Area congregations have begun to put up banners for torture awareness month. These banners are part of the National Religious Campaign Against Torture’s Banner Across America campaign. See all pictures here.

The Ann Arbor News has also run an article today discussing the banners and torture awareness month. Read the article here.

The banner campaign is the first of many ICPJ campaigns for torture awareness month. Next we will be hosting a dinner and a movie event featuring The Ghosts of Abu Ghraib on June 19th. For more information see our Events page

Over 60 people attended Tuesday’s 1st official Scriptural Reasoning Event on the topic of “how our faith traditions teach us to treat ‘the other, the neighbor, the stranger’,”hosted by the Common Ground for Peace in Israel/Palestine Working Group. The event consisted of:

• a delicious potluck dinner (thank you to those who brought food and to our sponsors: Jerusalem Garden, Oasis Grill, and Sahara Cafe and Grill!);
• three brief presentations on Jewish, Christian, and Muslim scripture (attached below);
• a period of small group dialogue and reflection on the issues presented through scripture.

Thanks to all who attended and to our insightful speakers!

Please join us for Scriptural Reasoning II, “This World and the World to Come: How Our Faiths Balance the Present and the Future,” at Temple Beth Emeth/St. Clare’s Episcopal Church (2309 Packard St.) on Thursday, AUGUST 28th (6:30pm).

Speakers and Scripture

• Aura Ahuvia, Ann Arbor Reconstructionist Havurah & Rabbinic Student, ALEPH: Alliance for Jewish Renewal [jewish-scripture1] jewish-scripture-handout]

• Dawud Walid, Executive Director MI chapter, Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-MI) &

  Assistant Imam at Masjid Wali Muhammad in Detroit (visit http://dawudwalid.wordpress.com/2008/06/04/scriptural-reasoning-event-in-ann-arbor-last-night/)

• Rev. James Rhodenhiser, Rector at St. Clare’s Episcopal Church (christian-scripture)

NEW: You can now listen to the audio of the presentation here. The audio quality isn’t the best, but the content is great!

ICPJ will be on the radio. Tune into WCBN, 88.3 Ann Arbor on Thursday, June 5 at 6:00 while Charmie Gholson hosts us to talk about the banner campaign for Torture Awareness Month.

You don’t have to wait until the ICPJ print newsletter makes it to your mailbox, you can read our great newsletter right now. (Ahh, the wonders of technology).

You can download the newsletter, (10 mb, pdf), or if you’d like to be added to our print newsletter list, just send your name and address to info@icpj.net

Good food, good company, and a good cause! If you enjoy spending time with friends, like to cook, and support ICPJ’s work, this opportunity is perfect for you. An ICPJ Peace Meal House Party is a fun and effective way to support the mission and continued efforts of the Interfaith Council for Peace and Justice.

A complete Peace Meal House Party Organizing Guide is available for your use. Download the guide today and start planning your Peace Meal. Continue Reading »

Tuesday, April 22nd - As we celebrate Earth Day this year, we are reminded to appreciate the beauty and sustenance our earth offers us. But unalterable change is occuring rapidly, and only we can reverse our destructive trends. Take a moment today to consider: what will future Earth Days celebrate if we continue down this path?
 
ICPJ’s working group on Global Warming is taking action, and we invite you to join us! Current involvement/upcoming project ideas are:
• Educational events on climate change
• Environmental awareness-raising through film screenings
• Political action to oppose anti-sustainable legislation 
 
Please join us in this effort! To join the Global Warming group’s efforts, email Jan Wright at janwrigh@umich.edu.
 
**UPCOMING EVENT: Free screening of “The Story of Stuff,” which focuses on the enormous amount of resources we consume and transform into an enormous amount of waste! It calls us together to create a more sustainable and just world. Dinner begins at 6:30 PM, movie at 7 PM. Discussion to follow. FREE and open to the public. Located at Memorial Christian Church, 730 Tappan, Ann Arbor. Details: chuck@icpj.net, 734-663-1870.