wfn.org | Parliament of World's Religions to Hold Conference in Louisville

[Worldwide Faith News <wfn@wfn.org>]

Aug. 24, 1999
Council for a Parliament of the World's Religions
Mim Neal, 312 629 2990, mimneal@cpwr.org
John Dart, 818 363 3984, jdartnews@aol.com
http://www.cpwr.org

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         The founding director of "No More Violence" will reveal the
numerous community factors that influence youth violence at a special
conference, 8:15 a.m. - 2:15 p.m., Thursday, Sept. 9 at the Cathedral of
the Assumption in Louisville.
         The event will preview the Dec. 1 -8 Parliament of the World's
Religions in Cape Town, South Africa.  Janet Arnow's anti-violence efforts
will be one of the "Gifts of Service to the World" to be highlighted when
hundreds of religious and spiritual leaders mingle with more than 6,000
scholars, social activists, youth and interested laity from around the
globe.
         In addition to access to more than 600 presentations and
celebrations, participants will receive the 1999 Parliament Book of Gifts,
listing accepted projects. Gifts may also be presented at workshops, in
panel discussions, or honored at a Parliament plenary session.
         The hosts for the event, the Cathedral Heritage Foundation and the
Thomas Merton Center Foundation are organizing a special panel for Sept 9.
Local leaders from religion, education, business, the arts, medicine, and
the media will practice "creative engagement." Those scheduled to
participate include:  Dr. Joseph J. McGowan Jr., president of Bellarmine
College; Rob Reifsnyder of the Metro United Way; Allan H. Cowen, The Fund
for the Arts; Dr. Ibrahim B. Syed, V.A. Medical Center; and the Rev. Jude
Weisenbeck, Office of Ecumenism, Archdiocese of Louisville.
         Their discussion will foreshadow the Parliament's working document,
"A Call to Our Guiding Institutions," inviting powerful segments of society
to reassess and redefine their roles in seeking "a just, peaceful and
sustainable future."
         The Rev. Robert V. Thompson, a trustee of the Council for the
Parliament of the World's Religions (CPWR) and senior minister at the Lake
Street Church in Evanston, Ill., will give an overview of the South African
event and lead a workshop on how Louisville can get involved.
         The Parliament's two predecessors occurred a century apart.  The
1893 Parliament in Chicago was the first formal dialogue between Eastern
and Western religions.   The second Parliament, also in Chicago, challenged
8,000 participants to address the world's critical issues.  The success of
the 1993 Parliament prompted a commitment to staging a Parliament somewhere
in the world every five years beginning in 1999.
         The 1999 Cape Town site was deliberately chosen to celebrate the
diversity of the global faith community. "South Africa's historic struggle
to end apartheid underscores the Parliament's focus on applying faith
convictions to social realities," said Jim Kenney, director of CPWR's
International Interreligious Initiative.

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For Further Information in Louisville Contact:  Thom Whittinghill, 502-583 3100

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Ms. Mim Neal
Public Relations Manager

Mr. John Dart
Media Consultant - CPWR / California
Tel. / Fax: 818-363-3984
E-mail: mailto:jdartnews@aol.com

CPWR Tel.: 312-629-2990
       Fax: 312-629-2991 / 3552 / 1287
Direct Line for Mim Neal: 312-629-1120

Web site:  http://www.cpwr.org
parliament General Info: mailto:99info@cpwr.org