Rev, Dr. Clark Lobenstine serves as the Executive Director of the InterFaith Conference of Metropolitan Washington (IFC) and Parish Associate (volunteer assistant minister) at the Silver Spring Presbyterian Church. Through the IFC, the Baha'i, Buddhist (observer), Hindu, Islamic, Jain, Jewish, Latter-day Saints, Protestant, Roman Catholic, Sikh and Zoroastrian faith communities in this region work together to build a more just community and to deepen understanding.   The Washington DC Area Buddhist Network of Asian and Western Buddhist temples and groups recently joined as an Observer member, the first step in joining.

Clark began his service in April, 1979, shortly after the IFC was organized by the top religious leaders of the Islamic, Jewish, Protestant and Roman Catholic faith communities in this region. It was the first staffed organization in the US and probably the world through which these four traditions worked to build a just community as well as to deepen understanding. Since then the other member traditions noted above have joined. 

Clark has had the privilege of working with more religious leaders and members of diverse faiths in the metropolitan Washington area than anyone else. Within this experience and expertise, he has had a special focus on Christian – Muslim Relations. Clark’s Doctor of Ministry thesis-article focused on Christian - Muslim Relations. Based on it, he has taught a five- or six-week Sunday School class on this topic in some twenty different churches in this region. Each involved two or three different Muslims, each leading a session. 

The demand for help in understanding Islam skyrocketed after 9/11. We lost all count of the number of times we recommended individual Muslims to be speakers that fall. From January – June, 2002 Clark coordinated 107 speakers in three dozen congregations, schools and community groups. About two-thirds of the speakers were Muslims. While the demand has decreased, we continue to provide speakers of diverse faiths on a regular basis. We also frequently share our pioneering work with numerous international visitors brought here by the US State Department, most of whom are Muslims.

Clark is a founding member of the Washington Metropolitan Dialogue and is Secretary of D.C. Mayor Anthony Williams' Interfaith Council. Among his community involvements, he serves on the board of A Greater Washington and is a member of The Wednesday Clergy Fellowship, The Nonprofit Roundtable and the Interfaith Advisory Committee of the Washington Hospital Center's Pastoral Care Department as well as a trustee of the Washington Theological Consortium. He is the Secretary of the National Association of Ecumenical and Interfaith Staff, his professional association.