From left to right, Jefferson County Community Ministries Executive Director Keith Lowry speaks at the "Community Over Politics" panel discussion, as Imam Nazir Faruki, Rabbi Mark Perman, Father Andy Switzer and Stubblefield Institute Executive Director Ashley Horst listen, in the Byrd Center on Tuesday night. Tabitha Johnston

SHEPHERDSTOWN — A Week of Prayer and Worship was kicked off on Tuesday night, with a panel discussion on “Community Over Politics” in the Robert C. Byrd Center for Congressional History & Education.

The event was hosted by the Bonnie & Bill Stubblefield Institute for Civil Political Communications, to precede the Week of Prayer and Worship, which will be held from Nov. 3-9 in Shepherdstown.

According to Shepherdstown Friends Meeting and Peace & Social Justice Committee member Mike Proser, the idea for the Week of Prayer and Worship was developed by the Shepherdstown Quakers.

“The Quakers took the idea to the Shepherdstown Ministerial Association,” Proser said. “They then planned the itinerary, with the added help of the Stubblefield Institute at Shepherd University.”

The full itinerary of the Week of Prayer and Worship can be viewed at https://stubblefieldinstitute.org/event/community-over-politics/.

The “Community Over Politics” discussion was moderated by Stubblefield Institute Executive Director Ashley Horst. It featured panelists from four different religious traditions: Imam Nazir Faruki, of the Islamic Society of Western Maryland; Father Andy Switzer, of St. Agnes Catholic Church; Rabbi Mark Perman, of Congregation B’Nai Abraham; and Jefferson County Community Ministries Executive Director Keith Lowry, who is a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

“As we inch closer-and-closer to the election, we hear more about the division that seems to be within our country. News media, social media and paid advertising highlight these divisions relentlessly — divisions over international affairs, domestic policies, whose side is right, whose side is wrong and whose side are you on,” Horst said. “But while this is playing out on the national and international stage, I’d like us to turn our attention to what is happening in our own backyard and have a different conversation — a conversation that recognizes and celebrates that different groups work together every day to meet the needs of our community.”

The panelists spoke about a number of ways that their groups have worked together to help those in need within the region. Switzer noted how his congregation has worked with Lowry’s organization a number of times. Perman’s synagogue has worked closely with Faruki’s mosque to provide care for those in need and hold various interfaith events, including the annual Historic Houses of Worship Tour in Hagerstown, Md.

“We’ve come to realize that you can’t do all this through one organization,” Lowry said. “Success is found in working together with others — you don’t need to do everything on your own.”

And, as the polarized climate of the United States continues to heat up with the approach of the General Election, Faruki encouraged those in attendance to adopt a new way of dealing with those of opposing political and religious views.

“The main thing is to build tolerance toward each other and our differences in opinion,” Faruki said.

Perman completely agreed.

“It’s all about the ratings in the news. You’re being manipulated to increase ratings and, thereby, revenue,” Perman, who previously worked for ABC News, said. “We have to take a step back and see each other as human beings who have different points of view and respect that. That’s not easy to do, but that’s what we should try to do.”