Conference Discussion Leaders
We plan the conference to run in a reflective, interactive, collegial, and consultative mode. All of us have ample opportunities of sharing our ideas as the others learn and listen with full attention. Traditional hour long lecture style presentations followed by questions and answers at the end will be avoided or minimized. We will have many discussion leaders and facilitators rather than presenters. As of now, here is the list which continues to grow. We invite you to be a discussion leader. To apply, please send us an e-mail with your cv, picture and topic: info@spiritualeducation.org.
Anne Quinn Wallace
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Anne Quinn Wallace SRN, SCM, MTD, U.K. B.A., MTS, DSD, Canada Anne is a Spiritual Director and Retreat Leader. |
She has had a successful career in nursing and midwifery, working in England, Scotland, Channel isles, France and Spain, as well as her native Ireland.
In Canada she has worked as a Nursing Educator.
Anne studied Buddhism and has practiced meditation for many years, under the guidance of Shinzen Young, a Zen master.
Upon retirement, from her career, she walked The Camino de Santiago as a discernment process and subsequently entered the Jesuit College at the Toronto School of Theology where she completed a Master’s Degree in Theology and a Diploma in Spiritual Direction. She presently teaches at Regis College in the Spiritual Direction program.
She is an active member of Interfaith Grand River and of St Jerome’s University Community and she offers spiritual direction to people in the Kitchener Waterloo region. She now provides her services at Loyola Retreat centre in Guelph and conducts a weekly meditation session for people of all faiths in the KW area.
Anne’s interest today has been sparked by Pope Francis’ Encyclical, Laudato Si , on the environment and she is passionate about helping people to become more conscious of our connection to one another and all things on this earth. She believes that meditation, as a means of raising awareness, is a great step in helping people to develop compassion for all life.
Bob Chodos
Professionally, Bob Chodos works as a writer, editor and translator. He has also been an active member of Temple Shalom, Waterloo Region’s Reform Jewish congregation, for more than thirty years, and has participated in a number of interfaith organizations and dialogue groups.
From 1987 to 1997 he was the editor of the award-winning Canadian Jesuit magazine Compass, and subsequently co-authored a biography of the prominent Canadian Jesuit Bill Ryan. He also was editor of the Canadian Forum, a member of the editorial cooperative that published the alternative Canadian newsmagazine Last Post in the 1970s, and an editorial board member of the groundbreaking multifaith publications Vox Feminarum and Voices Across Boundaries. Since 2003 he has been managing editor of Inroads: The Canadian Journal of Opinion. His books have covered topics such as the Canadian Pacific Railway, Canadian influence in the West Indies, relations between Quebec and the United States, and globalization. He has also edited numerous books written by other people, most recently Shiv Talwar’s The Common Ground, Vol. 1.
At Temple Shalom he has been principal of the religious school, congregation president, chair of the ritual committee and a lay service leader, and as a member of Interfaith Grand River he helped produce a book to mark the organization’s tenth anniversary (2011) and a special issue of the theological journal Consensus, and participated in the organization’s successful effort to end the distribution of Gideon Bibles in public schools. He has reviewed a manuscript for the Dalai Lama, lit Chanukah candles in a mosque, co-led a bar mitzvah service with a Unitarian minister, and said the mourner’s kaddish in front of an altar to the Goddess Brighid.
Bob Chodos lives in New Hamburg, Ontario.
Christine Grauer
Christine completed a Master of Science degree in Human Biology and Nutritional Science and a post-graduate Certificate in Adult Learning from the University of Guelph and has spent her entire career in adult education and training. She's been a spiritual seeker for the past 20 years and continues to be a fervent student of life. She's a mother, an editor, a writer, a speaker, a life coach, a yogi, a runner, a renovator and a corporate nine-to-fiver. She completed Reiki Certification, Energy Codes training in Bioenergetic Medicine, Breathing for Better Health and Wellness training, and an intensive Spiritual Life Coach Certification program. Through extreme life challenges and her self-discovery and training, Christine has realized the essence of her True Being. Regardless of external conditions, she now lives each day with joy, vitality, unconditional happiness and love, and she is an unstoppable force in helping others to experience the same in their lives.
