One World: One Humanity
Faith leaders for hope, dignity, and shared responsibility — a high-level interfaith leadership summit affirming our common humanity in a fractured world.
The Program
Saturday, August 29, 2026 · 8:00 AM – 2:00 PM
Full transcripts of the morning are linked beside each session below.
- 8:00 AM
Registration & Continental Breakfast
Guests arrive. Coffee, chai, and the morning table.
- 8:45 AM
Opening Prayers
An invocation offered across the traditions.
Blowing of the Conch Shell
- Guruji Dileepkumar Thankappan · Co-Chair, Committee of Religious Non-Governmental Organizations, United Nations
Call to Prayer
- Rabbi Amy Roth · Chaplain at The New Jewish Home in New York
- Most Revered Sadhvi Bhagawati Saraswati Ji · International Director, Parmarth Niketan
- Rev. Canon Natalie Hall · Rector, Church of the Redeemer, Squirrel Hill; Episcopal Diocese of Pittsburgh
- Ms. Rachel Bayani · Principal Representative to the United Nations, Bahá'í International Community
- Elder Elizabeth Araujo · Mayan Elder from El Salvador and Guatemala
- Most Venerable Guang Guo Shih · Ling Jiou Mountain Buddhist Society & Museum of World Religions
- Mrs. Fatema M. Biviji · Muslim community, Interfaith Alliance of Irving
- Samani Pratibha Pragya Ji · Jain Nun, Jain Vishva Bharati (JVB)
- 9:00 AM
Setting the Table
Why this gathering, why now.
Opening Address
- H.E. Bawa Jain · Secretary General, The World Council of Religious Leaders
- 9:20 AM
Session One · Moral Conscience
Faith leaders giving hope in a time of widespread despair.
Moderator
- · Director, Department of Inter-Orthodox, Ecumenical and Interfaith Relations, Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America
Speakers
- · Secretary General, Muslim World League (MWL)
- · Chief Executive Officer, Muslim World League (MWL), USA & UK
- · Official, Dicastery for Interreligious Dialogue (Holy See)
- · Veerayatan
- · Dean, The Cathedral Church of Saint John the Divine
- His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of the Armenian Apostolic Church — See of Cilicia
- · Prelate, Eastern Prelacy of the Armenian Apostolic Church of America
Session One: Open Questions and Answers
- 10:15 AM
Session Two · Bridging Power
How leaders can bridge divides across traditions and communities.
Moderator
- · Secretary General, Hindu Dharma Acharya Sabha
Speakers
- · Senior Minister, The Riverside Church in the City of New York
- · Chancellor, Mohamed Bin Zayed University for Humanities (UAE)
- · Founding President, North American Mobeds Council (Toronto, Canada)
- · National Chancellor, Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America
- · General Authority Seventy, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
- · World Buddhist Chinese Sangha Council
Session Two: Open Questions and Answers
- 11:10 AM
Short Break
- 11:20 AM
Session Three · Action & Cooperation
Turning shared resolve into commitments that can be carried forward.
Moderator
- H.E. Bawa Jain · Secretary General, The World Council of Religious Leaders
Guest of Honour
- · Sarsanghchalak, Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh
Speakers
- · President and General Secretary, National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA (NCC)
- · Archbishop Emeritus of Abuja, Nigeria
- · 72nd Pontiff of Sri Adichunchanagiri Mahasamsthana Math
- · Director, Interreligious Affairs, American Jewish Committee
- · President and Imam, Masjid Muhammad, The Nation's Mosque (Washington, DC)
Session Three: Open Questions and Answers
- 12:45 PM
Call to Action
The Call to Action is presented to the Assembly.
Presenters
- Father Emeka Obiezu
- Mr. Qadir Abdus-Salaam
- Ms. Cecilia Schirmeister
- Deacon Johnathan DerGhazarian
- Ms. Mollie Sharfman
- Dr. Kirtan Chauhan
- Ms. Ana Dias
- 12:50 PM
Closing Blessings
Blessings
- · President and Spiritual Head, Parmarth Niketan, Rishikesh
- · Official, Dicastery for Interreligious Dialogue (Holy See)
- · Imam and Director, Jamaica Muslim Center; President, Nusantara Foundation
- · Chief Executive Officer, The Rabbinical Assembly
- · Elder from the Yoruba Tradition (West Africa)
The Way Forward
- Dr. Sudesh Agrawal · Cleveland Clinic
- 1:00 PM
Luncheon
Guests seated together across traditions.
- 2:00 PM
Depart for Madison Square Garden
The day ends not in ceremony, but in consequence.
This interfaith gathering is organized to foster mutual understanding, respect, and dialogue among diverse faith traditions. The views expressed by individual speakers are their own and do not necessarily represent the views of all participating organizations or attendees. The event is not intended to promote partisan political positions or to diminish any faith tradition. All participants are expected to engage in a spirit of respect, harmony, and constructive exchange.