Decline in Religion A National Health ConcernDECLINE IN RELIGION A NATIONAL HEALTH CONCERN 17 Sep, 2022
By Brian Grim, Ph.D., and Melissa Grim, J.D. Study: Decline in religious affiliation in the U.S. is not only a concern for religious organizations but constitutes a national health concernA new projection by the Pew Research Center suggests that if recent trends in religious switching continue, Christians could make up less than half of the U.S. population within a few decades. Under one scenario that Pew models, the religiously unaffiliated population could be in the majority by 2070. While this is not good news for organized religion, the findings should concern all Americans because the decline in religious affiliation in the U.S. is not only a concern for religious organizations but constitutes a national health concern, based on our study of the connection between religion and health. The study, Belief, Behavior, and Belonging: How Faith is Indispensable in Preventing and Recovering from Substance Abuse, reviews the voluminous empirical evidence on faith’s contribution to preventing people from falling victim to substance abuse and helping them recover from it. We find that 73% of addiction treatment programs in the USA include a spirituality-based element, as embodied in the 12-step programs and fellowships initially popularized by Alcoholics Anonymous, the vast majority of which emphasize reliance on God or a Higher Power to stay sober. In the study, we introduce and flesh out a typology of faith-based substance abuse treatment facilities, recovery programs, and support groups. This typology provides important background as we then move on to make an economic valuation of nearly 130,000 congregation-based substance abuse recovery support programs in the USA. We find that these faith-based volunteer support groups contribute up to $316.6 billion in savings to the US economy every year at no cost to tax payers. While negative experiences with religion (e.g., clergy sex abuse and other horrendous examples) have been a contributory factor to substance abuse among some victims, given that more than 84% of scientific studies show that faith is a positive factor in addiction prevention or recovery and a risk in less than 2% of the studies reviewed, we conclude that the value of faith-oriented approaches to substance abuse prevention and recovery is indisputable. And, by extension, we also conclude that the decline in religious affiliation in the USA is not only a concern for religious organizations but constitutes a national health concern. |
Remembering Our Spiritual First Responders Modeling Our Faith At Work
https://aleteia.org/2019/09/11/priest-has-vivid-memories-of-ministering-at-ground-zero-on-9-11/
Msgr. Delendick says the hardest part was answering families
searching for their loved ones.Of all the memories Msgr. John Delendick has from September 11, 2001, perhaps none stands out as vividly as being handed the helmet of a fellow priest who was killed at the World Trade Center.
That priest, like Msgr. Delendick, was a New York Fire Department chaplain, Fr. Mychal Judge. The Franciscan friar was the first official casualty on 9/11, which occurred 18 years ago today.
“That day, I don’t even know the order of what all happened,” Msgr. Delendick told the Tablet, the newspaper of the Diocese of Brooklyn, New York. “Someone just handed me the helmet and told me he was killed, and they had him laid out in a wake at St. Peter’s Church on Barclay Street,” which is just blocks away from where the North Tower once stood.
On Sept. 11, 2001, a bright, crisp Tuesday morning in New York, with not a cloud in the sky, Msgr. Delendick had just finished celebrating Mass at St. Michael’s Church in the Sunset Park section of Brooklyn, where he was pastor. Hearing the news, he jumped in his car and drove as close as he could get to the Brooklyn-Battery Tunnel, but then, because of the emergency response from all over New York City, he was forced to walk the rest of the way to lower Manhattan.
The Tablet reported:
He remembers running into FDNY colleagues, including first deputy commissioner William Feehan, who was later killed in the collapse. He remembers giving absolution to a cop who ran to him amid a dark cloud of debris and smoke, asking for the sacrament of confession.
Msgr. Delendick, a longtime FDNY chaplain who’s now pastor of St. Jude Church, in Brooklyn’s Canarsie neighborhood, said that the hardest thing about that day “was people asking him if he had seen their friends, fathers, brothers and sons—firefighters and first-responders to the attacks—and not knowing how to respond,” the Tablet said. “It wasn’t until after returning from Ground Zero that Father Delendick and many families would realize that their friends and loved ones had died.”
The priest stayed on the scene, ministering where he could. He got back to his rectory at 2 o’clock the next morning, September 12. It could be said that that’s when his work was about to begin. In the coming months, he would visit Ground Zero often, accompanying families in their search for loved ones. As a fire department chaplain, he would also be called on to celebrate or at least be present for the funerals and memorial Masses of FDNY personnel found in the rubble. The department lost 343 firefighters who were trying to rescue office workers when the towers—first the south and then the north—collapsed.
“It’s just, you get so many of these funerals, and it just gets to you after a while … I love the job, but I also hate it,” Msgr. Delendick told the paper.
Others have died since then from illnesses thought to be directly related to the environmental hazards produced by the towers’ destruction. In a solemn ceremony earlier this month, the fire department added the names of 22 such firefighters and recovery workers to the FDNY World Trade Center Memorial Wall inside its Downtown Brooklyn headquarters.
Fr. Joseph Hoffman, pastor of St. Barbara parish in Brooklyn, who is also a fire department chaplain, said that working with the FDNY is “like serving another parish,” according to the Tablet. He said he is honored to work with the men and women who serve.
“I ask families to remember that death is never the end—that it is easier in the hands of God, who transforms death into life,” Fr. Hoffman said.
searching for their loved ones.Of all the memories Msgr. John Delendick has from September 11, 2001, perhaps none stands out as vividly as being handed the helmet of a fellow priest who was killed at the World Trade Center.
