Fall 2007
	The Newsletter of the North American Interfaith Network, Inc. www.nain.org

Religious Freedom in Action. 1 Religious Freedom the Focus at International, Interfaith Gathering. 3 A Candid Look at NAINConnect 2007. 4 Podcast: Bettina Gray Interview with Charles Haynes. 5 Langar. 6 10th Annual Interfaith Awareness Week. 6 Young Adult Scholarship. 6 Interfaith and the Environment: Another Earth Keepers Success Story. 6 Meet your NAIN Board of Directors. 7 Book Review.. 10 Media Briefs. 11 What’s Up? A Call for Articles on Local Interfaith Work. 12 Interfaith Briefs. 12 Footnote. 14

Religious Freedom in Action Mike Goggin. NAIN Board of Directors Chair I am grateful to all the members of the North American Interfaith Network who were able to join us in Richmond, Virginia July 12-16 for NAINConnect 2007: Embracing Religious Freedom – Past, Present and Future. I am also grateful to the leadership of the Interfaith Council of Greater Richmond for putting together a phenomenal conference and for being outstanding hosts. Sharon Clayton, Midge Falconer, Lynn Johnston and Annette Khan deserve special thanks for taking on the responsibility of hosting this conference on behalf of their all-volunteer organization. Little did we realize that the need to embrace religious freedom in the present would become front-page news throughout the United States on the day that our conference opened. On that Thursday morning, Rajan Zed became the first Hindu to offer a prayer to open a session of the United States Senate. At the same time, three Christian protestors stood in the balcony of the Senate and reminded us all of just how much work we still need to do to insure religious liberty for all by denouncing Zed’s prayer directed to the “false gods of Hinduism.” In Richmond, we were too engrossed in the daily grind of coordinating the conference to spend much time rehashing the events of that day. In the weeks that followed NAINConnect 2007, the NAIN Board of Directors engaged in frequent e-mail exchanges on the topic. A young adult who attended the conference on scholarship first posted the issue on the NAINOnline Open Forum, wondering if the NAIN Board might direct a letter to U.S. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) and Senate Chaplain Barry Black thanking them for their courage in inviting a Hindu chaplain to offer the opening prayer and encouraging them to extend the same privilege to members of other minority faith traditions. Reid, a Mormon, and Black, a Seventh-Day Adventist, are themselves members of minority Christian traditions in the United States. The initial sentiments of the Board seemed to be in favor of sending such a letter, which I drafted. Further discussion led us to discern that this step was not in keeping with the identity of the North American Interfaith Network. As a network of interfaith organizations, NAIN should encourage its member organizations to speak out on issues of religious freedom without becoming the mouthpiece for such advocacy. NAIN also realizes that it cannot presume to speak for each of the more than 60 member organizations that make up our network. We are simply too diverse to hope to adequately represent the opinions of each of our members on any issue. At the same time, NAIN hopes to be a resource for member organizations that are trying to voice their opinions on the interfaith issues of our times. I would be happy to share the letter that I drafted to Sen. Reid and Chaplain Black with any organization or individual who might want to use that letter as the starting point for their own correspondence with these national leaders. Please write to me at mikeg@ifcmw.org if you are interested in seeing this letter. In the meantime, let me encourage each of us to meditate upon the words that Rajan Zed shared with the United States Senate on the morning of July 12. His words are quite powerful and relative to our shared work, lest they be too soon forgotten in the wake of this controversy. "Let us pray. We meditate on the transcendental glory of the deity supreme, who is inside the heart of the earth, inside the life of the sky and inside the soul of heaven. May he stimulate and illuminate our minds. Lead us from the unreal to real, from darkness to light, and from death to immortality. May we be protected together, may we be nourished together. May we work together with great vigor. May our study be enlightening. Peace, peace, peace be unto all." Follow-up Story: Noted in Terry Weller’s Interfaith Unity Newsletter, Toronto, Canada The Interfaith Community of Northern Nevada, the Nevada Clergy Association, and various civic leaders honored Nevadan chaplain Rajan Zed at a reception on August 2, attended by Catholic, Protestant, Latter Day Saints, Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist, and Bahá’í clergy and various political, government, community, and student leaders. For the complete story, see http://www.andhranews.net/intl/2007/August/2/Hindu-chaplain.asp

NAINews Committee ° Judy Trautman, Editor ° Dr. Tarunjit Singh Butalia ° Lynn Castle ° Rev. Paul Chaffee ° Sharon Clayton ° Midge Falconer ° Mr. Michael Goggin, M.A. ° Bettina Gray ° Rev. Robert Hankinson ° Rev. Charles White, D.Min. ° Dr. Jim Wiggins

