A Decade of a Week of Awareness - the 2008 Proclamation

The first Interfaith Awareness Week Proclamation was signed by Governor
Tommy Thompson in 1998 and it has been proclaimed every year since! It is
the first state in the USA to make such a proclamation. Here is the text of
the proclamation.

THE STATE of WISCONSIN
OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR
A Proclamation

WHEREAS, Wisconsin has a long history of celebrating the diversity of
belief; and
WHEREAS, Wisconsin has been a leader in human rights throughout 160 years of
statehood; and
WHEREAS, December 10, 2008 is Human Rights Day designated by the United
Nations and the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human
Rights, which states in Article 18 that "Everyone has the right to freedom
of thought, conscience and religion; this right includes freedom to change
his religion or belief, and freedom, either alone or in community with
others and in public or private, to manifest his religion or belief in
teaching, practice, worship and observance;" and
WHEREAS, the State has developed great spiritual and religious diversity and
diverse beliefs have played an important role in the development of our
State; and
WHEREAS, the celebration of diversity diminishes no one, but enriches
everyone; and
WHEREAS, we affirm the right of every person to believe and act according to
their beliefs as long as it does not infringe upon the rights of others; and
WHEREAS, interfaith and multifaith efforts of different churches and faith
groups have a rich history in the State; and
WHEREAS, interfaith and multifaith coalitions, dialogues and activities
continue to grow in importance locally, regionally, nationally and
internationally; and
WHEREAS, the Capitol of the State of Wisconsin is located on an isthmus,
which is considered a place of peace and reconciliation; and
WHEREAS, December 2008 holds holy days of many religious and faith groups;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, James Doyle, Governor, do hereby proclaim December 7-13,
2008 as INTERFAITH AWARENESS WEEK
in the State of Wisconsin and encourage citizens to learn more about each
others' beliefs in the spirit of community.

A Seventh Annual Capitol Celebration

IN HONOR OF

60th HUMAN RIGHTS DAY

&

THE 11th ANNUAL

INTERFAITH AWARENESS WEEK

“encouraging citizens to learn more about each others' beliefs in the spirit of community.”

A Seventh Annual Capitol Celebration

In the Rotunda of the State Capitol, featuring presenters and performers from the variety of living traditions in Wisconsin

12 NOON - WEDNESDAY

DECEMBER 10, 2008

Displays of World Religions in the Capitol Rotunda

Monday thru Friday ~ December 8 - 12, 2008

ALL EVENTS ARE FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC

FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THIS OR OTHER AREA EVENTS

(608) 242-4244 ~ inroads@minister.com

The Proclamation of Interfaith Awareness Week has been made by

Wisconsin’s Governor, the Dane County Executive and the Mayor of Madison every year

SINCE 1998

INTERFAITH AWARENESS WEEK EVENTS AND ACTIVITY

11^th ANNUAL

INTERFAITH AWARENESS WEEK

DECEMBER 7-13, 2008

“A Decade of a Week of Awareness”

608-242-4244 leave voice mail to get more information

ALL EVENTS ARE FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC

The Proclamation of Interfaith Awareness Week has been made by Wisconsin’s Governor and the Dane County Executive every year ~ SINCE 1998! ~

Joined by City of Madison in 1999 ~ Middleton and Monona in 2006

Events and activities organized and offered especially for Interfaith Awareness Week are listed here.

~*~*~*~

If you have an event, activity or open house for Interfaith Awareness Week to be listed, please contact us.

EVENTS AND OPPORTUNITIES as of NOVEMBER 21, 2008

SUNDAY – DECEMBER 07

ECKANKAR Monthly Worship Service

10:30am "How Do I Establish My Spiritual Connections?" Pot luck follows Service

Wil-Mar Neighborhood Center, 953 Jenifer Street, Madison

MONDAY – DECEMBER 08 thru 12

“World Religions in Wisconsin”

Displays in Wisconsin Capitol Rotunda continue through Friday, December 12

MONDAY – DECEMBER 08

Third Annual Good Neighbor Interfaith Celebration

Middleton Sikh Gurdwara, Century Avenue, Middleton (details TBD)

TUESDAY – DECEMBER 09

Madison Baha'i Center

7:00pm (to 8:30) There will be a short program followed by refreshments and socializing.

