Welcome to the IRCLC

Brothers and sisters, in faith and humanity

Welcome to the IRCLC!

As our world goes through an unprecedented time of struggle and constant change, and as our human family awaits patiently the ways our world and communities will be reshaped by the current challenge of Covid-19, the work of our organization couldn’t have been more vital a pulse of life and hope in our Linn County.

Faith has proved to remain a constant during a flood of changes, unknowns, and tragic turns of events. Faith gives hope. Faith saves life.

Now imagine communities of faith joining forces and working together hand in hand to confront a common challenge? This is not a dream nor an unachievable goal, this is a reality.

Members of Abrahamic, non-Abrahamic, and even non-religious communities serve on the board of directors of the IRCLC. They serve with passion, dedication, and faith in both God and our common good.

Throughout my time on the board, I have served as a member, a vice-president, and now I humbly serve as the president of the board. Before me there was an Episcopal president, and before him there was a Jewish president. My current vice-president is a humanist.

I have traveled around the world quite a bit, and I have studied world religions and religious communities, and I don’t exaggerate when I say the model the IRCLC represents is not really common. It is unique to our city and our world. It is worthy of a careful study and a wide replicating. It is a model of actual coexistence, not one that only exists on a bumper sticker. It is a model of mutual respect and civil engagement.

Beyond our annual celebrations, organized events, classes and dialogues, the IRCLC’s true service to our community is safeguarding democracy and civility. A community that has produced a council of such religious diversity will not allow for intolerance or persecution of any group of individuals because of their faith, color, gender, citizenship status, or any other reasons.

With challenges Covid-19 lays ahead of us in the foreseen future, the IRCLC work will to become ever more needed, so please support our work.

Hassan M. Selim
President, Inter-Religious Council of Linn County
Imam, Islamic Center of Cedar Rapids