Peacebuilding Conference @ Notre Dame This Spring

The Peace and Collaborative Development Network, which specializes in "building bridges, networks and expertise across sectors," has forwarded a call for papers for a student peace conference at Notre Dame.

This Notre Dame Peace Conference is being called "Investing in Peace: Uncovering the Practicality of Peacebuilding" and will be held March 26-28, 2010. The deadline for paper submissions/proposals is February 12.

Though I probably won't have any time to prepare a proposal for presentation at the conference, I will be supporting these efforts through encouraging others invovled in peace movements to participate as much as possible in this much-needed collaboration among thinkers, writers, artists, and practitioners of peacebuilding from a variety of sectors.

For more info on the conference this spring visit the call for papers site at Peace and Collaborative Development Network.

Contemplative Leadership: Realizing Human Potential and Improving the Human Condition

The Merton Institute for Contemplative Living is holding two contemplative leadership events in January:

"The Merton Institute for Contemplative Living invites leaders from all sectors of society to the Contemplative Leadership Retreat held January 14-16, 2010, and the Contemplative Leadership Conference held January 17-18, 2010, at the Duncan Conference Center in Delray Beach, Florida. Both programs address the leadership crisis found throughout the guiding institutions society

Contemplative leadership evolves from living in right relationship with self, others, nature, and God. These relationships are the source from which a leader's awareness, influence, and vision flow. They serve as guides for a leader's ethical behavior, engender trust within the organization, and provide a platform of meaning and purpose on which the group or organization's mission manifest." (Religion & Ethics Newsweekly)

More information at the Merton Institute's website.

Image from Merton Institute's website.

Speakers and Programs Announced for the Parliament of the World's Religions in Melbourne

"Chicago, Illinois (September 24, 2009) -- In its role as a leading force for interreligious harmony, global peace and environmental sustainability, the Council for a Parliament of the World's Religions announces over a dozen new speakers at the 2009 Parliament of the World Religions. The Parliament will be held in Melbourne, Australia, December 3 - 9, 2009.
In addition to His Holiness the Dalai Lama, NPR journalist Margo Adler and Obama administration official Dalia Mogahed, newly confirmed presenters include Buddhist teacher, author and peace activist Thich Nhat Hanh; Yale Professor Mary Evelyn Tucker; Native American leader Chief Oren Lyons; and Timorese spiritual activist Constantino Pinto." (RNS)

With over 500 speakers, events, and workshops the Parliament of the World's Religions, which gathers every 5 years in a different city, is the largest and most diverse interreligious meeting in the world. The Parliament addresses issues that are of significant concern to humanity and the planet as a whole and seeks to find answers to these problems through dialogue and co-working with each other, recognizing the importance of our religious and spiritual traditions and values in the process of addressing these issues. This particular Parliament in Melbourne seems to have gathered a focus on climate change and how the religious traditions are able to help solve this increasing problem.

To learn more go to Parliament of World Religions website.

Perspectives on Future of Religion

With the upcoming 2009 Parliament of World Religions in Melbourne EnlightenNext presents some interviews with various faith leaders from the 2004 Parliament in Barcelona about the future of religion in the world. At the '04 Parliament Andrew Cohen and the staff of EnlightenNext asked many dozens of religious leaders from around the world and diverse faith traditions about what is in store for religion and spirituality in the coming years:

"What is the role of religion in today’s world? How do we deal with the rise of religious violence and fundamentalism? What role do spiritual progressives play in the transformation of our religious institutions? In a series of focused interviews, EnlightenNext asked some of the brightest minds and deepest hearts in Barcelona about the nature of the religious impulse and its role in our 21st century world." (EnlightenNext)

The EnlightenNext website presents some of these interviews. Let me give you a little taste of just some of the leaders and their sentiments:

Deepak Chopra discusses his view of an expanding synthesis between science and spirituality; Michael Beckwith recounts his own spiritual journey and the founding of the Agape Center; Sulak Sivaraksa, an outspoken voice of human rights and social justice, conveys his thoughts about religion going beyond traditional structures to new ones emphasizing interdependence; Tariq Ramadan shares his views of the challenges to Islam's future and Islam's further dialogue with other religions along with its internal dialogue to bridge Islam's gaps of history, culture, ethnicity, and religious divide; Mohinder Singh, a Sikh leader, explains how living a truly virtuous life is always the answer and antidote to the problems of the day and the concerns of tomorrow; Rashied Omar raises some interesting issues about fostering dialogue between religious extremists and moderates within and in-between faiths; Michael Lerner, a rabbi and activist, speaks of how a greater awareness of the ancient Jewish principle of "tikkun" (world transformation) will be cultivated; and Thomas Zender, past president and CEO of Unity, speaks about the about the role of a spirituality freed of traditional restrictive dogma in our contemporary society and the need for new, evolutionary thinking to guide us into the future guided by the principle of "unity."

