Mayors laud Rocky for work to 'bridge' religions

Salt Lake City Mayor Rocky Anderson was lauded by the U.S. Conference of Mayors in Chicago on Saturday for his work to bridge the city's ongoing religious divide.

According to a press release, the group honored Anderson during its annual luncheon with an honorable mention citation in its "City Livability Awards" competition. The awards program is meant to recognize "the creativity and leadership of mayors as they strive to improve the quality of life in their communities while working to meet the challenges our urban areas face."

First place honors went to the mayors of Seattle and Trenton, N.J. Several mayors received outstanding achievement awards, as well as honorable mention citations.

Anderson initiated a project in 2004 called "Bridging the Religious Divide." He appointed a volunteer planning committee made up of diverse residents representing a wide range of religions and beliefs to advise him on how best to involve ordinary citizens.

With the committee's input, the mayor then hosted three open community forums during the past year, asking residents to attend and speak extemporaneously about their feelings on the state's religious divide, and make suggestions to bridge it. Now in its second phase, the project is sponsoring a series of small group dialogues, composed of eight to 10 residents from diverse backgrounds, who meet monthly to talk about issues resulting from Utah's unique religious culture.

Judges said Anderson "has tapped into what has become a global problem, and his insistence that the program involve people at the grassroots and neighborhood level, rather than relying on the more traditional 'top-down' approach, reveal a true leadership worthy of recognition."

Mark Owens, who was on the project's planning committee after spearheading a similar initiative through the Utah Psychological Association, was pleased with the news. "I've been really supportive of Rocky doing this. I think we all had some anxiety about how it would turn out, but I think it's gone really well."

While some laud Anderson's bravado in speaking his mind on a wide variety of issues that involve The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, others see him as being personally divisive, Owens acknowledged. Anderson and the church have locked horns several times throughout his tenure as mayor.

In April, Anderson openly criticized aspects of the LDS Church's plans for redeveloping its properties downtown, but backed off earlier this month when top LDS officials met with him about the project.

"I think there are times when he says things and takes strong positions and creates difficult feelings," Owens said, "but I do think he was sincere about wanting things to be better. I think it is a bit of a paradox, but I think he did a good thing and I believe he was really sincere in doing it."

On news of the award, LDS Church spokesman Dale Bills said, "We commend Mayor Anderson for his work. The church welcomes efforts to foster positive relationships and build bridges of understanding."

---

E-mail: carrie@desnews.com