Arizona Interfaith Movement with Rev. Larry Fultz

Rabbi Michael Beyo and Dr. Adrian McIntyre talk with Rev. Larry Fultz about interfaith dialogue, the Golden Rule, and the rise of the "nones."

Rev. Larry Fultz is Executive Director of the Arizona Interfaith Movement, an organization comprised of over 22 different faith communities who have joined together in order to build bridges of understanding, respect and support among diverse people of faith through education, dialogue, service and implementation of the Golden Rule. The Arizona Interfaith Movement has been in existence since 1965 and been instrumental in making Arizona the first Golden Rule State in the nation. In addition, 13 cities have become Golden Rule cities and subscribed to treating their citizens with respect regardless of their faith, ethnicity or creed. A license plate was granted reading "Live the Golden Rule" was granted by the legislature in 2005, and there are now over 20,000 of these plates in existence. The proceeds goes to helping to provide Golden Rule education in the schools throughout the State of Arizona through the AGREE program that is non-religious and meets all the State requirements for use in the public school system.

Rev. Fultz is no stranger to the Arizona Interfaith Movement, having been a member from its very beginnings in 1995 and serving on various boards and committees up to the present time. Rev. Fultz became a minister in 1969 after receiving his BA, Masters in Theology, and Masters in Counseling. He retired in December 2005. Larry’s life is rich with interfaith activity and experience having been a part of the beginning of the InterFaith Action Coalition of Arizona (AZIFM’s prior name). He participated in the first “Experience Interfaith” event as a speaker and participant. He was active in helping organize and produce the first “Voices of Faith” concert and those afterwards. He was present in 2003 when the declaration was granted to make Arizona the First Golden Rule State in the Union. He participated in the campaign for the “Live the Golden Rule “License Plate and was present at the signing of the bill. Larry participated in the Interfaith Habitat for Humanity building project in Phoenix and has appeared on radio and television as part of the Arizona Interfaith Movement Speaker’s Bureau. In 2002 he traveled with the United Nations Committee of Religious NGOs delegation to Kosovo, Macedonia, and Albania to aid the Muslim refugees in their plight, helping build refugee camps, counseling and education. Larry’s life work has been devoted to bringing peace, understanding and the love of God to all people.

Additional Resources:

• Visit the Arizona Interfaith Movement website and follow them on Facebook.
• "Nones on the Rise," Pew Research Center (2012)
• "Religious Landscape Study: The Unaffiliated," Pew Research Center
• "How younger US Jews are similar to – and different from – older US Jews," Pew Research Center (2021)

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