That priest, like Msgr. Delendick, was a New York Fire Department chaplain, Fr. Mychal Judge. The Franciscan friar was the first official casualty on 9/11, which occurred 18 years ago today.
“That day, I don’t even know the order of what all happened,” Msgr. Delendick told the Tablet, the newspaper of the Diocese of Brooklyn, New York. “Someone just handed me the helmet and told me he was killed, and they had him laid out in a wake at St. Peter’s Church on Barclay Street,” which is just blocks away from where the North Tower once stood.
On Sept. 11, 2001, a bright, crisp Tuesday morning in New York, with not a cloud in the sky, Msgr. Delendick had just finished celebrating Mass at St. Michael’s Church in the Sunset Park section of Brooklyn, where he was pastor. Hearing the news, he jumped in his car and drove as close as he could get to the Brooklyn-Battery Tunnel, but then, because of the emergency response from all over New York City, he was forced to walk the rest of the way to lower Manhattan.
The Tablet reported:
He remembers running into FDNY colleagues, including first deputy commissioner William Feehan, who was later killed in the collapse. He remembers giving absolution to a cop who ran to him amid a dark cloud of debris and smoke, asking for the sacrament of confession.
Msgr. Delendick, a longtime FDNY chaplain who’s now pastor of St. Jude Church, in Brooklyn’s Canarsie neighborhood, said that the hardest thing about that day “was people asking him if he had seen their friends, fathers, brothers and sons—firefighters and first-responders to the attacks—and not knowing how to respond,” the Tablet said. “It wasn’t until after returning from Ground Zero that Father Delendick and many families would realize that their friends and loved ones had died.”
The priest stayed on the scene, ministering where he could. He got back to his rectory at 2 o’clock the next morning, September 12. It could be said that that’s when his work was about to begin. In the coming months, he would visit Ground Zero often, accompanying families in their search for loved ones. As a fire department chaplain, he would also be called on to celebrate or at least be present for the funerals and memorial Masses of FDNY personnel found in the rubble. The department lost 343 firefighters who were trying to rescue office workers when the towers—first the south and then the north—collapsed.
“It’s just, you get so many of these funerals, and it just gets to you after a while … I love the job, but I also hate it,” Msgr. Delendick told the paper.
Others have died since then from illnesses thought to be directly related to the environmental hazards produced by the towers’ destruction. In a solemn ceremony earlier this month, the fire department added the names of 22 such firefighters and recovery workers to the FDNY World Trade Center Memorial Wall inside its Downtown Brooklyn headquarters.
Fr. Joseph Hoffman, pastor of St. Barbara parish in Brooklyn, who is also a fire department chaplain, said that working with the FDNY is “like serving another parish,” according to the Tablet. He said he is honored to work with the men and women who serve.
“I ask families to remember that death is never the end—that it is easier in the hands of God, who transforms death into life,” Fr. Hoffman said.
Equinix Host the WeConnect conversation about Chaplaincy Ministry July 27th
American Airlines Recognized as Top Faith Friendly Corporation
American Airlines Integrated Operations Center
American Airlines Named Top Faith-Friendly Workplace in the Nation
Due to Interfaith Ministry Programs Stacey Doud
American Airlines (AA), based out of Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (DFW), made history this month as the number one faith-friendly workplace among Fortune 500 companies in the nation. The airline clinched the top spot via the 2022 Corporate Religious Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (REDI) Index, and the AA Interfaith Family was honored at a gala at the Religious Freedom and Business Foundation’s (RFBF) 3rd annual Faith@Work ERG Conference in Washington D.C. on May 23 – 25.
This annual event focuses on Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) and chaplains that are blazing trails within corporate America. The Conference brings these groups and employees together so they can interact and share strategies and Best Practices, with the goal of improving and expanding interfaith programs across the nation and the globe.
The REDI Index is designed to examine diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives among the top companies in America and has become the most thorough and comprehensive report about religious inclusion among U.S. and world corporation workplaces.
This is the first year that the RFBF has looked at Fortune 500 companies. The analysis for the inaugural year considered only Fortune 100 corporations, and the second annual index analyzed Fortune 200 businesses. In this third year, all corporate diversity policies and websites for those on the Fortune 500 list were examined.
Findings from the Index show that employees who are religious feel that they have an “official voice” at work via ERGs that are company-sponsored and are led by fellow employees. Having a place to practice religious rituals while at work often leads to higher job satisfaction and employee retention.
American Airlines allows employee-led faith gatherings, hosts interfaith events, encourages community outreach partnerships, and provides Prayer Rooms and ablution stations on its campus, as well as the use of Holy texts from all faith expressions in these spaces.
One of the trailblazers in this "faith in the workplace" movement at American Airlines is Anglican Priest Father Greg McBrayer. Father Greg has worked as a Chief Flight Controller at American’s Integrated Operations Control Center for over four decades. He has been leading the charge as a pioneer in the advancement of faith in the corporate world for more than 20 years. Father Greg was instrumental in getting prayer rooms and ablution stations into the plans for the new Headquarters Campus of American Airlines.
“You just cannot compartmentalize the things that are your core values, and if you’re a person of faith, that’s going to include your faith. That’s the core of everything I bring into my workday. As a Christian, I’m going to do the very best I can for God every day. And people in corporate America want that,” said McBrayer.
