The Greater Huntington Beach Interfaith Council (GHIBC) was formed in 1996 and continues to foster unity and understanding among different faith traditions in the community.
Fountain Valley resident Jynene Johnson is the current president and a six-year member of the executive board. The council meets at the Huntington Beach Civic Center on the last Tuesday of each month at 8:30 a.m.
All faith traditions are welcome, including individuals who want to foster diversity and respect for all. Their mission statement: “The Greater Huntington Beach Interfaith Council is a gathering of representatives of faith-based communities and individuals dedicated to understanding, respecting, promoting, and celebrating spiritual and cultural diversity.”
Johnson has been involved with GHBIC since 2012 and has served in many capacities. As a leader in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, she represents her church and partners with other faiths in common objectives. As well as interfaith, she serves with other nonprofits to aid those in need through community service, food distribution, and on Justserve.org.
“Since being involved with the Interfaith Council, I have listened and learned about others and seen things differently,” said Johnson. “If I only read the things I want to read or have conversations with the people I agree with, then I am only flowing myself down a very narrow path of God's children.”
Through a series of upcoming events, GHBIC aims to celebrate diversity and promote togetherness.
“I am a more diligent practitioner of my faith,” Johnson said. “We are all tumbling down the same path, heading in the same direction. God has many voices.”
Johnson and her husband, Larry, have lived in Fountain Valley since 1977, in three different houses. Her six children all graduated from Fountain Valley High School and now grandchildren are attending all the same schools.
Johnson serves on the Miss Fountain Valley committee and is a director of the Fountain Valley Community Foundation. Her experiences with the interfaith council have been like a kaleidoscope of beautiful relationships. For more information, check out GHBIC.org.