c. 2004 Religion News Service
(UNDATED) Here is the RNS calendar of religious holidays, events and meetings for May and June. It is updated monthly.
April 29-May 1
Symposium on Religion and Politics, hosted by Calvin College’s Henry Institute, Grand Rapids, Mich. Contact: Corwin Smidt at 616-526-6233; e-mail: henry(at)calvin.edu; Web site: http://www.calvin.edu/henry/schedule/prelim1.pdf
May 2
Mawlid al-Nabi (Muslim holiday commemorating the birthday of the Prophet Muhammad in approximately 570 A.D.)
Panel discussion on religious climate in Barcelona, Spain, in advance of the Parliament of the World’s Religions, co-sponsored by the Council for a Parliament of the World’s Religions, Chicago. Contact: Erin Williams at 312-629-2990, ext. 241; e-mail: erin(at)cpwr.org
May 2-5
Jewish Community Center Association: biennial convention, Montreal. Contact: Miriam Rinn at 212-786-5092, ext. 212; Web site: http://www.jcca.org
Evangelical Press Association: annual convention, Minneapolis. Contact: Doug Trouten at 763-535-4793; e-mail: director(at)epassoc.org; Web site: http://www.epassoc.org
May 3
Press conference and tour of Manhattan New York Temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, New York. Contact: Scott Trotter at 212-924-4193; e-mail: trottersp(at)ldschurch.org; Web site: http://www.lds.org/newsroom
Kerry-Bush & The Faith Factor, panel discussion co-sponsored by The Faith & Politics Institute and Gegrapha, an international fellowship of Christian journalists, Washington. Contact: Tenille Martin at 703-751-9095; e-mail: tenille(at)gegrapha.org
May 5
“Remember Israel,” an event bringing Jews and Christians together to pray for the peace of Jerusalem, sponsored by Christians for Israel, Washington. Contact: Michael A. Tew at 212-588-9148; e-mail: mtew(at)politicalcap.com; Web site: http://www.c4iusa.org
May 6
National Day of Prayer
National Day of Reason, observance designed as an alternative to the National Day of Prayer, co-sponsored by American Humanist Association, Las Vegas. Contact: Roy Speckhardt at 202-238-9088; Web site: http://www.nationaldayofreason.org.
“Terror: A One-way Ticket,” a rally sponsored by Christians for Israel, Washington. Contact: Michael A. Tew at 212-588-9148; e-mail: mtew(at)politicalcap.com; Web site: http://www.c4iusa.org
May 8
Lag B’Omer, a Jewish day of celebration, begins at sundown. The holiday marks the cessation of a 2nd century plague that killed 20,000 disciples of Talmud scholar Rabbi Akiva.
May 9-13
National Council of Churches: National Workshop on Christian Unity, Omaha, Neb. Contact: Ann Riggs at 202-544-3250; e-mail: ariggs(at)ncccusa.org
May 10-16
National Council of Churches: “Cover the Uninsured Week.” Contact: The Rev. Eileen Lindner at 212-870-2227, ext. 2333.
May 12
2004 Distinguished Christian Statesman Award, presented by the Center for Christian Statesmanship, Washington. Contact: Jennifer Smith at 202-547-3052; e-mail: smith(at)statesman.org; Web site: http://www.statesman.org
May 15
Vibe Awards, Canadian people’s choice gospel music awards, Toronto. Contact: Peter Fleck at 403-590-1574; e-mail: peter(at)vibeawards.ca
May 16-18
Clergy Leadership Network (liberal mainline Protestant): national clergy gathering, Cleveland. Contact: the Rev. Brenda Bartella Peterson at 202-607-0003; Web site: http://www.clnnlc.org.
May 17-18
National Council of Churches: Board of Directors meeting, Chicago. Contact: Carol Fouke at 212-870-2252; e-mail: news(at)ncccusa.org
May 18-25
Pax Christi International (Catholic peace movement): international conference, South Orange, N.J. Contact: Johnny Zokovitch at 352-219-8419; e-mail: johnnypcusa(at)yahoo.com
May 19-20
“Law and Faith,” conference addressing “Legal Issues Facing Today’s Religious Organizations and “Giving to Religious Organizations,” co-sponsored by American University Washington College of Law and Wesley Theological Seminary, Washington. Contact: Paul Jackson at 202-973-1311; e-mail: pjackson(at)levick.com
May 20-21
Convocation of leaders endorsing a “Day of Prayer for the Peace of Jerusalem,” New York. Contact: Vanessa Coenraad at 716-759-1058, ext. 223; Web site: http://www.DayToPray.org
May 20-23
More Light Presbyterians, That All May Freely Serve, and the Shower of Stoles Project: first national joint conference of gay Presbyterian groups, Kansas City, Mo. Contact: Michael Adee at 505-820-7082.
