wfn.org | Parliament of the World's Religions to Monitor Commitments

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

Dec. 28, 1999
Council for a Parliament of the World's Religions
Contact: Mim Neal, 312 629 2990, mimneal@cpwr.org
http://www.cpwr.org

(CHICAGO) -- At the Dec. 1 -8 Parliament of the World's Religions
in Cape Town, South Africa, more than 400 religious and spiritual leaders
and scholars worked with representatives of other spheres of influence to
design collaborative projects addressing critical issues. The Parliament
Assembly generated some 240 commitments to implement these activities
inspired by the key Parliament document, "A Call to our Guiding
Institutions".

The Call counts religion as an important force for social and moral
guidance, but also invites co-operation from: governments; agriculture,
labor, industry and commerce; education; arts and communication media;
science and medicine; intergovernmental institutions; and voluntary
associations of civil society.

During the Parliament Assembly, members and observers identified
the issues - such as poverty, ecological damage and deprivation of human
rights - which two or more institutions would tackle. According to Jim
Kenney, International Interreligious Director for the Council for a
Parliament of the World's Religions (CPWR), the Assembly commitments were
essentially the first steps for ongoing projects.

"These are currently being entered in our database, classified by
issue and by guiding institution." He reported that the resulting
document would be shared with the Assembly to confirm and clarify the
information and to determine what assistance CPWR might provide. "By the
end of January, this will be incorporated in a "Report to the Assembly"
distributed to Assembly participants and, for the general public, posted on
the Council web site, http://www.cpwr.org.

The 1999 Parliament also called for "Gifts of Service to the
World," projects illustrating effective ways to work for a more just,
peaceful and sustainable world. More than 300 were collected in a book
distributed to participants and many were featured in presentations and
plenary sessions.

Kenney noted that CPWR will not only monitor these gifts but also invite
Parliament participants to submit new gift proposals. "The idea is to
stimulate concrete action both by the Assembly and the participants.
Although CPWR cannot provide funding, it can identify potential allies,
resources, and recipients for whatever action is proposed."
More than 7,000 people from some 90 countries participated in the
Dec. 1 - 8 Parliament of the World's Religions, sampling more than 800
programs and presentations. CPWR was established in the late 1980's to
celebrate the first Parliament of the World's Religions held in 1893 in
association with the Columbian Exposition. The 1993 Parliament proved so
beneficial to participants that the Council was persuaded to hold similar
international gatherings on a regular basis.

CONTACTS: Dirk Ficca or Mim Neal, CPWR, 312 629 2990.
************************************************

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