This year Reverend Corey Passons is the recipient of the Evan Farber Peacemaker Award by the Dispute Resolution Center of Thurston County. Corey’s dedication as the Interfaith Relations Program Coordinator at Interfaith Works is being honored. He is known for tackling tough issues with skill and grace. His calm tenacity to strengthen civil discourse and civic harmony are examples for our community.
The award is given in the name of Evan Farber, the founding Executive Director of the center. Recipients are to have demonstrated a commitment to peacemaking and community service through strengthening civil communications and interactions. “Corey’s done some amazing outreach, healing and reconciliation work with local tribes that we’re excited to lift up,” notes Joe Sanders, Dispute Resolution Center’s community engagement manager.
Interfaith Works Brings Together Many Minds and Traditions
Interfaith Works gathers people from various faith-based communities and affiliated organizations to uphold the mission of “social justice and peace through interfaith understanding and cooperation.” This work calls for tenacious attention and calm to venture into these processes where many are experiencing historical trauma or on-going wounds.
“I work with the Program Council of Interfaith Works,” explains Corey. “I am endlessly fascinated by how people connect and function in their own tradition. We use our community to keep reminding us that this is worthy work to do.” Program Council is a body of delegates from the membership of Interfaith Works who meet to determine and uphold the interfaith programming of the organization.
His heart is in justice work and compassion for those who suffer. “I know that I really have a passion for interfaith understanding,” he adds. He values people’s own journeys.
Corey cultivates environments for people to become aware of the ways we are distinct from each other and then still choose to be in relationship with each other as we honor each other’s unique qualities. “I truly value Corey’s extraordinary skills of listening, gentle tone-setting and heart that he brings to all his conversations,” notes Marcy LaViollette, Interfaith Works board president and former program council member.
Creating Interfaith’s ‘Resetting Our Sacred Table’ Event
For four decades, Interfaith Works held a Thanksgiving Celebration. Realization came to Corey and others that the stories and involvement of Indigenous People were often not inclusive or accurate. Awareness of the long-reaching effecting of the Doctrine of Discovery shed light on the trauma of many people. This legal and religious concept was used to justify Christian colonial conquest with no regard for native inhabitants. It was meant to advance the idea that European people, culture and religion are superior to all others. Corey was willing to open difficult conversations to move toward thoughts of restorative justice.
Changing traditions, thinking new thoughts, considering others’ points of view and shifting positions are processes that generally take time. “The further we go the more painful it is.
These wounds are on-going,” explains Corey. People involved in recreating the annual celebration appreciated Corey’s delicate touch and the space he created for them to explore their emotions and issues.
In 2022, the event was reimagined and named Resetting Our Sacred Table. Squaxin Tribe members participated to teach about their history and culture. In 2023, members of the Nisqually Tribe told stories in the Lushootseed language. There was singing and drumming by multigenerational Nisqually members. The event took place in a house of Christian worship. It is part of a continuing, healing process. “It takes commitment, struggle and civility to stay connected,” muses Corey.
Corey is an ordained minister in the United Church of Christ and serves as Interfaith Minister with Community for Interfaith Celebration. His desire to serve and connect continues to make a difference in our community. Our world is contentious, and viewpoints vary to seemingly unreachable distances. Yet, Corey and others like him, stand on the ground of their being to call forth mutual respect and consideration. They hold the vision for what is possible to accomplish together.
A Harmonious Voice through the Dispute Resolution Center
The Dispute Resolution Center has served residents of Thurston and south Mason counties for over 30 years. It offers support services to individuals, families, businesses, organizations and to the broader community. The purpose is to help manage and resolve conflict, prevent conflict when possible and create a more peaceful and civil community through training and resolution services. Our community offers services in person and online, including the following:
- Mediation: Trained and certified mediators serve as impartial facilitators to help people in conflict work toward mutually beneficial agreements.
- Eviction and Housing Resolution: Facilitates dialogue and negotiation between landlords, tenants, housemates, or neighbors.
- Conflict Resolution Resource Line: Provides conflict coaching, information, and referrals, and arrange face-to-face mediations.
- Group Facilitation: Helps work teams and other groups run orderly and productive meetings and achieve key goals.
- Training: Provides customized training to businesses and organizations to prevent and manage workplace conflict, promote teamwork, and improve customer service.
- Youth Empowerment & School Support: Partners with local schools to offer training and support to help the next generation communicate through conflict.
For information go to the Thurston County Dispute Resolution Centers website.
