c. 2007 Religion News Service
(UNDATED) Here is the RNS calendar of major religious holidays, denominational meetings and other events for March and April. It will be updated monthly.
March 1-6
Evangelical Lutheran Church America: Conference of Bishops, Galveston, Texas. Contact: John Brooks at 773-380-2958; e-mail: jbrooks(at)elca.org; Web site: http://www.elca.org/news
March 2
Baha’i Fast begins. (Baha’i month of fasting from sunrise to sundown; begins at sunrise March 2 and ends at sundown on March 20)
World Day of Prayer, observed in more than 170 countries. Contact: Elizabeth Calvin at 212-870-2466; e-mail: elcalvin(at)wdpusa.org; Web site: http://www.wdpusa.org
March 2-5
Episcopal Church: Executive Council, Portland, Ore. Contact: Bob Williams at 212-922-5385; e-mail: rwilliams(at)episcopalchurch.org
March 3
Holi (two-day Hindu festival of spring begins)
Purim (Jewish celebration of the story of Esther; begins at sundown)
March 5-8
Baptist World Alliance: Executive Committee meeting, Falls Church, Va. Contact: Rev. Eron Henry at 703-790-8980, ext. 134; e-mail: ehenry(at)bwanet.org; http://www.bwanet.org
March 7
PICO National Network: Faith and Families Summit on Children’s Health, rally and meetings by network of faith-based community organizations seeking health insurance for uninsured children, Washington. Contact: Gordon Whitman at 734-254-4029; e-mail: gwhitman(at)piconetwork.org; Web site: http://www.piconetwork.org
March 7-14
Global Conference on Anglican Mission, Boxburg, South Africa. Contact: Bob Williams at 212-922-5385; e-mail: rwilliams(at)episcopalchurch.org
March 8-10
Society for Pentecostal Studies: annual meeting, Cleveland, Tenn. Contact: David G. Roebuck at 423-614-8576; e-mail: droebuck(at)leeuniversity.edu; Web site: http://www.sps-usa.org
March 9-12
Ecumenical Advocacy Days for Global Peace with Justice: Social justice gathering with the theme “ … and How are the Children?” in Arlington, Va. Coordinated by a broad coalition of mainline Protestant and Catholic communities. Contact: Michael Neuroth at 202-470-0127; e-mail: info(at)advocacydays.org; Web site: http://www.advocacydays.org
March 10
National Black Justice Coalition: Black Church Summit, sponsored by African-American gay organization, Philadelphia. Contact: Sylvia Rhue at 202-349-3855; e-mail: srhue(at)nbjc.org; Web site: http://www.nbjc.org
March 10-12
Church of the Brethren: General Board spring meeting, Elgin, Ill. Contact: Cheryl Brumbaugh-Cayford at 800-323-8039, ext. 260; e-mail: cobnews(at)brethren.org
March 11-14
Reconstructionist Rabbinical Association: annual convention, Phoenix. Contact: Rabbi Richard Hirsh at 215-576-5210; e-mail: rhirsh(at)therra.org
March 11-15
Central Conference of American Rabbis: national convention of Reform rabbis, Atlanta. Contact: Rabbi Elliot Stevens at 212-972-3636, ext. 242; e-mail: estevens(at)ccarnet.org
March 13-15
Orthodox Church in America: Holy Synod of Bishops spring session, Syosset, N.Y. Contact: David Lucs at 516-922-0550, ext. 128; e-mail: dlucs(at)oca.org
March 14
Templeton Prize for Progress Toward Research or Discoveries About Spiritual Realities: News Conference Announcement of 2007 Templeton Prize Laureate, New York. Contact: Donald Lehr at 212-967-8200; e-mail: dlehr(at)templetonprize.org; Web site: http://www.templetonprize.org
March 14-19
Presbyterian Church (USA): General Assembly Council, Louisville, Ky. Contact: Jerry Van Marter at 502-569-5493.
March 16
Georgetown University’s Berkley Center for Religion, Peace and World Affairs: Conference on Religion and the Global Politics of Human Rights, Washington. Contact: Jacques Arsenault at 202-687-4328; e-mail: arsenauj(at)georgetown.edu
Christian Peace Witness for Iraq: Worship service, procession to the White House and rally to seek end of war in Iraq, Washington. Contact: Jack Pannell at 202-745-4614; e-mail: jpannell(at)sojo.net; Web site: http://www.christianpeacewitness.org
March 16-18
New Ways Ministry (liberal Catholic gay/lesbian outreach group): National Symposium on Catholicism and Homosexuality, Minneapolis. Contact: Francis DeBernardo at 301-277-5674; e-mail: NewWaysM(at)verizon.net; Web site: http://www.newwaysministry.org
March 16-21
Episcopal Church: House of Bishops meeting, Navasota, Texas. Closed to media. Contact: Bob Williams at 212-922-5385; e-mail: rwilliams(at)episcopalchurch.org
March 20
Naw-Ruz (Baha’i New Year’s Day; begins at sundown; also Zoroastrian New Year, celebrated on March 20 or 21)
“Evening of Conversation” with Roman Catholic Bishop Gregory Aymond, chair of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ committee for the Protection of Children and Young People, Washington. Contact: Jacques Arsenault at 202-687-4328; e-mail: arsenauj(at)georgetown.edu
March 20-23
Joint College of African-American Pentecostal Bishops: annual congress, Cleveland. Contact: George Clinkscale at 866-735-3310; Web site: http://www.collegeofbishops.org
March 20-27
Lutheran World Federation: council meeting, Lund, Sweden. Contact: John Brooks at 773-380-2958; e-mail: jbrooks(at)elca.org
March 29
Knights of Columbus: 125th anniversary dinner, New Haven, Conn. Contact: Patrick Korten at 203-752-4474.
