The Parliament of the World’s Religions is saddened to report that Rev. Dirk Ficca has passed away.
Dirk Lewis Ficca, 66, of Oak Park, IL, passed away on Tuesday, December 21, 2021. Born in Iowa City, IA, he grew up in Bloomington, IL, and married Lynda Hoffman in Benton Harbor, MI, in 1984. Later, he moved to Oak Park, where he became a father to two sons, and resided for 26 years. Throughout his career, Dirk had many roles in the global interfaith movement; as a minister, professor, and thought leader.
Rev. Ficca served as the Executive Director of the Parliament, organizing the 1999 Parliament Convening in Cape Town, the 2004 Parliament Convening in Barcelona, and the 2009 Parliament Convening in Melbourne. At the time of his passing, Dirk was the Executive Director of the Twin Cities Social Cohesion Initiative and Senior Advisor to the Church of Sweden and the World of Neighbors Initiative. Previously, he served as pastor of the First Presbyterian Church of Benton Harbor. He also previously taught at DePaul University, Garrett Evangelical-Theological Seminary, and the Lutheran School of Theology in Chicago.
The Parliament extends our heartfelt condolences to his family, his community, and the global interfaith movement.