American also hosts quarterly events they call “Abraham’s Tent,” since Abraham is a central figure in the Holy texts of the Christian, Jewish, and Muslim faiths. These meetings encourage employees from different religious beliefs to gather and discuss the differences and similarities of their faith traditions. These gatherings help foster understanding and bring down silos of misunderstanding for people of different faiths or those of no faith.
The airline also respects religious beliefs about things like the COVID-19 vaccines. While employee exemption applications were reviewed carefully, American never fired or laid-off workers who did not receive the vaccines due to religious beliefs.
American was represented at the Conference by Rev. McBrayer, Executive Leadership, DEI Leaders and Global Leads from numerous ERG faith groups at American Airlines.
“This recognition has been a labor of love for me personally. The work began many years ago following the tragic impact 911 had on my life and our industry. It was out of the ashes of that life-altering event that God redirected the flight plan for my life and ministry. I feel blessed to have been used by God to bring voice and visibility to the importance of being able to bring your whole self to work.
"I have to thank American Airlines for providing the support our faith-based EBRG (Employee Business Resource Groups) need to bring about healthy change. I thank the Religious Freedom and Business Foundation for hosting this annual conference, which now has the world’s largest corporations gathering together to learn from one another, but most of all I thank God.
"This movement is reshaping the landscape of corporate America and the entire world. I feel blessed to have been on the frontline and to have been part of it all,” McBrayer said about the honor.
Looking back on the unusual development of his career, McBrayer said, “The greatest reward I get is getting up every morning and getting to say, ‘you know what, God is going to use me today at American Airlines to do Kingdom work.”
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American Airlines Named Most Faith-Friendly Fortune 500 Company
May 23, 2022 By Kathryn Post Share Tweet Share
(RNS) — American Airlines isn’t a religious company, but if you wander around their corporate buildings you might stumble onto an ablution station for Muslim purification rituals, a Jewish employee group meeting or even Father Greg McBrayer, a collar-wearing Anglican priest who is both chaplain and chief flight dispatcher for the airline. Today, after decades of religious diversity efforts, American Airlines was recognized as the most faith-friendly Fortune 500 company in the U.S., topping a tech-dominated list that also included Intel, Dell and PayPal.
The 2022 Corporate Religious Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Index (REDI Index) measured the religious inclusion of the Fortune 500 companies and found that 40% highlight religion on their main diversity webpage, while 7.4% publicly share about their faith-based employee resources groups (ERGs). This year, American Airlines outpaced Intel and Texas Instruments, last year’s top scorers, thanks to its religious diversity trainings, established spiritual care programs and eagerness to share best practices with others, according to the report.
The REDI Index was initially launched by the Religious Freedom and Business Foundation (RFBF) in 2020 to spotlight religious diversity in corporate spaces. This week, the RFBF is hosting its annual Faith@Work Conference for Fortune 500 companies in Washington, D.C.
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Brian Grim, president of the Religious Freedom and Business Foundation, told RNS that corporate momentum around religious diversity is continuing to accelerate. “On average, I have a new company every week reaching out,” said Grim. He added that, while companies like American Airlines, Intel and Texas Instruments have been involved in religious diversity work for decades, corporations have only started publicly promoting these efforts in the last few years. Ford Motor Company, a sponsor at this year’s Faith@Work Conference, has had its interfaith network for more than 20 years, but this conference is the “first time they’ve ever shared what they’re doing outside the walls of their company,” according to Grim.
The REDI Index report highlighted other standout religious diversity initiatives, such as Cigna’s many religious celebrations (including Kwanza, the pagan festival Yule and the Zoroastrian festival Ghambar Maidyarem), Intel’s eight faith/belief-based employee resource groups (including ones for agnostics/atheists, Sikhs and Baha’is) and Tyson Foods’ 100 chaplains.
RELATED: Religious diversity: Corporate obstacle? Or asset?
This was the first year the REDI Index expanded to include Fortune 500 companies; previous iterations looked at the Fortune 100 and 200. The RFBF also incorporated an opt-in survey this year that allowed companies to elaborate on their achievements in 10 areas of religious inclusion and support, including the presence of chaplains, religious accommodations and whether they match employee donations to religious charities.
Companies were also encouraged to submit descriptions of initiatives not covered in these categories, such as American Airlines’ Abraham’s Tent events. These interfaith gatherings are regularly hosted by religious leaders who address a topic (“the afterlife,” for example) from their faith perspective. According to McBrayer, the longtime American Airlines chaplain, these events break down silos between faith groups and nurture a more collaborative work environment.
“You just cannot compartmentalize the things that are your core values,” McBrayer told RNS. “And if you’re a person of faith, that’s going to be your faith. That’s the core of everything I bring into my workday. As a Christian, I’m going to do the very best I can for God every day. And people in a business want that.”
RELATED: Intel leads tech-dominated list of religiously inclusive workplaces in 2021
Posted in
FaithNewsScience & Tech
(RNS) — American Airlines isn’t a religious company, but if you wander around their corporate buildings you might stumble onto an ablution station for Muslim purification rituals, a Jewish employee group meeting or even Father Greg McBrayer, a collar-wearing Anglican priest who is both chaplain and chief flight dispatcher for the airline. Today, after decades of religious diversity efforts, American Airlines was recognized as the most faith-friendly Fortune 500 company in the U.S., topping a tech-dominated list that also included Intel, Dell and PayPal.
