c. 2007 Religion News Service
(UNDATED) Here is the RNS calendar of major religious holidays, denominational meetings and other events for February and March. It will be updated monthly.
Jan. 29-Feb. 2
Advance 2007: The Strategic Event for the Christian Retail Channel, sponsored by CBA International, the trade organization of the Christian retail industry, Nashville, Tenn. Contact: 800-252-1950; Web site: http://www.cbaonline.org
Feb. 1
National Prayer Breakfast, Washington. Contact: Danny Rotert at 202-225-4535.
Feb. 1-3
Council for Christian Colleges and Universities: Annual Presidents Conference, Washington. Contact: Kathy Smarrella at 202-546-8713, ext. 325; e-mail: ksmarrella(at)cccu.org; Web site: http://www.cccu.org/conferences
Feb. 2
Tu B’Shvat (Jewish celebration of the environment; begins at sundown)
Regent University’s Robertson School of Government: symposium on “The Future of Religion in American Politics,” Virginia Beach, Va., and via the Internet. Contact: Michelle Farmer at 770-813-0000; e-mail: mfarmer(at)DeMossGroup.com; Web site: http://www.regent.edu/admin/media/schgov/symposium07
Feb. 3-5
Association of Catholic Colleges and Universities: annual meeting, Washington. Contact: Michael Galligan-Stierle at 202-457-0650; e-mail: mgs(at)accunet.org
Feb. 5
Council on Biblical Manhood and Womanhood: Conference on “Different by Design: A Crucial Call to Faithfulness on Gender Issues,” Minneapolis. Contact: Randy Stinson at 502-897-4065; Web site: http://www.cbmw.org/conferences
Feb. 5-8
Samuel DeWitt Proctor Conference: “In the Wake of Katrina: Lest We Forget … Call to Renewal,” gathering of African-American ministers and lay leaders, New Orleans. Contact: Rhoda McKinney-Jones at 267-218-4023; e-mail: rmjwriter(at)comcast.net; Web site: http://www.sdpconference.info
Feb. 5-10
National Pastors Convention, co-sponsored by Zondervan, InterVarsity Press and Leadership Journal, San Diego. Contact: Lindsay Strobridge at 616-698-3819; e-mail: Lindsay.Strobridge(at)zondervan.com; Web site: http://www.NationalPastorsConvention.com
Feb. 6-9
Christian Churches Together in the USA: annual meeting, Pasadena, Calif. Contact: Rev. Sharon Van Gelderen at 616-698-7071, ext. 315. Note: Only the Feb. 7 events, including an official celebration, will be open to the public, including media.
Feb. 9
Princeton Theological Seminary: “Church and State” symposium commemorating the 60th anniversary of Everson v. Board of Education, Supreme Court ruling that publicly funded religious school bus transportation was constitutional, Princeton, N.J. Contact: Elizabeth Hewitt at 212-829-0002, ext. 107; e-mail: eh(at)sharpthink.com; Web site: http://www.ptsem.edu/ce
Feb. 9-10
Southern Baptist Theological Seminary: “Does God Care About Sex?” conference, Louisville, Ky. Contact: Lawrence Smith at 502-897-4000; Web site: http://www.givemeananswer.net
Feb. 15-16
United Methodist General Board of Higher Education and Ministry: meeting of bishops, pastors and seminary professors to “probe implications” of recent decision to uphold a pastor’s right to deny church membership to gay men, Nashville, Tenn. Contact: Tim Tanton at 615-742-5470; e-mail: newsdesk(at)umcom.org
Feb. 15-17
Union University: “Convention, Cooperation and Controversy,” Baptist Identity Conference featuring leaders addressing key issues facing Southern Baptists, Jackson, Tenn. Contact: Tim Ellsworth at (731) 661-5215; e-mail: tellswor(at)uu.edu; Web site: http://www.uu.edu/events/baptistidentity
Feb. 15-18
Christians for Biblical Equality: conference on “Side by Side: Gender From a Christian Perspective: Men and Women Dependent on Each Other,” Bangalore, India. Contact: Julia Butcher at 612-872-6898; e-mail: jbutcher(at)cbeinternational.org; Web site: http://www.cbeinternational.org
Feb. 15-19
Anglican Primates Meeting, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Contact: Bob Williams at 212-922-5385; e-mail: rwilliams(at)episcopalchurch.org
Feb. 16-March 3
International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON): annual international conclave, Mayapur, India. Contact: Vineet Chander at 973-471-2335; e-mail: vineet(at)iskcon.com; Web site: http://www.iskcon.com
Feb. 17-20
National Religious Broadcasters: annual convention, Orlando, Fla. Contact: Craig Parshall at 703-330-7000; e-mail: cparshall(at)nrb.org; Web site: http://www.nrb.org
Feb. 19
Lent begins (Orthodox Christian)
Feb. 20
Christian Film & Television Commission’s Annual Movieguide Faith & Values Awards Gala and Report to the Entertainment Industry, Beverly Hills, Calif. Contact: Joe Turman at 703-739-5920; e-mail: jturman(at)sbpublicaffairs.com
Feb. 21
Ash Wednesday and beginning of Lent (Christian, 40 days)
Feb. 22-25
Nation of Islam: annual Savior’s Day conference, Detroit. Contact: Dora Muhammad at 773-602-1230; Web site: http://www.noi.org
Feb. 27-March 1
International Religious Liberty Association: World Congress, Cape Town, South Africa. Contact: Jonathan Gallagher at 301-680-6683; e-mail: info(at)irla.org; Web site: http://www.irla.org
Feb. 28
Supreme Court hears oral arguments in case related to church-state separation, Hein v. Freedom From Religion Foundation.
March 1-6
Evangelical Lutheran Church in 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 2-5
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 7-14
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?”, 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 14-19
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
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
DB/PHEND RNS
Note: Holidays that begin at sundown continue through sundown of the next day, unless otherwise noted.
