“Breaking bread together can lead to civility. That’s the hope of four local clergy and The Village Square, an organization dedicated to fostering conversations between people with different world views. On Friday, they’ll be launching a luncheon series called “Faith, Food, Friday” at First Baptist Church. The first topic will be “Faith in the Public Square.” “Our mothers taught us that it wasn’t polite to talk about politics and religion,” said Liz Joyner, director of The Village Square. “But if we follow that, who’s left to have the discussion? Only people who make seven-digit salaries or win elections if we really hate each other. We want to put the conversation into better hands.”

And that, she thinks, can happen easier over a meal.

“If we do nothing else but sit down and eat together, it can be transformational.”

Four clergy members from across the political spectrum will lead the discussion — the Rev. Doug Dortch, pastor of First Baptist Church; the Rev. Dave Killeen, rector of St. John’s Episcopal Church; the Rev. Darrick McGhee, pastor of Bible Based Church; and Rabbi Jack Romberg from Temple Israel.

In December, the panel will talk about “The December Dilemma,” discussing issues such as public holiday displays or ways to greet people of other faiths during the month.

The clergy say they won’t shy away from difficult discussions. Instead, they want to model how those conversations can take place in an atmosphere of mutual respect. In the future, they hope to invite other clergy to be on the panel.

“I feel that often people in the religious world, and I include myself, get into silos with people in our own denomination,” Killeen said. “We don’t do enough talking and dialoguing outside the group. This (luncheon series) will give us a chance to get out of our silos.”

Coincidentally, the idea for the series started over a meal. Killeen and Romberg were having breakfast at the Uptown Cafe one morning to discuss the possibility of teaching at each other’s congregation. Then Joyner walked in.

For years, Joyner had thought about getting together a “God Squad” to discuss issues of faith and politics. When she saw the two clergymen sitting together, she knew it was time to get started.

“I officially ran out of excuses,” she said. “It was one of those moments.”

The three immediately began talking about how to launch the luncheon series. They later invited Dortch and McGhee to round out the founding panel. Both men readily agreed.

“There’s great interest in how religion intersects with everyday issues,” Dortch said. “But the conversation often either escalates in intensity or stops altogether. This is a third way.”

McGhee, 33, is the youngest man in the group and the only African-American. He also works full-time as the director of legislative and Cabinet affairs for the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity.

He said becoming part of the panel was a “dream come true.”

“It’s hard to have a discussion about faith and politics without being biased,” said McGhee. “So to have a discussion with colleagues, not just in the Christian community, but in the Jewish as well, and to have it on the record and in front of people, is something I always wanted to do.”

Romberg agreed, saying the series gives him a chance to “live an idea that I talk about.”

“It’s not important that we agree,” he said. “What is important is to accept our disagreements in a way that respects and honors each other.”

–Written by Sharon Kant Rauch
Originally published in The Tallahassee Democrat