A Warm Welcome!

Founded in 2004, the Venice Interfaith Community Association was born from the observation that our community was expanding, not only in size, but in diversity. Although many Christian denominations were represented in the Venice area there was no group that embraced the growing Jewish, Muslim, Hindu and Buddhist populations. We further observed that faith-based organizations are a powerful force for community betterment and global understanding.

Based upon these premises, the vision of the Venice Interfaith Community Association is to promote the development of a culture which reflects the love, understanding, and support of and between all community members as taught by all of the faith traditions represented in our society.

 

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Current Leadership and Friends:

Janet Onnie, Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Venice (President); Doug Roach, Epiphany Cathedral (Treasurer); Keith Backhaus, St. Mark's Episcopal (Director); Tony Hayes, Lemon Bay Funeral Home (Director); Don Fialka; Don Hughes, Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Venice (Director); Sara McCorkle, Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Venice; Shirley Bascom, Baha'i Faith (Vice President); Nelson Hay, Unitarian Universalsit Congregation of Venice;  Judith Zangwill, Jewish Center of Venice (Director).

Not pictured: Ed Martin, Sarasota Friends Meeting (Director); Bennett Gross, Jewish Center of Venice (Director).

 

Announcements

  • Interfaith Community Outreach Organizing Program (CO-OP) This new interfaith committee under the umbrella of the Venice Interfaith Community Association was recently formed to help coordinate the community outreach services of the many faith groups in South Sarasota County. It grew out of the exciting work of the Venice Community Dinners. Read more...  
  • The Interfaith Community Says Thanks to Janet Onnie The interfaith community has benefited immensely from the six years of service that Janet Onnie has devoted to it and we want to extend our heartfelt thanks to her. Organizations always need "vision and idea" people and also the "nuts and bolts" doers. Read more...  
  • Record Breaking Membership

    We are proud to report that the Venice Interfaith Community Association now has 12 organizational members. These groups form an important part of our association by their financial support and the assistance of their members in our various projects. Read more...  

  • Venice Community Dinners

    A little over a year ago, a small (less than a dozen) group of people got together to ask the question, "What can we do to make this a better community?" Among the ideas shared was the desire to help feed the homeless and others in need in the Venice area. It was apparent early on that for this to work well it must be an effort put forth by the whole faith-based community. Read more...