The World's Parliament of World Religions was founded in 1893 to foster dialogue between all faiths. The establishment of a 100th anniversary conference marked its centenary celebrations in 1993. This conference is no longer available, but the contributions made over the past century will be celebrated today.
Interreligious dialogue
The Council of World Religions supports interreligious dialogue. Its primary objective is to promote peace, understanding, and dialogue among all persons. In recent years, however, funding and participation have been difficult for the Council. In 2004, the Council was ordered to pay $276,000.00 for expenses related to the Barcelona Parliament of World Religions. This dispute was precipitated by the bombing of a train in Madrid a few months before the parliament.
The Parliament of World Religions, an interreligious event that takes place every five years is organized by the organization. The latest event, held in Melbourne (Australia) in 2009, featured over 600 programs and 1,300 speakers. The meeting saw many notable speakers, such as the Dalai Lama or Hans Kung (theologian).
Peaceful coexistence
The Parliament of World Religions is a gathering of world leaders and religious leaders, who meet for seven days every year since 1995. Its purpose is to promote peace and harmony in the world through peaceful coexistence among religions. There will be more than 500 programs, and other related events.
The education of religious leaders
It is more than just a matter of religious knowledge and skills that religious leaders need to be trained for multicultural environments. They need to have a better understanding of modern interfaith movements and be trained in interfaith relations. This project addresses these issues. It will tap into existing schools' initiatives and establish a framework to support multi-faith leadership education.
While establishing the program, the project team conducted research on the educational experience of students from participating schools. To record the students' experiences, a focus group interview took place. A digital video recording of five seminars was also taken and an after-Parliament survey conducted with students. Many coordinators reviewed the course syllabus, and professors were interviewed in person and in writing.
Ambassador's Program
The Parliament of World Religions has an Ambassador's program that allows faith communities to share their knowledge and foster mutual understanding. The Council for a Parliament of World Religions organizes the program. The Council's mission is to promote dialogue between people from different faiths and cultures. Each month, the AAC announces a new Ambassador.
The Parliament of World Religions has served as a catalyst for dialogue among people of various faiths. It has also helped to create a framework for visions of a more just and sustainable future. The mission of the program is to foster global cooperation between world religions. Our collective efforts are crucial for the survival of our planet.
Women's Task Force
The Women's Task Force in Parliament of World Religions has just completed its inaugural assembly, where participants deepened their interfaith programming, plenary sessions, and worship. The Women's Task Force is planning to grow its platform to include women of minor faith traditions and to continue interfaith talks.
Dr. Elizabeth Ursic (PhD), a professor of religion and spiritual leader, leads the Women's Task Force. Dr. Elizabeth Ursic, PhD is co-chair of Society of Biblical Literature's Women's Caucus. She is also a trustee of Parliament of World Religions. Her academic qualifications include a PhD and MDiv in Religious Studies from Arizona State University. She also holds an MBA/MA degree in International Relations from Wharton School of Business. Her work has been featured in many publications and more than 100 radio shows.