Media contact: Noelle Lemoine, communications assistant; tele: (413) 597-4277; email: [email protected]
WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass., April 12, 2016—Williams College will host an Interfaith Conference April 15-17 around the topic of “Forgiving the Unforgiveable.” The conference will include two keynote lectures. Audri Scott Williams will speak at 2:30 p.m. on Saturday, April 16, in Griffin Hall, room 3. Bishop Gene Robinson will speak at 11:30 a.m. on Sunday, April 17, in Thompson Memorial Chapel. Both lectures are free and open to the public.
Audri Scott Williams is a World Peace Walker in the Red Flame for Freedom movement, vision keeper, author, and speaker. She is of African and North American Indigenous descent and was inspired by visions to walk the world for peace. Between 2005 and 2008 she and her peace walkers crossed six continents, stopping in communities along the way to give talks, to engage in interfaith dialogues, and to work in service to the community. In her lecture, Williams will discuss the motivation, experience and impact of her global walks for peace and to specifically address her struggle with the trans generational suffering she grappled with along the way.
Williams previously served as the interim global indigenous coordinator for the United Religions Initiative and was the co-convener of the Hidden Seeds Global Indigenous Gathering in Northern California; an apprentice with the Worldwide Indigenous Science Network where she escorted and documented indigenous wisdom keepers around the world; a former dean of instruction at the Institute of Divine Wisdom in Atlanta, Ga.; and dean of continuing education and community service at Charles County Community College. Williams also co-founded a theatrical company, Uprising, in the performing arts in Washington D.C. She currently serves as a trustee on the United Religions Initiative Global Council and is co-founder of the Quantum Leap Transformational Center. She has authored several books including Embers of Glory, and produced documentaries about her journeys.
Bishop Gene Robinson served as an openly gay priest in the Episcopal tradition for over 30 years. He was elected Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of New Hampshire in 2003 after serving as the Canon to the Ordinary (assistant to the Bishop) for nearly 18 years. Robinson is an advocate for full rights and marriage equality for gay, bisexual and transgender people at the state, national and international levels. He has been honored by organizations for his work including the National Human Rights Campaign, the National Gay & Lesbian Task Force, and the Equality Forum. Robinson has also actively promoted AIDS education, awareness and treatment in the U.S. and in Africa. He is a recipient of the Stephen F. Kolzak Media Award. In 2009, Robinson was invited by President Obama to give the invocation at the opening inaugural ceremonies. He is also the subject of two documentary films: Love Free or Die: How the Bishop of New Hampshire is Changing the World and For the Bible Tells Me So. Robinson has authored many books and received numerous awards from national civil rights organizations.
The conference is sponsored by the Lecture Committee, religion department, St. John’s Episcopal Church, First Congregational Church, College Council, MinCo, Office of the Vice President of Student Life, the Davis Center, Williams Catholic, Leadership Studies, Jewish Studies, and the Womens, Gender and Sexuality Studies department. For a full schedule of events, please visit http://chaplain.williams.edu/files/Williams-Interfaith-Conference-Schedule-1.pdf.
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For building locations on the Williams campus, please consult the map outside the driveway entrance to the Security Office located in Hopkins Hall on Main Street (Rte. 2), next to the Thompson Memorial Chapel, or call the Office of Communications (413) 597-4277. The map can also be found on the web at www.williams.edu/map
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Published April 12, 2016
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