July 23 – WEDNESDAY, 5:30-7:00, at the Interfaith Chapel in the Presidio

Book-signing & Reception for InterActive Dialogue (2008), edited by Bud Heckman

July 24 – THURSDAY, 2:30-4:00 Pre-Conference Workshops

The following workshops are available to those who arrive by noon on Thursday the 24th. Though not in our original plan, the importance of the offerings available convinced planners to go ahead and make these 'Pre-Conference' workshops available, even though not everyone will be able to take advantage of them.

WORKSHOPS

• Beyond Theology
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  Beyond Theology, a television series currently airing on PBS stations across the United States, began as a documentary focusing on the question: “What Would Jesus Do?” Tracing the origins of "WWJD" to a series of "sermon stories" told by Rev. Charles Sheldon and published as the book In His Steps (1896) , the question then becomes: how does one respond to that question in today's pluralistic world? As a number of prominent preachers and professors shared their thoughts on the subject, the one-hour special evolved into a 10-part series. Among those appearing in this series are Rev. Peter Gomes, Sister Joan Chittister, Bishop John Shelby Spong, Rabbi David Rosen, Seyyed Hossein Nasr, Diana Eck, Harvey Cox, Peter Russell, Jacob Needleman, Karen Armstrong, Huston Smith and Dr. James Forbes, Jr. One program, featured in the workshop, reflects on the role of interfaith dialogue, spotlighting The Pluralism Project at Harvard University, the Interfaith Center at the Presidio and Inter-Faith Ministries of Wichita.

  Dave Kendall, Laura Mead, and Charles Atkins, Jr., Sam Muyskins, and Paul Chaffee

• Compassionate Listening: What It Is, How It Works, Why It Matters

  This workshop reports on a March 2008 trip to Israel and the West Bank, sponsored by the Compassionate Listening Project (see www.compassionatelistening.org) and involving 20 Christian, Jewish, and Muslim leaders from Southeast Pennsylvania. “Compassionate listening” has been described as “heart-based skills for peace building and reconciliation in our families, communities, on the job, and in the world...speaking and listening from the heart, even in the heat of conflict.” The Pennsylvanians returned filled with new stories and understandings.

  Rabbi George Stern

• Spiritual Artz for Kidz

  Spiritual Artz for Kidz is an interfaith outreach project serving children from diverse backgrounds, offering monthly retreat style experiences and summer camps that focus on religious and spiritual diversity, social justice and family traditions. The goal is to support children on their own spiritual journeys through the development of skills such as silence, listening, reflection and sharing. Exploration of the spiritual and faith practices of the world and awareness of faith's response to social justice issues, have the potential of preparing young people for actively participating in the healing of our world. This is the vision.

  Rev. Diana Wheeler
  Rev. Tommy Dillon

• The Spiritual Practice of Those Who Lived Here First

  Indian Canyon, where Indians once hid from Spanish missionaries and soldiers, today is a refuge for people who lack sacred land for performing ceremony. The site, two hours south of San Francisco, is dedicated to furthering the wisdom of California’s indigenous people. Thousands of Native Americans regularly visit Indian Canyon for ceremony, vision quests, sweat lodges, and dancing and story-telling festivals. Founder Anne Marie Sayers draws from this rich mix of indigenous activities to talk about the spiritual practices of the peoples who thrived in California for thousands of years before Spanish invaders showed up in the 1770s.

  Anne Marie Sayers