Interfaith clergy panel discussion on Freedom & Renewal

Classrooms Without Borders is honored to convene a panel discussion featuring religious leaders from the three major monotheistic faiths: Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. This panel features Rabbi Aaron Bisno of Rodef Shalom Congregation, Rev. David Poecking of Archangel Gabriel Parish, and Imam Chris Caras of the Islamic Center of Pittsburgh, moderated by Father Radu Bordeianu of Duquesne University.
This discussion is in partnership with Rodef Shalom Congregation, the Roman Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh, and the Islamic Center of Pittsburgh.

Rabbi Aaron Bisno

Rabbi Aaron Bisno holds the Frances F. and David R. Levin Senior Rabbinic Pulpit of Rodef Shalom Congregation in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He has been the senior rabbi to the community since June 2004. Bisno has been recognized specifically for his work in the areas of interfaith and inclusion. In 2010, His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI conferred upon Rabbi Bisno a Benemerenti Medal for “outstanding contributions to interfaith relations.” Today, Bisno continues his work to strengthen interfaith dialogue and partnerships in our community and beyond.

Imam Chris Caras

Imam Chris Caras, originally of Peoria, Illinois, is a convert to Islam who earned degrees in traditional Islamic studies in Saudi Arabia and Malaysia from 2007 to 2016. He was then active in Islamic outreach for several Muslim institutions in St Louis Missouri. In the summer of 2019, he became the imam and religious director for the Islamic Center of Pittsburgh. Chris is married with three rambunctious children.

Rev. David Poecking

Fr. David Poecking began adult life as a math and physics teacher, but a childhood encounter with the writings of J.R.R. Tolkien ultimately led him to the Catholic Church and to the priesthood. He has served at several churches in the Pittsburgh region and as the director of continuing education of clergy, and is currently pastor of Archangel Gabriel Parish in the Diocese of Pittsburgh.

Rev. Radu Bordeianu

Fr. Radu Bordeianu is an Associate Professor at Duquesne University and Assistant Priest at Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church, both in Pittsburgh. His research focuses on ecumenical ecclesiologies. He is the author of Dumitru Staniloae: An Ecumenical Ecclesiology (Continuum, 2011, 2013). He served as President of the Orthodox Theological Society of America and is a member of the North American Orthodox-Catholic Theological Consultation. He is a co-convener of the Christian-Jewish Dialogue in Pittsburgh and is involved in local ecumenical dialogues.