President Jimmy Carter will address the 2009 Parliament of the World’s Religions on The Religious Imperative for the Equality of Women & Girls.

After President Carter’s teleconference address, Council Executive Director, Rev. Dirk Ficca will facilitate a Q & A session with the President. The address will be followed by a panel discussion with the participation of the following select respondents:

Anisa Buckley is a PhD Candidate in Islamic Studies at the Asia Institute and the Melbourne Law School at The University of Melbourne. She also holds an MA (Islamic Studies) from the University of New England, Armidale, a Graduate Certificate in International Development from RMIT, and a B.Ed from The University of Sydney.

One of India’s most revered holy women, Sri Karunamayi has dedicated her life to the cause of world peace and universal welfare. Through her global travels, she works tirelessly to remove the suffering from the hearts of all people. This she does through her loving words of spiritual guidance and encouragement, her healing touch, her divine insights, and her extensive charitable activities on behalf of India’s poor.

Gurbux Kaur Kahlon is an energy economist with California’s Public Utilities Commission. Born and raised in Punjab, India, she immigrated to the US in 1977. Based on her experience in India and the US, she will share her unique perspectives on gender equality and women’s intergenerational issues. She is active in the San Francisco Bay area interfaith community and participates in promoting interreligious understanding and harmony via the Glide Memorial Church in San Francisco.

Rev. Dirk Ficca serves as Executive Director of the Council for a Parliament of the World’s Religions. Dirk worked closely with the religious and spiritual communities of the Chicago metropolitan area to plan and organize the 1993 Parliament event in Chicago. Given the enthusiasm generated by the 1993 Parliament, Dirk continued to lead the Council’s efforts to build a vibrant interreligious movement in Chicago and around the world. Dirk is an ordained Presbyterian minister and prior to joining the Council served for eleven years as pastor of the First Presbyterian Church of Benton Harbor, Michigan. Dirk teaches at DePaul University, the Lutheran School of Theology and Garrett Evangelical Theological Seminary.

Date: Friday, Dec. 4, 2009
Time: 9:30 AM
Location: Room 109

Read more about the Parliament program here.
Read a biography of President Jimmy Carter here.
Read about Parliament speakers here.