March 31-April 1
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints: annual general conference, Salt Lake City. Contact: Dale Bills at 801-240-4377; e-mail: billsdk(at)ldschurch.org
April 1
Palm Sunday (Christian)
April 2
Passover (Jewish celebration of the exodus from slavery in Egypt; eight-day holiday; begins at sundown and ends on April 10)
April 5
Mawlid al-Nabi (Muslim commemoration of the birthday of the Prophet Muhammad in approximately A.D. 570. Actual start date may vary depending on sighting of the moon.)
April 6
Good Friday (Christian)
April 6-8
American Atheists: national convention, Seattle. Contact: Ellen Johnson at 908-276-7300; e-mail: ej(at)atheists.org; Web site: http://www.atheists.org/convention
Islamic Society of North America: Annual Education Forum, Chicago. Contact: Basharat Saleem at 317-839-8157; e-mail: bsaleem(at)isna.net; Web site: http://www.isna.net
April 8
Easter (Christian)
April 10-13
National Catholic Educational Association: annual convention, Baltimore. Contact: Barbara Keebler at 202-337-6232.
April 11-15
New Wineskins (U.S. Anglicans): Global Missions Conference, Ridgecrest, N.C. Contact: John Cruikshank at 412-325-8900; e-mail: jcruikshank(at)acn.us.org; Web site: http://www.newwineskins.org
April 13-15
Alliance of Baptists: 20th Anniversary Convocation, Washington. Contact: Stan Hastey at 202-745-7609; e-mail: shastey(at)allianceofbaptists.org; Web site: http://www.allianceofbaptists.org
April 12
National Catholic Prayer Breakfast, Washington. Contact: Kristina Grabosky at 703-683-5004 ext. 132; e-mail: kgrabosky(at)crcpublicrelations.com
April 13-16
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America: Church Council, Chicago. Contact: John Brooks at 773-380-2958; e-mail: jbrooks(at)elca.org; Web site: http://www.elca.org/news
April 14
Yom Hashoah (Jewish remembrance of the Holocaust; begins at sundown)
Vaisakhi (Sikh New Year)
April 15-17
Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism: Consultation on Conscience, a biennial gathering of Jewish leaders and activists to discuss current issues, Washington. Contact: Rachel Slomovitz at 202-378-2800; e-mail: rslomovitz(at)rac.org
April 20
Ridvan (Baha’i celebration of the declaration of Baha’u’llah to his followers in 1863; begins at sundown and ends at sundown on May 2. Work is suspended on the 1st, 9th and 12th days.)
April 21-25
Gospel Music Association: Gospel Music Association Week, annual convention, Nashville, Tenn. GMA Dove Awards on April 25. Contact: Tricia Whitehead at 615-599-7746; e-mail: spinhouse(at)bellsouth.net; Web site: http://www.gospelmusic.org
April 22-25
Associated Church Press: annual convention, Chicago. Contact: Joe Thoma at 407-341-6615; e-mail: contactacp(at)aol.com; Web site: http://www.theacp.org
April 26
400th anniversary of Virginia settlement, attended by Episcopal Church Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori, Virginia Beach, Va. Contact: Bob Williams at 212-922-5385; e-mail: rwilliams(at)episcopalchurch.org
April 26-28
Religion Communicators Council: annual convention, Louisville, Ky. Wilbur Awards banquet on April 28. Contact: Shirley Struchen at 212-870-2402; e-mail: sstruchen(at)rcn.com; Web site: http://www.religioncommunicators.org
April 26-29
National Spiritual Assembly of Baha’is of the United States: national convention, Wilmette, Ill. Contact: Glen Fullmer at 847-733-3411; e-mail: Gfullmer(at)bahai.us; Web site: http://www.bahai.us
April 27
The Catholic University of America: annual American Cardinals Dinner, Las Vegas. Contact: Victor Nakas at 202-319-5600.
April 27-29
Baptist Conference on the Holy Spirit, sponsored by Cornerstone Baptist Church, Arlington, Texas. Contact: Elica Ruffin at 817-468-0083, ext. 205.
April 28-May 2
Christian Church (Disciples of Christ): General Board meeting, Indianapolis. Contact: Wilma Shuffit at 317-713-2492; e-mail: wshuffit(at)cm.disciples.org
April 29-May 1
Anti-Defamation League: National Leadership Conference, Washington. Contact: Myrna Shinbaum at 212-885-7747; e-mail: adlmedia(at)adl.org; Web site: http://www.adl.org
WordAlone Network: annual convention of conservative movement within the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, Golden Valley, Minn. Contact: Pastor Mark Chavez at 651-633-6004; e-mail: wordalone(at)popp.net; Web site: http://www.wordalone.org
April 29-May 4
United Methodist Church: Council of Bishops meeting, Green Lake, Wis. Contact: Ernest Lyght at 914-615-2221; e-mail: bishop(at)nyac.com
DSB/LF END RNS
Note: Holidays that begin at sundown continue through sundown of the next day, unless otherwise noted.
