c. 2006 Religion News Service
(UNDATED) Here is the RNS calendar of religious holidays, events and meetings for February and March. It will be updated each month.
Feb. 2
National Prayer Breakfast. Contact: Rodell Mollineau at 202-224-2353.
Feb. 4-5
National summit of progressive Christian leaders, sponsored by CrossLeft.org, San Francisco. Contact: Joanna Guldi at 469-471-3309; e-mail: jo(at)crossleft.org; Web site: http://www.crossleft.org
Feb. 4-6
Association of Catholic Colleges and Universities: annual meeting, Washington. Contact: Joseph Stankavage at 202-457-0650.
Feb. 7-11
Presbyterian Church (USA): General Assembly Council, Louisville, Ky. Contact: Jerry Van Marter at 502-569-5493.
Feb. 8
Ashura (Optional fast day for Muslims; marks the creation of the world, Noah’s departure from the ark and Moses’ flight from Pharaoh)
Feb. 12
Tu B’Shvat (Jewish celebration of the environment; begins at sundown)
Evolution Sunday, national observance by more than 300 clergy across the country who believe evolution is compatible with their faith. Contact: Michael Zimmerman at 920-424-1210; e-mail: mz(at)uwosh.edu
Feb. 14
Day of Purity, international observance by youth who commit to abstain from sex until marriage, sponsored by Liberty Counsel. Contact: Mathew Staver at 407-875-2100; Web site: http://www.dayofpurity.org
Feb. 14-23
World Council of Churches: 9th Assembly, Brazil. Contact: Juan Michel at 011-41-79-507-6363; Web site: http://www.wcc-assembly.info
Feb. 15-20
International Conference of Chabad Lubavitch Emissaries (Women), Brooklyn, N.Y. Contact: Rabbi Zalman Shmotkin at 917-804-7137; e-mail: zs(at)chabad.org
Feb. 16-19
REACH 2006, new convention of National Religious Broadcasters focused on creating programming targeted to youthful society, Grapevine, Texas. Contact: Bob Powers at 703-330-7000, ext. 513; e-mail: bpowers(at)nrb.org; Web site: http://www.nrb.org
Feb. 17-22
National Religious Broadcasters: annual convention, Grapevine, Texas. Contact: Bob Powers at 703-330-7000, ext. 513; e-mail: bpowers(at)nrb.org; Web site: http://www.nrb.org
Feb. 19-25
African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church: board of bishops meeting, Los Angeles. Contact: Rev. George E. McKain II at 843-276-3411; e-mail: zionpagem2(at)aol.com
Feb. 25-28
Jewish Council for Public Affairs: annual convention, Washington. Contact: Carly Lindauer at 202-265-3000; e-mail: carly(at)rabinowitz-dorf.com
Feb. 27-March 1
The General Council of the Assemblies of God: Prayer Summit for Pentecostal Preachers, Springfield, Mo. Contact: Juleen Turnage at 417-862-2781, ext. 2115.
March 1
Ash Wednesday and beginning of Lent (40 days)
March 2
Christian Film & Television Commission’s Annual Movieguide Faith & Values Awards Gala and Report to the Entertainment Industry, Beverly Hills, Calif. Contact: Sandra Bell at 770-886-8598.
March 2-7
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America: Conference of Bishops, Lake Geneva, Wis. Contact: John Brooks at 773-380-2958; e-mail: news(at)elca.org; Web site: http://www.elca.org/news
March 3
World Day of Prayer, sponsored by Church Women United. Observed in more than 170 countries. Contact: Elizabeth Calvin at 212-870-2466; e-mail: wdpusa(at)churchwomen.org; Web site: http://www.churchwomen.org
March 3-5
Interfaith Alliance: 10th Annual National Leadership Gathering and Skills Building Institute: “Righteous Anger: Renewing the Struggle, Growing Hope,” Nashville, Tenn. Contact: Jenny Davis at 202-639-6370; e-mail: jdavis(at)interfaithalliance.org; Web site: http://www.interfaithalliance.org/nlg
March 6
Lent begins (Eastern Orthodox)
March 9-10
National Association of Evangelicals: Board of Directors meeting, Dallas. Contact: Kyle Fisk at 719-268-8211.
