Christian Associates of Southwest Pennsylvania
working for the unity of the church and the wholeness of communities through collegiality, collaboration, and connectedness
We Have to Talk
Join an informal Spiritual Leader Space conversation on March 5.
We Have to Talk is a network of interfaith spiritual leaders from across Southwest Pennsylvania: over 500 clergy and lay people who gather to build relationship across our diverse traditions through conversation and action.
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Our network's core principles are named in our statement of purpose, Living Faithfully With One Another. The key organizing partners are Christian Associates of Southwest Pennsylvania and the Center for Loving Kindness at the JCC of Greater Pittsburgh.
In the 2025-2026 program year, ​We Have to Talk plans a series of "Interfaith Field Trips," bringing our dialogues on the road to spiritual landmarks across our region.
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Our network began in the days immediately following the mass shooting at Tree of Life synagogue on October 27, 2018. Should we cancel a planned interfaith gathering the following week? we wondered. No, we agreed. Because: we have to talk.
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To receive occasional emails about We Have to Talk, sign up here.
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Photo by the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
OUR NEXT EVENT:
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Spiritual Leader Space
Thursday, March 5, 2026
10:00 a.m.
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Basfield Dining Room
Pittsburgh Theological Seminary
616 N. Highland Ave
Pittsburgh, PA 15206​​​​​​​
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Our friends in the Twin Cities remind us: relationships among interfaith leaders make all the difference in building resilient community, especially when times are at their hardest.
So: let's get together. We have to talk.
Join a super-informal, drop-in conversation on Thursday, March 5 from 10-11:30 a.m. in the Basfield Dining Room at Pittsburgh Theological Seminary (616 N. Highland Ave, Pittsburgh 15206). Our dialogue can go in many directions, but here are some questions to start us off:
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How are increased immigration enforcement and detentions affecting your faith community? How have you gotten involved? What conversations is your community having? As a leader, how have you navigated the diverse range of opinions and experiences found in your house of worship or institution?
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What is needed in our interfaith work in Pittsburgh to respond effectively to this challenging moment? What are we currently doing well that needs to be nourished or expanded? What needs are unmet? What relationships do we need to build? How can we learn from other cities? How can we support one another?
As always, We Have to Talk events are intended for spiritual leaders: clergy and religious and those holding lay leadership roles in houses of worship and faith institutions across Southwest Pennsylvania. Your registration is helpful in the form below.
We can't skip any opportunity to strengthen these ties that matter so much. We have to talk.