Calendar of April/May religious events

c. 2008 Religion News Service Note: Holidays that begin at sundown continue through sundown of the next day, unless otherwise noted. (UNDATED) Here is the RNS calendar of major religious holidays, denominational meetings and other events for April and May. It will be updated monthly. April 2-3 National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference: National Hispanic and […]

c. 2008 Religion News Service

Note: Holidays that begin at sundown continue through sundown of the next day, unless otherwise noted.

(UNDATED) Here is the RNS calendar of major religious holidays, denominational meetings and other events for April and May. It will be updated monthly.


April 2-3

National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference: National Hispanic and African American Evangelical Summit, Irving, Texas. Contact: Diana Arenas at 916-919-7476; e-mail: info(at)nhclc.org; Web site: http://www.nhclc.org

April 3-4

Church of God in Christ: Pan African Leadership Summit, Memphis, Tenn. Contact: Deidre Malone at 901-278-8771; e-mail: dmalone(at)thecartermalonegroup.com; Web site: http://www.cogic.org

April 3-5

Religion Communicators Council: annual convention, “Faith & Freedom: The Intersection of Religion and Politics,” Washington. Contact: Shirley Struchen at 212-870-2402; e-mail: sstruchen(at)rcn.com; Web site: http://www.religioncommunicators.org

Yale Divinity School: Middle Passage Conversations on Black Religion in the African Diaspora conference, New Haven, Conn. Contact: Gus Spohn at 203-432-3466; e-mail: gus.spohn(at)yale.edu; Web site: http://www.yale.edu/divinity/middlepassage/index.shtml

April 5-6

Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints: annual general conference, Salt Lake City. Contact: Kim Farah at 801-240-1977; e-mail: farahke(at)ldschurch.org; Web site: http://www.lds.org

April 6

Orthodox Union: Annual Dinner, New York. Contact: Stephen Steiner at 212-613-8318; e-mail: steiners(at)ou.org

April 7-9

Preaching Magazine: annual conference: “Preaching in the Public Square, Where do Pulpit and Culture Meet?”, Washington. Contact: Nancy Guthrie at 615-376-4430; e-mail: nancyguthrie(at)comcast.net; Web site: http://www.preaching.com/events/ncp

April 10

The Joshua Fund: Epicenter Conference, a gathering of Christians to celebrate Israel’s 60th anniversary, Jerusalem. Contact: Beverly Rykerd at 719-481-0537; e-mail: Beverly(at)rykerd.com; Web site: http://www.epicenter08.com


New Ways Ministry (lesbian and gay Catholic advocacy group): Press conference to address Pope Benedict XVI’s upcoming visit, Washington. Contact: Francis DeBernardo at 301-277-5674; e-mail: NewWaysM(at)verizon.net; Web site: newwaysministry.org

April 10-12

John Templeton Foundation: Open and Relational Theology Seminar, Azusa, Calif. Contact: Thomas Jay Oord at 208-467-8816; e-mail: tjoord(at)nnu.edu; Web site: http://www.enc.edu/opentheo

April 11-13

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 12-15

The Dalai Lama at “Seeds of Compassion” interfaith gathering, Seattle. Contact: Pamela Eakes at 206-852-4332; e-mail: peakes(at)seedsofcompassion.net; Web site: http://www.seedsofcompassion.net

April 13

Ram Navami (Hindu holiday honoring Lord Rama. Actual start date may vary depending on the moment of sunrise.)

April 13-14

Washington National Cathedral: Women, Faith and Development Summit to End Global Poverty, Washington. Contact: Elizabeth Mullen at 202-537-6248; e-mail: emullen(at)cathedral.org


April 13-15

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

April 13-16

Catholic Peacebuilding Network: Conference on the Future of Catholic Peacebuilding, featuring Catholic bishops from war-torn regions around the world, Notre Dame, Ind. Contact: Joan Fallon at 574-631-8819; e-mail: jfallon2(at)nd.edu; Web site: cpn.nd.edu

April 14

Vaisakhi (Sikh New Year)

April 15-17

National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference: board meeting and convention, Downers Grove, Ill. Contact: Diana Arenas at 916-919-7476; e-mail: info(at)nhclc.org; Web site: http://www.nhclc.org

April 15-20

Visit of Pope Benedict XVI to Washington, New York and United Nations. Contact: Sister Mary Ann Walsh at 202-541-3200.

