wfn.org | 2010 Religious Affiliation Survey will Include Sikh Population

[World Sikh Council - America Region <contact@worldsikhcouncil.org>]

2010 Religious Affiliation Survey will Include Sikh Population at County
Level

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 11, 2005

Contact: Dr. Tarunjit Singh, Secretary General, World Sikh Council - 
America Region, 614-210-0591, contact@worldsikhcouncil.org

The World Sikh Council - America Region (WSC-AR) is pleased to announce 
that the 2010 Religious Congregations Membership Study (RCMS) will include 
a county-by-county population of Sikhs in the United States of America.

Since the publication of the 2000 RCMS, which only included a listing of 
Sikh organizations at the county level, WSC-AR has worked with the 
Association of Statisticians of American Religious Bodies (ASARB) and the 
Glenmary Research Center (GRC) to expand the Sikh organization census 
reporting to include the Sikh population at the county level.

Dr. Tarunjit Singh, Secretary General of WSC-AR, attended the 71st Annual 
Meeting of ASARB on Oct 4 - 5, 2005 at the headquarters of the Presbyterian 
Church (USA) in Louisville, Kentucky. During the meeting, WSC-AR affirmed 
Sikh representation in the 2010 survey and participated in a panel 
discussion on "Data Collection and Dissemination in Four Religious Bodies: 
Issues and Challenges."

"Since the US Bureau of Census is currently prohibited by law from asking a 
question on religious affiliation, it is critical for WSC-AR to take a 
leadership role on behalf of the US Sikh community to work with 
inter-religious organizations that collect, publish, and disseminate 
religious affiliation data," said Mr. Amolak Singh, Chairperson of WSC-AR.

"The expanded participation and inclusion of Sikh population figures at the 
county level in the 2010 religious survey is an example of how Sikhs are 
being increasingly woven into the fabric of America," said Dr. Anahat Kaur, 
Vice-Chairperson of WSC-AR.

It is estimated that about 500,000 Sikhs live in the US but no breakdown of 
Sikh population at the county or state level is currently available.

Every ten years, ASARB compiles the RCMS, providing the most comprehensive 
portrait of religious affiliation of people in every state and county 
across the United States. The RCMS is available in book and CD-ROM format 
from the Glenmary Research Center. RCMS data at the county and state level 
can also be retrieved through the American Religion Data Archive.

During the visit to the ASARB conference, the Secretary General of WSC-AR 
also met briefly with Bishop Thomas Hoyt, Jr., President of the National 
Council of Churches and Bishop of the Christian Methodist Episcopal 
Church's Fourth District (Mississippi and Louisiana), Rev. Cliff 
Kirkpatrick, Stated Clerk (highest elected official) of the General 
Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (USA), Rev. Dr. Jay T. Rock, Interfaith 
Coordinator, Presbyterian Church (USA), and Mr. Rafat L. Zaki, Coordinator 
for Central, South, and Southeast Asia for the Presbyterian Church (USA).

In the last few months, the WSC-AR has participated in several 
inter-religious projects, activities, conferences, and events to promote 
interfaith understanding and respect. These include:
- TRUST Handbook: Venturing Religious and Community Life Award, Published 
by the Boy Scouts of America, August 2005: Collaborated with the National 
Religion Committee of Boy Scouts of America to review the draft Sikh 
chapter along with the entire book draft and provided suggestions for 
changes. The final published handbook is intended for older youth (14-21 
years). For more information, please visit 
http://usscouts.org/advance/venturing/Trust.html.
- North American Ecumenical and Interfaith Staff (NAEIS) annual conference, 
July 9-12, 2005, Indianapolis: Attended the conference and met with the 
President of the European Council of Churches to discuss the turban issue 
in France and the backlash against European Sikhs following the London 
bombings. More information on NAEIS can be accessed at 
http://www.naeis.org/home.cfm.
- United Religions Initiative (URI) - North America Interfaith Network 
(NAIN) annual conference, August 12-16, 2005, Las Vegas: Attended the 
conference and participated in a panel discussion on "A Moment of 
Gratitude." More information on NAIN: http://www.nain.org/ and URI: 
http://www.uri.org/.
- Religions for Peace (RFP) - USA Executive Strategic Retreat, September 
19-20, 2005, Stony Point, NY: WSC-AR is a member organization of RFP-USA. 
The Vice-Chairperson of WSC-AR attended the retreat. A representative of 
WSC-AR is involved with the planning of the RFP-USA's Gathering of National 
Religious Leaders envisaged for January 2006. More information on RFP-USA 
can be accessed at http://www.rfpusa.org/.
- Interfaith Prayer Service, Interfaith Center of New York, September 13, 
2005: WSC-AR co-sponsored by invitation the interfaith worship service on 
occasion of the opening of the 60th General Assembly of the United Nations.
- International Day of Peace Vigil, September 21, 2005: WSC-AR co-sponsored 
by invitation an international day of peace across the world to engage the 
world community in a day of global cease-fire and non-violence.
- Critical Moment in Interreligious Dialogue, World Council of Churches, 
June 7-9, 2005, Geneva, Switzerland: WSC-AR attended by invitation the 
landmark conference organized by the World Council of Churches to explore 
the connections between action and dialogue. One hundred thirty 
representatives of virtually all the major faiths communities from across 
the world participated. WSC-AR Secretary General moderated a panel 
discussion on action and dialogue. More information on the conference can 
be accessed at http://www.oikoumene.org/interreligious.html.

