Chicago, Illinois – Attendees from all around the world gathered together between August 14-18 at the 2023 Parliament of the World’s Religions to “answer a call to conscience.” This year, The Saint John’s Bible Heritage Program attended the Convening as a sponsor, hosting a booth where three volumes were displayed for the Parliament’s 6,000 attendees to see and experience. In addition, two other volumes were displayed in the Parliament’s art gallery exhibit.
The conference returned to the McCormick Place Lakeside Center in honor of its birthplace of the modern interfaith movement. Since the historic 1893 World’s Parliament of Religions in Chicago, the modern conference has integrated more than 200 diverse religious, indigenous, and secular beliefs into a space of powerful and inspiring discussion. The 2023 theme “A Call to Conscience: Defending Freedom and Human Rights” encouraged attendees to address the most pressing issues of our time: freedom, human rights, and democracy. The Parliament calls on the world “to join hands in defending human rights and freedom at this critical juncture for communities around the globe.”
Programming for the 2023 Parliament of the World’s Religions included presentations and workshops on a diverse number of topics such as “Faith and Democracy,” “Climate Action,” “Women and Girls,” “Faith & Interfaith Understanding,” and “Indigenous Peoples.”
Previous Covenings have been conducted in more than 80 nations with international gatherings in Cape Town (1999), Barcelona (2004), Melbourne (2009), Salt Lake City (2015), and Toronto (2021). Global leaders such as His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama, His All Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, UN Messenger of Peace Jane Goodall, Nobel Peace Laureates Desmond Tutu and Shirin Ebadi, and President Jimmy Carter have attended and addressed the World’s Parliament of Religions throughout its history.
In accordance with the 2023 theme, The Saint John’s Bible chose their featured volumes as they reflect on creation, sustainability, and diversity. Presented at their booth were the Wisdom Books, Gospels and Acts, and Letters and Revelation volumes, and the Pentateuch and Prophets volumes were displayed in the conference art gallery. Hosts of The Saint John’s Bible booth included Meghan Stretar, Assistant Director of The Saint John’s Bible Heritage Program; Tim Ternes, Director of The Saint John’s Bible at the Hill Museum & Manuscript Library at Saint John’s University; Fr. Michael Patella, OSB, Professor and Rector of St. John’s Seminary at the St. John’s School of Theology, and Jason Engel, an oblate with Saint John’s Abbey.
“People from all walks of life and religious tradition and expression came to gaze upon the pages,” said Meghan Stretar, Assistant Director of The Saint John’s Bible Heritage Program. “I didn’t know what to expect going into this week, but to speak with people who were Muslim, Jewish, Buddhist, and everything in between showed me even more how communal this project still is: it draws people in.”
The Saint John’s Bible: Answering the Call to Conscience
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