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Lee Bey is a big name in architecture and urban planning in Chicago-- he was the architecture critic for the Chicago Sun-Times (1997-2001), then an advisor to Mayor Daley, and now runs the "Central Area Committee"-- a non-profit that pulls together business leaders to advise the city with urban-planning ideas.

Lee has studied small churches for their architectural and cultural significance and he also keeps a blog, where he posted a photo essay/tribute to Chicago's "storefront churches" in African-American neighborhoods last year.

photo: Jen Weigel

Don't judge anyone for a month and see what happens - that's the challenge issued by playwright and author Jen Weigel. Jen's spirituality comes out of a personal quest to sort though her complicated set of beliefs, after the death of her father Chicago sportscaster Tim Weigel.

She now writes a blog for Chicago Now with the same title as her play "I'm spiritual dammit". Last night she issued the challenge on her blog for readers and Vocalo users to do their own personal quest to see how far they can get without judging anyone during Faith Month in December at Vocalo.org. Sign up and upload a piece or call our hotline (888) 635-1112.

She'll be on with Brian at noon to tell us more about why she picked this Faith Challenge.  

Though December The Do List has asked people of faith to issue a challenge for our audience. The ground rules are - it has to be open to anyone, no matter what they believe or where they live. And users have to be able to somehow document their experience to Vocalo.org,  in either pictures, video or audio. So join in and good luck. I have faith in you.

   photo: Twitter Bird logo Icon Illustration by Matt Hamm via flickr

Live Radio Tweetup 

Dec. 16 from 6 p.m. to 8p.m. groups will gather around their computers for a Radio Tweetup. Part casual meeting. Part Debate. Part radio broadcast. We’ll have groups logged in throughout Chicago and Northwest Indiana to talk about the big issues of faith and the community.

You or your group can sign up by commenting on this post. We'll send out a agenda ahead of the broadcast but you will be able to hear each group  live and interact with each other on the Vocalo.org website. We'll go over the important issues covering faith including stories in the news. Participants will tell each other about their spritual community and examine issues like how the media handles spirituality.

Whether you're from Knox Indiana or Englewood, it's a chance to meet others of faith and introduce yourself.  It's perfect for bible study groups but you don't have to be part of a religious group to join in. Sign up today. Tune in Dec. 16 on the web or depending on your area at 89.5 FM.

   photo entrevue radio by Engage-toi via flickr

Take a Vocalo.org Faith challenge. Throughout December, Vocalo will ask leaders in the faith community to issue challenges to our audience.

Accept a challenge.Blog the results to Vocalo.org. Post the results to The Do List.

Some of the faith leaders scheduled to issues challenges are Eboo Patel Executive Director of the international group Interfaith Youth Core; Krista Tippett of host of public radio’s Speaking of Faith; Pastor Steve Munsey of Family ChristianCenter in Munster; Jen Wiegel who writes the blog I'm Spiritual Dammit on Chicago Now.

Here are the challenges that have come in so far:

  photo: Eboo Patel.

When we asked Eboo Patel to issue a faith challenge to our audience, we knew he would reach out to people of different faiths. He is the master - founder and  executive director of the Interfaith Youth Core in Chicago. A member of President Obama's Advisory Counsel of the White House Office of Faith based and Neighborhood Partnerships. Author, national columnist.  

His take was still surprising. His challenge isn't to reach out to someone new but to look at your friends and acquaintances - take another look at the faith of people who you  know but never thought of in that context.

"You probably already know a Pentecostal, an atheist. . ."   Patel said.

Listen to the challenge in his own words.

Tell us how it went. Blog the results to Vocalo.org.

 photo: Jen Weigel

Don't judge anyone for a month and see what happens - that's the challenge issued by playwright and author Jen Weigel. Jen's spirituality comes out of a personal quest to sort though her complicated set of beliefs, after the death of her father Chicago sportscaster Tim Weigel.

She now writes a blog for Chicago Now with the same title as her play "I'm spiritual dammit". Last night she issued the challenge on her blog for readers and Vocalo users to do their own personal quest to see how far they can get without judging anyone during Faith Month in December at Vocalo.org. Sign up and upload a piece or call our hotline (888) 635-1112.

Photo: Niki de Saint Phalle’s Ideal Temple- Church for all the religions from 2007 exhibit at Garfield Park Conservatory by commom via flickr.

Whether you are spiritual, a true believer or a non-believer, Faith Month on Vocalo.org will take you through the world of religion and spirituality. We have will have a growing list of audience challenges. from people in the faith community. Challenge yourself, and check back often to see what others are doing.

BRINGING THE RADIO TO THE WEB: A LIVE TWEETUP

Dec. 16 from 6 p.m. to 8p.m. groups will gather for a Radio Tweetup.  Part Debate. Part Introduction. Part radio broadcast. We’ll have groups logged in throughout Chicago and Northwest Indiana to talk about the big issues of faith and the community.

As always look for interviews, pieces and hot debate during Faith Month, all through December.