House-building and Hope-building

August 21, 2013

Interfaith Ideals in Action: A Habitat for Humanity Pilot Venture

As is so often the case, the more we know about one another the more we find we share in common. Nowhere has this proved more true than Habitat for Humanity International’s recent work to create an interfaith toolkit for its house- and hope-building ministry.

We are tremendously honored to have partnered early and often with the Berkley Center for Religion, Peace, and World Affairs at Georgetown University and the World Faiths Development Dialogue to convene discussions and further relationships that have proved invaluable in this effort. The assistance of the Berkley Center and WFDD, along with the Argosy Foundation, in creating case studies with six Habitat affiliates in Atlanta, GA; New York City, NY; Kent County, MI; Seattle, WA; and Los Angeles, CA have been both gratifying and informative in field-testing our concepts of the Interfaith Toolkit.

We are excited and encouraged now to build upon this work and the strong foundation it provides.

About the Author

Thomas Laird Jones

Thomas Laird (Tom) Jones has worked with Habitat for Humanity International (HBHI) since 1991, serving first as vice president and founding managing director of HBHI's Washington Office before becoming in 2005 ambassador-at-large in the office of the CEO. He serves on HFHI’s Senior Leadership Team. He has represented HFHI in the ONE Campaign, InterAction, and as a leader in the new HFHI Advocacy Initiative; he currently leads the HFHI Interfaith Exploration. Jones is also a frequent public speaker and has appeared on radio and television. In the academic world, he has served as vice president for a theological seminary and faculty member at two seminaries, as well as as on the national staff of the Presbyterian Church (USA). Prior to his tenure with HFHI, Jones served as pastor of large Presbyterian congregations in Kentucky, Florida, and Washington, DC. He has earned B.A., M.Div., Master of Theology, and Doctor of Ministry degrees and has received an honorary Doctor of Divinity degree.