Calgary interfaith council
LEAVING ROOM FOR HOLY ENVY
4th Tuesday of each month | 3:30 pm on Zoom
30-minute presentation followed by questions.
Register via email daltonharding@gmail.com
September 22 Indigenous Spirituality
October 27 Bahá’í Faith
November 24 Mennonite (Christian)
January TBA Scriptural Reasoning U of C Faith & Spirituality Centre
February 23 Judaism
March 23 Universal Unitarian
April 27 7th Day Adventist (Christian)
May 25 Intercultural Dialogue Institute (Muslim)
The title for this new interfaith series is from Krister Stendahl, dean of Harvard Divinity School and Bishop of Stockholm in the Lutheran state Church of Sweden. He is best known now for his “three rules of religious understanding” — especially the third rule, “Leave room for ‘holy envy,’” which supplied the title of his best-selling book in 2019.
- When you are trying to understand another religion, you should ask the adherents of that religion and not its enemies.
- Don’t compare your best to their worst.
- Leave room for “holy envy.” (By this Stendahl meant that you should be willing to recognize elements in the other religious tradition or faith that you admire and wish could, in some way, be reflected in your own religious tradition or faith.)
We hope that as we discover other faiths in our interfaith literacy series starting this fall we will experience holy envy.
Calgary interfaith council
Since its inception, the Calgary Bahá’í community has been actively involved with the Calgary Interfaith Council (CIC).
Together, we strive to build a more just, inclusive, and respectful Calgary by:
- Deepening relationships across faith traditions
- Celebrating diversity
- Learning from and about one another
Throughout the year, the CIC hosts several high-profile events, all of which are open to the public.
The Calgary Interfaith Council is an all-volunteer organization made up of clergy, lay leaders, and representatives from a wide range of faith communities and institutions.
A Leadership Steering Team provides oversight and guidance for the Council’s activities and organizational responsibilities.
Membership in the CIC is open to clergy, religious lay leaders, and faith-based institutions.
Acts of Reconciliation
Since 2023, a dedicated group of Indigenous Bahá’ís and their friends have been creating a variety of educational and cultural events focused on Reconciliation.
Our goal is to learn together and better understand the lived experiences of Indigenous Peoples in Canada, all the while contributing to the ongoing process of Reconciliation.
To date, our activities have included several Reconciliation Cafés in downtown Calgary, open to everyone. Guests shared powerful stories, and traditional drummers and dancers added beautiful cultural meaning to the evenings.
We also hosted a Blanket Exercise, led by Blackfoot facilitators, offering a moving and eye-opening experience about the impacts of colonization.
Our Reconciliation Book Club gave participants a chance to explore these issues more deeply and discuss how we can all help change the narrative.
We continue to grow friendships and build bridges between Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities. Check back soon for upcoming programs and events. Everyone is welcome to join us on this learning journey!
6th Annual U of C student's union Food Drive
Thanks to the generosity and spirit of the Bahá’í community, we collected over 1000 non-perishable food items to support students experiencing food insecurity.
In addition, a cash donation of $2425 will assist with the purchase of essential supplies.
This initiative not only filled shelves but also strengthened our shared commitment to compassion, equity, and community. Every donation-big or small-made a meaningful difference in helping students focus on their studies without worrying about their next meal.
In an Instagram post, the Student's Union at the University stated: "We're thrilled to recognize the incredible generosity of the Bahá’í community. This kind of compassion goes beyond then numbers. It's powerful reminder of what community care looks like."
A heartfelt thank-you goes out to everyone who donated, volunteered, or spread the word.