Disagreeing in Good Faith: A Multifaith Service of Prayer

Paige Alexander serves as chief executive officer of The Carter Center, a nonprofit organization founded in 1982 by former U.S. President Jimmy Carter and former First Lady Rosalynn Carter to advance peace and health worldwide. Alexander joined the Center in 2020 at a pivotal time for the organization and the country. In her first year, Alexander led the organization through the COVID-19 pandemic and a period of national social upheaval, while envisioning a path forward for The Carter Center as it transitioned from an organization that was founder-led to one that is guided by its founders’ principles.

Since that time, Alexander has strengthened the Center’s core peace and health programs and led the organization in new directions, including adding programs to address: the global mental health crisis; political polarization in the US; and the impact of climate change on global peace and public health.

During her tenure as CEO, Alexander has provided thought leadership on issues related to peace, health, and the nexus of the two, authoring essays and op-eds that have appeared in Newsweek, the Chicago Tribune, Financial Times, and CNN, and appearing on the BBC, National Public Radio, NBC, and other major outlets. Alexander has presented a TEDWomen talk on the close connection between human rights and access to information and a lecture at the Chautauqua Institution on the global rise of authoritarianism. She is the recipient of several awards, including Forbes’ “50 Over 50,” the Atlanta Business Chronicle’s “Most Admired CEO,” Georgia Trend Magazine’s “100 Most Influential Leaders,” and the NonProfit Times’ “Power & Influence Top 50.”

Before joining The Carter Center, Alexander had a distinguished global development career, with more than two decades of experience in the government and nonprofit sectors. Between 1993 and 2001, Alexander worked at the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), covering missions and development programs for the Europe and Eurasia region, including focusing on immediate post-conflict work in the Balkans. After leaving for 10 years to work in a leadership role in the nonprofit sector, Alexander returned to USAID in 2011 as a Presidential appointee to be the assistant administrator for Europe and Eurasia. In 2015, she was again Senate-confirmed to lead the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) Bureau, overseeing 1,000 employees, programs in 12 countries, and more than $1.4 billion in annual funding.

Between her assignments with USAID, Alexander was senior vice president and European founder/president of IREX, an international civil society, democracy, and education nonprofit organization. From 2017 until her appointment to The Carter Center, she served as executive director of the European Cooperative for Rural Development (EUCORD) in Brussels and Amsterdam, working to bring market-led solutions to marginalized farmers in Africa to improve the livelihoods of families and communities sustainably.

Earlier, Alexander was associate director of Project Liberty at Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government and a consultant to institutions including the C.S. Mott Foundation, the Rockefeller Brothers Fund, and the Open Society Institute in Prague. Alexander currently serves on the boards of the Romanian American Foundation, the World Affairs Council of Atlanta, and the U.S. Chapter of the Society for International Development. She also serves on the Board of Visitors for Agnes Scott College and is an advisory board member of several human rights organizations.

Rabbi Ellen Nemhauser is Associate Director, Jewish Life & Learning at the Union for Reform Judaism and serves a Congregation B’nai Israel in Fayetteville, GA.

Ordained in 1993 from Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion in New York, Rabbi Ellen has worked in congregations, Jewish summer camps, Hebrew Union College seminiary, and Emory University’s Center for Israel Education. She is immediate past president of Interfaith Atlanta, is on the board of the Jewish Community Relations Council, and a volunteer with the AJFF.

In 2019 Ellen received a Certificate in Diversity and Inclusion from Cornell University and in recognition for her Interfaith work, Rabbi Ellen was inducted into the Board of Preachers at Morehouse College’s Martin Luther King Jr. International Chapel.

She has served as the Jewish leader for multiple trips travelling with multifaith groups to Israel, Turkey, South Africa, Grand Canyon, Toronto, and California.

In her spare time, Ellen enjoys hiking, travelling, and baking challah.

Laurence Steven Minter is a 4th-generation educator and spoken word artist from the South Side of Chicago. He utilizes storytelling as a vehicle for testimony, social change, and liberation. As a third-year Master of Divinity student at Emory’s Candler School of Theology, Laurence strives to create spaces of remembrance and discovery through the tools of art and faith. As a member of the inaugural ELCC cohort, he edited the community change anthology: What The Moment Requires.

Greer is a filmmaker, author, and nine-time Dove Award-nominated songwriter who grew up in rural Texas, graduated from Belmont University, and continued to live in the Nashville area for nearly two decades, where he published two books, released multiple chart-topping recordings, and in the fall of 2024, made his directorial debut with the PBS documentary “PLAINSPOKEN”–a film about the legacy of President Carter and the ongoing conversation of race relationships in everyday communities in America. Inspired by the making of documentary, he currently resides in the small town of Plains, Georgia, the hometown of the 39th President of the United States, Jimmy Carter.

He is also the editor and author of the recently released book, More Than a President: Sundays with Jimmy Carter. Published by Mercer University Press, the title is uniquely distinguished as the first book featuring Carter’s words published following his death.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Rev. Sean B. Smith joined Antioch Baptist Church North in September 1988, under the pastorate of Rev. Dr. C.M. Alexander. Under the tutelage and guidance of Rev. Alexander, he was licensed to preach on April 14, 1991 and subsequently ordained to the gospel ministry on April 11, 2001. Rev. Smith has served as the senior pastor of New Horizon Baptist Church in Atlanta, GA, since 2001. He also currently serves as Mayor Andre Dickens’ Senior Advisor for Faith Affairs, contributing to efforts related to housing insecurity and affordable housing.

Originally from Brooklyn, NY, Rev. Smith is a graduate of Georgia State University with a B.A. in Journalism. He holds a Master of Divinity from the McAfee School of Theology at Mercer University, where he received an Outstanding Academic Achievement recognition and the William Ollie and Nell Ray Key Excellence in Leadership Award.

