A MULTIFAITH GATHERING OF YOUTH

The Golden Rule Conference

By Paul McKenna
September 2001

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Scarboro Missions was one of four sponsors of The Golden Rule Conference that attracted 100 teenagers of various faiths to Kingston, Ontario, in the spring of 2000. Ten schools from across Ontario participated. Most of the students were Christian (Catholic and Protestant), but the gathering was clearly enriched by the participation of Jewish, Hindu, Baha’i and Muslim youth.

Multifaith youth day closes with Dances of Universal Peace, which draws on elements of various world religions.

The day-long conference included workshops, shared rituals, dance, discussion groups and guest speakers from a variety of world religions. The event was inspired by the common ethical value—The Golden Rule—that is found across the world’s religions.

The gathering explored the common desire for unity among various cultures and spiritual traditions. The meeting was intended to encourage local faith communities to work cooperatively and witness against religiously-motivated turmoil and violence prevalent in the world.

“The idea for an interfaith youth gathering came from many sources,” explained Colin Dewart, Coordinator of Pastoral Services at Regiopolis-Notre Dame High School and co-organizer of the event. “The Pope’s visit to Israel and his emphasis on interfaith dialogue motivated me to see how we could apply this global momentum towards mutual respect and cooperation in a regional way during the Jubilee year.”

Organizers and speakers at the multifaith youth conference, Front row (L-R): Guru Fatha Singh (Sikhism), Nathalie Sorensen (Dances of Universal Peace), Sr. Chandra Ram (Brahma Kumaris), Kelsang Thekchen (Buddhist), Colin Dewart (organizer). Back row (L-R): Larry Windland (Encounter World Religions Centre), Azmina Velji (Muslim), Paul McKenna (co-organizer), Rabbi Daniel Elkin (Judaism), Romeo Candido (teacher).

Other sponsors of the conference included the Jewish Community Council of Kingston, the Algonquin and Lakeshore School Board and the Archdiocese of Kingston. They all agreed with the goal of empowering young people to understand each other’s beliefs, practices and symbols.

“By gathering youth to examine what we have in common, and not what divides people of faith, we increase people’s respect for their own spirituality and for the traditions of others,” said Dewart.

Paul McKenna, an interfaith educator associated with Scarboro Missions, was instrumental in designing a day that engaged both mind and body. In addition to large and small group discussions, participants experienced yoga with Guru Fatha Singh of Toronto’s Sikh community, and meditation with Gen Kelsang Thekchen, a Buddhist teacher from Kingston.

Other leaders of dialogue and reflection included a rabbi, a Shia lmami Muslim, a Brahma Kumaris nun and an executive member of the Kingston Baha’i community.

A highlight of the day was the presentation by Larry Windland of the Encounter World Religions Centre in Guelph, Ontario. He displayed and explained dozens of sacred objects collected from the world’s great religions. Students were encouraged to examine the artifacts and ask questions about their meaning and symbolism.

Archbishop Francis Spence of the Archdiocese of Kingston, Ontario, addresses the opening session of the youth gathering.

Larry Windland of the Encounter World Religions Centre in Guelph, Ontario, displays and explains sacred objects from the world’s religions.

The conference closed with the Dances of Universal Peace, a participatory ritual that draws on elements of the various world religions. This dance ritual proved a fitting way to close this dynamic educational event for youth of many faiths.

The conference was very successful and may become an annual event.

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