The UDC Special Events Committee voted this year to make last year's Festival of Faith, which was held on June 26th at the Los Angeles Baha'i Center in honor of the 60th anniversary of the United Nations, into an annual event.  This year honors the 61st anniversary of the U.N. and the 41st anniversary of the Unity-and-Diversity World Council.  This Festival will be held at 1020 S. Flower St., Los Angeles, on Sunday, June 25th.  Festival time is 3-5 p.m.   It will serve as the climax of the Leadership Convergence Weekend.

The original Festival of Faith was held at the 10th anniversary of the United Nations at the Cow Palace in San Francisco in June 1955 with 16,000 taking part.  John Foster Dulles, then U.S. Secretary of State, was a keynote speaker, with Sir Leslie Munro of New Zealand for the U.N.  The world’s religions were well represented with outstanding speakers and choirs.  The U.N. anniversary sessions began the following day. 

Some of the people who attended or heard about the first Festival were so inspired that they decided to produce a Festival of Faith on April 22, 1956, in Claremont, California.  It was held in Bridges Auditorium with 2,500 people attending.  Governor Goodwin Knight of California, and a former governor of Formosa, K. C. Wu, were the keynote speakers.  Again, the major religions were well represented.

In 1965, the U.N.'s 20th anniversary, another similar event was held at the Cow Palace with 10,000 people participating.  U.N. Secretary General U Thant was the keynote speaker.  The Pope of the Catholic Church sent a delegation of three cardinals to the event, and the people all stood in deep appreciation.

In 1995, the U.N.'s 50th anniversary year, a Festival of Faith was held at Grace Cathedral in San Francisco, with Episcopal Bishop of California William Swing as host.  He was so inspired by the event that he took two major trips around the world to meet with faith leaders, the net result of which was the founding of the United Religions Initiative. 

Now, in 2006, the U.N.'s 61st anniversary, no comparable event is being held anywhere in the world to our knowledge, and our Committee felt that it was very important to continue and develop this long-standing tradition.  The Committee believes that holding the event in central Los Angeles will give it the kind of significance that it deserves.  As a result, it will draw faith leaders, plus U.N. and organizational leaders, that will lend importance to the event and to future cooperative efforts toward a global civilization. 

You are cordially invited to participate in this Festival of Faith and to let others know that it will take place on Sunday, June 25th, at 1020 S. Flower St., Los Angeles.  Please give us your name, address, phone, and e-mail, so that we can keep you updated as to its speakers, choirs, and other features.  Thanks for your cooperation.

UDC Special Events Committee, C/o Unity-and-Diversity World Council,
P.O. Box 661401, Los Angeles, CA USA 90066-9201
Phone: (310) 391-5735, FAX: (310) 827-9187 (call UDC first)
E-mail: udcworld1@yahoo.com; Website: www.udcworld.org
 

Please register me as a participant and/or donor for the Festival of Faith:

Name______________________________Phone (      )_______________ 
Organization__________________________________________________
Email_____________________________Cell phone (      )_____________
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City_____________________State____ Zip_________Country__________

Signature _____________________________________

There is no minimum cost to participate in the Festival, but there will be a love offering.  In addition, advance contributions are encouraged with the following benefits: Sponsors and patrons will be listed in the published program.  Reserved seating will also be provided.

Level of support:  Sponsor, $100 _; Patron, $50____; Other $____ 
Make check payable to UDC World at PO Box 661401, Los Angeles, CA 90066-9201