This year marks the 19th anniversary of the founding of the Religious Leaders Council of Greater Philadelphia. Over the past two decades, our Council has grown to include 36 distinguished leaders representing diverse faith traditions and denominations across our region. What unites us is our shared commitment to creating relationships of mutual support and to serving as a collective moral and spiritual voice on the critical issues facing our communities.
Throughout our history, we have spoken out together on matters of conscience, issuing statements that address pressing concerns such as the use of civil language, the importance of literacy, the crisis of gun violence, and the need for just and humane immigration policies. In these efforts, we reflect the core tenets of our faiths—every one of which commands us to welcome the stranger and protect the most vulnerable among us.
We’ve carried signs—one read, “We Are All Immigrants”—which invited smiles, honks, waves, and impromptu conversations with pedestrians.
This calling is especially urgent in today’s climate of fear and uncertainty within immigrant communities. Across our region, we hear from individuals and families who are afraid to go to work, shop for groceries, or even be seen in public. In response, our Council members have chosen to act—not only with words, but through presence.
One meaningful initiative this Spring was our Love Thy Neighbor Walk, a public demonstration of solidarity and compassion. To date, the walks have taken place in neighborhoods in Upper Darby and South Philadelphia. One walk was coordinated in partnership with SEAMAAC, Inc., a vital community organization and a proud recipient of our Zones of Peace recognition. Together, we entered the neighborhoods where immigrant families live, work, and shop—not to protest, but to connect, to listen, and to bear witness.
Each Love Thy Neighbor Walk was carefully planned: we established a gathering spot and time, offered a warm welcome and orientation for participants, and shared ground rules and a message rooted in faith and love. We reminded new walkers that while logistics matter, the heart of the walk is simple—we are people of faith showing up for our neighbors in love.
Love Thy Neighbor Walks have included participants from varied religious backgrounds and across generations—including both a stroller and a walker. We’ve traveled down local commercial corridors in Philadelphia, entering shops, greeting owners and employees, and making purchases to support local businesses. We’ve carried signs—one read, “We Are All Immigrants”—which invited smiles, honks, waves, and impromptu conversations with pedestrians.
Article by Rev. Edward Livingston, Director of Community Partnerships.
