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2023 Chicago

August 14-18, 2023 | McCormick Place Lakeside Center

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This week the Parliament of the World’s Religions has returned to the birthplace of the modern interfaith movement after 30 years away to celebrate 130 years of history in the city of Chicago. Parliament Convenings attract participants from more than 200 diverse religious, indigenous, and secular beliefs and more than 80 nations.

Registrants enjoy access to all the plenary sessions, hundreds of breakout sessions, art & cultural exhibits, performances, a film festival, and countless opportunities to connect with individuals and organizations committed to justice, peace, and sustainability.

The 2023 Parliament of the World’s Religions is hosted at McCormick Place Lakeside Center from August 14-18, 2023.

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A Call to Conscience: Defending Freedom & Human Rights

A Message from PoWR’s 2023 Program Chair→

This Parliament will be the most important and largest gathering of the world’s religious and spiritual leaders, and practitioners, uniting in a collective, courageous, and clear reply to the most dangerous crisis confronting us today – authoritarianism.

This existential, expanding, global scourge is manifesting in tyrants and strongmen who commit crimes against humanity, suppress fundamental freedoms, subvert democracies, and murder the truth with lies. These bullies and despots are pursuing nationalist wars and winking at domestic terrorism, they are fostering hate and the resurgence of anti-Semitism and Islamophobia, misogyny, and racism. And they are attempting to misappropriate religions to justify the unjustifiable.

This is not who we are.

Every faith has, at its core, a summoning to ease the suffering of others and to contribute to a just, peaceful, and sustainable world. Today, the Parliament of the World’s Religions issues its Call to Conscience to people of faith and spirit, to the people of Chicago, to all people of conscience, to stand together in defense of the dignity, freedom, and human rights of all.

We’ll see you in Chicago.

Answer the Call to Conscience

General Admission

$500

Individual general admission ticket

5-day access to all programs

Langar (complimentary vegetarian lunch open to all)

Day Pass

$175

Individual general admission ticket

1-day access on date of choice

Langar (complimentary vegetarian lunch open to all)

Student Pass

$175

For high school and undergrad students with ID

5-day access to all programs

Langar (complimentary vegetarian lunch open to all)

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Featured Luminaries

Voices of PoWR

*Daniel Gomez-Ibanez

Daniel Gómez-Ibáñez served as a founder, trustee, chair, executive director at the Parliament of the World’s Religions, 1988-1994. Founder, executive director, Peace Council, 1994-2007.

*Dharma Master Cheng Yen

Dharma Master Cheng Yen is an inspiring spiritual leader, the founder of the world-renowned Buddhist Tzu Chi Foundation.

*Dharma Master Hsin Tao

Dharma Master Hsin Tao is the founder of the Museum of World Religions, the Global Family for Love and Peace nonprofit, and the Ling Jiou Shan Monastery.

*Dr. Jane Goodall

A groundbreaking scientist, environmentalist, and global leader, Dr. Jane Goodall is the founder of the Jane Goodall Institute (JGI), which builds on Dr. Goodall’s innovative approach to conservation, recognizing the central role that people play in the well-being of animals and the environment.

*Her Excellency Ms. María Fernanda Espinosa Garcés

Her Excellency Ms. María Fernanda Espinosa Garcés is an academic, politician and diplomat with 30+ years of experience, including leadership positions within the Government of Ecuador and at the most senior level of the United Nations.

*Nancy Pelosi

Nancy Pelosi served as the 52nd Speaker of the House of Representatives, having made history in 2007 when she was elected the first woman to serve as Speaker.

*Rainn Wilson

Rainn Wilson is an Emmy nominated and SAG award-winning actor best known for playing the inimitable “Dwight Schrute” for nine seasons on NBC’s, THE OFFICE. His newest book, NYT Bestselling “Soul Boom: Why We Need a Spiritual Revolution” was released April 25, 2023.

*Rev. James Lawson

Rev. James M. Lawson Jr. is an activist, minister, and scholar of the Bible, widely recognized as the pioneer of nonviolence in the American Civil Liberties Movement.

*Secretary-General António Guterres

António Guterres, the ninth Secretary-General of the United Nations, took office on 1st January 2017.Having witnessed the suffering of the most vulnerable people on earth, from refugee camps to war zones, the Secretary-General has centered his efforts on ensuring human dignity for all. In a period of unprecedented global challenges, he has drawn on his […]

*Sir Partha Dasgupta

Sir Partha Dasgupta is the past President of the Royal Economic Society (1998-2001) and Frank Ramsey Professor Emeritus of Economics at the University of Cambridge.

