Winter 2008
	The Newsletter of the North American Interfaith Network, Inc. Building Bridges of Inter-religious Understanding, Cooperation and Service. www.nain.org
Contents: Notes from the Chair 1 Interfaith and Hunger 2 A Call for Articles on Local Interfaith Work 3 NAINConnect 2008: Embracing an Interfaith Future 3 Memorials 5 Conferences 6 InterFaith Children’s Theatre Company 9 Media Briefs 9 News of Board Members 11 Job Openings 12 Interfaith Briefs 14 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		Notes from the Chair By Mike Goggin, Chairperson of the NAIN Board of Directors In this issue of NAINews, we are focusing on interfaith work on the issue of hunger. Here in Washington, D.C., the founders of the InterFaith Conference of Metropolitan Washington (IFC) created a dual mission for the organization when it was founded in 1978. Building community through interfaith dialogue and effective collaboration on issues of social justice have been the two pillars on which the IFC has stood for nearly 30 years. Allow me to focus on the latter issue here for a few minutes. In the early days of the organization’s history, IFC was directly involved in the social justice issue of hunger in the nation’s capital. A task force of the InterFaith Conference created the Capital Area Food Bank, which today continues to provide millions of pounds of edible food to social service organizations around the Washington metropolitan area at low or no cost in a secular setting. We brought the WIC program to Washington, providing financial assistance and nutritional advice to women, infants and children. Twenty-five years ago we began publishing a booklet that is now called The Emergency Food, Shelter and Health Care Directory. In the next month or so, IFC will publish the 25^th anniversary edition of this valuable resource guide for social workers and people in need of a hot meal or groceries for their family. Experience has shown that the need for such a resource is unfortunately growing. The first edition of the directory contained 50 entries on six pages stapled together. The 25^th edition will contain lists of over 350 providers of food, shelter and health care spread out over more than 150 pages. In addition to providers in all four quadrants of Washington, D.C., the directory also lists providers of direct services in the suburbs and even some rural areas around Washington, where there are pockets of hidden poverty. You can view a fully searchable version of the book on our website www.ifcmw.org, clicking on “emergency directory” in the toolbar on the home page. We receive daily calls from people asking when the latest book will be available. We have even set up a hotline number, 202-234-0333, to answer people’s questions about the book. IFC continues to provide this resource for free thanks to the support of several foundations and a local media partner that hosts our directory release events at their television station. We only ask that people send us a self-addressed stamped envelope to cover the cost of postage. People who come into our office to pick up the book receive it for free. It is our contribution to the struggle to eradicate hunger in Washington, D.C. IFC decided long ago that there were other agencies in the city that were better positioned to provide direct social services to people in need. Putting our directory in the hands of social workers affiliated with these direct service providers means that we are able to assist an estimated 300,000 people annually to get the help they need.

Please read on for more information about interfaith work on the issue of hunger across the North American continent. You will also see enclosed information on the upcoming NAINConnect at the University of San Francisco July 24-28. I hope to see you there!

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Interfaith and Hunger

How does your interfaith organization address the issue of hunger?

This was the subject of a call for submission made in the last newsletter.

Don Mayne suggested the work of the Long Island Council of Churches with their Micah project.

MICAH

On Long Island, in the midst of great prosperity and abundance, some 260,000 people turn to soup kitchens, food pantries, and shelters each year because they and their children are hungry. These people include the working poor, who hold down two or more jobs in order to feed and house their families; the homeless; veterans who fought for our freedom; the mentally ill who have no access to mental health care; and young families who have fallen through the cracks of our social structure.

What can good people of faith do about this situation? To answer this question, the Long Island Council of Churches (LICC), Catholic Charities, Bread for the World, the Islamic Center of LI, Mazon: the Jewish Response to Hunger, and other ecumenical and charitable organizations joined forces and are encouraging Long Islanders to participate in a year-long effort called MICAH (Mobilized Interfaith Coalition Against Hunger), Their goal is to alleviate hunger and poverty on Long Island.

People of faith in the Garden City area gathered together in January to discuss what they could do about hunger and the MICAH project. The curriculum they used was called "Hunger No More". These Bible study sessions included discussion of what our faith traditions call on us to do about helping those who are hungry and poor. They concluded the study series by collecting non-perishable food for the Interfaith Nutrition Network (INN) in Hempstead.

One of the MICAH congregations, First United Methodist Church in Amityville, celebrated a Children's Sabbath, followed by a unique Fellowship Hour. Using statistics related to children and poverty a Hunger Banquet was held for worshippers, a banquet without much food. Each person, including children, was randomly assigned an income status: poor, middle income, or rich. The number of persons for each category was based on income distribution in the United States.

The high-income participants sat in the parlor at an elegantly set table and were served fancy cookies and a choice of beverage. Middle-income participants were seated at crowded bare card tables, with animal crackers and serve-yourself beverages. Low-income people were excluded from the parlor and provided only saltine crackers with water.

It was a learning experience for all and heartwarming to see the high-income children sharing with their family and friends in the lower income groups. This experience helped illustrate the importance of participating in the MICAH project, and working towards the goal of reducing and or eliminating poverty.

http://www.ncccusa.org/ecmin/licc/prelude_jan08.html#micah

"The Faces of Hunger Will Surprise You”

For six years the Toledo Northwestern Ohio Food Bank has observed Hunger Awareness Day in June. It is a grassroots movement to raise awareness of the solvable problem of hunger in America. The day serves as a platform for domestic hunger-relief organizations to raise awareness about hunger in America and the work we do.

