Anglicans Join World Religious Leaders for Centennial Parliament in Chicago
Episcopal News Service. July 28, 1993 [93143]
David Skidmore, Communications Officer for the Diocese of Chicago
Episcopalians and Anglicans will join about 5,000 leaders representing 125 faith groups as they assemble in Chicago on August 28 for nine days of discussion focusing on the major issues facing the religious community.
"We meet to recall the first parliament a century ago and to find ways to bring the weight of religion -- all religions -- on the affairs of humankind," said Dr. David Ramage, president of McCormick Seminary in Chicago who chairs the Council for a Parliament of the World's Religions.
The 1893 World's Parliament of Religions, held in conjunction with the World's Fair, was the first time in history that the leaders of all major faith groups convened to launch the modem interfaith religious movement. Ramage said he hoped the meeting would provide a new stimulus for "how business is conducted at religious meetings of the future."
Prior to the opening of the parliament, Anglicans will gather for two days to take stock of their partnership in the interfaith dialogue. Major addresses will focus on the challenge of how Christians live out their own identity in a modem, pluralistic world. Dr. Edmund Perry, a Methodist who is former chair of Northwestern University's department of religion, said he hopes the meeting will provide the bedrock for "taking Christian commitment seriously in the midst of this enormous religious pluralism."
Among those who will respond to Perry's keynote address will be Bishop Paul Reeves, Anglican observer to the United Nations; Bishop Frank Griswold of Chicago, co-chair of the Anglican-Roman Catholic dialogue in the United States; Dr. Laurie Patton, professor of religion at Bard College; the Rev. Christopher Agnew, associate ecumenical officer of the Episcopal Church; Marks McAvity, interfaith representative from the Anglican Church of Canada; and Bishop Steven Charleston of Alaska.
The coordinating committee for the Anglican pre-parliament meeting plans a display of historical vestments, documents and photographs illustrating the ecumenical efforts of the Anglican Communion over the past two centuries. The committee said that the goals for Anglican participation center on the baptismal vow to promote peace and justice, respecting the dignity of all human beings, and efforts for mutual understanding and respect.
Among the major speakers at the Parliament of World Religions will be Nobel Prize winners Mother Teresa and the Dalai Lama, as well as Roman Catholic theologian Hans Kung, liberation theologian Gustavo Gutierrez and United Nations executive Robert Muller.
Archbishop of Canterbury George Carey issued a statement endorsing the parliament. "Few things are more important to our world today than the growth of mutual respect and understanding between different faith communities," he said. He added that genuine dialogue becomes possible when people are encouraged to "come and talk about the totality of their faith."