The 2022 Corporate Religious Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Index (REDI Index) measured the religious inclusion of the Fortune 500 companies and found that 40% highlight religion on their main diversity webpage, while 7.4% publicly share about their faith-based employee resources groups (ERGs). This year, American Airlines outpaced Intel and Texas Instruments, last year’s top scorers, thanks to its religious diversity trainings, established spiritual care programs and eagerness to share best practices with others, according to the report.
The REDI Index was initially launched by the Religious Freedom and Business Foundation (RFBF) in 2020 to spotlight religious diversity in corporate spaces. This week, the RFBF is hosting its annual Faith@Work Conference for Fortune 500 companies in Washington, D.C.
Daily religion news, straight to your inbox. Subscribe today.Email Address
First Name
Last Name
Brian Grim, president of the Religious Freedom and Business Foundation, told RNS that corporate momentum around religious diversity is continuing to accelerate. “On average, I have a new company every week reaching out,” said Grim. He added that, while companies like American Airlines, Intel and Texas Instruments have been involved in religious diversity work for decades, corporations have only started publicly promoting these efforts in the last few years. Ford Motor Company, a sponsor at this year’s Faith@Work Conference, has had its interfaith network for more than 20 years, but this conference is the “first time they’ve ever shared what they’re doing outside the walls of their company,” according to Grim.
The REDI Index report highlighted other standout religious diversity initiatives, such as Cigna’s many religious celebrations (including Kwanza, the pagan festival Yule and the Zoroastrian festival Ghambar Maidyarem), Intel’s eight faith/belief-based employee resource groups (including ones for agnostics/atheists, Sikhs and Baha’is) and Tyson Foods’ 100 chaplains.
RELATED: Religious diversity: Corporate obstacle? Or asset?
This was the first year the REDI Index expanded to include Fortune 500 companies; previous iterations looked at the Fortune 100 and 200. The RFBF also incorporated an opt-in survey this year that allowed companies to elaborate on their achievements in 10 areas of religious inclusion and support, including the presence of chaplains, religious accommodations and whether they match employee donations to religious charities.
Companies were also encouraged to submit descriptions of initiatives not covered in these categories, such as American Airlines’ Abraham’s Tent events. These interfaith gatherings are regularly hosted by religious leaders who address a topic (“the afterlife,” for example) from their faith perspective. According to McBrayer, the longtime American Airlines chaplain, these events break down silos between faith groups and nurture a more collaborative work environment.
“You just cannot compartmentalize the things that are your core values,” McBrayer told RNS. “And if you’re a person of faith, that’s going to be your faith. That’s the core of everything I bring into my workday. As a Christian, I’m going to do the very best I can for God every day. And people in a business want that.”
RELATED: Intel leads tech-dominated list of religiously inclusive workplaces in 2021
Posted in
FaithNewsScience & Tech
American Airlines has just been named the most faith-friendly Fortune 500 company, edging out two tech companies for the top spot in 2022.
Most Faith-Friendly Large Company In America? American AirlinesThe Corporate Religious Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Index (REDI) was initially launched by the Religious Freedom and Business Foundation (RFBF) in 2020 to spotlight religious diversity in corporate spaces. It looks for mentions of religion on corporate diversity webpages and literature, the provision of chaplains, and the offering of faith-based employee resource groups.
Last year, Texas Instruments and Intel took the top two spots. This year, it was American Airlines. At American Airlines, you’ll find employee-led gatherings, specialized resources for counseling, and even practical items like an ablution station for Muslim employees at the company’s Fort Worth headquarters.
There’s also people at American Airlines like Greg McBrayer, whom I covered at in 2019. Not only is he the Chief Flight Controller for American Airlines, he’s also an Anglican priest. Speaking to RNS, McBrayer said:
“You just cannot compartmentalize the things that are your core values. And if you’re a person of faith, that’s going to be your faith. That’s the core of everything I bring into my workday. As a Christian, I’m going to do the very best I can for God every day. And people in a business want that.”
American Airlines’ hosts voluntary meetings it calls Abraham’s Tent. Abraham is a central figure in the Christian, Jewish, and Muslim faith and these interfaith gatherings bring together employees from different faith traditions to discuss issues like afterlife, creation, or miracles.
What is not mentioned in any report but what I think merits mentioning is the manner in which American Airlines aggressively courted employees to seek religious exemptions when it came to COVID-19 vaccines. While United Airlines warned employees against suddenly “finding God” and closely scrutinized religious exemption applications, American Airlines welcomed them and never sidelined employees who chose to avoid the vaccine based upon religious conviction.
> Read More: “God Is Going Use Me Today At American Airlines To Do Kingdom Work”
CONCLUSION Texas-based American Airlines has been named the most faith-friendly Fortune 500 company in 2022. In providing multiple opportunities for those of faith (and those who lack faith) to come together, American Airlines hopes to create a more cohesive work environment that promotes respect and understanding.
Click the Links below for Matthews complete article, and other related works.
Most Faith-Friendly Large Company In America? American AirlinesThe Corporate Religious Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Index (REDI) was initially launched by the Religious Freedom and Business Foundation (RFBF) in 2020 to spotlight religious diversity in corporate spaces. It looks for mentions of religion on corporate diversity webpages and literature, the provision of chaplains, and the offering of faith-based employee resource groups.
Last year, Texas Instruments and Intel took the top two spots. This year, it was American Airlines. At American Airlines, you’ll find employee-led gatherings, specialized resources for counseling, and even practical items like an ablution station for Muslim employees at the company’s Fort Worth headquarters.
