North America Bulletin, August 2011

Announcements

URI Urges United Action to Stem Middle East Violence

STATEMENT FROM THE URI GLOBAL COUNCIL IN SUPPORT OF HUMAN RIGHTS AND DEMOCRATIC FREEDOMS IN THE MIDDLE EAST

As Trustees of the Global Council of United Religions Initiative, we write to express our support for the millions of people in the Middle East and North Africa who have joined together to demand democratic freedoms and respect for human dignity, and urge an end to the sectarian and political violence that threatens to undermine their gains. Read more...

(This GC statement includes a strong paragraph about "activism on behalf of human dignity". -- ed.)

Bishop Swing Responds to the Norway Shootings

Stopping the Islamization of Europe?

Rev. Charles Gibbs on July 4th as a Much Needed Reminder

Those Whose Stories We Have Not Heard

A Tasty Local Fundraising Idea

The Peace Committee of a Presbyterian Church in Tennessee wanted to plant a Peace Pole in their church garden this summer. The only problem was finding the nearly $200 to purchase the pole and other materials to make it happen.

When some creative minds went to work on the problem, a Pies for Peace event was held one Sunday afternoon. Volunteers brought pies of every kind, from quiches to peaches - home baked and store bought. There were even some pans of pie-shaped homemade bread. Volunteers cut and handed out individual pieces to willing customers who either ate them up on the spot or collected them in containers so they could be taken home and enjoyed at leisure.

With prices of $2.00 a slice, 2 for $5 (really!), or a whole pie for $18, the event raised enough to not only pay for the Peace Pole project, but for several future projects as well. What a tasty way to spread peace!

NAIN Connect 2011

This week the North America Interfaith Network held its annual Connect conference in Tempe, AZ. Three of our URI regional Leadership Council members were in attendance - Anne Roth, Margie Coles and Sande Hart and many new and important connections were made. The keynote address for this year's Connect was offered by URI's own Mussie Hailu, the URI Regional Coordinator for Africa. Anne Roth's report on this important conference is linked here.

A Bright Idea From a Library:

Check Out a Person!

An usual and creative idea was spotted recently in an article about the Toronto Public Library offering a Human Library where borrowers can "check out" interesting persons from the community to sit and converse with them for half an hour about their life experiences. Last fall more than 200 patrons were able to meet a police officer, a comedian, a former prostitute, a model, and a person who had survived cancer, homelessness and poverty.

The Human Library harkens back to olden times, said a TPL official, where "story-telling from person to person" was the only way to learn. Can you imagine having persons of different faiths available to be "checked out" for such one-on-one conversations in your community, either through the library or in a special event at one or more schools?

Sandy Westin

Regional Coordinator

1735 W State of Franklin Rd Suite 5-296

Johnson City, TN 37604

(423) 262-8099

[email protected]

Roger Eaton

Communications Coordinator
San Francisco, CA

[email protected]

(415) 933-0153

The Standing Committee met in California last week to deliberate on change facing the Global Council and URI. North America's Trustee Rebecca Tobias (center, back row) was present.

Cooperation Circles to be Polled This Fall

Once in awhile, URI's Principle 19 comes to the forefront as it has this week. The Principle states "We are committed to organizational learning and adaptation." With incredible financial challenges facing URI as all nonprofits worldwide currently, URI as an organization is working hard to explore a number of possible changes that will impact us all. Some of the changes being proposed will require the review and voting of URI's members, its CCs. This is also the year in which Global Trustees' terms are ending, which will result in CCs being asked to re-certify their existence, then nominate and vote for who they wish to have represent them on the Global Council. This important story will be continued in the August Bulletin.

News from North American
Cooperation Circles & Affiliates

We're reaching critical mass here! There's so much going on among the North America URI CCs and Affiliates that your newsletter producers are hard pressed to keep up with them!

Bainbridge Island, WA - The Interfaith Council of Bainbridge Island/North Kitsap is co-sponsoring a 15 day Interfaith Peace Walk, now in progress. The walk will be coming through Bainbridge Island on August 5. If you are in the area, this is a don't miss event. See the flyer.

Croton Falls, NY - Unity Made Visible - “We have 9/11 every day in Pakistan,” said Fr. James Channan, Regional Coordinator for the United Religions Initiative (URI) in Pakistan, speaking on “Interfaith in Pakistan” at the Chapel at Croton Falls on Sunday, July 10, 2011. Full Report with photos.

Hancock, MA - New affiliate Center for Peace through Culture is co-sponsoring a one-day Peace Conference and Festival keynoted by Denis Kucinich at Hancock Shaker Village on Sep 17.

Los Angeles, CA - Unity-and-Diversity World Council. has recently weathered a financial difficulty and emerged in good form. See the latest article from UDC Founder, Rev Leland Stewart: Faith in a Time of Uncertainty.

Ontario, Canada - The Spiritual Heritage Education Network held its Second Annual Conference on Education to Globalize the Human Mind. URI's Sandy Westin gave a talk about URI. Here is her report on her visit and the conference.

Orange County, CA - S.A.R.A.H. CC co-sponsored the screening of Out of Cordoba and an appearance by the film's maker Jacob Bender to a full house at St. Mary's Episcopal Church in Laguna Beach on July 10th.

Orange County, CA - OCICE Newsletter - Brave New Planet - Faith Leaders Luncheon Success - Open Space via Measure M2 - Letter to Obama - Recommended Reading

NY, NY - We the World and URI in N.Am are picking up the pace for the 11 Days, 11 Ways Campaign, Sep 11 - Sep 21. If you have an event in that time frame, please coordinate with the campaign by emailing Sandy Westin or Roger Eaton.

San Francisco, CA - San Francisco Interfaith Council CC has a new online address. You'll find them now at www.sfinterfaithcouncil.org.

Seattle, WA - Interfaith Circle of Love CC celebrated URI at their July 3rd Interfaith Community Church Service. Read more.

Surrey, BC, Canada - the Surrey Neighbouring Faiths Program has a multi-generational program which introduces children to other faiths in an innovative, hands-on way.

You can keep up to date with events by checking our North American Interfaith Calendar. Have something you want to share? Send that news in to Roger Eaton to have it added to our Calendar and/or this monthly bulletin.