Parliament of Worlds Religion 2009 Melbourne Australia

Author(s): Parliament of the World’s Religions
Publisher: USA Parliament of the Worlds Religions

Page 288

PROGA Monday, December 7, 2009
2:30-4:00pm ENGAGEMENT SESSION
of Churches Worship Committee for its Harare Assembly, has published nine books of liturgy and still writes liturgies for churches in six countries. She was awarded the 1988 Australian Human Rights Medal and an Honorary Doctorate of Letters from Macquarie University.
social and emotional programs for the student and parent community: and providing a forum for spiritual inquiry and the practice of meditation for adolescents. Sue Smith is a parent, educator, academic and storyteller whose work has been to engage young people in lively, fun learning that will lead them to better understand themselves and their world. As an Australian woman who is Anglican from birth, Buddhist by choice, and experienced at working with Indigenous Australians in education, Sue has sought ways in which education may nourish our common humanity and human potential Peta Goldburg is Professor of Religious Education at Australian Catholic University. She has worked extensively with teachers of religion in schools across Australia and New Zealand. For the past eight years, she has chaired the Queensland Studies Authority Study of Religion Syllabus committee and has published widely in the area of religious education
Sacred Sites, Sacred Solidarity: Current Initiatives Stein Villumstad Additional Speakers to be Announced Room 106
Interpreting the Text: Apostasy and Homosexuality Michael Kirby Abdullah Saeed Rev Dorothy McRae-McMahon Room 105 The 20th century was marked by many scientific discoveries about human (and other species') sexuality. Alfred Kinsey, Evelyn Hooker and, more recently, genetic scientists have postulated natural causes for sexual variation, presenting them as normal variants, not abnormal and deliberately chosen in defiance of ordinary norms. Against this background and the pluralist nature of modern societies, religious condemnations of homosexuals are increasingly questioned, including by believers. This has led to tensions in political, social and religious life. That tension is being acted out in many countries, including Australia, where laws discriminating against sexual minoritics are being repealed and amended. Some religions insist on unwavering interpretations of scripture, antagonistic to homosexuals. However, drawing on his long experience as an Australian judge, Michael Kirby points to the occasional need to re-read texts where they come into conflict with advances in contemporary knowledge and experience. He suggests that this is what will happen with interpretations of Leviticus 20:13 and other Biblical texts that have been a source of great injustice to GLBT minorities. Upon his retirement from the highest court in Auslialia in February 2009, Michael Kirby was the nation's longest serving judge. He has also served in many other courts and bodies in Australia and in UN bodies. He is President of the Institute of Arbitrators & Mediators Austratia. He was raised in the Anglican tradition of Christianity which he sees, for historical reasons, as a denomination sensitive to inclusion of sometimes opposite and conflicting opinion. Dr Adbullah Saeed is the Sultan of Oman Professor of Arab and Islamic Studies at the University of Melbourne, where he also directs the National Centre of Excellence for Islamic Studies and Asia Institute www.abdullahsaeed.org). He is involved in interfaith dialogue between Christians and Muslims, and between Jews and Muslims, and is a frequent and popular lecturer. Dr Saeed has a BA in Arab/islamic Studies from Saudi Arabia, an MA in Applied Linguistics and a PhD in Islamic Studies from the University of Melbourne Rev Dorothy McRae-McMahon is a minister in the Uniting Church in Australia. She worked in the Pitt Street Parish in Sydney and as UCA National Director for Mission. She was Moderator of the World Council
The World Heritage Sites initiative, implemented and administered by UNESCO. provides a model and link for efforts to safeguard the sacred sites of religious and spiritual communities worldwide. Efforts to expand this initiative internationally have been taken up by spiritual communities and interreligious organisations, at both grassroots and international levels. This session of the Sacred Sites, Sacred Solidarity Symposium will feature the recent initiatives, their evolving character and the ways in which concerned individuals, groups, communities and institutions can join forces within this overarching movement to properly protect and respect the revered places of Worship and practice of diverse spiritual traditions. Leading minds and passionate defenders of sacred sites will explore recent and innovative work in the sacred sites movement, Stein Villumstad, Deputy Secretary General of Religions for Peace, will discuss the process and development of a Code on Holy Sites and the long and winding road to establishing an International Convention adopted by the United Nations to safeguard sacred spaces. Stein Villumstad has extensive and distinguished experience in international development, conflict transformation, and human rights. He served as regional representative for Norwegian Church Aid INCA) in Eastern Africa, where he oversaw development activities in ten countries and managed five regional sub-offices. Previously, he held the position of assistant general secretary of NCA, managing the Department for Policy and Human Rights
Migrar o Morir/Paying the price (Premier Film Series Selection) Room 107 Film This film examines the lives of impoverished workers from Guerrero, Mexico, who migrate to Sinaloa to pick exotic Chinese vegetables for the export trade. It is a devastating portrait of hardship-from these migrants community of origin, largely abandoned by the local and state governments, to the inhumane and slave-like working conditions of the migrant camp. The film was directed by Alex Halkin. Q & A to follow.
284 PWR - Parliament of the World's Religions Jain Education Intemational