The document A Call to Our Guiding Institutions served as the centerpiece for the working sessions of the Assembly. The Call—the result of a three-year drafting process—is addressed to eight of the world’s most powerful and most influential institutions, inviting each to reflect on and redefine its role for a new century.

This document was introduced at the 1999 Parliament of the World’s Religions in Cape Town, South Africa. The Call to Our Guiding Institutions is an appeal for active, ongoing dialogue about the creation of a just, peaceful, and sustainable future.

One of the most exciting and rewarding dimensions of the 1999 Parliament was the Gifts of Service project. PoWR staff worked for nearly two years to identify communities and groups willing to offer their “Gifts” (projects undertaken to relieve suffering, promote harmony, and build a better world) on the occasion of the Parliament Convening. At the Registration center in Cape Town, participants received, along with their Program catalog and copy of the event’s signature document, A Call to Our Guiding Institutions, a copy of the 1999 Book of Gifts, with descriptions of over 300 projects now underway in various parts of the world.

The Next Generation coordinator in South Africa,engaged the younger children of Cape Town through the Peace Flags Project. The project served as a vehicle to bring together the children of Cape Town. Moreover, selling Peace Flags raised funds to cover costs for the Next Generation plenary, to provide food and transportation for participants from the townships, as well as other miscellaneous costs related to the Next Generation. Flags lined the streets and decorated venues during the event.

In Zulu, Vukani means “wake up” –– a fitting name for the Parliament’s daily newsletter. Each day in the Cape Times, one of Cape Town’s leading newspapers, a special section was devoted to the Parliament. Each issue contained photos and coverage of the day’s events, including: highlights for upcoming days; interviews with presenters, participants, and religious and spiritual leaders; schedule changes and corrections; and other daily news. Vukani proved to be a wonderful source of information for Parliament participants and for all Capetonians.

In addition to the morning prayer and meditation sessions, each evening a moving half-hour celebration (readings, song, and prayers from various communities) was held in the lovely outdoor setting of the District Six Stage (and on one occasion at the Good Hope Centre, prior to the evening plenary session). Religious leaders from many traditions offered prayers and blessings, and a rich variety of musical offerings made these celebrations an unforgettable part of the Parliament experience for many participants.

Some of the most exciting and informative programs at the Parliament took place in the context of Symposia. Each Symposium was an extended series of presentations, discussions, workshops, etc., focused on a single topic or issue; each extended from 1–7 days. All but one of the Symposia were held in the Robert Leslie Building at the University of Cape Town. The South Africa Forum was convened in the Commerce Auditorium on the Cape Technikon campus.