Gallatin Valley Interfaith Association
Bringing together people of all faith traditions

About GVIA

Rabbi Sonja Keren Pilz

Rabbi Sonja Keren Pilz

Co-Moderator, Rabbi at Beth Shalom

Pastor Nicole Melara

GVIA Co-Moderator, Pastor of First Presbyterian

Michãel Palmer

GVIA Secretary, Director of Bozeman Dharma Center and Soto Zen priest

Dick Deschamps

GVIA Treasurer, Hope Lutheran

Rev. Valerie Webster

Rev. Valerie Webster

Moderator Emerita, St. James Epsicopal

Our mission

  • Building collegial support for people representing different faith traditions;

  • Providing leadership to address wider social and spiritual issues within the communities of the Gallatin Valley;

  • Establishing a forum to share in the life of each other’s traditions.

Our values

  1. Respect for the dignity of all people and for the variety of religious traditions of our community

  2. Desire to increase understanding between those of different religious traditions.

  3. Concern and commitment to action for the poor, needy and vulnerable in our community.

  4. Desire to make Gallatin Valley a more just, peaceful and healthy community.

  5. Belief that we can accomplish more by working together than by working separately.

Participation

GVIA welcomes three groups as valued participants:
Members: Members represent member congregations, centers, churches,
and/or religious communities with active spiritual traditions in the Gallatin Valley.
Each member-religious organization of GVIA is invited to have 2 representatives,
who have the right to voice and vote. Ideally, a member organization has a
spiritual leader/ clergy person and a lay leader/ active participant.


Partners: Partners may represent a spiritual tradition or a non-profit group.
Partners may be sole practitioners of a faith tradition inactive in the Gallatin
Valley. Partners may also be leaders or members of a non-profit group in the
Gallatin Valley. Partners have voice but no vote. Exception: Partners voted to
serve on the Leadership Team.


Friends: Friends are individuals interested in the purpose, vision, values, and
mission of Gallatin Valley Interfaith Association. Friends are welcome to attend
GVIA meetings. Friends are without voice or vote in meetings. Exceptions: (A)
Friends may be invited by a Leadership Team member to speak at a specific
meeting on a specific issue. (B) Friends who are voted to serve on the
Leadership Team have a vote.