Arizona is at a crossroads.  Political rhetoric has deteriorated.  Blame and finger pointing is at an all-time high.  Social justice, compassion and concern for the most vulnerable among us struggle for a place in the budget cutting approach that dominates state politics today.  The voices of faith leaders have been hard to hear, but social justice and democracy are intertwined in our public life and it is important that our faith communities reaffirm the importance of both concepts to our way of life.  Our institutions matter…..they have an important role to play in civic life, and faith communities have a responsibility to understand , debate and play a role in that civic life.

The Ryle Fund has established a series of seminars designed to foster and inform articulate advocates for sound public policy and social justice in our community.  The seminars permit Arizona faith leaders to participate, explore and understand our state’s social justice public policy issues and to demonstrate and communicate the important of these issues to their congregations and communities.