There’s also people at American Airlines like Greg McBrayer, whom I covered at in 2019. Not only is he the Chief Flight Controller for American Airlines, he’s also an Anglican priest. Speaking to RNS, McBrayer said:
“You just cannot compartmentalize the things that are your core values. And if you’re a person of faith, that’s going to be your faith. That’s the core of everything I bring into my workday. As a Christian, I’m going to do the very best I can for God every day. And people in a business want that.”
American Airlines’ hosts voluntary meetings it calls Abraham’s Tent. Abraham is a central figure in the Christian, Jewish, and Muslim faith and these interfaith gatherings bring together employees from different faith traditions to discuss issues like afterlife, creation, or miracles.
What is not mentioned in any report but what I think merits mentioning is the manner in which American Airlines aggressively courted employees to seek religious exemptions when it came to COVID-19 vaccines. While United Airlines warned employees against suddenly “finding God” and closely scrutinized religious exemption applications, American Airlines welcomed them and never sidelined employees who chose to avoid the vaccine based upon religious conviction.
> Read More: “God Is Going Use Me Today At American Airlines To Do Kingdom Work”
CONCLUSION Texas-based American Airlines has been named the most faith-friendly Fortune 500 company in 2022. In providing multiple opportunities for those of faith (and those who lack faith) to come together, American Airlines hopes to create a more cohesive work environment that promotes respect and understanding.
Click the Links below for Matthews complete article, and other related works.
https://religionnews.com/2022/05/23/american-airlines-dubbed-most-faith-friendly-fortune-500-company/?fbclid=IwAR2Ou-AuyY16sZNfS-CD24ObroaMDD_KK765tpqN9yR2PzmIaKCVCQO5xKY
https://liveandletsfly.com/american-airlines-faith-friendly/
https://liveandletsfly.com/american-airlines-faith-friendly/
Register to attend the National Faith at Work Conference Today
Faith and Business Talk at the BYU Business Society Spring Luncheon April 21st
Some US companies are embracing religious diversity as good for people and for business.
Religious diversity: Corporate obstacle? Or asset?
April 1, 2022
By Kathryn Post
For decades, there has been an unspoken ban on religious discussion in the workplace. And no wonder: Deeply held beliefs, not to mention religious dress or practices, can become a powder keg in corporate lunchrooms no less than at family gatherings.
But thanks to the nation’s expanding religious diversity and the recent surge in workplace diversity, equity and inclusion efforts, the business world’s unofficial taboo on religion might be waning. A growing contingent of businesses have begun talking about religion as an asset, rather than a divider.
Eboo Patel, founder of Interfaith Youth Core, said that in the last three years he’s seen an exponential increase in the number of companies coming to IFYC to consult on religious diversity. Since 2019, “one phone call a year became 12, 15, 20 requests a year,” said Patel. “Walmart, Alliance Bernstein, Edelman, Starbucks … A whole set of places, from banks to PR firms to retail, reached out to us and asked us to engage on religious diversity questions.”
Brian Grim, president of the Religious Freedom and Business Foundation, told Religion News Service that “every week” he hears from a new Fortune 100 company asking how to approach religious diversity in the workplace. “There’s been a massive change in the past three to five years in some of the world’s biggest and best companies towards embracing religion as part of their overall diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives,” said Grim.
Some recognition of religious diversity is as simple as serving kosher or halal food in the company cafeteria or offering floating holidays, so days off don’t revolve exclusively around the Christian liturgical calendar. For years, companies have offered faith-based employee resource groups, or ERGs, that allow workers to organize around their religious identities.
But some companies are going further, sponsoring religious literacy trainings and hiring interfaith chaplains for in-office counseling or spiritual support.
The companies’ motivations aren’t solely benevolent: There’s a business case for religious diversity that’s connected to overall diversity efforts and to what employees want out of their workplaces.
“Markets and market potentials are driven not only by what marketers try to get people to buy, but by these cultural and religious factors and values,” Grim said. “So businesses realize that to work in tomorrow’s marketplace, understanding religion is really important.”
Paying attention to employees’ religious practices can allow them to feel more valued, develop better working relationships and ultimately to be more productive, Grim added. This can be an edge in a globalizing workforce: While institutional religion is declining in the U.S., a 2015 study from Pew Research Center projected that globally, the world’s religious populations are on the rise.
Younger American generations continue to become more religiously diverse; they’ll expect employers to accommodate religious differences. According to a 2020 study from the Public Religion Research Institute, the median ages of white Protestants, white Catholics and Black Protestants in the U.S. are all in the 50s. In contrast, the median ages of unaffiliated people, Buddhists, Hindus and Muslims are in the 30s.
Patel observed that religious awareness can also appeal to clients. “If you’re a Starbucks in Dearborn, Michigan, where there’s a significant Muslim population, why wouldn’t you open at 4 a.m. during Ramadan?” asked Patel, who notes that many Muslims rely on IHOP for their pre-dawn breakfast during the month of fasting.
“Why wouldn’t you be the place where Muslims are going for their final cup of coffee before the day of fasting begins?” he asked.
Some companies have been promoting religious diversity for decades. Intel started its Christian employee resource group in 1995; Texas Instruments followed in 2000. But Grim said even companies that embraced ERGs early are renewing their emphasis. Craig Carter, who heads an alliance of faith- and belief-based ERGs at Intel, told RNS that the company has continued to add such ERGs, including atheist/agnostic and Baha’i groups, and last year added one for Hindus.