There are some very well-reknown leaders and activists in this list of over 20 interviews. I'm pleased to see a diverse variety of faiths represented -- and even some New Thought representatives present.

Check these interviews out at the EnlightenNext website. This years encounter at the Parliament should be just as exciting, informative, and enlightening.

New Thought Discount for Parliament of World Religions Melbourne 2009

The Association for Global New Thought (AGNT) will be attending the Parliament of the World's Religions in Melbourne Dec. 2-9, 2009 and is offering a group discount for those affiliated with New Thought organizations.

Register for the New Thought group discount, lodging reservations, travel packages, fares, tours, and the Dec. 2 New Thought Delegate Pre-Conference at the AGNT website.
For more information: conference@agnt.org, or call (866) 821-3886.

2009 Association of Unity Churches Convention Reminder

For those interested the Association of Unity Churches 2009 Convention will take place in Overland Park, Kansas, on June 8–12, 2009. Highlights of the convention include keynote presentations by Bishop John Shelby Spong and Lynne Twist along with many other speakers and seminars. Keynote presentations are open to the public free of charge.

Faith and Mental Illness: A National Summit

This September 29 - October 1 there will be a conference about faith and mental illness. "Companions on the Road to Recovery from Mental Illness - Pathways for the 21st Century" is a national summit organized to help congregations and clergy prepare for effective ministry with individuals and families facing serious mental health issues in their lives.

Religious groups are invited to organize and send a team of laity and clergy to help equip congregations as centers of education, encouragement, service, advocacy, and general well-being. The Conference's general sessions will have an overview of community mental health care resources from across the country, give a basic framework and practices for mental health ministry, and offer a vision of continuing training and collaboration. Workshops and breakout sessions will be focused on exemplar ministries, specific resources for assistance, and special issues such as the needs of elders, returning veterans, rural mental health, addictions, and mental illness among those who are homeless or in prison.

This is an absolutely magnificent and greatly needed activity for educating religious leaders of mental health issues and preparing religious communities to become important centers that address mental health issues from a spiritual perspective. As more pastors, priests, ministers, and chaplains from all faith traditions become increasingly informed about mental illnesses and the effects of mental illness on individuals, families, and communities, the more healthy and happy those with mental health problems and their loved ones will be. It will also bring about a better understanding of the issues throughout the U.S. as to how our society can be most compassionate and helpful for those affected by mental illness.

Anyone who is interested in participating, visit http://www.pathways2promise.org/. This conference is co-sponsored by and will be held at The National Shrine of Our Lady of the Snows (located in Belleville, IL, just 15 minutes from downtown St. Louis, MO).

Read more about the conference at the RNS.


(Above photo from Pathways2Promise webpage.)

2009 John Main Seminar

The 2009 John Main Seminar will be held at The Christian Meditation Centre, St Mark's Myddelton Square, London on August 28-30. Join the WCCM International community in prayer and contemplation to reflect and meditate on the universal tradition of meditation. This year's speaker is Fr. Robert Kennedy SJ, Jesuit Priest and Zen master.

**John Main was was a Benedictine monk, priest, and contemplative who presented a way of Christian meditation which utilizes the practice of a prayer-phrase (known as "mantra" in the East). In 1970's, Fr. Main began Christian meditation groups at his monastery in London, England and, later, in Montreal, Canada. These grew into an ecumenical network of Christian meditation groups called the World Community for Christian Meditation (WCCM). After Thomas Merton and along with Thomas Keating, Henri Nouwen, and David Steindl-Rast, he has helped recover and reintroduce the contemplative practices of the early Church, especially the Desert Fathers.

Go to John Main Seminar home-page for details.

(Photo from WCCM.)

CMEP 2009 Advocacy Conference

The Churches for Middle East Peace (CMEP) will be holding a conference called "Israeli-Palestinian Peace: Hope for Things Unseen" in Washington, D.C. on June 7-9, 2009 at the Kellogg Conference Center at Gallaudet University.

Register or donate at CMEP's website.

Interfaith Retreat at Unity Village

SpiritPath retreats will be holding an interfaith conference at Unity Village June 25-28, 2009 called "Experience the Spirit in Education: The Challenge of Religious Pluralism." The North American Interfaith Network (NAIN), in partnership with the Greater KC Interfaith Council and SpiritPath at Unity Village, are organizing this event so as to offer the opportunity to 1) experience worship with persons of world religions, 2) participate in interfaith workshops, 3) network with people of differing religions, and 4) listen to keynote speakers on interfaith issues.

