Ohio University Southern hosted its annual interfaith dialogue event in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in the Bowman Auditorium Tuesday evening, where a panel of religious leaders discussed various subjects involving religion and the things that are happening throughout the country and the world today.

The purpose of the interfaith dialogue is to provide a platform for understanding and respect, having interfaith understanding and respect, and bringing people together in pursuit of social justice, human dignity and constructive action on behalf of the common good of all citizens.

The moderator for the program was Dr. Charles Jarrett, chairperson of the OUS Council on Diversity and Inclusion, as well as an associate professor of sociology.

This year’s panel included the Rev. J.D. Crockrel, assistant pastor of Christ Temple Church in Ashland, Kentucky, Dr. Deron Newman, OUS and Morehead State University professor and a minister in the United Methodist Church, the Rev. Margaret Tyson, pastor of the Quinn Chapel AME Church in Ironton, and the Rev. Jan Williams, retired pastor of the First Presbyterian Church in Ironton.

Some of the topics discussed were those of racism, different congregations of the church, the importance of communication, spirituality and interacting with others of different religions, ethnicities or backgrounds.

The program was part of the school’s Council on Diversity and Inclusion, and other events coming up within the Council of Diversity and Inclusion are the Envision Access Conference: Supporting Students with Disabilities in the Tri-State, which is set for 8 a.m.-1 p.m. Friday, March 24 at Ohio University Southern and the Women of Appalachia Project’s “Women Speak,” a night of story, poetry and song, set for 6 p.m. Friday, March 31 in the Mains Rotunda in the Ohio University Southern Riffe Center.