For over 32 years of ministry, Rev. Smith has led with a servant's heart, giving voice to those too often overlooked. He champions the belief that safe housing, education, employment, and justice are inseparable threads in addressing our community’s greatest challenges. Among the many organizations and programs he has served are Fulton County's “Healthy Moms, Healthy Babies”; Project Redirection, a first-time nonviolent offender alternative-to-incarceration program; United Way's VIP Program and Community Investment Volunteer program; the Atlanta Community Food Bank's Hunger Walk Advisory Board; the North Georgia Building and Construction Trades Council Apprentice Program for returning citizens; the Minister's Alliance (as President); Antioch School of the Bible (as Instructor); the General Missionary Baptist Convention Magazine (as Publisher/Editor); Men of Antioch North (as Co-Chair); the DeKalb County Small Business Council Advisory Council; the Walton House Board of Directors; the M.L. King Merchants Association; the NAACP; and Jean Childs Young Middle School's “The Den” Program of supportive services for students and families.

Rev. Smith has remained deeply committed to the City of Atlanta. In response to increasing crime along the Martin Luther King Jr. corridor, he convened meetings with APD law enforcement from Zones 1 and 4, MARTA Police, the Martin Luther King Jr. Merchants Association, and community leaders to collaboratively address the issue and develop solutions. He also forged partnerships with local schools, including Frederick Douglass High School and S.M.A.R.T. Academy Charter School to support at-risk students and families with emergency aid, food, and housing referrals.

To extend his work in the community, Rev. Smith founded 3 Essentials, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to youth development and academic assistance. He remains deeply committed to improving the lives of those affected by social challenges, including housing and food insecurity, and is a strong advocate within the unsheltered service-provider ecosystem. Rev. Smith continues this work through his involvement in Atlanta's nonprofit and interfaith community, where he currently serves as Chair of the Atlanta Continuum of Care (CoC) Governing Council; a member of the InTown Cares Board of Directors; the Islamic Speakers Bureau Advisory Council; the Cascade Ministers Fellowship; the Atlanta Ministers Union; the Georgia Interfaith Public Policy Center Board; the City of Atlanta's Human Trafficking Planning Team; and the Ethics Committee for the Mayoral Transition Team.

Rev. Smith is the proud father of two daughters, Zoe and Alexandria.

Sofia Mohamed is motivated to contribute to organizations shaping the future of public service, global development, and organizational effectiveness. She brings several years of experience in the refugee resettlement and nonprofit sector, supporting individuals and families at multiple stages of their journey — from being one of the first welcoming faces newcomers encounter upon arrival in the United States to supporting emerging community leaders through civic leadership programming at New American Pathways. Her work has since expanded to increasing professional development opportunities for immigrant and refugee communities.

Sofia holds a B.A. in International Affairs, with a minor in Human Rights and Security and a certificate in Global Health, from the University of Georgia. Her work is grounded in the belief that lived experience strengthens decision-making and contributes to more responsive and effective systems. She is committed to contributing authentically to work that expands access to opportunity across diverse communities and global contexts.

Rev. Dr. Randy Rainwater was born and raised in Kentucky and attended Asbury University and ran track. At Asbury he met his wife, Anita who was born in India and spent her childhood in Kenya. They married and moved to Florida to serve in ministry. In 1998, Randy and Anita joined the staff at Grace Snellville as student pastors. In 2015 Randy stepped into the role of Lead Pastor at Grace New Hope. Randy holds his Masters and Doctorate from Reformed Theological Seminary. He and Anita continue to train adults and students in leadership and ministry world-wide but pastoring the people of Grace New Hope remains his primary calling. Randy and Anita’s children are adults and all live in Georgia with their spouses and children: Harper, Maverick, Ellie, Judah, and Ezra. Randy loves cycling, cooking southern food, travel and people. If you have time- he has pictures of the grandkids to show you.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Venerable Maha Dam Phommasan is the abbot of Wat Lao Buddha Khanti in Snellville, Georgia, where he serves the Lao Buddhist community and the wider public through teachings, ceremonies, and compassionate care. Known for his humility and dedication to peace, he offers guidance rooted in the Theravada tradition and lived experience.

Ven. Maha Dam has also supported interfaith and peacebuilding efforts beyond the temple. He was an original participant in the Walk for Peace, joining when the pilgrimage began in Fort Worth, Texas, and later welcoming the Walk to his temple during its journey to Washington, D.C. His resilience and generosity—especially during his recovery from a serious accident during the pilgrimage—embody the very meaning of his temple’s name, Khanti (Pāli), which refers to patient endurance, forbearance, and gentle strength—qualities at the heart of Buddhist practice.

Dr. Rashad Richey is an Emmy-nominated political analyst for CBS News Atlanta, university professor, and president of Rolling Out Magazine, the largest free-print urban publication in America. Dr. Richey is also host of the award-winning Rashad Richey Morning Show in Atlanta, GA where he was voted ‘Best Talk Radio Personality in Atlanta’ by readers of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, ‘Best Talk Radio Host’ by Atlanta Magazine and ‘Most Trusted Voice in Atlanta’ by the Atlanta Business Journal. A social and policy advocate at heart, Dr. Richey is the daily television news anchor for ‘Indisputable With Dr. Rashad Richey’ on the TYT Network where he tackles tough issues facing everyday Americans. Beyond broadcasting, Dr. Richey serves on the board of directors for Piedmont Atlanta Hospital and Children’s Rights, and is the founder of The Rashad Richey Foundation, an organization dedicated to serving historically marginalized youth. He is a proud member of the Atlanta NAACP, National Association of University Professors, National Association of Black Journalists, Black Law Student Association, National Black MBA Association, and Delta Theta Phi Law Fraternity.