Darrol M Bryant
Darrol Bryant did not just read books on different religions. He immersed himself in Hinduism, Sikhism, Zoroastrianism and others. He stayed in Buddhist monasteries in Korea and Japan, visited Mosques in Jordan, Israel, Turkey, and China. He has engaged Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs, Tibetan Buddhists, Parsees and Christians in India – he has been to India more than 20 times. It is these encounters – and subsequent friendships – that have shaped his life and attitude towards the world’s religious pathways, these manifold ways to meaning.
Distinguished Professor Emeritus and currently Director of the Centre for Dialogue & Spirituality in the World Religions at Renison University College/University of Waterloo, he was educated at Concordia College (BA Philosophy & Political Science), Harvard Divinity School (STB, Theology), and the Institute of Christian Thought, St. Michael’s University College (PhD, Special Religious Studies). He taught at Waterloo Lutheran University (now Wilfrid Laurier) 1967-69 and Renison College, University of Waterloo (1973-2007). He is the author/editor of more than 25 volumes in the study of religion, most recently, the 3rd edition of Religion in a New Key and three volumes of Ways of the Spirit: Celebrating Dialogue, Diversity & Spirituality, Ways of the Spirit: Voices of Women, and Ways of the Spirit: Persons, Communities & Spiritualities.
In 2016, he convened a Contemplative Seminar on Practices of Compassion in Hyderabad, India, together with his good friend, the Venerable Doboom Tulku.
Emi Miller
Emi Miller, R.N., HN-BC, L.Ac, ND
For more than forty years Emi Miller has dedicated her life to seeking wisdom from the heart of the world’s religious and spiritual traditions. During this time she has developed and led Interfaith peace circles, meditation, sound and breath-work classes and seminars, healing services, and prayer services throughout the United States and in Europe. She is a Licensed Acupuncturist, NCCAOM Certified, Asian Bodywork Therapist, and a traditional Naturopath. She is a Registered Nurse, a Certified Holistic Nurse, and an Interfaith, Stephen Minister. She has owned and managed an Integrative, Holistic Health practice for twenty-five years. Miller has taught Natural Medicine, Acupuncture, Five Element, Meditation, Interfaith and Breath and Sound classes in universities, private and public schools and hospitals to nursing and medical students, as well as Natural Medicine students and practitioners, and the lay public, and has published many Integrative Medicine, Interfaith and Spirituality articles, in professional journals, magazines and newsletters. She has recently published her first book, “In Wisdom's Light, A Message of Peace for All People,” a compilation of Interfaith poetry and prose which is available on Amazon.com, and she leads a poetry critique group. She is also the founder of the Multi-Region URI Wisdom’s Circle, dedicated to elevating consciousness, through Interfaith education, holding world-wide prayer and meditation days, and has had a world-wide following of her poetry and Interfaith writings, posted on her public and private websites, for 18 years.
She is currently working on the second and third volumes of In Wisdom’s Light. You can contact her through: www.emispoetryandprose.dreamhosters.com, or through her website: www.integrativeholistichealth.org
Garima Talwar Kapoor
Garima Talwar Kapoor is the Director of Policy and Research with the Maytree, a charitable foundation that works to advance systemic solutions to poverty through a human rights approach. Prior to joining Maytree, Garima served as Manager, Income Security Policy with the Ontario Ministry of Finance and spent several years with the Ontario Public Service in various other roles. She is passionate about understanding how changes in the labour market and economy impact population health and our social fabric, and developing policy initiatives that can help strengthen the income security system.
Garima holds a Master of Public Health from the University of Toronto, and a Bachelor of Public Affairs and Policy Management from Carleton University.
Garima is interested in understanding how various sectors of society, governance, education, civil society, community and private industry, can work together to improve health, harmony and well-being of people worldwide. She is passionate to contribute in the area of equity, inclusivity and community capacity building to see unity in diversity.
Louise Mangan
Louise is passionate about grounding regenerative change in heart-mind practices that connect us with our inner teacher, one another, and the natural world. She cherishes the ancient Wisdom that "All is One" and Centring Prayer is her regular practice.
Louise received her BA from UBC, ministry foundations from Vancouver School of Theology, and MDIV from Toronto School of Theology. She trained as a spiritual guide and mentor with Pacific Jubilee Associates.