To celebrate Hunger Awareness Day, the Toledo Northwestern Ohio Food Bank has hosted two Annual Interfaith Services with the theme "The Faces of Hunger Will Surprise You”. 

The interactive services brought together youth groups, dancers, choirs, mimes and leaders from a range of religions. The events will demonstrated how various faiths are committed to fighting hunger and poverty in the community and explained how important the faith community is to anti-hunger efforts. All faith entities worked together to be involved in our community hunger relief efforts and raise food and funds for the Food Bank. Admission was free to the public. Monetary and non-perishable food items were accepted.

The 2nd Annual Interfaith Service was sponsored by Family Radio, the Islamic Center of Greater Toledo at Perrysburg, MAS Muslim American Society, MAS Muslim American Society Youth Group, STEP UP TOLEDO Community Talk Show, Cable Channel 69, River Rat Productions, SommerfieldPhoto, St. Martin de Porres, The Blade, URBan Radio Broadcasting, Mix 95.7/ Hot 97.3, Yehia & Emney Shousher, YesFM Christian Hits Radio 89.3, Bethlehem Baptist Church Food Pantry, The MultiFaith Council of Northwest Ohio, Calvary Bible Chapel, Feed Your Neighbor & CROP WALK 2007, Toledo Area Ministries, Emmanuel United Methodist Church, and St. Rose Catholic Church. http://www.toledofoodbank.org/

The first Hunger Action Month will take place in September of 2008, replacing Hunger Awareness Day, which previously occurred during the month of June. http://www.hungerday.org/content/index.php

A Call for Articles on Local Interfaith Work The purpose of this section will be to share some of the work that is going on in our member organizations. Each quarter, the editor will suggest a topic related to interfaith work. All of you are invited to submit articles of how your organization addresses that topic / issue. A selection of articles will be published in the subsequent NAINews. Hopefully, this will publicize some of the good work that is being done in our member organizations, while it inspires the rest of us in our own programming. The topic selected for the Spring 2008 issue of NAINews is How does your interfaith organization address the issue of the Environment? Please submit your articles of 300 words or less to ‘news_editorATnain.org’. [The email address substitutes AT for the usual @ sign, in order to avoid spam. Please compose the email address in the usual way.] You may include up to two small jpegs related to the article. The editor reserves the right to shorten the article for publication, but will make every effort to communicate with you regarding any content edits.
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NAINConnect 2008: Embracing an Interfaith Future July 24-28, 2008 at the University of San Francisco Register now! http://www.nain.org/regform08.doc

BACKGROUND - The North American Interfaith Network (NAIN) was ‘born’ in 1988 in Wichita, Kansas. Two-hundred fifty religious leaders from 12 religions gathered in the largest public interfaith event since the 1893 Parliament of the World’s Religions. This July 24-28, 2008, in San Francisco, the 20^th anniversary NAINConnect honors that historic beginning and 20 years of North American activities.

THEME - In that rich context, this summer’s theme is Embracing an Interfaith Future. The issue is no longer ‘if’ or ‘when’ but how we build vital, healthy multireligious cultures, starting in our neighborhoods and embracing the world.

PROGRAM - The program, detailed below, examines this future from three lenses – Multifaith Challenges We Face, Gifts We Bring, and Making a Difference. The conference includes three plenary sessions (where we’re all together) and three dozen workshops. Six workshop sessions will each have six workshop options from which to choose. You will receive a conference schedule after you register. You will be able to indicate your workshop preference for each session by mail or online.

WEBSITE - An interactive NAINConnect 2008 website will launch in February, giving visitors a chance to comment on each of the proposed workshops. The site will include brief bios of the presenters and facilitators.

Multifaith Challenges We Face - First Plenary Session (All Attending)

Interfaith Responsibility – North America and the Rest of the World

William Lesher, Helen Spector, William Swing, and Yoland Trevino, moderated by Yasmine Khan

Leaders from the world’s two largest grassroots interfaith organizations – the Parliament of the World’s Religions and United Religions Initiative – share stories about how North American interfaith activity at the local level can be a positive, vital interfaith force outside North America. They will consider what it means to be internationally responsible and how we can live into that responsibility.

WORKSHOPS

• Who Are We as an Interfaith Community?

· Who Is Not Here & Why? Building Inclusivity into Interfaith Communities

· Public Invocations, Prayers and Blessings – Who Is Allowed to Participate? Grove Harris

· How Can We Talk Theologically about the Big Issues? Susan Cook & Peter Laurence

· Can Muslims & Jews Shift from Focusing on the Middle East Conflict to Talking About Shared Values and Concerns? Myrna David, Diane Fisher, Yasmine Khan

· Crafting a Just-Peace Theory for Iraq ,Hal French

· Grassroots Responses to Racism and Religiously Motivated Violence - Doug Kahn, Phil Lawson, Anahut Sandhu, James Wiggens; Facilitator - P.K. McCary

Gifts We Bring - Second Plenary Session

Profiling Eight Exemplary Interfaith Projects

NAIN’s 1988 conference in Wichita was a foretaste of the flood of grassroots interfaith activity in North America, including the renewal of the Parliament of the World’s Religions, the founding of United Religions Initiative, and thousands of new bridge-building organizations. Plenary Two briefly surveys eight organizations, partnerships, or projects that are successfully taking grassroots interfaith dialogue in new directions.