Religious Freedom the Focus at International, Interfaith Gathering Paul Chaffee, Interfaith Center at the Presidio NAIN’s 2007 Connect was nestled into Virginia’s rolling hills at a magnificent Episcopal retreat center outside of Richmond. The beautiful setting was punctuated by historical markers dotting Virginia highways and country lanes, reminders that the freedoms we discussed as interfaith brothers and sisters were paid for in blood shed in these same hills. The theme for the July 12-16 Connect was Religious Freedom, About 90 participated. A direct descendent of Thomas Jefferson showed up at the opening banquet in 18^th century dress, and we heard Tom’s words, his story, with an emphasis on the idea of ‘religious freedom’ in the United States and the struggle to establish it. Highlights this year included the langar, a blessed lunch that the greater Richmond Sikh community prepared and gave everyone – an interfaith concert at a beautiful Baptist church (including a welcome and blessing from its pastor) – and Charles Haynes’ superb keynote about teaching religious freedom in public schools. A strong opening panel addressed “Current State of Religious Freedom, Nationally and Internationally.” Through the next several days more than two dozen workshops unpacked religious freedom from all sorts of angles. A number of distinguished presenters were well-received, including a young adult panel reflecting on Virginia Tech’s recent mass murder by asking “Where Was God in Times of Tragedy?” A group of four Muslims from different backgrounds and a Christian moderator offered a well-received panel on “Islam & Democracy,” the final plenary session. Sharon Clayton, Midge Falconer, Lynn Johnston, and their team from the InterFaith Conference of Metropolitan Washington and Interfaith Council of Greater Richmond did a wonderful job, leaving those who attended informed, refreshed, and happy to have been with old friends and new.

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A Candid Look at NAINConnect 2007
Opening Ceremony
Chief Red Hawk, Cherokee Nation		Thomas Jefferson [Robb Coles 5^th generation descendant]]			Isabelle Kinnard, PhD Council for America’s First Freedom
Interfaith World Peace Ceremony				Audience [Photo: Bettina Gray]
Panels & Speakers
Young Adults: Where was God in Times of Tragedy?			Islam & Democracy			Charles Haynes, First Amendment Center: Challenges and Opportunities of Teaching about Religion in Schools [Photo: Bettina Gray]
Meals & Fellowship
Sikh Langar Hosts				Celebration: Chuck White’s 70^th Birthday
Banquet & Interfaith Concert
Klezmer Band, Jewish Federation	Dancing in the Chancel						Closing: Malik Khan
Additional Photos Requested to post on NAIN Online

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Podcast: Bettina Gray Interview with Charles Haynes Click here: http://www.nain.org/NAINet/nainet.xml

· To listen to the podcast after clicking on the above link, you may simply double click on the Haynes07.mp3 file. [You will need QuickTime or Windows Media Player.] · You can subscribe to this podcast to automatically receive updates as we add them. Click on the above link. · On a Mac, click Subscribe to this feed and choose iTunes as your feed from the drop-down menu. · On a PC, when you click Subscribe to this feed, it will be saved to a folder in your Favorites in Internet Explore 7. If you have downloaded iTunes (free download) you can also subscribe to it in iTunes. Copy the URL above. Open iTunes, click the Advanced Menu / Subscribe to Podcast. Paste the URL. · Listen on your computer or on your mp3 player.

Langar

Teja Singh, NAIN Board, Edmonton Interfaith Centre for Education and Action

NAINConnect 2007 was unique in offering the Sikh langar meal as our lunch on Saturday.  As it was the first for some, this brief note is an attempt to explain its availability and protocol.   

Langar is the free kitchen instituted by Guru Nanak (1469 - 1539), the founding prophet of the Sikh faith.  It signified a practical step to assert social equality, where all break bread together as members of a family.

Historically, there is the famous incident of Emperor Akbar of India,  who was requested to eat in the langar before having an audience with Guru Amar Das (1479 -1574),  who had made  it  an integral institution of the Sikh church.

Langar is served to one and all, without any consideration of creed, caste or social status. Meat is never served in Sikh langar, and nobody is ever asked to pay for the meal partaken.

Our thanks to the Sikh community of Richmond, as they came with their members of all ages to greet us and serve the free langar meal to all.[i] [Footnote contributed by Tarunjit Singh Butalia.]

10th Annual Interfaith Awareness Week

Rev John-Brian Paprock

December 9-15, 2007

· Monday December 10, 2007 Noon program at the Wisconsin State Capitol rotunda

· Monday through Friday Displays of faith and religion in Wisconsin in the Capitol

· In addition, local communities participate with talks and library displays.

