Pluralism Project to host women of all faiths

The third consultation on women’s networks in multireligious America will be held at Harvard University this Saturday (April 27) through Monday (April 29). This consultation builds on two previous conversations hosted by the Pluralism Project, under the direction of Diana Eck, professor of comparative religion and Indian Studies.

The first consultation, held at Harvard in April 2001, served to introduce women leaders from diverse religious communities to one another, and to engage these women in discussions about issues of common concern. The second consultation, held at the Harvard Club of New York City in November 2001, focused on the aftermath of Sept. 11, from backlash against minority religious communities and new opportunities for interfaith efforts, to the increasingly strained nature of Muslim-Jewish relations.

For the third consultation, the Pluralism Project has partnered with former Ambassador Swanee Hunt, director of the Women and Public Policy Program (WAPPP) at the Kennedy School of Government. The consultation will begin with a social gathering on Saturday (April 27) evening at Diana Eck’s Lowell House residence. On Sunday, the consultation will continue with small-group and roundtable discussions at the Barker Center for the Humanities. It will conclude with a public policy day at the Kennedy School of Government on Monday.

The consultation will include representatives from Muslim Women’s League; Jewish Alliance for Law and Social Action; Arab-American Family Support Center; National Council of Churches; Justice for Women; North American Council for Muslim Women; Jewish Orthodox Feminist Alliance; Women’s Alliance for Theology, Ethics, and Ritual; Committee on South Asian Women; Evangelical Lutheran Church in America; Islamic Center of Greater Toledo; Jewish Community Relations Council; Sikh Network; Leadership Conference of Women Religious; The Asian American Support and Resource Agency; World Conference on Religion and Peace, Women’s Program; People for the American Way; The Ford Foundation; The Rockefeller Foundation; The Civil Rights Project, Harvard University; Women’s Studies in Religion Program, Divinity School; and Memorial Church.