Dear Friends,
New Yorkers are among the most active and respected interfaith voices in the world. Since attackers devastated our city 14 years ago, we have been the leading global community to share with the world how our city could rise to face terrorism by strengthening our diversity – both religious and ethnic, fostering friendships between strangers, and standing tall against those who wish to divide us.
This year, we are taking our expertise, our questions, and our care to the global interfaith stage at the Parliament of the World’s Religions, the world’s oldest, largest, and most inclusive interfaith event. What began in 1893 in Chicago was revived there in 1993, and has since been held in cities around the world – Cape Town, Barcelona, and Melbourne.
2015 is our year. The Parliament is coming back to the United States from Oct. 15 – 19 at the Salt Palace Convention Center in Utah. The Salt Lake community strikes an unexpected likeness to New York: where over 100 languages are spoken and interfaith services are so popular that an entire “season of interfaith” is held annually for more than a month.
This October, about 10,000 people will come together from 80 Countries and 50 Faiths to “Reclaim the Heart of Our Humanity” and work together for “a world of compassion with peace, justice, and sustainability.” Author Dr. Karen Armstrong and His Holiness the Dalai Lama will be the keynote speakers, and attendees at the Parliament will also hear from multiple Nobel Prize laureates, and many other esteemed men and women in the faith and interfaith worlds.
New York faith leaders and interfaith supporters have much to offer the Parliament. We encourage you to consider engaging in the Parliament in one of two ways:
Submit a program proposal
Have a brilliant idea for a great interfaith panel discussion? Want to present a film, song or artistic collection? Have a suitable lecture topic? The Parliament is accepting program proposal submissions until March 15. See the Parliament’s “Call for Programs” webpage for instructions.
Reserve your place at the Parliament
Join me, our Co-Chair Dr. Kusumita Pedersen, our Social Media Manager Kevin Childress, and hundreds of other New Yorkers at the Parliament. 40 – 60% Early Bird Discounts Apply for Registrants through MARCH 31. Advance registration ends May 31. See the Parliament’s Registration webpage for more information.
This Parliament may change the future of the interfaith movement forever. It is our civic calling to stand with each other in friendship, service, and guardianship of our planet and to strive for social justice, free speech, and freedom of religion.
We hope you will join us,
Rev. Chloe Breyer
Executive Director
The Interfaith Center of New York