Listed with their websites, the profiled organizations/projects/partnerships are:

o InterFaith Youth Core – http://www.ifyc.org/about_core collaborating with Interfaith Works (Washington, DC, New Orleans) in a federally funded young adult interfaith project

o Islamic Network Group – http://ing.org/

o Peninsula Clergy Network – http://www.peninsulaclergynetwork.org/

o The Golden Rule Poster Project, Scarboro Missions, http://www.scarboromissions.ca/Golden_rule/

o The San Francisco Foundation FAITHS Program – http://www.sff.org/programs/social-justice/faiths-program

o Women Transcending Boundaries – http://www.wtb.org/about/history.html

o The Children of Abraham Project – http://thechildrenofabrahamproject.org/index.asp

o California Interfaith Power & Light (CIPL) – http://www.interfaithpower.org/

WORKSHOPS

• Successful New Approaches to Interfaith Dialogue
• NAIN – Where We’ve Been & What We Hope For Charles White, Elizabeth Esperson [not yet confirmed], Mike Goggin, Peter Laurence, Kay Lindahl, and Don Mayne,
• United Religions Initiative & NAIN – the Opportunity URI Representatives
• Parliament of the Worlds Religions & NAIN – the Opportunity Parliament Representatives
• Interreligious Higher Education – Surveying the Options James Conlon, James Donahue, Gina Rose Halpern, Joseph Subbiondo; Facilitator - Kimberly Connor
• Appreciative Inquiry in Inter- and Intra-faith Contexts Kay Lindahl & Paul Chaffee

· The Golden and Green Rule Posters Paul McKenna

• Christian-Wiccan Dialogue: A 20-Year interfaith Friendship Don Frew and Brooks Alexander

· Sharing the Spiritual Resources We Bring to Environmental Concerns Rachael Watcher

· Exploring the Indigenous Role in Interfaith Dialogue Don Frew & Yoland Trevino

• Interfaith Communication in the Digital Age
• Using the Labyrinth as a Spiritual Practice Lauren Artress

Sharing Our Best Interfaith Projects Barbara Trites

• Interreligion at the United Nations – A New Day[still confirming] Joan Kirby

Making a Difference - Plenary Three

What Does It Take to Make a Difference? Maha ElGenaidi, Heng Sure, Michael Pappas, Ellen Grace O’Brian, and Tarunjit Singh Butalia

We will hear answers from five tried and tested leaders from different traditions and then open to conversation up to everyone.

WORKSHOPS

• Being Able to Influence the World Sally Mahe
• Interfaith Activism which Doesn’t Divide the Community Maha ElGenaidi, Carol Hovis, and Jay Miller
• Chaplaincy in Public Places – the Frontline of Interfaith Dialogue Joseph Bobrow, Peter Yuichi Clark, and Patrick McCullum
• Using Appreciative Inquiry & Digital Stortytelling as Tools for Building Interfaith Collaboration Friends in Faith – Marla Kolman Antebi, Corbin Davis, Fred Fielding, and Steve Naylor
• MDGs - Interreligious Community Sought in Helping End Poverty Herb Behrstock
• Greening Our Lives & Healing the Earth Bettina Gray and Members of Jewish World Watch

· Engaging Peace: A Case Study of Toledo’s Erase-the-Hate Youth Contests Woody & Judy Trautman

• Interfaith Personal Relationships: Gifts, Challenges and Blessings Karen Erlichman

For more information or to register, see www.nain.org.

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Memorials

President Gordon B. Hinckley

From Sharon C. Clayton, Interfaith Council of Greater Richmond and NAIN Board

President Gordon B. Hinckley,15th President and Prophet of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter –day Saints, passed away quietly last night [January 27, 2008] at his home in Salt Lake City. At age 97, he worked a full schedule through this past week. He will be remembered as a leader who reached out to people of all faiths.

From the LDS newsroom:

“SALT LAKE CITY, Utah - He was in his late 90s. He arrived at the office early and often left late. He traveled the world at a breathtaking pace and kept up a speaking schedule that would drain the energy of men decades younger. "I would enjoy sitting in a rocker listening to soft music and contemplating the things of the universe," President Hinckley once told the Associated Press. "But such activity offers no challenge and makes no contribution.”

He will be missed by the members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as well as by those of many diverse faith traditions. The Church membership will mourn his passing in the next few days and move on to continue the work of the God who created us all.

In Tribute to Baba Virsa Singh Compiled by The Rev. Dr. Charles R. White, D.Min. Photo: http://www.gobindsadan.net/gallery2/v/press/Babaji_PathtoPeaceCover.jpg.html The world has lost a widely loved and greatly respected spiritual leader, with the death of His Holiness Baba Virsa Singh, on December 24, 2007.

He was the founder and preceptor of Gobind Sadan. He came from a mud-brick village in Punjab, did not read or write in any language, and yet rose to be a great spokesperson for inter-communal harmony, a timeless worker to alleviate poverty, and a healer and spiritual teacher to countless individuals throughout the world. Among his many accomplishments, he saw that Guru Gobind Singh ji’s Jaap Sahib, an empowering cosmic hymn in praise of God, was translated into many languages, including English and Russian, and it is recited by many people throughout the world. To read about Gobind Sadan, farm-based interfaith spiritual communities in India and the United States, uplifting all kinds of people through hard work, worship, and meditation, go to http://www.gobindsadan.org/index.shtml.

Readers of NAINews may be interested to know that Baba Virsa Singh taught that “all prophets have come from the same place. There is one God, and they have all brought his message.” He expressed this teaching was in many ways, often quoting from a variety of Scriptures, it was a wonderful experience to be in his presence and hear him speak. Gobind Sadan honors all prophets and religions. Baba Virsa Singh encouraged people of faith to celebrate the birthdays of each prophet.