· For more information: www.interfaithsociety.blogspot.com

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Young Adult Scholarship

Don Mayne, Honorary NAIN Board member, Edmonton Interfaith Centre for Education and Action

For more than ten years NAIN has offered scholarships to young adults, 18 to 35, to assist them to attend NAINConnects. The number has ranged from three to a dozen, and a special new scholarship was added this year by Dr. Teja Singh of Edmonton in memory of his parents. The recipient is to be a young adult of the Sikh faith, and the new scholarship will be similar to others offered by NAIN.

Dr. Singh has been concerned that the Sikh faith be included in all the relationships and experiences of the NAIN fellowship. While individuals who are not members of NAIN’s local organizations are eligible, he would like to see member organizations seek out young adults from the Sikh communities in their areas and encourage them to participate in the local group and apply to attend the NAINConnect in San Francisco next July. Local organizations would benefit if they provided the balance of the cost of attendance to supplement the scholarship available. This, of course, applies to nominees for all the young adult scholarships which NAIN offers each year.

Scholarship winners will be full members of the NAINConnect and it is significant that much of the leadership for recent NAINConnects has come from young adults.

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Interfaith and the Environment: Another Earth Keepers Success Story

(Marquette, Michigan) - It was standing room only for the debut of the Boreal Chamber Symphony in Marquette, Michigan in a faith-based benefit concert to protect Lake Superior.

Nearly 400 people attended the free three-hour concert Sunday night (July 15, 2007) that raised thousands of dollars for the Lake Superior Defense Fund.

The Lake Superior Day concert was sponsored by the Superior Watershed Partnership and the Cedar Tree Institute, northern Michigan non-profits who organize numerous faith-based environment projects.

The concert honored the Earth Keeper Initiative that the two Marquette-based non-profit organizations founded in 2004.

The Earth Keepers have numerous ongoing faith-based environment projects to protect the immense Lake Superior watershed including wild rice restoration and Earth Day household hazardous waste collections across northern Michigan.

The Earth Keepers work with 140 northern Michigan churches/temples from 9 faith traditions (Catholic, Episcopal, Lutheran, Presbyterian, United Methodist Church, Unitarian Universalist, Baha'i, Jewish, and Zen Buddhist).

Meet your NAIN Board of Directors
Officers
		Michael J. Goggin, M.A. – Chair Mike represents the InterFaith Conference of Metropolitan Washington. A young adult scholarship recipient 6 years ago, Mike remains involved with the young adults as Interim Young Adult Co-Chair. He also chairs the Nominations Board.
		Dr. Tarunjit Singh Butalia - Vice-Chair Tarunjit chairs the Interfaith Committee, World Sikh Council – America Region, is Vice-President of Interfaith Central Ohio, and Treasurer of Religions for Peace. He serves on the Nominations Board, runs the polls for the Membership Committee, and contributes regularly to NAINews.
		Jan Saeed - Secretary Jan represents the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha’is of the United States. She has volunteered to serve as Interim Young Adult Co-Chair, along with Mike.
		Kay Lindahl – Treasurer Kay has a long history with interfaith work in southern California. She is a recent past chair of NAIN and is currently a Friend of NAIN. She is in charge of NAIN memberships for the United States and serves on the Nominations Board. She has authored several books.
Committee Chairs
		Bettina Gray – Communications Bettina is one of the founding members of NAIN and is an independent video producer, interview host and author. She is known for A Parliament of Souls. She represents Creativefilms.
		Rev. Sam Muyskens – Administration and Finance Sam is a founding member of NAIN and represents Inter-Faith Ministries of Wichita, Kansas, where the first NAINConnect was held.
		Rev. Paul Chaffee - Program Paul represents the Interfaith Center at the Presidio in San Francisco, site of the 2008 NAINConnect.
No photo		Paul McKenna – Membership Canada Paul represents the Scarboro Missions Interfaith Committee, in Toronto,Canada.
No photo		Jonathan Rose - Membership Mexico Jonathon represents the Consejo Interreligioso de Méjico.
Members
	Dr. Gail Allen Gail represents the United Church of Canada and resides in Toronto.
	Susan Cook Susan is a new Board member and represents the Interfaith Council of Greater Kansas City.
	Rev. Barry Cooke Barry represents the Multifaith Action Society of British Columbia, which jpsted the NAINConnect 2006 in Vancouver, Canada.
	Midge Falconer Midge represents the Interfaith Council of Greater Richmond, host of the NAINConnect 2007.
	Kinza Ghaznavi Kinza represents Religions for Peace – USA. She is doing graduate studies at George Washington University.
	Rev. Rob Hankinson Rob is with the Edmonton Interfaith Centre for Education and Action. He has agreed to contribute to NAINews book reviews.
	Dr. F. Gard Jameson Gard represents the Interfaith Council of Southern Nevada, host of the NAINConnect 2005.
	Steve Naylor Is with the Interfaith Center at the Presidio.
	Dr. Teja Singh Teja is with the Edmonton Interfaith Centre for Education and Action. He founded a Young Adult Sikh Scholarship in honor of his parents.
	Judy Trautman – Editor, NAINews Judy is Co-Chair of the MultiFaith Council of Northwest Ohio.
	Dr. Woody Trautman Woody represents the MultiFaith Council of Northwest Ohio, which he co-chairs with his wife Judy. He serves on the NAIN Program Committee.
	Barbara Trites - Membership Barbara represents Interfaith Marketplace.
	Dr. Jim Wiggins Jim represents the Interreligious Council of Central New York in Syracuse. He contributes to the NAINews book reviews and chairs the By-Laws Review Committee.
Honorary Members
	Elizabeth Espersen Elizabeth is a former NAIN president and retired executive director of Thanks-Giving Square in Dallas, Texas. She now resides in Syracuse and does interfaith consulting through "Meetings in Faith".
No photo	Dr. Peter Laurence Peter is a former NAIN Board chair and Executive Director of Education as Transformation, Inc., Wellesley College. He resides in Putnam Valley, NY.
	Rev. Dr. Don Mayne Don is with the Edmonton Interfaith Centre for Education and Action. He is a past NAIN Board chair.
	Ralph Singh Ralph represents Gobind Sadan, USA. A former NAIN Board secretary, he has devoted over 35 years to education, spirituality and social justice.
	Rev. Dr. Charles R. White Chuck is one of the founding members of NAIN and was NAINews editor for a long time. He now resides in Wofford Heights, CA.

