The End of InterfaithNews.Net

November 16, 2006

• Provide an independent and central forum for news about  inter-religious groups and programs, including access to newsletters of diverse interfaith organizations around the world.
• Highlight good news and positive actions and activities of religious, spiritual and inter-religious communities.
• Provide information about and links to selected resources and media such as inter-religious organizations and directories, religious web sites and viewpoints, multifaith materials and web sites, and other sources.
• Provide an alternative to traditional media coverage of religion and spirituality, and provide a reputable, common source for journalists to draw upon.
• Provide forums for invited columnists and occasional other contributors to relay analysis or personal views on issues of wide interest.
• Offer this content in several electronic formats.

Over the years, the web site has taken on a few new identities and now hosts 156 articles. We've received praise from many individuals and thanks for the work of providing the newsletter. We've had generous help from a number of individuals and groups, particularly through our associations with the United Religions Initiative and the North American Interfaith Network.

Reality check: though there is plenty of news to be told, it grows harder and harder to find the time and motivation to continue with InterfaithNews.Net as a one-man show. Case in point: this newsletter was intended to go out several weeks ago, in mid October really, but here it is a week into November and it still will not go out for a few days. Personally, I remain inspired by interfaith work and wish to continue facilitating news and stories about it; I am particularly inspired when I see the great communities that other sites have developed, such as the one at my favorite blog, WorldChanging.

I know that there are people reading this site — our web traffic logs show that — so what do you want to see, and are you willing to help get there? Any potential bloggers or regular writers and editors out there? Send your thoughts to the e-mail address below or post them in a comment in this story (on the Web site) . The stories below make for interesting news, but do not even scratch the surface of the countless inspiring, uplifting stories of interfaith cooperation for peace, justice, and sustainability that are waiting to be told.

Ultimately, as I do not have the time that I would like for this effort , I want to recruit either a handful of qualified, regular contributors and/or a managing editor to coordinate more regular and frequent site updates. Please let me know of your interest.

Peace be with you,
Stephen A. Fuqua
Editor, InterfaithNews.Net

Contents

• Universal religious values animate UN’s work, Annan says
• Global Warming a Moral Issue, Say Interfaith Panelists
• UN forum sees interfaith dialogue as essential to peace
• U.S. religious leaders meet President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad
• World Summit of Religious Leaders condemns religiously sanctioned abuses
• 2nd Congress of the Leaders of World and Traditional Religions Convenes in Kazakhstan
• Newly Launched Interfaith Commission Will Guide Africa’s Religious Leaders’ Action for Peace
• Interfaith Summit on Africa: "The Intelligence is in Africa"

Universal religious values animate UN’s work, Annan says

Tuesday, October 24th, 2006

UN News Service – 12 September 2006 – Observing that universal religious values animate the work of the United Nations, Secretary-General Kofi Annan has said that men and women of faith are crucial to the world body.

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Global Warming a Moral Issue, Say Interfaith Panelists

Tuesday, October 24th, 2006

“Representatives from a variety of world faiths discussed the role of religion in addressing global warming and other pressing environmental challenges at a September 18–21 conference on climate stabilization in Washington, D.C. Sharing a panel on “Achieving Intergenerational and International Equity,” speakers from the Catholic, Episcopal, Evangelical, Islamic, Jewish, Mormon, and Presbyterian faiths described the progress their communities are making in tackling climate change.”

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UN forum sees interfaith dialogue as essential to peace

Tuesday, October 24th, 2006

UNITED NATIONS, 8 October 2006 (BWNS) — Last month some 33 governments sent delegations to a special conference here on how religions and governments can work together for peace.

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U.S. religious leaders meet President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad

Tuesday, October 24th, 2006

NEW YORK, N.Y. (MCC) - Sept. 22, 2006 - Nearly 45 religious leaders from Christian and Muslim faith backgrounds met with the Iranian president, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, Sept. 20, in an open discussion about the role religious communities can play in reversing the deepening crisis between Iran and the United States.

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World Summit of Religious Leaders condemns religiously sanctioned abuses

Tuesday, October 24th, 2006

Ecumenical News International – June 6, 2006 – The World Summit of Religious Leaders, the largest interfaith gathering to convene in Russia since the time of the Cold War, has closed by passing a resolution condemning terrorism, economic inequality, environmental abuses and the denigration of moral values in the modern world – writes Sophia Kishkovsky for Ecumenical News International.

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2nd Congress of the Leaders of World and Traditional Religions Convenes in Kazakhstan

Tuesday, October 24th, 2006

2nd Congress of the Leaders of World and Traditional Religions Convenes in Kazakhstan Political Conflicts No Longer Solvable Exclusively on the Political Level

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Newly Launched Interfaith Commission Will Guide Africa’s Religious Leaders’ Action for Peace

Tuesday, October 24th, 2006

Newly Launched Interfaith Commission Will Guide Africa’s Religious Leaders’ Action for Peace Rwandan President Kagame Hails Interfaith Approach for “Removing Ambiguities”

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Interfaith Summit on Africa: "The Intelligence is in Africa"

Tuesday, October 24th, 2006

WASHINGTON, D.C., August 1, 2006 — The Interfaith Summit on Africa, presented by Church World Service and the All Africa Conference of Churches July 19-21, brought together 53 African religious leaders from 23 countries with U.S. faith leaders and policymakers in Washington, D.C., at a time of great global unrest and worsening uncertainty.

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