The context for this post comes from my role as Religion Sector Specialist, which began in 2002.  At that time, I was hired by the Peninsula Community Foundation, now the Silicon Valley Community Foundation.  The Foundation’s goal was to give design to the nationally recognized ad hoc structure of the array of clergy and congregations in every region.

The creation of such a design would provide the basis for the long-sought capacity to engage every clergy person and their congregation or organization. This design and engagement was successful within months.  This initiated the framework for an alignment within (a) the full religion sector, and (b) between the religion sector’s core institutions, the congregations, and the institutions of the other sectors of society, the civic sectors – government, education, human services and business.

The historic image of the “separation” – among congregations of different religions and between congregations and the institutions of the society – found a structure for achieving appropriate and efficient mutual engagement.  The term “wall of separation” – not a part of the U.S. Constitution – transitioned to an “alignment” which honors what is the constitutional religion and state decree, composed of the two clauses: (a) no establishment of religion, and (b) the protection of the right of every individual to practice their religious identity.

The misnomer of a religion and state “wall” had resulted in the marginalization of religion within society, to the unresolved detriment of (a) the institutions of both the civic and religion sectors, and (b) the lives of individuals in a wide array of circumstances.

So, since 2002, I have experienced the resulting era of Religion Sector 3.0, along with the clergy and the leaders of the civic sectors within the scope of the project, initially in one region, and subsequently, as I consulted around the country, in locations in California and other states.

Step by step, I have shared in (a) the clarification of the nature of the unresolved issues, (b) the exploration of their related dynamics, and (c) resolving an array of specific issues.

This is the context for this post, to include you in extending the public discourse, adding to the shift from misperception to the common basis for the exploration of the nature of (a) the religion sector, (b) the relationship between the religion sector’s congregations and the civic sectors, and (c) religion in society.

WHAT’S NEXT: Exploring how this makes a difference…

Rabbi Jay Miller   RELIGION SECTOR 3.0
1.0  On the Town Square         2.0  Walls of Separation
3.0  Alignment: Among Congregations – Within Society

rabbijaymiller.com      jaymiller@blueconnect.org      650.740.4411