Gobind Sadan India is located in New Delhi, while Gobind Sadan U.S.A. is located in Hastings, New York. Many of us may recall that following 9/11 there was a tragic incident that occurred at Gobind Sadan U.S.A.; four teenagers destroyed the sacred place of neighbors who wear beards and turbans, neighbors who practice an unfamiliar religion rooted in an unfamiliar culture. However, instead of hatred, the act released a force of love and forgiveness. Immediately after the teens were arrested, the Sikhs forgave them - while acknowledging they had to be punished for their crime. Baba Virsa Singh said in response to the incident: "By forgiving our enemies we have the opportunity to create peace." This story has been told in a documentary film, North of 49: A story about arson, forgiveness and healing in a post September 11^th world. For more information regarding Gobind Sadan U.S.A. go to http://www.gobindsadan.org/gsusa/ where you will also find information regarding how to obtain the documentary film.

Gobind Sadan is a long-time member of NAIN; Ralph Singh, who is the Director, Publications and Public Relations, Gobind Sadan Society for Interfaith Understanding for many years served as Secretary for the NAIN Board of Directors on which he is now an honorary member.

Dr. Paul F. Knitter, the Paul Tillich Professor of Theology, World Religions and Culture at Union Theological Seminary in the City of New York, had written sometime prior to Babji’s death“Whatever theological interpretation one may give to the role and message of Baba Virsa Singh and to what is happening under his inspiration at Gobind Sadan, one cannot deny the power of this man’s example and message: he and his community show us how persons of all religions can transcend their differences and come together to work for the poor and the transformation of this world.”

Baba Virsa Singh saw to it that Gobind Sadin will continue following his death by providing in his will for a committee of eleven devotees who are responsible for its management.

My life has been blessed by being in the presence of Baba Virsa Singh in both Gobind Sadan India, and Gobind Sadan U.S.A., I have learned much through his example and message. And I am confident that death is not the end, but only the beginning of even a greater life for Babaji.

Conferences

The Golden Rule in the Religions of the World

Submitted by Paul McKenna, Scarboro Missions Interfaith Desk, Toronto, Ontario

Tuesday, April 15, 2008 - Thursday, April 17, 2008

A conference of the Golden Rule in the Religions of the World will be presented by the Institute of Advanced Theology at Bard College, Annandale-on-Hudson, NY, with a grant from the Institute for Research on Unlimited Love. It will be held at Weis Cinema, Bertelsmann Campus Center.

The conference is sponsored by the Institute of Advanced Theology and organized by Bruce Chilton and Jacob Neusner, Bard College, with many additional participants.

The schedule for the conference is Tuesday, 1:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.; Wednesday, 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.; Thursday, 9:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Reservations are requested.

Contact 845-758-7279, iat@bard.edu, http://www.bard.edu/iat/events.php

"Feminist Theologies: Heritage and Future"

From the Harvard Pluralism Project: You are Invited to Join Feminist Scholars For A Summer Forum

15-20 June 2008, Washington, DC

The Women's Alliance for Theology, Ethics and Ritual (WATER) and Feminist Studies in Religion, Inc. (FSR) are pleased to invite graduate students and junior faculty to our first Summer Forum on Feminist Theologies in Washington, DC, June 15-20, 2008. This inaugural year of what we envision as an annual gathering will focus on "Making the Connections: Claiming Our Past-Envisioning Our Future Together." You are cordially invited to apply.

This residential program provides the space and opportunity to work with colleagues across generations, religions, racial/ethnic, and disciplinary lines creating new knowledge and deepening feminist scholarly collaboration. We are pleased that distinguished scholars in the field, including Katie Geneva Cannon, Mary E. Hunt, Judith Plaskow, Kwok Pui-lan, Elisabeth Schüssler Fiorenza, and Deborah Whitehead have agreed to provide leadership for the entire week of lively discussions and creative debate in a communal atmosphere.

This Summer Forum provides a chance to network with colleagues, to learn from and with leading scholars in the field, and to explore together religious and theological questions, methodological approaches, and theoretical frameworks. The many different theoretical voices of womanist, liberationist, Latina, postcolonial, Asian, transcultural, critical rhetorical, critical gender, and black feminist studies in religion and theology will be explored in order to articulate feminist theologies for the future.

The Forum will add a wonderful new dimension to our collaborative work. Making connections with senior scholars in the field is crucial not only for navigating traditional malestream institutions but also for making the connections between feminist studies in religion of the past, present, and future. Making connections with younger scholars is an exciting way to see pioneering work deepened and extended.

The Summer Forum will be held at a conference site in Washington, DC, where all of the participants will live for the week. The program will include plenary sessions, seminars, and working groups as well as meals and informal time together. It aims to deepen our understanding of our rich intellectual history and set the trajectories for new vistas and collaboration for the future. It will be an experience of feminist pedagogy as well as a chance to sharpen one's own research and teaching focus.

The fee for the Summer Forum is $800 including room, board, and program. Scholarships are available (thanks to the generosity of the Henry Luce Foundation and Feminist Studies in Religion, Inc.) but graduate students and junior faculty are urged to seek funding from their departments and institutions, from their denominations and other sources so that we can include a wide range of participants.

Application deadline is April 1, 2008. Participants will be notified after April 15, 2008.

Please direct inquiries and send completed applications to: water@hers.com; WATER * 8121 Georgia Avenue * Suite 310 * Silver Spring, MD 20910 USA * Phone 301.589-2509 * Fax 301.589.2509.

