, addressing the annual meeting, June 10, 2007 (photo, above right).

Outgoing treasurer Marie Parsons receives recognition from TIAR President, Sr. Gratia L’Esperance, for her years of service to TIAR (photo, left). Marie will be relocating to Florida this fall.

Arun Gandhi, TIAR's guest speaker, at the annual meeting (photo, right).

April 5, 2008: TIAR members at the observance in honor of Martin Luther King, Jr. (photo, left), led by the Rev. Roy Hedman, right front) at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in support of the Rochester CLUE boycott: (front) Gil Strother, Peter Peters; (rear) Gratia L'Esperance (obscured behind Peter), Linda and David White.

Mission of The Interfaith Alliance of Rochester

We are committed to an inclusive democratic process based upon the mutual responsibility of public officials, public institutions, and the general public. It requires honest and civility through open discussion of issues and full participation open to all citizens.

We work towards a public good that offers dignity and wholeness to all people. This includes a quality public education, a sustainable environment, a living wage, comprehensive health care, adequate housing, and a voice for people of faith in the political arena that respects the First Amendment.

As a growing and diverse interfaith community, we bring a constructive and healing witness to public and political life in the Greater Rochester community. The Interfaith Alliance of Rochester is one of many local alliances in a national coalition of people of faith.

The Interfaith Alliance of Rochester

• We believe that people running for or serving in public office should express their views in a way that encourages civil discussion of issues.
• We educate our members about public policy issues. We strive to promote the Golden Rule as the core value to bring about economic justice.
• We provide an enlightened faith-based voice in an evolving community that understands the relevance and value of religious diversity.
• We strive to encourage all people to "do justice, to love mercy and to walk humbly with our God." Micah 6:8
• We believe that democracy works best when politics becomes the work of the people, when informed participation and respectful listening are allowed to contribute to the resolution of social problems, and when the "common will" seeks liberty and justice for all.

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