*The Rev. Dr. William J. Barber II

The Rev. Dr. William J. Barber II is the President & Senior Lecturer of Repairers of the Breach and the Co-Chair of the Poor People?s Campaign: A National Call For Moral Revival.

Abbot Shi Yongxin

Venerable Abbot of Songshan Shaolin Temple, Grandmaster Shi Yongxin became an Abbot in 1999. Venerable is the 33rd Generation Shaolin Buddhist Monk and is renowned for promoting the Shaolin Buddhist Culture in China and worldwide.

Achhar Singh

Achhar Singh, has been serving as Executive Secretary, Board of Trustee since April 2022 and has been volunteer since 2007 for Sikh Religious Society Chicago.

Aina-Nia Ayo’dele

Rev. Aina-Nia Ayo’dele is a leadership coach, author, public speaker and ancient wisdom teacher who considers herself a Spiritual Liberation Activist.

Ambassador Rabbi David Saperstein

Ambassador Rabbi David Saperstein is URJ Senior Advisor on Policy and served as US Ambassador for Int’l Religious Freedom in the Obama Administration.

Ambassador Rashad Hussain

Ambassador Rashad Hussain serves as principal advisor to the Secretary and advisor to the President on religious freedom conditions and policy. He leads the Department’s efforts to monitor religious freedom abuses, persecution, and discrimination worldwide.

Anila Ali

Anila Ali is the President of the American Muslim & Multifaith Women’s Empowerment Council.

Attorney General Kwame Raoul

Attorney General Kwame Raoul serves as the 42nd Attorney General of the State of Illinois.

Baba Wande Abimbola

Professor Wande Abimbola, Awise Agbaye, is the Spokesperson for Ifa in the world, founder of Ifa Heritage Institute in Nigeria, and former Vice-Chancellor of Obafemi Awolowo University.

Bhai Sahib Bhai Mohinder Singh Ahluwalia OBE KSG

Bhai Sahib Bhai Mohinder Singh is the Spiritual Leader and Chairman of Guru Nanak Nishkam Sewak Jatha, UK, a charitable organisation with its Headquarters in Birmingham.

Bob Boisture

Bob Boisture is the President of the Fetzer Institute, helping Fetzer adopted its current mission statement, “helping build the spiritual foundation for a loving world.”

Brian J. Grim

Brian J. Grim is the founding president of the Religious Freedom & Business Foundation and works with Fortune 500 companies to include religion and belief as part of their diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives.

Brother Benedict Ayodi, OFMCap

Brother Benedict Ayodi OFM Cap is the Capuchin Franciscan General Curia secretary for Justice, Peace and Ecology.

Cardinal Blase Cupich

Cardinal Blase J. Cupich is an American prelate of the Catholic Church, a cardinal who serves as the ninth archbishop of the Archdiocese of Chicago.

Carroll Muffett

Carroll Muffett is President of the Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL).

Charline Manuel

Rev. Charline Manuel is a New Thought Unity Minister, Unity Urban Seminary faculty educator, and trustee of Unity World Headquarters & PoWR.

Chris Crawford

Chris Crawford is a policy advocate at Protect Democracy. His work is focused on ensuring free and fair elections and the peaceful transfer of power.

Congressman Bobby Rush

Congressman Bobby Rush is a legendary figure in modern African American politics. He serves as a trustee of PoWR and the 2023 Chicago Host Committee Chair.

Cynthia Conti-Cook

Cynthia Conti-Cook is a civil rights attorney and researcher studying the impacts of new technologies on movements for liberation and state systems of control.

Danica Sun

Danica Sun was trained as a Climate Reality Leader in May 2021 and has since risen to co-director of the Climate Youth Coalition.

Dr. Jean Shinoda Bolen M.D.

Jean Shinoda Bolen, M.D. is a psychiatrist, author, Jungian analyst, and an internationally known speaker.

Dr. Mahan Mirza

Dr. Mahan Mirza is the teaching Professor of Islam & Science in the Keough School of Global Affairs at the University of Notre Dame and Director of the Ansari Institute for Global Engagement with Religion.