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Society, Religion and Politics in the Middle East: A Cross-Cultural Study of Jordan

Announcing a course open to all ages from the United Nations University –

International Leadership Institute July 18 – 27, 2007

The Middle East has always enjoyed a significant share of the world’s attention. Being the place where the three monotheist religions emerged, the world’s largest oil reserve, and hosting almost conflicts, the region is today, as has always been, a major preoccupation of scholars, policy makers and the public. Recently, the happenings of September 11 radically altered the way even “ordinary” people think of the Middle East. With the wave of political Islam affecting the globe and (at least some trends within it) creating controversies, the thesis of civilizations clashing has vaulted into the mainstream. Americans trying to comprehend the shocking attacks on the twin towers started implicitly and explicitly asking the question: WHY DO THEY HATE US? Several answers were given to assist the understanding of terror attacks, yet many fall in the trap of “clash of civilizations”, accusing all Muslims and those who look like Muslims of being terrorists, without a real understanding of the dynamics of terrorism and differences between Islam and Muslims, or Political Islam and Islamists. Policy makers went even further and suggested, as a way out a comprehensive regional reform, focusing mainly on the skeletal structure of politics, women’s status and young people’s social and political integration. Western style democracy was set as a model to follow often without paying attention to the different social and cultural contexts of the region and, more importantly, without considering the implications of such difference on the desired transformation.

Those who dig deep into the issue, argue that Clash of Civilization thesis is misleading and very dangerous. Leading scholars and figures in this field refer to what has been called a “Clash of Ignorance” challenging the “Clash of Civilizations” argument, and suggest the development of better understanding methods of the world. The “Dialog between Civilizations” is seen as the right answer. The Dialog between Civilizations rests of the assumption that despite the processes of cultural globalization, we still know very little about each other. In fact, it is globalization that has led many ethnic and religious group all over the world, and not only in the Middle East, to feel threatened by its “homogenizing: more or less Westernizing” forces. The world needs to be better educated, especially about Middle Easterners, Arabs and Muslims, for they have become subject to stereotypes, widely misunderstood and in some cases mistreated.

This course is designed to give you first hand knowledge on the Middle East; knowledge that you will be able to build without the medium of politicized and biased media. The course will cover different aspects of an Arab and a Muslim country: Political Dynamics and groups, Societal Structure and relations, Human Migration and Religious issues including political religion. By focusing on the case of Jordan, the course will have you exposed to Middle Eastern Experts as well as local Jordanians describing the way society, politics, and religion function, and through excursions and field visits you will be able to better understand the socio-economic and cultural context of Jordanian Society. Some sessions will also be dedicated to stereotypical images associated with “Muslims” and “Arabs”, as well as widely speared assumptions and images often associated with “Westerns”.

Who We Are

The United Nations University, UNU – ILI, is a part of the United Nations University network. The UNU acts as the intellectual arm of the United Nations; it acts as a “think tank” for global concerns. The UNU – ILI, located in Amman, Jordan, is perfectly situated to tackle the issues of the region and the world, and to enhance the capacities of current and future leaders.

Simply put, our mission is to promote, encourage and facilitate “Leadership development for a secure, just and equitable, human and democratic world.”

Why Jordan?

Jordan is a safe and secure country located in the heart of the Middle East. In recent years the number of people living in Jordan has swelled, as people seek sanctuary from the crises in other parts of the region. This influx of people, and the natural engagement of Jordanians with their neighbors, has interlaced Amman with other Arab and Muslim capitals. The social history of this small country is complex, the people are overwhelmingly hospitable and the streets are vibrant; with tradition and modernity, foreign and domestic, playing off of each other to create new modes of life and new perspectives on the world.

Target Group

The course is designed for students of the region, professionals wishing to connect with the Middle East as well as the general public. The course will be theoretically rigorous, informative and accessible to anyone possessing a curious mind. Prior study of the region is not required.

Course Fees

The total fee for the course is 2000 US Dollars. This sum covers room and board, speakers, excursions and in country transportation.

After applications have been accepted, the participants will receive information on how to wire the fees to the UNU – ILI account. This process should be started at least one month before the start of the course, and all moneys should be received at least two weeks prior to the start of the course. Participants will be provided with receipts and confirmation of enrollment.

Application and More Information

Copies of the application and complete information about the course can be found at our website www.la.unu.edu.

Contact

Anyone with any questions, please feel free to call or write – Amman is 8 hours ahead of US Central Time –

Dr. Ibtesam al-Atiyat (8am – 3pm): +962 – 65337075 ext. 307 Alatiyat@la.unu.edu

Jay Bowman (8am – 10pm): +962 – 79636548 Bowman.Jay@gmail.com

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InterFaith Children’s Theatre Company

By Mike Goggin, NAIN Chairperson

Perhaps the continent’s first InterFaith Children’s Theatre Company staged its inaugural production in late January in Washington, D.C. The InterFaith Conference of Metropolitan Washington (IFC) partnered with the Children’s Theatre Company of New York City, a group affiliated with the Baha’i faith, to put on a production of Dr. Seuss’ cautionary tale on the environment, “The Lorax.”

The production included a cast of 13 children ranging in age from 6 to 13. They represented four faith traditions – the Baha’i faith, Hinduism, Roman Catholicism and Sikhism. The children and their parents committed to weekly three-hour rehearsals from September to January that included character education sessions along with training in singing and modern dance. Artistic director Banafsheh Wallace and character educator Bernadine Okoro both volunteered their time to make the project a great success, and a space grant was provided by the Universalist National Memorial Church. IFC President Bob McLaughlin (who helped to welcome us to NAINConnect 2007 in Richmond last summer) spearheaded the project and worked tirelessly to ensure that enough children would be participating.