March 10-13
Ecumenical Advocacy Days for Global Peace with Justice: “Challenging Disparity: The Promise of God _ The Power of Solidarity.” Contact: Michael Neuroth at Michael_Neuroth(at)hotmail.com; Web site: http://www.advocacydays.org
March 11-13
Church of the Brethren General Board: spring meeting, New Windsor, Md. Contact: Cheryl Brumbaugh-Cayford at 800-323-8039, ext. 260.
March 13
Purim (Jewish celebration of the story of Esther; begins at sundown)
March 14
Holi (Hindu festival of spring)
Sri Gaura Purnima, worldwide observance of birth celebration of Lord Chaitanya, pioneer of the Hare Krishna tradition. Contact: Vyenkata Bhatta at 973-471-2335; e-mail: vbd(at)iskcon.com
March 15
Templeton Prize for Progress Toward Research or Discoveries About Spiritual Realities: News Conference Announcement of 2006 Templeton Prize Laureate, New York. Contact: Donald Lehr at 212-967-8200; e-mail: dlehr(at)templetonprize.org
March 17-22
Episcopal Church: House of Bishops meeting, Hendersonville, N.C. Contact: Jan Nunley at 212-922-5383; e-mail: jnunley(at)episcopalchurch.org
March 18
Techvangelism ’06, conference on merging technology and evangelism, sponsored by Menlo Park Presbyterian Church, Menlo Park, Calif. Contact: Angela Hey at 650-796-2377; e-mail: amhey(at)techvangelism.org; Web site: http://www.techvangelism.org
March 19-22
Reconstructionist Rabbinical Association Convention, Deerfield Beach, Fla. Contact: Rabbi Richard Hirsh at 215-576-5210; e-mail: rhirsh(at)therra.org
March 20
Naw-Ruz (Baha’i New Year’s Day, begins at sundown; also Zoroastrian New Year, celebrated on March 20 or 21)
March 21-22
“The Bible and Archaeology: How to Read the Bible in a Whole New Way,” conference sponsored by Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, South Hamilton, Mass. Contact: Anne Doll at 978-646-4141; e-mail: adoll(at)gcts.edu
March 21-24
Joint College of African-American Pentecostal Bishops: annual congress, Cleveland. Contact Minette Jackson: 216-721-5934; e-mail: mjackson1530(at)sbcglobal.net
March 23-25
Society for Pentecostal Studies: annual meeting, focusing on the centennial of the Azusa Street Revival, Pasadena, Calif. Contact: David G. Roebuck at 423-614-8576; e-mail: droebuck(at)leeuniversity.edu; Web site: http://www.sps-usa.org
March 24
“State of the Black Church” Summit, sponsored by Brite Divinity School at Texas Christian University, Fort Worth, Texas. Contact: Stacey Floyd-Thomas at 817-257-7140; e-mail: s.floyd-thomas(at)tcu.edu; Web site: http://www.brite.tcu.edu
Roanoke College Center for Religion and Society: “The Explosion of Christianity in the Global South,” featuring historian Mark Noll of Wheaton College, Salem, Va. Contact: Teresa Gereaux at 540-375-2282; e-mail: gereaux(at)roanoke.edu
March 28-31
Christian Churches Together in the USA: organizational meeting, Atlanta. Contact: Rev. Wesley Granberg-Michaelson at 616-698-7071. Note: Meeting is closed to all media.
March 30-April 1
International Forum on Christian Higher Education, sponsored by the Council for Christian Colleges & Universities, Dallas. Contact: Kathy Smarrella at 202-546-8713; e-mail: ksmarrella(at)cccu.org; Web site: http://www.cccu.org/forum
Religion Communicators Council: annual convention, Grapevine, Texas. Wilbur Awards banquet on April 1. Contact: Shirley Struchen at 212-870-2402; e-mail: sstruchen(at)rcn.com; Web site: http://www.religioncommunicators.org
March 31-April 2
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America: Church Council, Chicago. Contact: John Brooks at 773-380-2958; e-mail: news(at)elca.org; Web site: http://www.elca.org/news
MO/JL END RNS