This is such an important event for Unity. Collaborating with established interreligious organizations (regionally and locally) and hosting an interreligious encounter such as this is representative of Unity's increasing awareness of the need to participate in intercultural and interfaith exchanges. In this context of religious pluralism, dialogue and social action among practitioners of differing religions is becoming a vital endeavor that works toward greater understanding of self and other in spiritual development. Unity's further participation and leadership in interreligious events will contribute to a greater semblance of peace in ourselves and, thus, the world.

I hope that Unity Village (as well as other Unity orgs) continues to collaborate and foster forums like this Interfaith Retreat, since Unity, as a practical and progressive spiritual tradition, can and should be at the forefront of the growing interreligious movement.

Read more about the event at Unity.org.

Unity Institute's Lyceum 2009 - Unity Moving in a New Direction

Last year was the first year for Unity Institute's annual conference on theology, spirituality, metaphysics, and religious studies. Unity ministers, religious scholars, and some graduate students presented scholarly papers on a range of themes. I wasn't able to attend last year due to lack of funds (since I'm way out here in SoCal), but the paper I wrote with intentions of attending will be published in the Unity Institute Journal of Theology, which is in the process of getting up and running with both online and hard-copy versions. The first Lyceum was enough of a success that the Institute will be holding another Lyceum conference this year from September 30 - October 3 with the theme - "Science and Religion: An Evolving Dialogue."

The Lyceum conference is a benchmark for the Unity movement, for it represents a definite move toward greater participation in critical theological discussion in a wider context beyond the New Thought paradigm. This is not to say that Unity has never advocated the use of the intellect or rationality in spiritual matters, because it certainly has. However, it is to say that, up to now, Unity has tended to emphasize the intuitive over the intellectual faculty of the human person. 

We in Unity possess a fairly mature and refined concept of ministry; a spiritually deep understanding and practice of prayer (which is evinced through the Daily Word pamphlet and the well-established Silent Unity prayer ministry, among other things); a global network of autonomous churches, prayer ministries, and study groups where people cultivate personal and communal spiritual growth; a history embracing mystical thought that can be traced back through the Transcendentalists (e.g. Emerson and Thoreau) and American Pragmatism (e.g. W. James) to such controversial figures as Eckhart, John of the Cross, Teresa of Avila, Hildegard of Bingen, Pelagius, Bernard of Clairvaux, and Clement and Origen of Alexandria; and an impressive array of prayer techniques ranging from centering and affirmative prayer to visualization and silent meditation. The problem we have in Unity is that most Unity students, ministers, and even some instructors wouldn't know the important historical references I just mentioned and probably wouldn't know how to even begin to theologically assess what these people said or critically reflect on what this means for them in their present context. 

Unity's rich and textured spiritual practice needs to be matched by the intellectual rigor of critical theology. Unity people (especially leadership in the movement such as ministers, instructors, licensed teachers, etc.) must begin to set aside the easy, often feel-good, reading of pop-psychology and spiritual self-help books and take up a volume of Barth, Tillich, Rahner, Moltmann, Cobb, Gutierrez, Fiorenza, or Reuther. Exposing oneself to great thinkers such as these allows one to begin to think critically and theologically about one's faith, spirituality, and practice. In his Systematic Theology, Tillich states, " Theology is the methodical interpretation of the contents of the Christian faith." (ST 1951, 15). The work of theology is to state the kerygma (proclamation of truth) and critically re-interpret this truth contextually from generation to generation. Theology is making the truth-claims of faith reasonable and understandable for the religious community. This theological practice of using the intellect and the past tradition to critically and methodically reflect on faith convictions discerned through mystical revelation or intuition is unfortunately something Unity has not really done. 

However, the good news (no pun intended) is that the Lyceum conference is a mark of a change in attitude among some Unity people. For, as its creative founder, Rev. Thomas Shepherd, has alluded to in his blog, Unity's Lyceum is intended to be a forum for Unity to start to engage in critical scholarly discourse with the wider theological community. I trust that this is the beginning of a wonderful and exciting evolution in Unity, and I'm delighted to participate in its furtherance.

2nd Annual Meeting of Society for Spirituality, Theology, and Health in Diverse Communities

Duke University Medical Center will be holding the 2nd annual meeting for the Society for Spirituality, Theology, and Health June 3-5, 2009. The Religion News Service has the info.