April 16-18

Bethel University: “Journalism Through the Eyes of Faith: Advocacy, Ethics and Faith in an Election Year,” conference for journalists, educators and students, St. Paul, Minn. Contact: Amanda Wanke at 651-638-6266; e-mail: a-wanke(at)bethel.edu; Web site: http://www.bethel.edu/special-events/jtef/

April 18

National Catholic Prayer Breakfast, Washington. Contact: Cindy Nachman Senders at 301-983-2851; e-mail: cnsconsultjenny(at)aol.com. Web site: catholicprayerbreakfast.com


April 18-23

United Methodist Church: Council of Bishops, Fort Worth, Texas. Contact: Diane Denton at 615-742-5406; e-mail: ddenton(at)umcom.org

April 19-20

Dalai Lama public teaching in Ann Arbor, Mich. Contact: http://www.dalailamaannarbor.com

April 19-23

Gospel Music Association: GMA Music Week, annual convention, Nashville, Tenn. GMA Dove Awards on April 23. Contact: Tricia Whitehead at 615-599-7746; e-mail: spinhouse(at)bellsouth.net; Web site: http://www.gospelmusic.org

April 20

Passover (Jewish celebration of the exodus from slavery in Egypt; eight-day holiday; begins at sundown.)

Palm Sunday (Eastern Orthodox)

April 20-23

Associated Church Press: annual convention, Dallas. Contact: Joe Thoma at 407-341-6615; e-mail: contactacp(at)aol.com; Web site: http://www.theacp.org

April 20-May 2

Ridvan (Baha’i commemoration of the public proclamation of the mission of the founder of the Baha’i Faith, Baha’u’llah; begins at sundown.)

April 23-25

Presbyterian Church (USA): general assembly council, Louisville, Ky. Contact: Jerry Van Marter at 502-569-5493; e-mail: jerry.vanmarter(at)pcusa.org; Web site: http://www.pcusa.org


April 23-May 2

United Methodist Church: quadrennial general conference, Fort Worth, Texas. Contact: Diane Denton at 615-742-5406; e-mail: ddenton(at)umcom.org

April 25

Holy Friday (Eastern Orthodox)

The Catholic University of America: annual American Cardinals Dinner, Boston. Contact: Katie Lee at 202-319-5600.

National Black Justice Coalition: Black Church Summit, sponsored by African-American gay organization, Philadelphia. Contact: Herndon Davis at 202-319-1552, ext. 24; e-mail: hedavis(at)nbjc.org; Web site: http://www.nbjc.org

April 27

Easter (Orthodox Christian)

April 28-May 1

Interfaith Alliance national conference: Pluralism, Politics and Action, Arlington, Va. Contact: Jay Keller at 202-238-3300; e-mail: field(at)interfaithalliance.org; Web site: http://www.interfaithalliance.org

May 1

The Ascension of Christ (Christian)

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. Contact: Roy Speckhardt at 202-238-9088; Web site: http://www.nationaldayofreason.org

May 2

Yom Hashoah (Jewish remembrance of the Holocaust; begins at sundown.)

May 7-9

Evangelical Press Association: annual convention, Portland, Ore. Contact: Doug Trouten at 763-535-4793; e-mail: director(at)epassoc.org; Web site: http://www.epassoc.org


May 11

Pentecost (Christian)

Global Day of Prayer, observed worldwide. Contact: Dave Butts at 812-238-5504; e-mail: info(at)gdopusa.com; Web site: http://www.gdopusa.com

May 14-15

Episcopal Church: Presiding Bishop’s Summit on Domestic Mission and Outreach, Tucson, Ariz. Contact: Neva Rae Fox at 212-716-6080; e-mail: nrfox(at)episcopalchurch.org; Web site: http://www.episcopalchurch.org

May 22

Declaration of the Bab (Baha’i commemoration of the announcement of prophet-herald of the Baha’i Faith that he was the herald of a new messenger of God; begins at sundown.)

May 22-25

Baha’i Faith: national convention, Wilmette, Ill. Contact: Ellen Price at 847-733-3559; e-mail: eprice(at)bahai.us; Web site: http://www.bahai.us

May 23

Lag B’Omer (Jewish day of celebration, marking the cessation of a second-century plague that killed 20,000 disciples of Talmud scholar Rabbi Akiva; begins at sundown. The day also marks the death of Jewish mystic Rabbi Shimon ben Yochai.)

May 28

Ascension of Baha’u’llah (Baha’i commemoration of the death of the prophet-founder of the Baha’i Faith; begins at sundown.)


KRE DS END RNS

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