Shown above are some of the US Chapter members who attended the 36th IARF Congress.
George M. Williams
IARF Council President
George Williams is a Professor Emeritus of religious studies at California State University, Chico.
In 1989, IARF presented Williams a Distinguished Service Award.
Some of his extensive published works include: Handbook of Hindu Mythology (2002) and Shinto (2004).j
IARF-US Statement on Israeli/Hamas Violence
IARF-US Stands for religious liberty, ecumenical understanding and cooperation, and nonviolent and peaceful relationships. We are heartsick and deeply dismayed by both the terrible violence of Hamas terrorists and by the continued injustice a
nd autocracy of the Netanyahu regime. Palestinians deserve a viable state with adequate land of their own, as does Israel as multi-religious democracies deserve to flourish. They are feasible only by providing adequately for both.
IARF-US Invites You to a
Monthly Discussion Series
Every third Wednesday of the month starting in April, presenters
will share their personal global spiritualities with us, alternating
with topics on how we can support the United Nations'
Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) -- an essential element for
maintaining humanity's spiritual freedom.
This nine-session, one hour Zoom series begins at 4pm (PDT) on
April 17, 2024.
A Zoom link will be sent upon request several days before each monthly event. You are welcome to just
listen or to participate after each presentation. Send your email address to: [email protected].
Dates and topics are
as follows:
**April 17 | John Young describes his daily and weekly spirituality
practices drawn from many of the world's major religions.
**May 15 |
George Garland talks about the role of the US Commission on
Religious Freedom.
**June 19 |
Professor Kunihito Terasawa discusses his combined practices
of Rissho Kosei Kai Buddhism and Evangelical Lutheranism.
**July 17 | George Garland addresses the Sustainable Development
Goals (SDG) and Planetary Boundaries - A Safe Space for
Spirituality.
**August 21 | Rahul Young discusses SDG #7: Affordable and Clean Energy -
Electrifying America.
**September 18 | Stephen Schwichow describes how he combines his Buddhist
practices with his UU membership.
**October 16 | Leela Stake addresses SDG #5: Gender Equality.
November 20
Betsy Darr shares her experience of being a UU Pagan.
December 18
John Young discusses how indigenous spiritual traditions can
participate in inter-religious dialogue.
George Garland discusses the role of the U.S. Commission on Religious Freedom.
Presented on May 15, 2024
U.S. Chapter Board
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John Young
Current chair of the IARF US Chapter, and retired minister.
I have a deep interest in non-violence and how it can be realized through greater understanding of and interaction with other world religions.
George Garland
A long-time UU, George is a member of the UU Community Church of NYC, where he has served as chair of the Board of Trustees and is now its treasurer. He is active on its UN Global Affairs Committee.
John Gubbings
Committed to Unitarian Universalism as a support for a religiously diverse democracy. I perceive the IARF purpose of religious freedom as an aspect of social justice at the international level.
Stephen Schwichow
As one who practices a minority religion in America and has experienced discrimination because of it, I am acutely aware of the issues surrounding the need for inter-religious amity and cooperation.
Kunihiko Terasawa
A professor at Wartburg College in Iowa, Kunihiko has interacted with Japanese IARF members and is an Evangelical Lutheran as well as a member of Rissho Kosei-kai.
Advisory Board
Betsy Darr
Ahbi Janamanchi
Celine Ibrahim
Roy Kaplan
Kathy Matsui
Nyla McCulloch
Peter Richardson
Editor:
Kathleen Moran