324 W. Lakeside Street, Madison LSA@bahaicentermadison.org

WEDNESDAY – DECEMBER 10

INTERFAITH AT THE CAPITOL

Special Meeting of Madison Interfaith Dialog

9:30am (to 11:30) “Interfaith Perspectives on Human Rights”

Capitol - Room 330 SW - Please RSVP - Karen (karing4@centurytel.net)

7^TH ANNUAL INTERFAITH CELEBRATION IN THE CAPITOL

12:00 Noon (to 1:00) Wisconsin Capitol Rotunda

THURSDAY – DECEMBER 11

No confirmed activity or event.

FRIDAY – DECEMBER 12

Circle Sanctuary

7:00pm (to 9:00) Open House with Yuletide Full Moon Circle

Circle Sanctuary Nature Preserve near Barneveld, Wisconsin – circle@circlesanctuary.org

SATURDAY – DECEMBER 13

Hindu Temple & Cultural Center of Wisconsin

2138 South Fish Hatchery Road, Fitchburg - whindu@yahoo.com (details TBD)

OTHER OPPORTUNITIES ~ DECEMBER 2008

December includes holy days for many area religious traditions. The main holy days in December 2008 are:

1. Advent (preparation for the Birth of Jesus Christ) continues through December 25 in most churches (for a small number, it will continue through January 6)

2. Hajj & Eid al-Adha (Muslims) December 7 & 8 ~ Last days of pilgrimage. Eid observed even when not on pilgrimage.

2. Hanukkah (Jewish) beginning December 22 ~ A menorah in the capitol rotunda is lit each evening without ceremony.

3. Winter Solstice is sacred to several traditions including Shinto, Wicca and Native American.

4. Traditional “Winter” holy days for Hindu, Baha’i, and Sikh fall in November this year.

In addition to the Interfaith Awareness Week Events listed, here are more opportunities:

SUNDAY

Christian Churches have regular Sunday morning services – check the Worship Directory in most local newspapers. Many other religious groups meet for weekly gatherings on Sundays out of convenience, including Buddhist, Sikh and others.

FRIDAY

Muslims Gather for mid-day Community Prayers at Madison Area Mosques and Campus locations

SATURDAY

Jewish Services begin Friday at Sunset, usually at home, and then gather Saturday at Madison Area Synagogues and Campus locations

Looking forward:

THE 12th ANNUAL INTERFAITH AWARENESS WEEK

~ DECEMBER 6-12, 2009 ~

“encouraging citizens to learn more about each others' beliefs in the spirit of community.”

Statement of Office of Greek Orthodox Interfaith Relations

http://www.goarch.org/news/interfaithoffice%20statement-2008-11-11

Statement of Office of Interfaith Relations

November 11, 2008

NEW YORK - The Office of Interfaith Relations of the Greek Orthodox
Archdiocese of America released a statement in response to a recent
headline in the Press which read "The anticipated victory of Obama in
the U.S. elections signals the end of Jewish domination. Everything
changes in the USA and we hope that it will be more democratic and
humane."

The statement reads: "For decades, the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese has
been a leader in inter-religious and inter-cultural dialogue. This
ministry of the Archdiocese is part of the wider witness of the
Ecumenical Patriarchate around the world which works for
reconciliation and mutual understanding among all peoples. We are
opposed to the language of bigotry, hatred and anti-Semitism in any
form by any media. Furthermore, an association of this kind of
language with an election in the United States that clearly witnesses
to how far prejudice has been abolished is deplorable and rejectable."

###

Contact: Father Mark Arey
Phone 212-570-3593
Email: ecumenical@goarch.org

UN to Host Meeting of World's Religions

HEADLINE: UN to host meeting of world's religions
BYLINE: Herve Couturier
DATELINE:  UNITED NATIONS,  Nov 11 2008

World leaders gather at the  United Nations  on Wednesday and Thursday for a conference on inter-faith relations that was overshadowed by uncertainty even before starting.

