c. 2005 Religion News Service
(UNDATED) Here is the RNS calendar of religious holidays, events and meetings for April and May. It is updated monthly.
April 1-2
Internet Evangelism for the 21st Century, conference sponsored by Liberty University, Lynchburg, Va. Contact: Dan Henrich at 434-582-2508; e-mail: dhenrich(at)liberty.edu; Web site: http://ie-21stcentury.com
April 1-3
“Called to Purposive Life and Work: New Perspectives on Vocation and Occupation,” Yale Divinity School conference on connections between the Christian faith and work life, New Haven, Conn. Contact: Gus Spohn at 203-432-3466; e-mail: Gus.Spohn(at)yale.edu; Web site: http://www.yale.edu/faith/initiatives/esw_cmdl.html
April 2-3
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; Web site: http://www.lds.org/newsroom
April 4
Service and rally commemorating 1967 anti-war sermon by the late Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. and opposing the war in Iraq, sponsored by Peace Not Poverty, a nationwide interfaith coalition, New York. Contact: Rita Brock at 510-459-5123; e-mail: ritabrock(at)sbcglobal.net; Web site: http://www.peacenotpoverty.org
April 4-7
National Workshop on Christian Unity, New Orleans. Contact: the Rev. Dana Krutz at 225-344-0134.
April 5-7
National Council of Churches: Communication Commission semiannual meeting, Nashville, Tenn. Contact: Pat Pattillo at 212-870-2048.
Claremont McKenna College: Conference on Religion and the American Presidency, Claremont, Calif. Contact: Evie Lazzarino at 909-607-9099.
April 7-8
“Confronting the Judicial War on Faith,” conference sponsored by the Judeo-Christian Council for Constitutional Restoration, Washington. Contact: Don Feder at 866-522-5582; e-mail: jglover(at)visionamerica.us; Web site: http://www.stopactivistjudges.org
April 7-9
Religion Communicators Council: annual convention with the theme “Sounds of Faith _ Keeping Pace With the Rhythm of Change,” Nashville, Tenn. Wilbur Awards banquet April 9. Contact: Carolyn Dandridge at 615-340-1793; e-mail: cdandridge(at)gbod.org; Web site: http://www.religioncommunicators.org
April 8-9
Murray Hill Institute and Opus Dei: conference on “women and beauty,” including a speech by fashion designer Oscar de la Renta, New York. Contact: Kathleen McGarry at 646-742-2845 or Brian Finnerty at 646-742-2781; e-mail: press(at)opusdei.org
April 8-11
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
April 9-13
Gospel Music Association Week, annual convention sponsored by the Gospel Music Association, Nashville, Tenn. Contact: Tricia Whitehead at 615-599-7746; e-mail: spinhouse(at)comcast.net; Web site: http://www.gospelmusic.org
April 11-14
National Federation of Priests’ Councils: 37th annual convention and House of Delegates, Portland, Ore. Contact: Frank Corrado at 312-226-3334.
April 13
GMA Music Awards, sponsored by the Gospel Music Association, Nashville, Tenn. Contact: Tricia Whitehead at 615-599-7746; e-mail; spinhouse(at)comcast.net; Web site: http://www.gospelmusic.org
April 14-15
First Freedoms Project: national conference, exploring religious liberty and freedom of the press, Washington. Contact: David Rogers at 202-544-4226; Web site: http://www.firstfreedoms.com
April 15-May 1
Visit by Arab Christian Muslim Delegation, a dozen people from Middle Eastern countries, to several U.S. states, with co-sponsors including National Council of Churches and Church World Service Middle East Forum. Contact: Shanta Premawardhana at 212-870-2560; e-mail: shanta(at)ncccusa.org
April 17
Ramnaumi (Hindu birth of Lord Ramacandra)
April 17-19
WordAlone (conservative Lutheran) Network Annual Convention: The Authority of Scripture: Mahtomedi, Minn. Keynote presenters: Dr. Hans Hillerbrand, Dr. Craig Koester, Dr. Thomas Sheehan and Dr. Vitor Westhelle. Contact: WordAlone Network at 651-633-6004; e-mail: wordalone(at)popp.net; Web site: http://www.wordalone.org
April 18
Legal Issues Facing Religious Organizations, forum sponsored by the American University Washington College of Law, Washington. Contact: Milton Cerny at 202-862-5075; e-mail: MC(at)Capdale.com
April 18-19
The Future of Baptist Higher Education, conference sponsored by Baylor University, Waco, Texas. Contact: Lori Scott Fogleman at 254-710-6275; e-mail: Lori_Scott-Fogleman(at)baylor.edu; Web site: http://www.baylor.edu/fbhe
April 20-May 2
Ridvan; begins at sundown and ends at sundown on May 2 (Bahai celebration of the declaration of Baha’u’llah to his followers in 1863. Work is suspended on the 1st, 9th and 12th days.)