The ERGs are increasingly not there to please employees alone. Google’s Inter Belief Network, an ERG launched in 2017, plays a role in adapting Google’s products for religious audiences, including “Doodles” (Google’s alterations to its homepage logo) for Christmas, Hanukkah and even the Taoist/Buddhist Ghost Festival. The Buddhist chapter helped improve the translation of Tibetan religious texts for Google Translate.
Siraj Akhtar, a Texas Instruments employee since 2000, told RNS via email that the company’s conscious hospitality toward Muslims and other religious groups leads employees to invest in the company long-term. “For Muslim employees the idea that you don’t have to hide your faith or your practices, but can openly display them, is very appealing,” said Akhtar.
He pointed to the serenity rooms that are found in all of Texas Instruments’ major buildings. “Having a place where you can perform these (daily prayers) right where you work is something that sets TI apart and has been a huge influence for many who have joined the company.”
Chaplains are another way to weave religion into the corporate sphere. Greg McBrayer, an Anglican priest, is both American Airlines’ chief flight dispatcher and a company chaplain. “I’m not there to proselytize or convert people, I’m there to support them in moments of need,” he said. McBrayer sees himself as a “spiritual first responder” who can bring the “ministry of presence” to any difficult situation, regardless of the spiritual perspective of those involved.
At Tyson Foods in Arkansas, Chaplain Kevin Scherer oversees Tyson’s roughly 100 chaplains, including a Muslim as well as chaplains from most Christian denominations, who serve team members from more than 80 countries.
“Good chaplaincy doesn’t operate from the starting place of the chaplain’s religious faith orientation, but by being present and asking good questions to understand the religious diversity of the team member they’re taking care of,” he said. All of Tyson’s chaplains are equipped to minister in a pluralistic setting, he added, including to people who are not religious.
RELATED: Are today’s seminarians tomorrow’s corporate leaders?
Despite recent leaps in the accommodation of faith, religious diversity efforts lag far behind other kinds of diversity measures. “It’s not even close to where race, gender and sexuality are,” said Patel. “But it’s grown. If race, gender and sexuality were at a 5, and now is at a 9, religion work was at a 1, and now is at a 2.5.”
Leaders’ fear of exacerbating workplace divisions still casts a shadow, experts said. Some are also concerned that, done poorly, religious diversity initiatives can tokenize members of different belief groups without changing workplace culture.
Carolyn Chen, author of the new book “Work Pray Code,” said faith-based ERGs can provide important spaces for religious minorities in what is often an unnamed but normative white, Christian culture. “Yet when you provide these spaces, it can be like, you check the box and you’re done. It can be a way of dealing with diversity, giving people a space without changing the status quo,” Chen said.
Carter said he is frequently asked whether formalizing different religious groups at Intel causes problems. “Having or not having a formal faith ERG does not stop or start a person from having their personal beliefs,” Carter said in an email. “They will always be there. Recognizing they are there helps the employee feel included, valued personally, and that they can be real at work.”
For those wary of religious diversity, Patel says it’s better to address it head-on. “Religion is divisive, and I imagine there are a number of C-suite-level people who are not going to touch it,” he said. But these days the alternative to a proactive program, he said, is likely to “let conflict or bias land on your desk.”
National Medal of Honor Museum Unveiling Special Event at American Airlines
What an honor to be part of this special event at the unveiling of Flagship Valor with 14 Medal of Honor recipients and hundreds of special guests at Hangar 5. This historic event was part of the groundbreaking ceremony of the National Medal of Honor Museum being built in Arlington, Texas. WELL DONE American Airlines! A very special thanks to Randy Stillinger, the American Airlines Honor Team, DFW Airport Chaplaincy and all Volunteers. God bless you all!
Registration is open for the RFBF National Faith@Work ERG Conference 2022
American Airlines sends 63 WWII Veterans to Peral Harbor for 80th Anniversary
I was truly blessed to provide the departure benediction and be part of this historic anniversary event
American Airlines Names Christian Employees Resource Group - EBRG of the Year
An American Hero Comes Home - Army Chaplain Fr. Emil Kapaun - Medal of Honor - Venerated Saint
A Moving Video of an American Hero Coming Home to Sainthood
Today was one of the most memorable days in a long career and ministry, as our American Airlines Honor Team, many Priest, Bishops, friends and family, gathered to provide what we call a Dignified Transfer in honor of an American Hero, Army Chaplain Fr. Emil Kapaun. Father Kapaun died over 70 years ago in a Korean Prisoner of War Camp while faithfully serving his men till the end of his life.
Father Kapaun received the Medal of Honor and is in process to be venerated a Saint in the Roman Catholic Church. His remains were recently identified and arrived at DFW Intl. Airport this morning from Hawaii to transition to his Kansas home. Pictured is the water cannon salute of call sign flight, Shepherd II, arriving in the same Boeing 777 that we flew Pope Francis in as Shepherd I in 2015.
his very moving event takes on a whole different meaning if you will take the time to view the video links below which tells Fr. Kapaun's remarkable story. Special thanks to Randy Stillinger, American Airlines and all who made this very special day possible.
God bless you all, and may God bless America!
