PWR | CALL FOR INTEREST | Hosting by Global Cities of 8th and subsequent Parliament of the World’s Religions | 7 January 2018

[Edited extract from public address]

The Parliament of the World’s Religions is an international, non-sectarian, non-profit organization, established in 1988 to host the 1993 Parliament of the World’s Religions. Its periodic Parliaments and ongoing initiatives cultivate harmony among the world's religious and spiritual communities and fosters engagement with the world and its guiding institutions in order to achieve a just, peaceful, and sustainable world.

Traditionally, the Parliament events last for 7 days and comprise more than 500 programs, workshops and dialogues, alongside music, dance, artistic exhibitions and related events hosted by religious communities and cultural institutions.

With a 125-year history, the Parliament of the World’s Religions creates the opportunity for people of faith and conscience from around the world to assemble and to hear from wisdom leaders, which in the past have included His Holiness the Dalai Lama, President Nelson Mandela, President Jimmy Carter, and UN Messenger of Peace Dr. Jane Goodall.

More than 50,000 participants of 200 unique spiritual backgrounds have traveled from more than 80 nations around the world to past Parliament conferences, bringing their attention and action together to dialogue, forge solutions and build networks of action.

Open to anyone interested in experiencing a fresh and sometimes boundary-pushing multi-faith encounter, the Parliament leaves a lasting legacy of cooperation in its hosting cities and changes the lives of all who are drawn into attendance— this extends into the spheres that are also represented in the Parliament, including academia, government, media, business, NGO leadership and grassroots activism.

The international office of the Parliament of the World’s Religions is located in Chicago, Illinois, USA, and has announced that now open is the bid process for global cities to pursue hosting future global Parliament conferences. 

As appointed host, bring thousands of the world’s most dedicated advocates of peace, justice and sustainability to your city. Hosts of the 8th, 9th and subsequent Parliaments of the World’s Religions international events will welcome globally-recognized figures in spiritual and civic institutions, up to 10,000 visitors, and experience an inflow of millions of dollars in revenue for the local economy, over the span of a week of activities in their city.  

Site Slection Committee Chair of the Parliament Board of Trustees Andras Corban Arthen says that future Parliaments will meet in three-year intervals “to keep pace with the fast-developing interfaith movement around the world,” bringing the event to a new nation in 2021 following the forthcoming 7th Parliament of the World's Religions, being held later this year between 1-7 November 2018, in Toronto, Canada.  

“Every city has its distinct identity and, at the same time, every city reveals the challenges and opportunities of all metropolitan areas across the earth. That only increases when a city hosts a global gathering of people of many faiths and cultures but united in a pursuit of justice, peace, and sustainability. Welcoming the world to a city for a Parliament is serving all of humankind.” Larry Greenfield, Executive Director

Since the historic 1893 World’s Parliament of Religions in Chicago first established an international forum for dialogue between religions of the East and West, modern Parliaments have been held in Chicago (1993), Cape Town (1999), Barcelona (2004) Melbourne (2009) and most recently in Salt Lake City (2015).

Interested tourism bureaus, advocacy organizations and government offices are encouraged to procure the request for proposals at ParliamentOfReligions.org/FutureSites and email: futuresites@ParliamentOfReligions.org to learn about partnering with PWR in a cooperative process of funding, producing and hosting the Parliament of the World’s Religions conference.

Members of the media are invited to contact: Molly Horan, Director of Communications at the Parliament of the World's Religions with inquiries and interview requests.

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Parliament of the World's Religions (PWR)
70 East Lake Street, Suite 205, Chicago, IL 60601 USA
Website: https://parliamentofreligions.org/