After a short hiatus, auditions for the next season of Washington’s InterFaith Children’s Theatre Company take place on the weekend of April 5-6. The Children’s Theatre Company of New York is interested in replicating this model throughout North America. For more information, visit www.childrenstheatrecompany.org. They see themselves as “the theater of social change” and the InterFaith Conference of Metropolitan Washington highly endorses their work.

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Media Briefs

By Judy Lee Trautman, NAIN Board, MultiFaith Council of Northwest Ohio

	Eat, Pray, Love: One Woman's Search for Everything Across Italy, India and Indonesia by Elizabeth Gilbert published by Viking, February 2006 http://www.elizabethgilbert.com/eatpraylove.htm This book is an interesting spiritual romp through three countries in search of healing, growth, and spirituality. The author’s style includes an earthy humor and an honest witness to some of the difficulties in learning to meditate and to grow personally after personal tragedy, in this case a failed marriage. The book may appeal more to women. It is highly acclaimed by a wide variety of sources, from the New York Times to Jack Kornfield. I found it a fascinating read, well worth considering. I found both the humor and honesty of the author very refreshing.
The Faith Club: A Muslim, A Christian, A Jew-- Three Women Search for Understanding by Ranya Idliby, Suzanne Oliver, Priscilla Warner http://www.thefaithclub.com/ This book has received, deservedly, a great deal of acclaim. If you have somehow missed it, I highly recommend it. Again, it is the story of the faith journey of women, but the application to interfaith work is huge. The journey these three women undertake is definitely not an easy one. They really have to confront genuine differences and their own presuppositions of the faith of the ‘other’. The reward for all of them is the opportunity to share a spiritual intimacy that is rare and intensely valuable. It is no surprise that this has been a favorite selection for book clubs everywhere.
		Curl up with your Kindle? Amazon has come up with an electronic reader that is apparently catching on exceedingly well. They are currently sold out. One advantage is that you can carry a whole library on your vacation in your pocket or purse. The ‘electronic paper’ has a crisp resolution that is much easier to read than previous attempts at electronic readers. It weighs 10.3 ounces and measures 7.5" x 5.3" x 0.7. The device is wireless and uses a technology used by advanced cell phones, so connectivity is virtually universal. Battery life is long and recharge time is two hours. The price is a hefty $399, but will include free two-day shipping when it is back in stock. http://www.amazon.com/Kindle-Amazons-Wireless-Reading-Device/dp/B000FI73MA
Interfaith HEROES, by the Rev. Daniel L. Buttry http://www.readthespirit.com/interfaithheroes/ David Crumm, the Detroit Free Press Religion Writer since 1986, has created a new kind of media publishing company that focuses on religion and spirituality. ReadTheSpirit.com is a collaboration of professionals -- writers, editors, photographers, artists, clergy, scholars and people from other disciplines, as well, to produce books, Web content and videos. January 2008 was designated Interfaith Heroes month. Each day featured the story of an interfaith hero – Francis of Assisi, the poet Rumi, Mohandas Gandhi, Dr. martin Luther King, Jr., and so on. Rev. Buttry, an American Baptist minister and international peace negotiator, wrote a companion book which features the heroes and study guides and questions for reflection. Subscribers to the website received daily emails of the heroes.
The first Interfaith Heroes month is over, but interested readers, students, and subscribers are now invited to nominate the heroes for January 2009. You may want to visit the website to nominate your favorite hero. The daily reflections on an Interfaith Hero were valuable. The book will continue to be a good resource.
			YouTube Nonprofit Program YouTube has a free program to help you feature your 501c3 nonprofit with video capabilities. You can create a Channel to feature your own videos or favorites already on YouTube. http://www.youtube.com/nonprofits There are many ways you can customize your Channel. You can even drive fundraising through a Google Checkout "Donate" button which is free this first year. This might be a fun way to reach and involve youth in your program. One of our ‘Favorites’ is Eboo Patel speaking about his new book. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qwejhw3TgeE

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News of Board Members

Jefferson Award

NAIN Board member, Dr. Woody Trautman was named one of the thirteen finalists in the Toledo, Ohio, local Jefferson Awards for ordinary individuals doing extraordinary things. His nomination was largely based on his interfaith work. He is the co-founder of the MultiFaith Council of Northwest Ohio. The award will be presented at a dinner on March 12. Three of the final thirteen will be selected to go to Washington to compete for the national award.

Review, of book of poetry (New Era) by Dr Teja Singh, member NAIN Board

By Dr. Ishtiaq Ahmed, Professor, Stockholm University

Common Heritage of Mankind

"Dr Teja Singh’s collection of poems is now ready for us to enjoy. A work of human creativity and artistic endeavour is always a part of the common heritage of humankind. The poems in this book will easily enamour anyone who sets a high premium on poetry as a manifestation of beauty and aesthetics as well as a medium of social and moral statement. I feel honoured to write the foreword as I share with the author many moral and political ideals and indeed cultural roots: humanism, cosmopolitanism, peace...

"Poets are born; non-poets can take a course in poetry writing and become rhymesters but the authentic poet is always identifiable because of the originality and novelty of his thought and the elegance of his composition. I am an essayist and know how often I have wanted to write poetry to say things in a few words and with the help of powerful imagery and symbols. But I have to take recourse to prose and find my way forward with long sentences and many of them.