April 21
Mawlid al-Nabi (Muslim holiday commemorating the birthday of the Prophet Muhammad in approximately A.D. 570)
April 23-May 1
Passover (Jewish celebration of the exodus from slavery in Egypt; eight-day holiday begins at sundown)
April 24
Palm Sunday (Eastern Orthodox)
Earth Day Sunday, observed by some congregations on this day or on another date. Contact: Cassandra Carmichael at 202-544-2350; e-mail: cassandra(at)toad.net
April 24-27
Evangelical Press Association: annual convention, Schaumburg, Ill. Contact: Doug Trouten at 763-535-4793; e-mail: director(at)epassoc.org; Web site: http://www.epassoc.org
Associated Church Press: annual convention with the theme “In Tune With Changing Times,” Nashville, Tenn. Contact: Mary Lynn Hendrickson at 608-877-0011; Web site: http://www.theacp.org/Nashville2005.htm
April 28-May 1
Bahai: 96th national convention and election of National Spiritual Assembly of Bahais of the United States, Wilmette, Ill. Contact: Glen Fullmer at 847-733-3411.
“Awaiting the Messiah,” a conference of academics, authors, clergy, archaeologists and others on Judeo-Christian messianic issues, sponsored by Alpha and Omega Judeo-Christian Conferences, Virginia Beach, Va. Contact: Willem A. Hamel at 757-482-2273; e-mail: alphaomega(at)inter-source.org; Web site: http://www.alphaomega.inter-source.org
April 29
Good Friday (Eastern Orthodox)
May 1
Easter (Eastern Orthodox)
May 1-6
United Methodist Council of Bishops, Washington. Contact: Steve Drachler at 615-742-5411.
May 2-4
“Renewing the Covenant,” a national convocation on religion and the environment, co-sponsored by major faith groups involved in environmental issues, Washington. Contact: Paul Gorman at 413-253-1515.
May 3-6
World Evangelical Alliance Summit, “Move the Stones,” Orlando, Fla. Contact: Kari Fordice at 425-778-5513; e-mail: info(at)worldevangelical.org
May 5
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
Yom Hashoah (Jewish remembrance of the Holocaust, begins at sundown)
The March of the Living, commemoration of the 60th anniversary of victory in Europe during World War II, will take place with a ceremony featuring religious and political leaders beginning at the Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp in Poland. Contact: Matt Dorf at 202-265-3000.
May 6-7
Conference examining the religious, social and theological contributions of Joseph Smith Jr., founder of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, co-sponsored by Brigham Young University and the Library of Congress, Washington. Contact: Grant Madsen at 801-422-9206.
May 9-16
Conference on World Mission and Evangelism, sponsored by the World Council of Churches, Athens, Greece. Contact: Juan Michel at 011-44-22-791-6153 or 011-41-79-507-6363; e-mail: media(at)wcc-coe.org; Web site: http://www.wcc-coe.org
May 13-15
“Islamophobia and Anti-Americanism: Causes and Remedies,” conference sponsored by the Council on American-Islamic Relations, Vienna, Va. Contact: Ibrahim Hooper at 202-488-8787; e-mail: ihooper(at)cair-net.org; Web site: http://www.cair-net.org/2005conference/
May 14
Shai Awards (formerly Vibe Awards), Canadian Gospel People’s Choice Awards, Toronto. Contact: Sharon Welch at 416-894-7843; e-mail: sharonwelch(at)sympatico.ca; Web site: http://www.shaiawards.com
May 15
Pentecost (Christian celebration of the gift of the Holy Spirit)
May 22
Bahai: Declaration of the Bab (begins at sundown)
May 25
2005 Distinguished Christian Statesman Award, presented by the Center for Christian Statesmanship, Washington. Contact: Jennifer Smith at 202-547-3052; e-mail: smith(at)statesman.org; Web site: http://www.statesman.org
May 26
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 27-30
Orthodox Church in America: 100th Anniversary Celebration of North America’s Oldest Monastery in South Canaan, Pa. Contact: David Lucs at 516-922-0550, ext. 128; e-mail: dlucs(at)oca.org; Web site: http://www.oca.org
May 27-31
Presbyterian Church (USA): National Pastors’ Retreat in Snowbird, Utah. Contact: Jerry Van Marter at 502-569-5493; e-mail: jvanmart(at)ctr.pcusa.org
May 28
Bahai: Ascension of the Baha’u’llah (begins at sundown)
May 30-June 2
International Church of the Foursquare Gospel: annual convention, Chicago. Contact: 888-635-4234; Web site: http://www.foursquareconvention.com
MO/PH END RNS
