Beginning Wednesday, April 12, 2017, Bishop Mark Beckwith and his interfaith colleagues Imam W. Deen Shareef and Rabbi Matthew Gewirtz will co-host a monthly show on NJTV: A Matter of Faith with a Bishop, an Imam and a Rabbi. Guests on the series will include local and national politicians, newsmakers, religious representatives from various sects and others weighing in on headlining topics.
The premiere episode, a discussion about sanctuary cities and women's activitism, will air five times during Holy Week and Easter:
- Wednesday, April 12, 8:30 PM
- Friday, April 14, 2:30 AM
- Saturday, April 15, 6:30 PM
- Sunday, April 16, 10:30 AM
- Monday, April 17, 4:30 AM
You can download a letter-sized handout with full information here to share with your congregations.
From NJTV's promotional materials:
Every day the news is filled with local and national stories that raise emotional reactions and resonate within our country’s religious communities – from unrest in the Middle East and gay marriage to Planned Parenthood, gun control and surveillance of houses of worship. Such topics flare opinions and passions, and conjure heated conversations across living rooms, offices and boardrooms.
Knowing that personal perspectives on issues like these are often cultivated through the eyes of faith, NJTV sought to create a neutral platform for fruitful headline discussions that resonate with varying perspectives. A Matter of Faith with a Bishop, an Imam and a Rabbi will offer this platform, giving viewers a seat at the table with Bishop Mark Beckwith (Episcopal Diocese of Newark), Imam W. Deen Shareef (Masjid Waarith ud Deen in Irvington) and Rabbi Matthew Gewirtz (Congregation B’nai Jeshurun in Short Hills) as they vigorously discuss and debate many of these issues. Though not always in agreement, they will discuss tough issues civilly, respectfully, faithfully, and, when appropriate, with a sense of humor.
Bishop Beckwith, Rabbi Gewirtz and Imam Shareef are all committed to serving the spiritual, social and economic needs of their communities and have worked together for years – building bridges in New Jersey between their faiths and followers. They co-founded the Newark Coalition for Hope and Peace in 2008 in response to gang violence in Newark. The three men have appeared on PBS specials with Jon Meacham, God in New York and Christians, Muslims and Jews: Bridging the Divide, and they have also been regular guests on MSNBC’s Morning Joe.
