Welcoming Our Next Chapter: Introducing Reuben Shank as MIC’s New Executive Director

By Sidharth Kaw, Board President, on behalf of the Board of Directors

Over the past two years, the Marin Interfaith Council has engaged in a deep, intentional process of reflection and strategic renewal. As we shared recently, that journey led us to a newly refined mission statement that sharpens our focus for the road ahead:

“The Marin Interfaith Council serves as a trusted convener that cultivates meaningful dialogue among the world's diverse faith traditions, sharing their sacred wisdom while fostering a community grounded in mutual understanding, respectful collaboration, and a commitment to the common good.”

The Journey to This Moment

This season of renewal began in the Fall of 2024, when Reverend Lynn Oldham Robinett stepped in to gracefully steer us forward as Interim Executive Director following Reverend Scott Quinn’s long and impactful tenure. Under Lynn’s steady leadership, our Board initiated an intentional process to re-examine MIC’s core purpose—defining with clarity what we do, whom we serve, how we do it, and the unique value we bring to Marin County.

That work culminated in our updated mission. With a refreshed compass in place, our next priority was finding an executive leader who could not only champion this vision, but translate it into vibrant, actionable programming for our community.

Beginning early this year, our search engaged over 30 exceptional leaders across the interfaith, academic, and non-profit sectors. Out of this impressive group, one leader stood out for his visionary warmth, strategic depth, and proven capacity to bring a mission to life through meaningful community engagement.

We are delighted to announce the appointment of Reuben Shank as the new Executive

Director of the Marin Interfaith Council!

A Global Perspective Rooted in Regional and Local Care

Reuben brings more than two decades of experience leading interreligious partnerships, educational programs, and community-building initiatives. Formed in a minority Christian tradition (Mennonite) amidst an international community of peacebuilders and artists in Belgium, his career spans grassroots community development in South America and West Africa, academic leadership at the Pacific School of Religion, and most recently, serving as Director of Learning & Impact Strategies at the United Religions Initiative (URI). In his global role at URI, Reuben supported a network of over 1,000 community-based interreligious groups, helping them move from simple dialogue toward measurable, outcome-driven community impact.  

While Reuben and his family reside in Berkeley, he views the San Francisco Bay Area as a single, interconnected ecosystem. Beyond his extensive administrative and fundraising track record—which includes securing significant grant funding and designing global collaborative action hubs—our Board was deeply impressed by his sophisticated understanding of regional interfaith dynamics.

Reuben recently co-authored a comprehensive strategic framework examining how Bay Area interfaith councils can serve as vital civic infrastructure during times of social strain, environmental anxiety, and institutional change.  

Crucially, Reuben brings a quick learning curve and a humble, grounded eagerness to listen to the specific nuances of Marin County. He steps into this role with a deep appreciation for our local institutions, as well as the unique pressures facing our residents—from climate resilience and healthy aging to supporting multilingual immigrant families and fostering racial justice.  

Bringing Our New Mission to Life

When reviewing our updated mission and five core pillars, Reuben’s alignment with MIC’s goals was immediate:

• A Trusted Convener & Civic Infrastructure: Reuben views local faith communities as essential "connective tissue". By gathering diverse traditions, MIC brings enduring sacred wisdom into conversation with modern civic life to meet our collective needs for belonging, safety, and social repair.  

• Cultivating Meaningful Dialogue & Collaboration: With extensive experience facilitating cross-cultural dialogue across difference, Reuben excels at helping communities move beyond surface-level interactions to build durable, trust-based partnerships.  

• Multigenerational & Inclusive Engagement: Fluent in English, Spanish, and French, Reuben thrives in cross-cultural, multigenerational environments—a vital quality as MIC continues to expand access and engagement across all communities in Marin.  

Looking Ahead & Saving the Date

Reuben will officially assume his role as Executive Director in September 2026.

We know our vibrant community is eager to connect with him! The Board is currently planning a Community Meet-and-Greet for early autumn, where clergy, lay leaders, civic partners, and community members can welcome Reuben in person. Following that gathering, we look forward to announcing a lineup of new in-person events and programming designed to bring our updated mission to life across Marin County.

Keep an eye on your inbox and our website in the coming weeks for specific dates, venue details, and upcoming program announcements.

On behalf of the entire Board, I want to express our deepest gratitude to Reverend Lynn Oldham Robinett for her stellar guidance as Interim Executive Director over these past two years, as well as to Reverend Scott Quinn for his foundational legacy.

Please join us in giving Reuben Shank a warm Marin welcome!

With gratitude and excitement,

Sidharth Kaw

Board President, Marin Interfaith Council

Meet Reuben Shank

Reuben Shank (he/him) is grateful to begin serving as Executive Director of the Marin Interfaith Council in September 2026. He is eager to help MIC celebrate, champion, convene, and connect Marin's diverse religious, spiritual, and ancestral communities — centering sacred wisdom to build a more resilient and compassionate Marin.

A lifelong friend to the world's cultural, spiritual, and philosophical traditions, Reuben brings 25 years of local and global experience deepening shared practices of care, curiosity, and courage across difference. Formed in a minority Christian tradition (Mennonite) in Belgium amidst an international community of peacebuilders and artists, he has facilitated collaboration and learning at the grassroots in South America, West Africa, and the US; in academic centers in the US and UK; and in national and international change-making networks. Before joining MIC, he served as Director of Learning & Impact Strategies at the United Religions Initiative.

Reuben trusts that spiritually-rooted wisdom can support mutual liberation, repair generational harms, and help build just and healthy communities where all living beings flourish. He steps into this role with deep commitment. Building trust across difference feels both harder and more necessary than ever. In a time of social division, ecological and climatic strain, and fraying institutions, sacred communities are key connective, place-based infrastructure. They bring the enduring care of the traditions into conversation with modern knowledge and civic life — helping us meet our collective needs for belonging, safety, and creativity with steady labor and renewed imagination.

Reuben delights in multigenerational, cross-cultural teamwork, and welcomes conversation in English, Spanish, and French. He lives in Berkeley, on the unceded, ancestral lands of the Chochenyo Ohlone, and looks forward to deepening his connections throughout Marin, the unceded, ancestral homelands of the Coast Miwok. He loves the whole Bay Area as a living bioregion — its ocean and hills, rivers and skies, its many creatures and plants, and the diversity of peoples who now call it home. When free to roam, he seeks the silence of wide open spaces and the company of all the beings who share these habitats — renewing himself among mountains, snow, and refreshing waters with friends, family, and most of all his partner, Rev. Lauren Jewett, and their loving pup and opinionated cat.