"Teja Singh is a Punjabi through and through, but his poetic musings embrace the whole of humankind. This connection between the local and the global is mediated from the many places he has travelled to, although he dutifully wanders in his thoughts in the Punjab of once- upon-a-time. Nostalgia and sentimentality about the Punjab and India permeate several of his poems but the author is also a citizen of the world and he wants to play an active role in shaping it to be a safe and joyful place for all of us.

“As a citizen of the whole world, he is at home wherever he is. Although his poems lament on what was left behind, he uses the vision provided by his new environment to project a positive perspective. He surely belongs to the class of poets who are also social philosophers and want to change the world in the light of their moral convictions; in short; he is a poet with a purpose. In this regard, I would place him in the tradition of Iqbal, Faiz and Sahir. Those great masters were committed to utopias of one sort or another and one may or may not agree with them, but nobody can deny that they composed poetry within a tinge of millenarianism.

"The poems in the present collection are infused with the original humanism of Sikhism and therefore touch the heart so tenderly. In short, we have to celebrate the publication of this collection of poems because it is a contribution to the multifarious Punjabi identity which is simultaneously in harmony with a global humanity."

(Source: Kitabi Duniya, Publishers)

Banquet Speaker

Dr. Tarunjit Singh Butalia will be the featured speaker at the Seventh Annual MultiFaith Banquet of the MultiFaith Council of Northwest Ohio on Sunday, March 9, 2008 at Holy rosary Cathedral, Toledo, OH. His topic will be “Honoring the Tradition of the Other”. The Banquet as an optional seminar and tour of the cathedral at 3:00 PM. Table Displays of a dozen faith traditions will provide an educational mixer at 4:00 PM. At 5:00 PM an elegant dinner will be followed by the program.

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Job Openings

Program Director 2009 Parliament of the World’s Religions

Melbourne, Australia will host the 2009 Parliament of the World’s Religions, the world’s largest international interreligious gathering, from December 3 – 9, 2009.

10,000 persons from the world’s diverse religious and spiritual communities are expected to attend. Participants will share their religious and spiritual identities, engage in dialogue, and consider critical issues facing the global community. Topics for discussion will include poverty and development, the environment and global warming, violence and terrorism, diversity and social cohesion, and the plight of indigenous peoples.

The Council for a Parliament of the World’s Religions - the international organizing body, a non-sectarian, non-profit organization based in Chicago - is seeking a Program Director to oversee creation of the program for this seven-day event.

The Program Director will:

· Serve as a team leader to develop 500 international programs in a variety of formats (lectures, workshops, presentations, performances);

· Direct speaker recruitment, solicit proposals, manage program selection, and assemble the Parliament program book;

· Collect selected programs for publication;

· Participate in general planning for 2009 Parliament activities;

· Maintain database information for programs and speakers;

· Create program archives (written, audio, visual).

Qualifications include:

· Minimum of Masters level degree or five years experience in a related field;

· Academic or field work expertise in multi-religious or multi-cultural studies or affairs, or in a related field;

· Demonstrated ability with staff oversight and group facilitation.

Employment period from February 2008 to December 2009.

Negotiable salary up to $70,000 package (full time with health insurance) depending on qualifications and experience.

Email your resume and cover letter to emily@cpwr.org; or send to CPWR, 70 East Lake Street, Suite 205, Chicago, Il, 60601; by January 31, 2009.

Partner Cities Director 2009 Parliament of the World’s Religions

Melbourne, Australia will host the 2009 Parliament of the World’s Religions, the world’s largest international interreligious gathering, from December 3 – 9, 2009.

10,000 persons from the world’s diverse religious and spiritual communities are expected to attend. Participants will share their religious and spiritual identities, engage in dialogue, and consider critical issues facing the global community. Topics for discussion will include poverty and development, the environment and global warming, violence and terrorism, diversity and social cohesion, and the plight of indigenous peoples.

The Council for a Parliament of the World’s Religions - the international organizing body, a non-sectarian, non-profit organization based in Chicago - is seeking a Partner Cities Director to oversee involvement of local interreligious movements in cities around the world in the preparation for, and holding of, the 2009 Parliament event.

The Partner Cities Director will:

· Serve as principal liaison with interreligious movements and organizations in cities worldwide;

· Conduct outreach, promotion and diffusion activities to solicit community involvement and event registration;

· Organize pre-Parliament events in cities world-wide;

· Participate in general planning for 2009 Parliament activities;

· Maintain database information;

· Establish groundwork for ongoing interreligious activities following the 2009 Parliament event.

Qualifications include:

· Minimum of Masters level degree or five years experience in a related field;

· Minimum five years practical experience in community, or advocacy, non-profit, or social service work;

· Academic or field work (preferred) expertise with multi-religious or multi-cultural dynamics and affairs;

· Demonstrated ability with group facilitation;

· Ability to travel globally.

Employment period from March 2008 to December 2009.

Negotiable salary up to $70,000 package (full time with health insurance) depending on qualifications and experience.

Email your resume and cover letter to emily@cpwr.org; or send to CPWR, 70 East Lake Street, Suite 205, Chicago, Il, 60601; by January 31, 2009.