Fr. Greg McBrayer
https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=JxopaDbjGEQ
Father Kapaun received the Medal of Honor and is in process to be venerated a Saint in the Roman Catholic Church. His remains were recently identified and arrived at DFW Intl. Airport this morning from Hawaii to transition to his Kansas home. Pictured is the water cannon salute of call sign flight, Shepherd II, arriving in the same Boeing 777 that we flew Pope Francis in as Shepherd I in 2015.
his very moving event takes on a whole different meaning if you will take the time to view the video links below which tells Fr. Kapaun's remarkable story. Special thanks to Randy Stillinger, American Airlines and all who made this very special day possible.
God bless you all, and may God bless America!
Fr. Greg McBrayer
https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=JxopaDbjGEQ
911 A Day Like No Other; Ministry Redefended!
The Birth of Corporate Chaplaincy at American Airlines
Click to attend the Religious Freedom and Business Foundation 911 Event Special ZOOM Event 9-9-21
The growing future of Faith at Work in our world today!
Senator James Lankford & Senator Chris Coons Discuss Religious Freedom and Business with Dr. Brian Grim
Senator James Lankford & Senator Chris Coons Discuss Religious Freedom and Business with Dr. Brian Grim
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The Case for Faith's Impact on the Bottom Line In Business
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Click Photo to learn more about the 2022 RFBF REDI Index
American Airlines Christian EBRG (Employee Business Resource Group)
recognized by the Religious Freedom and Business Foundations 2021
REDI Index as the second most faith inclusive of fortune 100 company's.
Christian EBRG Global Leads and DEI team receive REDI Index award 2021
Airports Step Up Mental Health Assistance as Passenger Anxiety Soars
ATL & DFW Airport Chaplaincy Directors talk about impact on travelers.
Click the link below!
Chaplaincy at Work: the "Final Frontier" of Missions
Congressional and Corporate Chaplains: First Reaponders to America's Crises
Annual North Texas Field of Honor Event for our Military and First Responders
Fr. Greg and the American Airlines Honor Team - Honoring a US Army Medal of
Honor Recipient Ron Rosser transitioning through DFW to his final resting place
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Bringing the Priesthood into Corporate America - July Article: The Chapter
https://nashotahchapter.com/nashotaharticles/erywdp6vfy8topuo3a9222qm65ljke
https://nashotahchapter.com/nashotaharticles/erywdp6vfy8topuo3a9222qm65ljke
DFW Rambler Article - Ministry Guides Airline During Covid-19 Crisis
Ministering in a Pandemic at American Airlines
The Employee Business Resource Groups (EBRGs) are an important part of the culture at American. Team members with similar interests collaborate to create positive change within American and their communities.
During the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, EBRGs have gone above and beyond to offer resources to those in need. For instance, Generation Now is holding a virtual trivia fundraiser to support the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP). The participants answer trivia questions and for every correct answer, they’ll donate grains of rice to the WFP. The initiative will run through April 24.
Winston Lam, Senior Specialist in Inclusion and Diversity says the impact is being felt across American. “We have 170 EBRG chapters throughout the system at 19 domestic stations and 11 international stations. Some events are specific to our hubs, like DFW and PHL, but many like the fasting fundraiser and virtual Do Crew have been designed so team members everywhere can participate.”
Members of the Muslim EBRG are skipping their lunch and donating it to the American Airlines Family Fund so team members experiencing hardships have food for themselves or their families. Visit Jetnet and search for the American Airlines Giving Portal to follow their lead and support this initiative. Those donating are asked to type in “fasting fundraiser” in the notes section when they donate.
Along with monetary donations, the EBRGs are offering spiritual support. The IOC is hosting a Monday Morning Prayer Convocation every week sponsored by the Christian EBRG. Named and anonymous prayers are welcome. Father Greg McBrayer is also available for counseling and spiritual guidance around the system.
The Professional Women in Aviation (PWA) EBRG in PHL partners with MANNA, an organization that provides nutrition to aid patients who are fighting serious illnesses. They are looking for volunteers who are willing to spend three hours a week writing notes of encouragement for sick patients. The PWA is also trying to leverage unused amenity kits to support students who are a part of City Year, a non-profit organization focused on educational equity.
If you are looking for ways to give back, be sure to regularly check the events calendar to see where and when volunteer opportunities are taking place. Now more than ever, EBRGs are proactively finding ways to make a positive impact on team members and their communities. The effect of their work will be felt by all involved for many years to come.
During the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, EBRGs have gone above and beyond to offer resources to those in need. For instance, Generation Now is holding a virtual trivia fundraiser to support the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP). The participants answer trivia questions and for every correct answer, they’ll donate grains of rice to the WFP. The initiative will run through April 24.
Winston Lam, Senior Specialist in Inclusion and Diversity says the impact is being felt across American. “We have 170 EBRG chapters throughout the system at 19 domestic stations and 11 international stations. Some events are specific to our hubs, like DFW and PHL, but many like the fasting fundraiser and virtual Do Crew have been designed so team members everywhere can participate.”
Members of the Muslim EBRG are skipping their lunch and donating it to the American Airlines Family Fund so team members experiencing hardships have food for themselves or their families. Visit Jetnet and search for the American Airlines Giving Portal to follow their lead and support this initiative. Those donating are asked to type in “fasting fundraiser” in the notes section when they donate.
Along with monetary donations, the EBRGs are offering spiritual support. The IOC is hosting a Monday Morning Prayer Convocation every week sponsored by the Christian EBRG. Named and anonymous prayers are welcome. Father Greg McBrayer is also available for counseling and spiritual guidance around the system.