As a young mother Louise co-founded the Maternal Health Society, and chaired the interdisciplinary Midwifery Task Force that launched the legalization of midwifery care in BC. She served on the first Advisory Committee for BC Women’s Hospital, and for two terms on the Ethics Committee of Women’s and Children’s Hospitals.
In her role as an ordained minister of the United Church of Canada, Louise worked with five congregations in Ontario and BC, and co-founded a contemplative justice ministry in Vancouver known as the Pacific InterChristian Community. Just prior to retiring from congregational ministry, she co-authored Living the Christ-Life: Re-Discovering the Seasons of the Christian Year, published by Woodlake Books.
Louise was part of the founding executive of the InterSpiritual Centre of Vancouver Society, and has worked with the ISC in varying capacities since 2004. She coordinated the ISC's leadership team for the Salish Sea Bioregional Gathering in 2017, in association with the United Religions Initiative (URI). Following the bioregional gathering, Louise and the other members of the ISC Board re-generated the ISC as the nonprofit "Interspiritual Sustainability Council."
The new ISC focusses on building a better world by connecting peoples, places and grassroots networks in British Columbia to collaborate in the urgent work of environmental, spiritual, social and economic resilience. The ISC is one of five founding Cooperation Circles in the URI's global Planetary Wellbeing Multi-Cooperation Circle. The Planetary Wellbeing coalition affirms that contemplative practice contributes to sustainable peace-building by supporting transformative learning and the inner experience of "oneness".
Milton Markewitz
While working for IBM (1965-1991) Milt was able to live and work abroad -- Europe, South America, and the Far East where he learned to appreciate how differently various cultures approach life -- how they plan, design, live their lives, bond as cultures, relate to the world of nature, and address their spirituality. His orientation was projects -- creation, design, implementation and management, and included programming systems, product design, and organizational improvements.
Since retiring he has Co-founded a non-profit whose mission was to bring Learning Organization concepts and principles to Oregon’s public elementary and secondary education; led a task force to define an ‘excellent education system’ around purpose, principles, and best education practices -- linking public education to the long range quality of life, civility, and economic goals of their communities; coordinated a community project to define their desired future in terms of balanced sustainability in a ‘Learning Community’ partnership with their public schools; Authored an Education Workbook, Appreciative Sustainability: Co-Creating our Ethical Compass; President of the Earth & Spirit Council & member of the American Indian Institute; taught Living Systems, Archetypes for Sustainability, Curve of Hope w/ Sustainability Definition based on Ecological and Social balance and harmony to Elementary thru Graduate classes; Co-chaired the Interfaith Council of Greater Portland; Co-Authored, Language of Life: Answers to Modern Day Crisis in an Ancient Way of Speaking; and am now an Advisory Council Member of the Self Design Graduate Institute, as well as Vice Council Chair of Pull Together Now a 501-c-3 where we amplify the voices of those Peoples who have lived in balance and harmony with the Earth for millennia.
Robyn Lebron
Robyn E. Lebron grew up travelling the world with her military family, so she made friends with everyone, regardless of color or religion. The belief that we are all God's children has stayed with her all her life. Her current passion is to help people to learn to love one another regardless of religious or spiritual beliefs. She has spent the last 12 years researching and writing books to help people learn about other faith practices in an effort to find common ground.
Ms. Lebron currently works as Executive Assistant to the founder of 501c3 Global Prosperity and Peace Initiative. The current focus is the implementation of the International Youth Parliament, where youths ages 16-29 will be trained and mentored to become better, more peaceful leaders of tomorrow. In her spare time, she manages Interfaith Professionals on LinkedIn, has written articles for United Religions Initiative, Harmony Interfaith Initiative, The Interfaith Observer and has written several books on comparative world religions. She has appeared on radio podcasts for The Voice of Islam and The American Diversity Report.
Her latest books have been awarded 2018 Best in Class for DeRose-Hinkhouse Memorial Award for Excellence in Religious Communication, given annually by Religion Communicators Council. She has also been recognized internationally by The Books For Peace Commission 2019 for those who have distinguished themselves in the activities of peace and solidarity.
