RELIGIOUS LEADERS JOIN THE PRESIDENT'S RACE INITIATIVE IN
LOUISVILLE TO EXPLORE STRATEGIES FOR RACIAL RECONCILIATION
Washington, DC -- From Hindus to Christians, Catholics, Baha'is, Muslims
and Jews, members of the faith community will join Rev. Dr. Suzan Johnson
Cook, Advisory Board member to the President's Race Initiative, in a
forum to examine "the changing face of the faith community and solutions
to bridging the nation's racial divide." The meeting will convene on
June 1, at Spalding University, Louisville, Kentucky.
The forum will begin with opening remarks by Rev. Dr. Johnson Cook and
Louisville Mayor Jerry Abramson. Diana Eck, Ph.D., a Harvard University
Professor of Comparative Religion and Indian Studies, will present an
overview on "the changing face of the faith community in America." Rose
Ochi, Director of the U.S. Justice Department Community Relations
Service, will moderate a panel discussion on the impact of the nation's
changing racial demographics on the faith community nationally and in
Louisville, followed by an audience question and answer session. Rev. Dr.
Tony Campolo, Founder and President of the Evangelical Association for
the Promotion of Education, St. Davids, PA, will give a keynote address
on "racial reconciliation from a spiritual perspective." An afternoon
panel will explore key elements of promising practices that are
successfully bridging racial divides. The day will conclude with
discussion groups on mobilizing and re-energizing our communities of faith.
Among the panelists are: Robert Henderson, Ed.D, Secretary-General and
CEO of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of the United
States; T. Vaughn Walker, Ph.D., Pastor, First Gethsemane Baptist Church,
Louisville; Beverly Watts, Executive Director, Kentucky Commission on
Human Rights; and Inez Torres Davis, Associate Minister, Evangelical
Lutheran Church in America, Chicago, IL. Additional participants
include: Rabbi Stanley Miles, Temple Shalom, Louisville; Alfred Yazzie,
Spiritual Advisor to the Navajo Nation, Window Rock, AZ; and Dr. Kunwar
Bhatnagar, Leader, Hindu Temple of Kentucky. Audience seating is
limited. For information on public attendance call 202-395-1002.
Last week in New Orleans, Louisiana, 200 national and local members of
the faith community participated in a forum on the role of religion in
racial reconciliation. During the meeting, religious leaders exchanged
various strategies on meeting the needs of multi-racial and ethnic
congregations.
WHAT: Religious Leaders Forum in Louisville, Kentucky
WHERE: The Lectorium, Spalding University, Egan Leadership
Center, 901 S. 4th Street
WHEN: Monday June 1, 1998, 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
COVERAGE: Open to media. Press availability following the morning
session.
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