The Contribution of Religions to World Peace?

15th World Religions Conference

Topic: The Contribution of Religions to World Peace?

Date: Monday, October 19th, 2020
Time: 6:00 PM – 7:30 PM

Venue: Lewis Hall, Whitehorse United Church

Address: 601 Main St, Whitehorse YT Y1A 1M6

Tel: 604-767-1965
Toll Free: 1-877-767-1965

Email: info.bc@ahmadiyya.ca

Moderator

Mr. David Coleman

David Coleman has been a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints since birth. He has served in many capacities in the church including a two year mission in Peru.  He has also served as a Teacher, a scout leader, a counsellor to the Bishop, five years as a Bishop, a counsellor to other leaders and is now serving as the Stake President for the Prince George BC Stake. This role covers congregations in Burns Lake, Vanderhooof, Prince George, Quesnel, Williams Lake, 100 Mile House and Bella Coola. He is happily married to his wife Laurel and together they have four children and ten grandchildren. 

Profiles

Christian LDS Perspective
Mr. Jon Duncan

Jon Duncan is a lawyer in Prince George and member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  They have three children.

Christian Our Savior`s Lutheran Church Perspective
Pastor Fleming Blishen

Fleming Blishen have been the pastor at Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church in Prince George for the past 10 years. He is married to Vanessa and have three adoptive children – Hunter, Mila and Daxton.Pastor Blishen been part of the Christian tradition from birth, first as a participant through his parents and in baptism as an infant, and then through my own confession of faith at confirmation when he was a teenager. More specifically he has been part of the Lutheran Church both here in Canada and in Denmark. All this is to say that Fleming  thoroughly indoctrinated into a certain version of Christianity. There are many other versions, each focusing on a different aspect of who God is in Jesus. It’s through Jesus that we find ourselves connected to Judaism and Islam as Abrahamic faiths. Over the years I’ve come to appreciate the ways in which God is revealed in so many other faith traditions throughout the world. May our time together be part of the ongoing work of manifesting the Divine will in this world.

Protestant Christians Perspective
Elizabeth Roberts

Elizabeth Roberts, AKA Beth, is representing Whitehorse United Church . Beth who identifies as a farmers daughter, sister, wife, mom, grandma, retired Tuberculosis (TB) nurse, story teller and long time member of Whitehorse United Church, was one of the folks who worked together to establish the Whitehorse United Church Social Justice Committee.  Drawing on her love of stories that parallel the scriptures she will reflect on her experiences with the Social Justice Committee  as they worked together to promote a”Just Society” 

Baha’i Perspective
Mrs. Charlotte Wenninger

Charlotte Wenninger has been a member of the Baha’i community for over 35 years.  She has served for many years as one of the elected, nine members on the local governing body of the Baha’is of Prince George.  She has served as a chairman of the Interfaith Chaplaincy Committee at UNBC and is active in interfaith activities.  She is married and has raised four daughters and now has nine grandchildren.  She has a keen interest in sharing her religion with others and learning about all aspects of spirituality, especially the harmony of science and religion.

Hindu Faith Perspective
Dr. Pranesh Kumar, PhD

Dr. Pranesh Kumar was born in a Hindu family of a Northern Indian State of Utter Pardesh. He was keen interest in literature religion, culture, science and its global impact, in particular on human society. He is fascinated by the diversities which he experienced during the vast travels, interactions with people and observing their social, cultural and religious events. Kumar values life in any form and believes in very ancient, preached and practiced Sanskirt saying  “ Vasudhaeva Kutumbukam” meaning the “ Entire world is one family. 

Imam Umair Khan
Islam Perspective

Umair Khan was raised in Toronto and New York as a child and spent his adolescent years in Calgary. After graduating from High School in Calgary, he attended Jamia Ahmadiyya (Missionary training school of the community, in Ontario) which is a 7 year program. He graduated from Jamia Ahmadiyya in 2012 and then was given the opportunity to serve as a Trainee Missionary in Sierra Leone (West Africa).

He served as an Imam and Missionary for the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community in the Calgary  branch at Baitun Noor Mosque from 2013- 2015.For the last 4 years he was serving Ahmadiyya Muslim Community Jamaica, West Indies, in the capacity of Missionary in Charge. He was recently appointed to serve the British Columbia chapters and the community based around Baitur Rahman Mosque in Delta, & Surrey BC. He is currently living in Delta with family (wife and 2 children)

Sikh Perspective
Dr. Balbinder Singh Deo, PhD

Dr. Balbinder Deo worked in academic and industrial organizations for more than 29 years. He joined School of Business, UNBC Prince George campus faculty member in 2002. Prior to UNBC, Dr. Deo worked at University of Saskatchewan, University of Manitoba, and at Punjab Agricultural University Ludhiana, India. In addition to his work experience in academic institutions, he also worked on various industrial projects and submitted research reports to both private and public sector organizations. 

Jewish Faith Perspective
Rabbi Laura Duhan Kaplan

Rabbi Laura Duhan-Kaplan is Director of Inter-Religious Studies and Professor of Jewish Studies at the Vancouver School of Theology, and the former rabbi leading Or Shalom Synagogue. She lives in Vancouver with her husband and musical partner Charles, their young adult children and a changing array of companion animals.

Program

  • 5:55 PM Announcement by Rizwan Peerzada
  • 6:00 PM Recitation of the Holy Qur’an
  • Welcome Remarks by President of The Church of Jesus Christ Latter Day Saints Church
  • 6:10 PM Introductory Remarks & Moderator Introduction Mr. Naeem Ahmad Lakhan, Regional President BC
  • 6:20 PM Naeem Ahmad Lakhan, Regional President Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama`at BC will present introductory remarks and Introduction to moderator by Rizwan Peerzada. He will request to moderator to start the session by reading her biography.
  • For Chair / Moderator
  • A: Read guideline
  • B: Introduce speaker by reading their speaker biography as turn come.
  • Speakers are requested to consider the following Guidelines:
  1. Each speaker is requested to observe a strict 10 minutes time limit
  2. Speakers are requested to speak on the topic from their religious perspectives, philosophical & religious traditions and Holy Books.
  3. Speakers are requested not to make any comparisons with other faiths and only speak with reference to their own faiths
  4. Speakers are requested to be present during the entire conference and be available for a Questions/Answer session at the end.
  5. Speakers are expected to be available during the refreshments break to answer informal queries of the attendees and to mingle and chat with the general audience at the conclusion of the conference.
  6. Please inform the audience that they have two forms. One is a question card for the Q/A session; it will be collected by volunteers later on. Second is a brief survey form to collect data from the audience.
  7. Introducing dignitaries
  • Speakers Panel         (Time Allocated 10 minutes)
  • Christianity                  Pastor Fleming Blishen
  • Baha’I                          Mrs. Charlotte Wenninger
  • Hindu Faith                  Dr. Pranesh Kumar, PhD
  • Islam                           Imam Umair Khan
  • Christianity                  Mr. Jon Duncan, The Church of Jesus Christ Latter Day Saints Church
  • Sikh Faith                     Dr. Balbinder Singh Deo, PhD
  • Jewish Faith                 Rabbi Dr. Laura Duhan Kaplan
  • 7:20 PM Concluding Remarks by Moderator
  • 7:27 PM Vote of Thanks by President Ahmadiyya Muslim Community Prince George 

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