WSC-AR is a representative and elected body of Sikh Gurdwaras and 
institutions in the United States. Its members include 32 Gurdwaras (Sikh 
places of worship) and 6 other Sikh institutions across the nation. The 
Philadelphia Sikh Society of Millbourne, PA recently joined WSC-AR as a 
member organization following the meeting of WSC-AR at its Gurdwara on 
October 1-2, 2005.

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Member Gurdwaras of WSC-AR:
1. Gurdwara Sahib Fremont, Fremont, CA
2. Guru Nanak Sikh Mission, Livingston, CA
3. Sikh Gurdwara of LA, North Hollywood, CA
4. Sikh Gurdwara Riverside, Riverside, CA
5. Colorado Singh Sabha, Denver, CO
6. Guru Singh Sabha of Augusta, Augusta, GA
7. Sikh Study Circle of Atlanta, Atlanta, GA
8. Sikh Religious Society of Chicago, Palatine, IL
9. Sikh Society of South, New Orleans, LA
10. Sikh Gurdwara of Michigan, Rochester Hills, MI
11. Sikh Society of Michigan, Madison Heights, MI
12. Guru Nanak Foundation of Jackson, MS
13. Sikh Gurdwara of North Carolina, Durham, NC
14. Garden State Sikh Association, Bridgewater, NJ
15. Guru Nanak Sikh Society of Delaware Valley, Sewell, NJ
16. Siri Guru Singh Sabha, Glenrock, NJ
17. Sikh Sabha of New Jersey, Lawrenceville, NJ
18. Sikh Cultural Society Inc., Richmond Hills, NY
19. Sikh Cultural & Edu. Society of Western NY, Buffalo, NY
20. Sikh Religious Society of Dayton, Dayton, OH
21. Guru Nanak Found. of Greater Cleveland, Richfield, OH
22. Guru Gobind Singh Sikh Society, Bedford, OH
23. Guru Nanak Religious Soc. of Central Ohio, Columbus, OH
24. Philadelphia Sikh Society, Millbourne, PA
25. Tristate Sikh Cultural Society, Monroeville, PA
26. Mid South Sikh Sabha, Memphis, TN
27. Sikh Center of Gulf Coast, Houston, TX
28. Siri Guru Singh Sabha, Richardson, TX
29. Sikh Gurdwara of North Texas, Garland, TX
30. Singh Sabha Gurdwara, Fairfax, VA
31. Sikh Association of Central Virginia, VA
32. Sikh Religious Society of Wisconsin, Brookfield, WI

Other Sikh Institution Members of WSC-AR:
1. Siri Guru Granth Sahib Found., Anaheim, CA
2. Sikhs Serving America, Topeka, KS
3. Sikh Youth Federation of North America, White Plains, NY
4. Sikh Educational & Religious Foundation, Dublin, OH
5. Sikh Youth Federation of USA, Toledo, OH
6. Academy of Guru Granth Studies, Arlington, TX

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World Sikh Council - America Region (WSC-AR)
P.O. Box 3635, Columbus, Ohio 43210, USA
Phone: 614-210-0591, Fax: 419-535-6794
E-mail: contact@worldsikhcouncil.org
Website: www.worldsikhcouncil.org

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