A NATIONAL INTERFAITH DIALOGUE
GATHERING:
PROMOTING UNDERSTANDING AND COOPERATIVE ACTION
Come to Washington, DC and be part of the National Interfaith Dialogue Gathering, November 12-14, 2004 at American University!
What are the goals of the gathering?
Who should participate?
What will happen at this interfaith dialogue gathering?
How to sign up to participate.
The daily headlines that report on conflict around the
world make it clear that there is no more urgent task than to increase
understanding and cooperative action between people of different faiths
and religious traditions. One of the most effective ways to do that is
to bring people of diverse backgrounds and religions together for dialogues
that emphasize respect, empathetic listening and common ground. To this
end, Communities Working Together is working with the Interfaith Alliance
to organize A National Interfaith Dialogue Gathering that will be hosted
by the University Chaplain's Office at American University on November
12-14, 2004.
What are the goals of the gathering?
The paramount purpose of this National interfaith Dialogue Gathering is to help build an interfaith movement that can have a positive impact on our nation and promote understanding and peace in our country and around the world. To fulfill this purpose, this gathering will do four things:
- Emphasize the vital role that religion can play in bridging differences between peoples and helping us to solve the common problems that threaten our future
- Bring together comparative religion scholars and spiritual leaders from many backgrounds to explore and identify the common ground between the worlds great wisdom traditions
- Create a powerful personal experience of facilitated interfaith dialogue for all of those who attend
- Train, assist and support those want to be more effective in promoting
interfaith dialogue and cooperative action in their community
Who should participate?
This gathering is primarily for people who are interested in promoting interfaith dialogue and cooperation in their community. Individuals who are already working with a local and/or national group that promotes interfaith activities should attend this gathering as well as those who are not already involved in organizing interfaith programs but would like to be. This National Interfaith Dialogue Gathering will bring approximately 200 leaders from across the country together with religious scholars, spiritual leaders and experts with broad experience in organizing community programs.
Scholars, experts and resource people who attend will
be from many different backgrounds, faiths and cultures. Most of these
people will be from universities, organizations and institutions in the
Washington, DC area, but other prominent individuals from around the country
will also participate. Those who will be making presentations include: Dr. Arun Gandhi, grandson of Mahatma Gandhi; Dr. Diana Eck, Director of the Pluralism Project at Harvard and author of A New Religious America; Rev. Welton Gaddy, President of The Interfaith Alliance; Dr. Abdul Aziz Said, Director of the Center for Global Peace and Professor of Islamic Studies at American University; Dr. Craig Schindler, President of Project Victory.
What will happen at this interfaith dialogue gathering?
Click here to see the Gathering Agenda
The distinctive aspect of this event is that it is a "dialogue gathering." It will not be like a traditional conference where participants spend most of their time listening to a small number of experts talk. There will be experts and prominent people who give presentations, but the entire gathering will emphasize active participation and dialogue.
Participants will take part in dialogue with each other in several different ways. Each person will be assigned to a small dialogue group composed of a diverse group of 8-10 people. This group will be guided by an experienced facilitator and will meet several times during the gathering for an opportunity to openly express personal experiences and to learn from learn from each other. In addition, all workshops and presentations will provide an opportunity for extensive interaction with the scholars and resource people as well as other participants.
In addition to the presentations, workshops and dialogues that provide information for participants, there will also be an emphasis on inspiration. The agenda for the gathering will include prayers from different traditions, readings from sacred texts, music from many different faith traditions, simple rituals and other forms of worship that reflect the rich diversity of the religions and cultures that will be represented. These will be interspersed throughout each day to help evoke the human spirit and create the sense of shared hope and celebration that are essential to interfaith cooperation.
Space for this interfaith dialogue gathering is limited and so if you are interested in attending you should register right away. You can download a registration form at the Interfaith Alliance website (www.interfaithalliance.org), and mail it to 1331 H Street NW, 11th Floor, Washington, DC 20005 or fax it to (202) 639-6375. You can also call the Communities Working Together Washington, D.C. office to register by phone at (202) 543-7800.
The fee for the conference is $150 until October 31st, and $200 thereafter. That fee includes three continental breakfasts, two lunches and one dinner. The registration amount can be paid by check (made out to The Interfaith Alliance). If you register by mail, please include your check with your registration. If you register by phone or fax, please bring your check for payment in full to the event.