Dr. Muhammad Abdulghany Hamedeh

Dr. Muhammad Abdulghany Hamedeh is the Chairman of the Council of Islamic Organizations of Greater Chicago (CIOGC)

Dr. Stephen Schlensog

Dr. Stephen Schleng is the Secretary General of the Global Ethic Foundation, founded by Hans Küng in Tübingen, Germany. He is a Catholic theologian and scholar of Hinduism.

Elder Major ‘Moogy’ Sumner

Elder Major ‘Moogy’ Sumner is a world renown performer and cultural ambassador of Ngarrindjeri arts, crafts, martial arts and traditional culture.

Grandmother Mary Lyons

Grandmother Mary Lyons is an Anishinaabe-Ojibwe Elder, a world-renowned Wisdom keeper, humanitarian, activist, and author.

Gus diZerega

Gus diZerega is a Third Degree Elder in Gardnerian Wicca and intensively practiced Brazilian Umbanda.

H.H. Acharya Dr. Lokesh Muni Ji

A versatile thinker, writer, poet and social reformer has been continuously making efforts for National character building, development of human values and establishing non-violence, peace and mutual cooperation in the society for the last 33 years. Dr. Lokesh has been working tirelessly for interreligious and interfaith harmony.

Harvinder Singh Phoolka

Harvinder Singh Phoolka is a Senior Advocate of Delhi High Court, politician, human rights activist, and author.

Jelena Collins

Jelena Collins is the founder of the Climate Youth Coalition, where she helped create green policies.

Jennifer Butler

Rev. Jennifer Butler is the founder of Faith in Public Life to amplify progressive faith voices and forge multi-racial, multi-faith and ideologically diverse faith coalitions to work for justice and the common good.

Jerry White

Jerry White is a social entrepreneur, senior Ashoka Fellow, humanitarian activist, and the Executive Director of the United Religions Initiative.

Justice Rohinton Fali Nariman

Justice R. F. Nariman is the former judge of the Supreme Court of India.

Karen Freeman-Wilson

Karen Freeman-Wilson is the President and CEO of the Chicago Urban League. She brings a passion for equity and social justice to the organization, which works to advance economic, educational, and social progress for African Americans through direct service and advocacy.

Karenna Gore

Karenna Gore is the founder and executive director of the Center for Earth Ethics at Union Theological Seminary in New York.

Kehkashan Basu

Kehkashan Basu is the youngest trustee of PoWR and the founder and President of the global social innovation enterprise, Green Hope Foundation.

Khaled Abu Awwad

Khaled Abu Awwad is the Palestinian co-director of Roots, the Palestinian-Israel grassroots initiative for understanding, nonviolence and transformation.

Khalil Sayegh

Khalil Sayegh is a Palestinian Christian fostering peace & justice in Israel/Palestine, an interfaith advocate, global speaker, and founder of Agora Initiative.

Lewis Cardinal

Lewis Cardinal is the Project Manager for “kihciy askiy–Sacred Land” in the City of Edmonton, Canada’s first urban Indigenous ceremony grounds, and a trustee of the PoWR.

Marianne Williamson

Marianne Williamson is a bestselling author, non-profit and political activist, and spiritual thought leader. For over three decades Marianne has been a leader in spiritual and religiously progressive circles. She is the author of 14 books, four of which have been #1 New York Times best sellers. A quote from the mega best seller “A […]

Mayor Brandon Johnson

The Honorable Brandon Johnson is the Mayor of Chicago, Illinois, USA.

Michael Bernard Beckwith

Michael Bernard Beckwith is the founder of Agape International Spiritual Center and the co-founder and President of the Association for Global New Thought.

Most Respected Muni Shri 108 Praman Sagar Ji Maharaj

Munishree 108 Pramanasagar ji Maharaj, who shows the living form of the utterance of ‘Yatha Naam and Gunah’, is a worthy disciple of Yuga Sagar Sant Shiromani Acharya Shri 108 Vidyasagar Ji Maharaj. His deep-serious knowledge, innocent-selfless behavior and easy-going personality, the personality automatically draws the person towards himself. His unique feature is his simple […]

Ms. Bani Dugal

Bani Dugal is the Principal Representative of the Baha’i International Community to the UN.

Mustafa Abu Sway

Dr. Mustafa Abu Sway is the Integral Chair for the Study of Imam Ghazali’s Work at the Holy Al-Aqsa Mosque and Al-Quds University.

Nitin Ajmera

Nitin Ajmera is the Chair of the Parliament of the World’s Religions, a senior management professional, and a practitioner of the Digambar Jain tradition.

