c. 2006 Religion News Service
(UNDATED) Here is the RNS calendar of religious holidays, events and meetings for September and October. It is updated monthly.
Aug. 30-Sept. 6
World Council of Churches: Central Committee meeting, Geneva, Switzerland. Contact: Juan Michel at 011-41-79-507-6363; Web site: http://www.wcc-coe.org
Sept. 1-4
Islamic Society of North America: annual convention, Rosemont, Ill. Contact Basharat Saleem at 317-839-8157, ext. 242; e-mail: convention(at)isna.net
Sept. 4-8
National Baptist Convention, USA: annual session, Dallas. Contact: Yvonne Drayton at 215-895-4073.
Sept. 7-10
Religion Newswriters Association: annual conference, Salt Lake City. Contact: Tiffany McCallen at 614-891-9001, ext. 2; e-mail: mccallen(at)rna.org
Sept. 8-10:
“Politics and Spirituality: Outer Witness, Inner Faith,” conference co-sponsored by Sojourners/Call to Renewal and the Center for Action and Contemplation, Pasadena, Calif. Contact: Jack Pannell at 202-745-4614; e-mail: jpannell(at)sojo.net; Web site: http://www.sojo.net
Sept. 10-17
Building on Faith: Habitat for Humanity International will encourage international church projects that will begin during the summer and will culminate on the Day of Prayer, Sept. 17. Effort will include rebuilding of areas affected by recent natural disasters. Contact: Duane Bates at 229-924-6935, ext. 2541; e-mail: dbates(at)habitat.org; Web site: http://www.habitat.org
Sept. 12-13
Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions, Astana, Kazakhstan. Contact: Giorgio Mongiat at 011-32-2-645-9811; e-mail: gmongiat(at)apco-europe.com; Web site: http://www.religionscongress.org
Sept. 14-15
“The Religion and Science Debate: Why Does It Continue?,” a conference sponsored at Yale University’s Terry Lectureship, New Haven, Conn. Contact: Lauralee Field at 203-432-2317; e-mail: lauralee.field(at)yale.edu; Web site: http://www.yale.edu/terrylecture
Sept. 14-17
Catholic Charities USA: Annual Gathering, Minneapolis. Contact: Shelley Borysiewicz at 703-549-1390, ext. 147.
Sept. 17
Dalai Lama will bless largest Buddhist monument in the U.S., Red Feather Lakes, Colo. Contact: Brian Spielman at 303-545-0062, ext. 102; e-mail: brians(at)shambhalamountain.org; http://www.dalailamadenver.org
Global Day for Darfur, worldwide observance involving religious and humanitarian groups seeking increased government action to protect civilians in Darfur, Sudan. Contact: Jeff Kovick at 202-478-6147; e-mail: jeff(at)savedarfur.org; Web site: http://www.savedarfur.org
Sept. 20-21
Internet Evangelism Coalition: annual meeting, Chicago. Includes discussion of online communities such as MySpace.com. Contact: Naomi Frizzell at 904-262-5202; e-mail: naomi(at)webevangelism.com; Web site: http://www.webevangelism.com
Sept. 20-22
“Journalism Through the Eyes of Faith: Negotiating Values, Fairness and Advocacy,” conference for journalists, educators and students, sponsored by Bethel University, St. Paul, Minn. Contact: Amanda Cornelius at 651-638-6036; e-mail: a-cornelius(at)bethel.edu; Web site: http://www.bethel.edu/special-events/jtef
“Foresight 2006: Leading From the Future,” conference of futurists, bioethicists and theologians, sponsored by Regent University’s School of Global Leadership and Entrepreneurship, Virginia Beach, Va. Contact: Jay Gary at 719-636-2000; e-mail: jgaryiii(at)regent.edu; Web site: http://www.regent.edu
Sept. 21-22
“Crumbs From the Table?: The Creation of Wealth and the Persistence of Poverty,” conference sponsored by the Yale Divinity School and the Yale Center for Faith and Culture, New Haven, Conn. Contact: David Miller at 203-432-8669; e-mail: david.w.miller(at)yale.edu; Web site: www. yale.edu/faith/ss/crumbs.htm
Sept. 22
Rosh Hashana (Jewish New Year, two days; begins at sundown and ends at nightfall Sept. 24)
Sept. 22-24
Washington Briefing-Values Voter Summit, sponsored by FRC Action, the legislative action arm of Family Research Council, Washington. Contact: J.P. Duffy at 866-372-6397; e-mail: jpd(at)frc.org; Web site: http://www.frcaction.org
Sept. 23
Ramadan begins (Muslim holy month commemorates the divine revelation of the Quran to the Prophet Muhammad. The month is marked by daily fasts from sunrise to sundown. Actual start date may vary depending on sighting of the moon.)
Sept. 24-26
National Council of Churches: Governing Board, New York. Contact: Daniel Webster at 212-870-2252; e-mail: dwebster(at)councilofchurches.org
Sept. 26-30
Presbyterian Church (USA): General Assembly Council, Louisville, Ky. Contact: Jerry Van Marter at 502-569-5493.
Sept. 27
See You at the Pole, annual event of student prayer around school flagpoles coordinated by the National Network of Youth Ministries. Contact: David Overstreet at 858-451-1111; e-mail: doverstreet(at)nnym.org; Web site: http://www.syatp.com
Sept. 28-30
“Ministry in the Context of Violence,” annual meeting of Interdenominational Foreign Missions Association, Orlando, Fla. Contact: John Orme at 630-682-9270; e-mail: ifma(at)aol.com; Web site: http://www.ifmamissions.org
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. 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 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, Denver. Contact: Kyle Fisk at 719-268-8211.
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 (Baha’i 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)
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. 25-28
United Methodist Church: Judicial Council, location to be determined. Contact: Diane Denton at 615-742-5406; e-mail: ddenton(at)umcom.org
Oct. 28
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. 31
Reformation Day (Protestant)
KRE/PH END RNS
Editor’s note: Holidays that begin at sundown continue through sundown of the next day, unless otherwise noted.
