c. 2005 Religion News Service
(UNDATED) Here is the RNS calendar of religious holidays, events and meetings for September and October. It is updated monthly.
Sept. 2-5
The Islamic Society of North America: annual convention, Rosemont, Ill. Contact: Anbareen Khan at 317-839-8157, ext. 241.; e-mail: convention(at)isna.net
Sept. 5-9
National Baptist Convention, USA: annual session, Atlanta. Contact: Yvonne Drayton at 215-895-4073; e-mail: ydrayton22(at)aol.com; Web site: http://www.nbcusa.net
Sept. 11
Episcopal Church/Anglican Communion: Consultation of Religious Leaders on Global Poverty at Washington National Cathedral, Washington. Contact: Beth Mullen at 202-537-6248; e-mail: emullen(at)cathedral.org
Sept. 11-13
National Council of Churches: Communication Commission semiannual meeting, Washington. Contact: Pat Pattillo at 212-870-2048; e-mail: wpattillo(at)ncccusa.org
Sept. 12-15
Faith Communicators Forum, featuring singer Naomi Judd, filmmaker Mariane Pearl and Sojourners founder Jim Wallis, Washington. Contact: Christine Luzano at 212-485-8533; e-mail: christineluzano(at)faithandvaluesmedia.org
Sept. 13-15
“A Story for the Nations: Making Disciples of Oral Learners,” conference sponsored by International Orality Network and involving evangelical ministries interested in spreading the gospel to oral communicators, Anaheim, Calif. Contact: Tom Meiner at 407-826-2349; e-mail: tom.meiner(at)ccci.org; Web site: http://www.oralbible.com
Sept. 14
Constitutional convention in Massachusetts to debate proposed constitutional amendment on gay marriage and civil unions.
Sept. 15-18
Catholic Charities USA: Annual Gathering, Phoenix. Contact: Shelley Borysiewicz at 703-549-1390.
Sept. 16-17
“Bent Over and Straightening Up: Issues of Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault,” women’s conference hosted by Shaw University Divinity School, Raleigh, N.C. Contact: LaChauna Sumpter at 919-546-8269; e-mail: lsumpter(at)shawu.edu
Sept. 16-18
National Council of Churches: Interfaith Relations Commission, Chicago. Contact: Shanta Premawardhana at 212-870-2560; e-mail: shanta(at)ncccusa.org
Sept. 21
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
National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse: “So Help Me God (II): Substance Abuse, Religion and Spirituality” conference, New York. Contact: Richard Mulieri at 212-841-5260; e-mail: rmulieri(at)cacacolumbia.org; Web site: http://www.casacolumbia.org
World Council of Churches: International Day of Prayer for Peace. Contact: Juan Michel at 011-44-22-791-6153; e-mail: media(at)wcc-coe.org
Sept. 21-24
Presbyterian Church (USA): General Assembly Council, Sacramento, Calif. Contact: Jerry Van Marter at 502-569-5493; e-mail: jvanmart(at)ctr.pcusa.org
Sept. 22-27
Episcopal Church: House of Bishops, Puerto Rico. Contact: Jan Nunley at 212-922-5380.
Sept. 23-24
World Council of Churches: annual meeting of regional ecumenical councils, hosted by the National Council of Churches. Press conference in Washington on Friday, Sept. 23, and meetings in New York on Saturday, Sept. 24. Regional councils include Asia, Africa, Europe, North America, the Caribbean, Latin America, the Middle East and the Pacific. Contact: Leslie Tune at 202-544-2350; e-mail: ltune(at)ncccusa.org
Sept. 26-27
National Council of Churches: board of directors meeting, New York. Contact: Philip Jenks at 212-870-2252; e-mail: pjenks(at)ncccusa.org
Sept. 29-Oct. 2
Religion Newswriters Association: annual conference, Miami. Contact: Tiffany McCallen at 614-891-9001, ext. 2; Web site: http://www.religionwriters.com
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. 1-2
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints: semi-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
Oct. 3
Rosh Hashanah (Jewish New Year, two days; begins at sundown and ends at nightfall Oct. 5)
Oct. 3-7
Christian Methodist Episcopal Church: annual convocation, Louisville, Ky. Contact: Bishop E. Lynn Brown at 513-772-8622.
Oct. 4
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.
Oct. 6-8
United Church of Christ: Rebuilding Rural America Conference in Bricks, N.C. Contact: Rev. Wallace Ryan Kuroiwa at 216-736-3707.
Oct. 7-10
Episcopal Church: Executive Council, location to be determined. Contact: Jan Nunley at 212-922-5383.
Oct. 8-9
Festival with Luis Palau: on the National Mall, Washington. Contact: Craig Chastain at 503-939-5535; Web site: http://www.dcfestival.com
Oct. 9-12
Women in Ministry International Conference, sponsored by New York-based Suzay Ministries, Fort Lauderdale, Fla.. Contact: Pam Perry at 248-426-2300; e-mail: pamperry(at)ministrymarketingsolutions.com; Web site: http://www.wiminconference.com
Oct. 12
Yom Kippur (Jewish Day of Atonement; holiest day of the year marked by fasting; begins at sundown)
Oct. 13-15
Via Media (progressive Episcopal group): “Values, Vision and the Via Media” conference, Washington. Contact: Chris Mackey-Mason at 626-583-2752; e-mail: cmackeymason(at)allsaints-pas.org
Oct. 14-16
Children’s Sabbath, nationwide observance sponsored by Children’s Defense Fund. Contact: Lauren Goodman at 202-662-3677; e-mail: lgoodman(at)childrensdefense.org; Web site: http://www.childrensdefense.org
Oct. 15-17
Church of the Brethren General Board: annual fall meeting, Elgin, Ill. Contact: Cheryl Brumbaugh-Cayford at 800-323-8039, ext. 260.
Oct. 17
Sukkot (seven-day Jewish feast of the tabernacles; begins at sundown and ends at nightfall Oct. 25)
Oct. 18-20
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; Web site: http://www.oca.org
Oct. 19
Birth of the Bab (Baha’i celebration of the prophet of the faith; begins at sundown)
Oct. 19-22
Healing the Land 2005 Conference, gathering of pastors and other ministry leaders to discuss strategies for spiritual transformation, Fort Worth, Texas. Contact: Giles Hudson at 469-774-6377; e-mail: ghudson(at)alarryross.com
Oct. 22
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. 26
Simchat Torah (Jewish celebration of the end of a Torah reading cycle and the start of a new one; begins at sundown)
Oct. 27-29
World Council of Churches and Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology: Conference on Violence and Christian Spirituality, Brookline, Mass. Contact: Greg Filias at 207-363-4067.
Oct. 27-30
Council for Secular Humanism and International Academy of Humanism: World Congress on “Toward a New Enlightenment,” Amherst, N.Y. Contact: Nathan Bupp at 716-636-7571, ext. 218; e-mail: nbupp(at)centerforinquiry.net
Oct. 29
Metropolitan Community Churches: installation of new moderator, Washington. Contact: Jim Birkitt at 310-360-8640.
Oct. 31
Reformation Day (Protestant)
MO/PH END RNS