Parisa Khosravi

Parisa Khosravi is a keynote speaker, a strategic adviser and a multi award winning veteran journalist and news executive.

Pastor Chris Harris

Pastor Chris Harris leads Bright Star Church in Chicago’s Bronzeville Community and has ministered in over 24 countries singing Gospel and Jazz.

Phyllis Curott

Rev. HPs. Phyllis Curott is the 2023 Program Chair of the PoWR, creator of the historic 2015 Inaugural Women’s Assembly, and one of America’s first public Wiccan Priestesses.

Preeta Bansal

Preeta Bansal is the Global Chair of the United Religions Initiative and a former chair of the US Commission on International Religious Freedom.

Presiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton

The Rev. Elizabeth A. Eaton is the Presiding Bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.

Prof. Anantanand Rambachan

Anantanand Rambachan is Emeritus Professor of Religion, Saint Olaf College, Minnesota.

Prof. Azza Karam

Dr. Azza Karam serves as the Secretary General of Religions for Peace.

Rabbi Alon Goshen-Gottstein

Rabbi Dr. Alon Goshen-Gottstein is acknowledged as one of the world’s leading figures in interreligious dialogue. He is founder and director of the Elijah Interfaith Institute since 1997.

Rabbi David Rosen

David Rosen KSG CBE is the former Chief Rabbi of Ireland and International Director of Interreligious Affairs of the American Jewish Committee

Rabbi Hanan Schlesinger

Rabbi Hanan Schlesinger is one of the founders of Roots/Shorashim/Judur, a Palestinian Israeli Grassroots Initiative for Understanding, Nonviolence and Transformation.

Rabbi Jennie Rosenn

Rabbi Jennie Rosenn is the Founder and CEO of Dayenu: A Jewish Call to Climate Action.

Rev. Gerald Durley

Gerald Grudzen is an interfaith organizer and the President of Global Ministries University.

Rev. Masanori Takeuchi

Rev. Masanori Takeuchi is the Head Minister of the Konko Church of Chicago.

Rev. Stephen Avino

Rev. Stephen Avino serves as the Executive Director of the Parliament of the World’s Religions.

Robby Romero

Robby Romero is a musician, writer, producer, director, and the founder/president of Native Children’s Survival, a nonprofit Indigenous Peoples Organization in special consultative status with United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).

Shane Claiborne

Shane Claiborne is a prominent speaker, activist, and best-selling author who heads up Red Letter Christians.

Shu-Ming Hu

Sousan Abadian

Sousan Abadi holds a Ph.D. in Political Economy and Government from Harvard University, is a former Franklin Fellow at the U.S. State Department’s Office of International Religious Freedom, Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor.

Steve Sarowitz

Steve Sarowitz is a film producer, business leader, humanitarian, changemaker, Founder and Chairman of Paylocity, Director of Payescape, and partner in Wayfarer Studios.

Swami Ishatmananda

Swami Ishatmananda is a monk of the Ramakrishna Order and president of the Vivekananda Vedanta Society of Chicago and Vivekananda Monastery & Retreat.

Swami Yatidharmananda

Swami Yatidharmananda is the General Secretary of the Swami Sivanand Seva Samiti Sivanand Ashram.

The Rev. Paul Brandeis Raushenbush

The Rev. Paul Brandeis Raushenbush is president and CEO of Interfaith Alliance.

The Rt. Rev. Marc Handley Andrus

The Rt. Rev. Marc Handley Andrus, Ph.D. is the eighth bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of California.

Traci Blackmon

Rev. Traci Blackmon is a trustee of PoWR and the Executive Minister of Justice & Witness Ministries of The United Church of Christ.

Vance Henry

Rev. Vance Henry served as the Chief of Faith Engagement at the Mayor’s Office.

Ven. Karma Lekshe Tsomo

Karma Lekshe Tsomo, a specialist in Buddhist studies, has taught at USD since 2000.

Wa’el Alzayat

Wa’el Alzayat, CEO of Emgage, a national civic engagement organization for Muslim Americans. served with distinction at the U.S. DOS for a decade.

Wajahat Ali

Wajahat Ali is a Daily Beast columnist, public speaker, recovering attorney, and tired dad of three cute kids.

WANG Jianbao

Jianbao Wang is the Director of the Center for the Humanities and Business Ethics at Cheung Kong Graduate School of Business

Yaël Eisenstat

Yaël Eisenstat is the Vice President at the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) heading the Center for Technology & Society (CTS).

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