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Book Review

James B. Wiggins, Executive Director InterFaith Works of Central New York, Syracuse, NY

The Dignity of Difference: How to Avoid the Clash of Civilizations By Rabbi Jonathan Sacks (Continuum: London & New York, 2002; Paperback Edition 2003) Perhaps many readers will already be familiar with this book, but it is so insightful, provocative and inspiring that I lift it up for attention by readers of NAIN’s e-letter in case you do not yet know the book. Jonathan Sacks is the chief rabbi of the United Kingdom and declares himself to be an Orthodox Jew in terms of his personal faith commitment. Should anyone imagine from that information, however, that she can predict the argument of the book, a great surprise likely awaits in reading of this book.

The issue is the impact of globalization in the form of global capitalism on the cultures and religions of the world. This is but the most recent of six major “universalisms” that have been promulgated by their successive champions that have been proposed as the way for all humanity. The challenge Rabbi Sacks presents is whether religious leaders will exert their influence in a way that will assure that there are alternative ways of assessing the contemporary world scent that benefit humanity, rather than passively accepting a top-down imposition of it that is devastatingly harmful to all of us.

If the former role is to be played out effectively Sacks argues that a number of recognitions will be required. For example:

…unity creates diversity. The glory of the created world is its astonishing multiplicity. (p. 21)

We need not only a theology of commonality…but also a theology of difference:

why it exists, why it matters, why it is constitutive of our humanity, why it represents the will of God. (21)

The world is not a single machine. It is a complex ecology in which diversity—biological, personal, cultural and religious—is of the essence. Any proposed reduction of that diversity through many forms of fundamentalism that exist today…would result in a diminution of the texture of our shared life, a potentially disastrous narrowing of the horizons of possibility. (22)

The “dignity of difference” is an inspired concept, in my view, because its challenges the hegemony of all the forms of universalism that have historically and contemporaneously been promoted to eliminate the singular and the different. Respecting difference and learning from those different from us is a way out of the long-standing propensity that has made humans see difference as a threat. Rabbi Sacks rightly observes that when difference leads to war, both sides lose. But there is an alternative: When difference leads to mutual enrichment, both sides gain!

He charts a course for this paradigm shift that is demanded of everyone who seeks peace rather than war.

We must learn to listen and be surprised by others.

We must make ourselves open to the stories of others, which may profoundly be at odds with and conflict with our stories. In doing this we may be forced to learn that their image of us is radically different from our image of ourselves.

We must learn the art of conversation (not dialogue) from which truth emerges from the process of letting our worlds be enlarged by the presence of others who think, act and interpret reality in ways radically different from our own.

He concludes this mapping with a challenge: “We will make peace only when we learn that God loves difference and so, at last, must we.”

The table of contents below will give you a quick reference for how the presentation of the book moves: