c. 2006 Religion News Service
(UNDATED) Here is the RNS calendar of religious holidays, events and meetings for October and November. It is updated monthly.
Sept. 30-Oct. 1
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints: semiannual general conference, Salt Lake City. Contact: Dale Bills at 801-240-4377; e-mail: billsdk(at)ldschurch.org
Oct. 1
Yom Kippur (Jewish Day of Atonement; holiest day of the year marked by fasting; begins at sundown)
Oct. 4-6
“From Low Rumble to Loud Growl: The Hunger for Cross-Campus Dialogues About Religious and Spiritual Differences,” sponsored by the American College Personnel Association, Burlington, Vt. Contact: Jacqueline Skinner Jackson at 202-835-2272; e-mail: jjackson(at)acpa.nche.edu; Web site: http://www.myacpa.org/pd/spirituality/
Oct. 5-7
“Spirit in the World: An International Symposium on the Dynamics of Pentecostal Growth and Experience,” sponsored by the John Templeton Foundation at the University of Southern California, Los Angeles. Contact: Tim Sato at 213-740-8562; e-mail: crcc(at)usc.edu; Web site: http://www.usc.edu/pentecostalism
Oct. 5-10
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America: Conference of Bishops, Chicago. Contact: John Brooks at 773-380-2958; e-mail: news(at)elca.org; Web site: http://www.elca.org/news
Oct. 6
Sukkot (seven-day Jewish feast of the tabernacles; begins at sundown and ends at nightfall on Oct. 13)
Oct 6-8
Freedom From Religion Foundation: national convention, San Francisco. Contact: Annie Laurie Gaylor at 608-256-8900; Web site: http://www.ffrf.org
Oct. 12-13
National Association of Evangelicals: Board of Directors meeting, St. Louis. Contact: Chris Paulene at 719-268-8216; e-mail: cpaulene(at)nae.net
Oct. 14
Simchat Torah (Jewish celebration of the end of a Torah reading cycle and the start of a new one; begins at sundown)
Oct. 15-16
“Beyond Slavery: Overcoming Its Sexual Legacy,” conference of religion scholars, activists and artists sponsored by Brandeis University’s Feminist Sexual Ethics Project, Waltham, Mass. Contact: Janan Compitello at 914-833-7093; jcompitello(at)douglasgould.com; Web site:www.brandeis.edu/projects/fse
Oct. 19
Birth of the Bab (Bahai celebration of the prophet of the faith; begins at sundown)
Oct. 19-22
Society for the Scientific Study of Religion and Religious Research Association: annual meetings, Portland, Ore. Contact: Scott Thumma at 860-509-9571; e-mail: sthumma(at)hartsem.edu
Oct. 20-22
Children’s Sabbath, nationwide observance sponsored by Children’s Defense Fund. Contact: The Rev. Sally Jo Snyder at 202-662-3579; e-mail: ssnyder(at)childrensdefense.org
Oct. 21
Diwali (Hindu celebration of light and the Hindu New Year)
The International Gospel Music Hall of Fame and Museum: Annual Induction and Awards Celebration, Detroit. Contact: David Gough at 313-592-0017; Web site: http://www.igmhf.org
Oct. 21-23
Church of the Brethren General Board: fall meeting, Elgin, Ill. Contact: Cheryl Brumbaugh-Cayford at 800-323-8039, ext. 260.
Oct. 23
Eid al Fitr (Muslim feast marking the end of Ramadan)
Oct. 24-26
Orthodox Church in America: Fall Session of the Holy Synod of Bishops, Syosset, N.Y. Contact: David Lucs at 516-922-0550, ext 128; e-mail: dlucs(at)oca.org
Oct. 24-27
The Black Church Institute for HIV/AIDS and Other Health Disparities, national conference sponsored by Balm in Gilead, Charleston, S.C. Contact: Teresa Lyles Holmes at 914-282-5317; e-mail: tlhcomm(at)aol.com; Web site: http://www.balmingilead.com
Oct. 25-28
United Methodist Church: Judicial Council, Cincinnati. Contact: Diane Denton at 615-742-5406; e-mail: ddenton(at)umcom.org
Oct. 27-28
“Point 7 Now: A Challenge to American Catholics to Mobilize Against Global Poverty,” conference focusing on lowering poverty by 0.7 percent coordinated by the Archdiocese of San Francisco, San Francisco. Contact: Via Vigil at 415-614-5572; e-mail: pointsevennow(at)yesevents.com; Web site: http://www.pointsevennow.org
Oct. 31
Reformation Day (Protestant)
Nov. 1
All Saints Day (Christian)
Nov. 1-10
United Methodist Church: Council of Bishops, Maputo, Mozambique. Contact: Diane Denton at 615-742-5406; e-mail: ddenton(at)umcom.org
Nov. 2
All Souls Day (Christian)
Nov. 3-5
Call To Action National Conference, Milwaukee, Wis. Contact: 815-332-7084 or http://www.cta-usa.org
Nov. 4
Consecration of the new Episcopal presiding bishop, Washington. Contact: Gregory Straub at 212-922-5184 or 800-334-7626, ext. 5184.