May 23-25
Call to Renewal: “Pentecost 2004: Speaking the Truth About Poverty” conference, Washington. Contact: Helena Henderson at 202-328-8745; Web site: ctr(at)calltorenewal.com
May 25
Shavuot (Jewish celebration of the giving of the Torah; begins at sundown and ends May 27 at nightfall)
May 25-26
“Assessing and Refining the Faith-based Initiative: Converting Promise into Practice,” a forum for leaders of national, regional and local faith-based networks and groups, sponsored by Christians for Faith-based Initiatives, Washington. Contact: Connie Winterstein at 202-608-1802; e-mail: cwinters(at)worldvision.org; Web site: http://www.faithbasedinitiative.org
May 30
Pentecost (Christian celebration of the gift of the Holy Spirit)
June 1-4
International Church of the Foursquare Gospel: annual convention, San Francisco. Contact: Ron Williams at 213-989-4221; e-mail: ron(at)foursquare.org; Web site: http://www.foursquare.org
June 4
National Hispanic Prayer Breakfast, hosted by Nueva Esperanza, Washington. Contact: Arlene Larsen at 215-324-0746, ext. 206; e-mail: alarsen(at)nueva.org; Web site: http://www.esperanzausa.org
June 4-9
Reformed Church in America: General Synod, Wheaton, Ill. Contact: Phil Tanis at 616-698-7071; e-mail: ptanis(at)rca.org
June 5
Change Your Mind Day, international observance featuring music, poetry, meditation practices and other Buddhist activities sponsored by Tricycle: The Buddhist Review. Contact: Rande Brown at 800-950-7008; e-mail: cym(at)tricycle.com; Web site: http://www.tricycle.com
June 6-7
United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism: board of directors and advisory council meeting, New York. Contact: Lois Goldrich at 212-533-7800, ext. 2601.
June 10-14
The Union for Reform Judaism: board of trustees meeting, Denver. Contact: Emily Grotta at 212-650-4227.
June 11-14
Episcopal Church: Executive Council meeting, Burlington, Vt. Contact: Jan Nunley at 212-922-5385.
June 12
Tenth anniversary of the passing of the Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem M. Schneerson. On the Hebrew calendar, the date is marked beginning at sundown on June 21. Contact: Rabbi Zalman Shmotkin at 917-804-7137; e-mail: zs(at)chabad.org
June 12-19
Christian Reformed Church in North America: annual synod, Grand Rapids, Mich. Contact: Henry Hess at 905-336-2920, ext. 236; e-mail: hessh(at)crcna.ca
June 14-18
Presbyterian Church in America: General Assembly meeting, Pittsburgh. Contact: Dominic Aquila at 719-237-2708; e-mail: daquila6(at)aol.com
June 15-16
Southern Baptist Convention, Indianapolis. Contact: Will Hall at 615-782-8614; Web site: http://www.bpnews.net
June 15-20
U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops: private retreat for bishops, not open to the press, Denver. Contact: Sister Mary Ann Walsh at 202-541-3200.
June 17-20
Billy Graham Crusade, Kansas City, Mo. Contact: Melany Ethridge at 214-912-8934; e-mail: melany(at)alarryross.com; Web site: http://www.billygraham.org
June 18-19
Consultation on Meeting the Challenge of Teaching Religion in Community Colleges, hosted by Northeast Iowa Community College, Dubuque, Iowa. Contact: Burton Everist at 563-564-1279; e-mail(at)everistb(at)nicc.edu; Web site: http://www.nicc.edu/challenge
June 18-20
Center for Studies on New Religions: international convention, Waco, Texas. Contact: PierLuigi Zoccatelli at 011-39-011-541950; e-mail: cesnur_to(at)virgilio.it; Web site: http://www.cesnur.org
June 20-22
Consultation on Faith in a Time of Technology: conference, St. Louis. Contact: Carol Fouke at 212-870-2252; e-mail: cfouke(at)ncccusa.org.
June 20-24
Central Conference of American Rabbis convention, Toronto. Contact: Emily Grotta at 212-650-4227.
June 21-25
Cumberland Presbyterian Church: General Assembly, Irving, Texas. Contact: Pat White at 615-731-5556; e-mail: cpmag(at)comcast.net
June 22-24
Presbyterian Church (USA): General Assembly Council meeting, Richmond, Va. Contact: Jerry Van Marter at 502-569-5493.
June 23-24
Forward in Faith (conservative Episcopal): council meeting, Bedford, Texas. Contact: Cris Fouse at 817-735-1675.
Faces of Children Prayer Summit, ecumenical gathering addressing global persecution of children, sponsored by Faces of Children, a Midland, Texas-based interdenominational ministry, Washington. Contact: Rae Hoffaker at 432-684-7821; Web site: http://www.facesofchildren.net
June 23-27
American Baptist Churches USA: General Board meeting, Green Lake, Wis. Contact: Richard Schramm at 800-222-3872, ext. 2077; e-mail: Richard.Schramm(at)abc-usa.org
June 24-26
Forward in Faith (conservative Episcopal): annual assembly, Bedford, Texas. Contact: Cris Fouse at 817-735-1675.
Cooperative Baptist Fellowship: general assembly, Birmingham, Ala. Contact: Michele Deriso at 770-220-1600; e-mail: fellowship(at)cbfnet.org; Web site: http://www.cbfonline.org
June 24-28
Unitarian Universalist Association: General Assembly, Long Beach, Calif. Contact: John Hurley at 617-948-6131; e-mail: jhurley(at)uua.org
June 25
Jewish-Baptist Meeting, sponsored by Baptist Center for Ethics, Birmingham, Ala. Contact: Bob Allen at 615-383-3192; Web site: http://www.ethicsdaily.com
June 26-July 1
CBA International Convention, trade show of the Christian retail industry, Atlanta. Contact: 800-252-1950.
June 26-July 3
Presbyterian Church (USA): 216th General Assembly meeting, Richmond, Va. Contact: Jerry Van Marter at 502-569-5493.
June 28-July 2
General Association of Regular Baptist Churches, St. Charles, Ill. Contact: Don Anderson at 847-585-0873; e-mail: danderson(at)garbc.org; Web site: http://www.garbc.org
June 30-July 7
African Methodist Episcopal Church: general conference, Indianapolis. Contact: Bishop Philip R. Cousin at 773-373-6587.
END RNS