Seventeen heads of state are expected to attend, including US President George W. Bush and the leaders of Arab nations and of Israel, countries where religion and politics are especially sensitive.

The conference comes as US president-elect Barack Obama, who has signaled greater flexibility for US foreign policy in mostly Muslim geopolitical hot spots, readies to take power.

Two days of meetings will take the form of a debate in the UN General Assembly under the official theme of "culture of peace."

The conference was organized by the General Assembly president, Miguel d'Escoto Brockmann, a Nicaraguan Catholic priest who adopted the leftwing liberation theology and served as foreign minister under Sandinista  rule.

However, the meeting comes at the call of Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah, who is keen for a UN follow-up to efforts at promoting inter-faith dialogue in the "World Conference on Dialogue" held last July in Madrid.

King Abdullah, who rules as the head of an ultra-conservative Wahabite Muslim royal family, went to Madrid seeking "constructive dialogue"  aimed at opening what he called "a new page of reconciliation" among major  religions.

The Madrid declaration that followed that meeting was noted for its call for an international agreement on fighting the root causes of terrorism.

This time it is not clear whether the session will end with a UN  resolution or a lower-grade declaration, said Enrique Yeves, spokesman for  d'Escoto. "They are still negotiating among themselves."

Diplomatic sources said there was no chance of a resolution and perhaps not even of a declaration because of splits between countries on the nature of the problem in religion and politics.

One source said that Saudi Arabia had proposed a text inacceptable to European countries because of a reference to the "mocking of religious symbols," an issue deeply offensive to Saudis, but seen as a free speech matter in many Western states.

"It's extremely sensitive. That raises important questions and could create many misunderstandings," the diplomat said.

The representatives of 65 countries are planning to speak, Yeves said, including King Abdullah, Bush, Israel's Shimon Peres, and Britain's  premier Gordon Brown.

France is sending only former prime minister Alain Juppe, but "we think it's a good thing that religions talk," said UN Ambassador Jean-Maurice Ripert.

Ripert said that sending a serving government representative was impossible.

"The idea is that we do not mix religious matters... with public  matters," he said.

HEALTH CARE & WORLD RELIGIONS BOOKLET

Blue Cross/Blue Shield:

HEALTH CARE & WORLD RELIGIONS BOOKLET
by UNIITE (Minnesota Interfaith Group)

download, print or view on-line

http://www.creativeartisticnuance.com/uniite/UNIITE_HCWRBooklet.html

http://www.norhashimah.com/uniite/UNIITE_HCWRBooklet.html

UNIITE's "HCWR" booklet link is also available at the Blue Cross and Blue
Shield of Minnesota Foundation website: http://www.bcbsmnfoundation.org/
It is under the News section.

an interfaith resource posted by:

Rev. John-Brian Paprock

Inroads Ministry

P.O.Box 5207, Madison, WI 53705

608.242.4244

o HEALING LIFE o DEEPENING FAITH

o ENRICHING PRACTICE o REFRESHING SPIRIT

Gathering of Waters - prelude future interfaith work

The Gathering of Waters event in October was a nice prelude to further interfaith activity in the Madison area. There will be an interfaith Thanksgiving event November 23, 2008 at Lakeview Lutheran Church in Madison. Then the 11th Annual Interfaith Awareness week will have a week of interfaith opportunities from December 7 through December 13 - the annual noon program in the Capital will be December 10th - Human Rights Day.

Pictured are a few attendees at one of the almost 50 program elements at the Gathering of the Waters (Edgewood College, Madison, Wisconsin - October 12, 2008) Pictured from left to right: Fr. John-Brian Paprock, Mikas and Markos Muluken, S.S. Shiva Singh Khalsa, Fr. Fred Janecek. Fr. John-Brian gave a presentation on the Blessing of Water in the Eastern Christian Tradition - more pictures and the powerpoint are on-line -> here.