Nov. 5
Celebration of the birth of Siri Guru Nanak Sahib, founder of the Sikh faith
Nov. 6-14
Church of God in Christ: International Holy Convocation, Memphis, Tenn. Contact: Alayna Adams at 901-278-0881; e-mail: aadams(at)thecartermalonegroup.com
Nov. 7-9
National Council of Churches and Church World Service: General Assembly, Orlando, Fla. Contact: Dan Webster at 212-870-2252; e-mail: news(at)ncccusa.org; Web site: http://www.ncccusa.org/generalassembly/highlights2006.html
Nov. 8
Supreme Court hears oral arguments in cases regarding abortion, Gonzales vs. Carhart and Gonzales vs. Planned Parenthood.
Nov. 10-11
A Workshop for Preaching on Suicide: Why and How, sponsored by the Cathedral College of Washington National Cathedral, Washington. Contact: 202-537-6381; e-mail: jroberts(at)cathedral.org
Nov. 10-13
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
Nov. 10-15
United Jewish Communities: annual General Assembly, Los Angeles. Contact: Glenn Rosenkrantz at 212-284-6572; e-mail: glenn.rosenkrantz(at)ujc.org
Nov. 11
Baha’u’llah’s birthday (Bahai celebration of the prophet-founder of the faith; begins at sundown)
Nov. 11-14
Episcopal Church: executive council, Chicago. Contact: Jan Nunley at 212-922-5383; e-mail: jnunley(at)episcopalchurch.org
Nov. 13-14
“Working Together: Building Effective Programs and Creating Funding Opportunities,” conference presented by the Korean Churches for Community Development and the White House Initiative on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, Los Angeles. Contact: Hyepin Im at 213-984-4243; kccdonline(at)yahoo.com; Web site: http://www.kccd3300.org
Nov. 13-16
U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops: general meeting, Baltimore. Contact: Sister Mary Ann Walsh at 202-541-3200.
Nov. 14-16
“Making Disciples of Primary Oral Learners,” conference sponsored by the International Orality Network and involving evangelical ministries interested in spreading the gospel to oral communicators, Colorado Springs, Colo. Contact: Durk Meijer at 704-843-6567; e-mail: ION(at)jaars.org; Web site: http://www.ion2006.org
Nov. 15-17
Evangelical Theological Society: annual meeting, Washington. Theme: “Christians in the Public Square.” Contact: James A. Borland at 434-237-5309.
Nov. 17-19
Dharma Association of North America: annual conference focused on religious traditions originating in India, Washington. Contact: Adarsh Deepak at 757-868-9647; e-mail: a.deepak(at)stcnet.com; Web site: http://www.danam-web.org
Nov. 18-21
American Academy of Religion and Society of Biblical Literature: annual meetings, Washington. Contact: Susan Snider at 404-727-4725; e-mail: ssnider(at)aarweb.org; Web site: http://www.aarweb.org
Nov. 22
Bread for the World Institute to release Hunger 2006, annual report on the state of world hunger. Contact: Jennifer Coulter Stapleton at 202-464-8123.
Nov. 23-27
International Conference of Chabad Lubavitch Emissaries (Men), Brooklyn, N.Y. Contact: Rabbi Zalman Shmotkin at 917-804-7137; e-mail: zs(at)chabad.org
Nov. 28-30
Interparliamentary Conference on Human Rights and Religious Freedom, sponsored the Washington-based Institute on Religion and Public Policy, Rome. Contact: Kevin Fahey at 202 835-8760; e-mail: fahey(at)religionandpolicy.org; Web site: http://www.interparliamentary.org
Nov. 30-Dec. 1
“Race Against Time: 2006 Global Summit on AIDS and the Church,” conference sponsored by Saddleback Church, Lake Forest, Calif. Contact: Whitney Kelley at 972-267-1111; e-mail: whitney(at)alarryross.com; Web site: http://www.purposedriven.com
KRE/JL END RNS Editor’s note: Holidays that begin at sundown continue through sundown of the next day, unless otherwise noted.