The Professional Women in Aviation (PWA) EBRG in PHL partners with MANNA, an organization that provides nutrition to aid patients who are fighting serious illnesses. They are looking for volunteers who are willing to spend three hours a week writing notes of encouragement for sick patients. The PWA is also trying to leverage unused amenity kits to support students who are a part of City Year, a non-profit organization focused on educational equity.
If you are looking for ways to give back, be sure to regularly check the events calendar to see where and when volunteer opportunities are taking place. Now more than ever, EBRGs are proactively finding ways to make a positive impact on team members and their communities. The effect of their work will be felt by all involved for many years to come.
Interviewed by the RFBF President on the differences between 9/11 and COVID-19
Ministry Redefined: Ministering at American Airlines through a Global Pandemic
Our Easter Prayer Cross has been filled twice as start this unique Holy Week
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Click on the link below for a recent article published by ramblernewspaper
https://ramblernewspapers.com/2020/03/national-conference-emphasizes-faith-in-the-workplace/
Click on the link below for latest article on inaugural Faith@Work conference
10 Surprising Mental Health Statistics From 2020
By Morgan Solomon-Maynard on November 5, 2020Mental health and substance use challenges look different for each person affected. No challenge or diagnosis is exactly the same, and some mental health challenges can be difficult to recognize. It can be easy to generalize or make assumptions, but realities vary, and these challenges can impact more than you may think.
Studies show that mental health in the United States is worsening among all age groups. While this is because of a number of factors, one fact stands out: Many people are not receiving the treatment they deserve. Stigma around mental health and lack of access to care are driving many people away from getting the care they need.
Over the years, a great deal of work has started to reduce the stigma of mental health and there’s been progress in making these conversations feel “normal.” Today, as COVID-19 has impacted all of us in different ways, discussions around mental health are becoming increasingly common, and more people are reaching out for help.
Check out these statistics to better understand what mental health and substance use challenges look like in 2020:
You can help. Get trained in Mental Health First Aid today. As a trained First Aider, you will be able to identify, understand and respond to signs of mental illnesses and substance use disorders in your community.
You can #BeTheDifference.
By Morgan Solomon-Maynard on November 5, 2020Mental health and substance use challenges look different for each person affected. No challenge or diagnosis is exactly the same, and some mental health challenges can be difficult to recognize. It can be easy to generalize or make assumptions, but realities vary, and these challenges can impact more than you may think.
Studies show that mental health in the United States is worsening among all age groups. While this is because of a number of factors, one fact stands out: Many people are not receiving the treatment they deserve. Stigma around mental health and lack of access to care are driving many people away from getting the care they need.
Over the years, a great deal of work has started to reduce the stigma of mental health and there’s been progress in making these conversations feel “normal.” Today, as COVID-19 has impacted all of us in different ways, discussions around mental health are becoming increasingly common, and more people are reaching out for help.
Check out these statistics to better understand what mental health and substance use challenges look like in 2020:
- In late June, 40% of U.S. adults reported struggling with mental health or substance use.
- One in six U.S. youth aged 6-17 experience a mental health disorder each year.
- Half of all lifetime mental illness begins by age 14, and 75% by age 24.
- Depression alone costs the nation about $210.5 billion annually.
- The average delay between onset of mental illness symptoms and treatment is 11 years.
- Suicide is the second-leading cause of death among people aged 10-34 in the U.S. and the 10th leading cause of death in the U.S.
- Many people suffer from more than one mental disorder at a given time. In particular, depressive illnesses tend to co-occur with substance abuse and anxiety disorders.
- More than 70% of youth in the juvenile justice system have a diagnosed mental illness.
- Transgender adults are nearly 12 times more likely to attempt suicide than the general population.
- The most common mental illnesses in the U.S. are anxiety disorders, which affect 40 million adults (18.1% of the population).
You can help. Get trained in Mental Health First Aid today. As a trained First Aider, you will be able to identify, understand and respond to signs of mental illnesses and substance use disorders in your community.
You can #BeTheDifference.
The Religious Freedom & Business Foundation and The Catholic University of America are hosting first ever national conference of faith oriented Employee Resource Groups Feb. 13-14, Washington DC.
Follow The Religious Freedom & Business Foundation at https://religiousfreedomandbusiness.org/
American Airlines Works to Keep Passengers SafeDFW Airport — Most people who travel by air simply get on a plane, read a book, have a drink and trust the plane will land safely. But there a great deal involved behind the scenes that passengers rarely see. Reverend Greg McBrayer, a chief flight dispatcher with American Airlines (AA), a chaplain and the…
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DFW Airport Chaplaincy recognizes major supporters with Ministry of Presence awardsThe DFW Interfaith Chaplains held their annual Ministry of Presence Awards in the Hyatt Regency DFW Airport on December 13. These awards recognize the men and women who have gone above and beyond to keep the Chaplaincy open and available to DFW Airport travelers who may need spiritual comfort.
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Power of Prayer: DFW International Airport Interfaith Chaplaincy
Power of Prayer: DFW International Airport Interfaith Chaplaincy
DALLAS-FORT WORTH, Texas (KLTV) - At the start of the holiday travel season, countless East Texans will be among the passengers navigating crowds at Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport. Despite the airport being one of the busiest places on Earth, people are finding their faith inside one of the five DFW Airport interfaith chapels.
Ministry Redefined - The Apostle Magazine
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