Executive Director, Church Council of Greater Seattle

Date listed: Tuesday, February 5, 2008, Will expire Wednesday, March 5, 2008

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR – The Church Council of Greater Seattle, one of the largest local ecumenical organizations in the U.S., seeks an outstanding leader to move it into the future. Founded in 1919, the Church Council has an annual budget of $2.7 million and a staff of 44 employees. Today, the Church Council represents more than 400 churches and 15 denominations as well as thousands of individuals united by the belief that we can work together to promote justice and increase compassion in our community. The Council is known for the social justice work of its eight leading-edge programs and ministries, with particular emphasis on ending homelessness, connecting with youth and seniors, advocating effective public policies for the vulnerable and promoting world peace. In addition, a host of volunteer task forces engage the mainline religious community as well as the greater secular community in creating a better future for all.

The executive director serves as the chief executive officer of the organization. Candidates should have demonstrated experience in each of the three primary emphases of the Council: Unity (interfaith and ecumenical), Compassion (delivery of direct human services) and Justice (public expression of the Church’s passion for dignity and hope for all people). The Council’s executive director is a key religious leader in the Greater Seattle area and works closely with executives of all major Christian denominations as well as public and private community leaders. Application deadline is March 14, 2008. For additional information including a complete job description, see www.thechurchcouncil.org.

Interfaith Briefs

Compiled by Dr. Tarunjit Singh Butalia, World Sikh Council – America Region; Vice-Chair, NAIN

Washington, DC, US: The interfaith movement in the US is becoming increasingly service project oriented in which dialogue occurs as people of diverse faiths work together. A research study by the Hartford Institute for Religion Research found that 37 percent of US congregations in 2005 had been involved in interfaith community service. (Washington Post, 2/9/08)

Bergen County, New Jersey, US: The Glen Rock Jewish Center has begun a pioneering program aimed at better understanding Islamic history and beliefs. “Jews and Muslims had warm relations in the past, and I don’t see why they can’t have warm relations in the future” said David Freidenreich, an assistant professor at Franklin and Marshall College in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. He added, "Part of the problem in Jewish-Muslim relations is that they are framed as surrounding a single issue: the Mideast. One of my goals is to show that Islam is multifaceted, and that Muslims in this country have a wide range of interest and concerns, and that it's helpful for everyone involved to see all the angles." (The Record, 2/7/08)

Salt Lake City, Utah, US: The Salt Lake Interfaith Roundtable organized its 6^th Annual Interfaith Week in the last week of January 2008. The events included an Interfaith Film Festival, World Peace Meditation, Silent Witness for Peace, Prayer Service for Common Good, Applied Spirituality, and an Interfaith Musical Tribute to the Human Spirit. The organization was formed to meet the religious needs of the athlete during the 2002 Olympic Winter Games and now consists of 150 members of many faiths. (The Salt Lake Tribune, 1/25/08)

Durham, North Carolina, US: An interfaith group, Durham Congregations in Action, is working with Christian, Muslim, and Jewish places of worship for the greater good – trying to solve local problems associated with poverty and youth violence. "What I find really interesting is that they all involve an emphasis on relationships and the personal dimension -- where real faith and compassion has an effect and concrete change on an individual level," said Rev. Spencer Bradford the new Executive Director of Durham Congregations in Action. (The Herald-Sun, 1/19/08)

Brattleboro, Vermont, US: Interfaith representatives of Baha’i, Muslim, Christian, Jewish, and Sufi communities have come together to form the Brattleboro Interfaith Clergy Association. The organization is working to alleviate homelessness. "There is a level of real commitment to cooperation and collaboration between the faith community, human services and the community in general," said Melinda Bussino, Executive Director of the Drop In Center being supported by the Association. (Brattleboro Reformer, 1/18/08)

Freemont, California, US: The 28^th Annual International Prayer for Peace, an interfaith prayer service, was held in the last week of December at St. Joseph Catholic Church. Representatives of Muslim, Sikh, Catholic, and Protestant communities spoke and offered reflections on world peace. (Inside Bay Area, 12/29/07)

Lexington, Kentucky, US: The joys and pains of interfaith marriage were highlighted in an article titled “Different Religious Beliefs Need Not Get in the Way of a Happy Marriage.” Interfaith couples are encouraged to learn about their partner’s traditions and history and share what’s special about their own. According to the Association of Religion Data Archives, nearly one in every five Catholic, Protestant, and Jew marries outside his / her own faith. (Lexington Herald-Leader, 12/19/07)

Wichita, Kansas, US: The local Interfaith Ministries hosted an interfaith dialogue on moral and ethical issues of torture in December in collaboration with Amnesty International. A representative of the National Religious Campaign Against Torture was the keynote speaker. (PR Newswire)

Toronto, Canada: A synagogue and a mosque that share a parking lot worked together to host the city’s annual Mosaic Interfaith Out of the Cold Program for homeless individuals and families. Temple Har Zion and Ja’ffari Islamic Center co-hosted the program for 10 weeks. The congregations shared resources and staff for the project. Both organizations are members of Mosaic, an interfaith group dedicated to fostering respect and understanding of different religions and cultures. (National Post, 11/24/07)

Vancouver, Canada: Increase in interfaith and intercultural marriages has led to the growth of a new specialty – the inter-ethnic wedding photographer. Marriages and common-law unions between a visible minority person and a member of a non-visible minority or different ethnic group increased by 30 per cent between 1991 and 2001 in Canada, according to Statistics Canada. (The Globe and Mail, 11/22/07)

Austin, Texas, US: When a local Baptist Church declined to host an interfaith Thanksgiving prayer service planned there objecting to Muslims worshipping on its property, the largest synagogue of Austin, Congregation Beth Israel offered to host the celebration at the synagogue. The event was organized by Interreligious Ministries and invited Jews, Muslims, Christians, Hindus, Bahá’is, and others to worship together. (Associated Press, 11/16/07)

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