“As those of us who are passionate about Interfaith know, it is important to be open to new concepts and be willing to change our personal views to embrace others who believe differently than ourselves. In order to open our views, we must educate ourselves on beliefs that are different than our own. Only in this way can we change the way we see each other and move the discourse away from distrust and misunderstanding to peaceful dialogue. It is more than just tolerance, as tolerance suggests hesitant acceptance. But as we strive to find that important balance of honoring all humankind, and treasuring our own beliefs, the bridge is accurate knowledge of the other.” ~ R Lebron
Rodger Ricketts
Rodger R. Ricketts, Psy.D., is a clinical psychologist and mindfulness meditation teacher. He has been studying Buddhism for over thirty years, both in his own transformative quest and in the application of meditation as a therapeutic tool in psychotherapy. Rodger has given numerous presentations at wellness and professional psychological conferences on the topic of mindfulness and wellbeing. Rodger continues to study both science and Buddhism, meditate, and teach mindfulness.
The Conference theme of Lived Feelings of Unity in Diversity is of vital importance for the Wellbeing and Actualzed living of all sentient Beings on this Earth. The alternative is Seperation, Alienation, Discord and Suffering and this ignorant human orientation can and needs to change This conference will be to educate and advocate for practical measures to change from the ignorance of Seperation to the Enlightenment of Onenesss in All. The principles underlying that change have been very much a focus of Rodger’s thought and research for years.
Author- Buddhist inspired psychology- books/ blogs, 2010-present
Psy.D. Clinical Psychology,
The Chicago School of Professional Psychology
Graduated 1988
Shirley Lynn Martin
Shirley Lynn Martin is passionate about helping people experience the inner peace and joy that comes with awakening and embodying the “gracious and infinite Presence” that is the essence of everything. She nurtures her passion in the friendships and friendly exchanges of kinship she encounters in her everyday life and work.
Shirley Lynn finished her MTS at CGUC, her MDiv with AMBS and then went on to become a Reiki Master/Teacher, a certified life and spiritual development coach, and ordained (Rev) with the Bancroft Centre for Spiritual Awakening. In her years as a psychotherapist, Shirley Lynn was introduced to Restorative Circle training and then went to complete her conflict and mediation certificate at CGUC, with an emphasis on peacekeeping circle. She further trained in the Circle Way with Christina Baldwin and Ann Linnea to bring opportunity through her Peace Circle where people could gather to share heartfelt stories and deepen spiritual community in a ‘friendly’ manner.
Shirley Lynn works with clients and teaches workshops supporting people in deepening their connection to Spirit and their understanding and embodiment of ‘oneness’ in the everyday relationships of their lives and community. She enjoys helping people find and create new meaning beyond the traumas, conflicts and chaos that have derailed them. Unity and diversity is a way to engage with others, to re-discover community and heal the brokenness through new friendships and acts of service. Her more recent experience of living out this unity and diversity is with being a core helper and ally and core walker with the ALL NATIONS GRAND RIVER WATER WALK, 2018-2022, led by Mary Anne Caibaiosai, an Anishinaabe Elder, Bear Clan originally from Manitoulin Island. The GRWW is an Anshinaabe ceremony in the footsteps of the late Josepine Mandamin, an Anishinaabe Elder. She has honoured the water by walking around all the Great Lakes. This ceremony of walking is to help the water (Nibi), to sing for her, offer her good words and prayers, that she/Nibi will become clean.
Shirley Lynn recently completed her certification as a professional dog trainer (CPDT), a side career, and along with walking in ceremony for the water, seeks to understand what it means to live in unity and diversity, in community ‘with all our relations’, respecting multiple species’ purpose and need for well-being that expresses itself different from our human ways, though they have been asked to live as members of our families and communities.
Shiv Talwar
Shiv Talwar received his undergraduate degree in civil engineering from the Punjab University, India and his graduate degrees from Lehigh University, USA and the University of Waterloo, Canada.
Shiv retired from his career of teaching civil engineering in 1996 and established Spiritual Heritage Education Network Inc. in 2000 with the mission of researching, developing, delivering and promoting education to cultivate deep feelings of unity in diversity. Shiv has served as its President since its inception.
Shiv owes his spiritual education to his parents, his school teachers in India and his mentor, Swami Vishwatma Bawra to whom he is eternally indebted.
Shiv has been researching how religions may be many but their core wisdom is one. He just completed the manuscript of a book entitled The Common Ground: A Unified Basis for Existence. This book is expected to be published before the conference begins. It is a study of vedic wisdom, that of Abrahamic traditions, Chinese Taoism and modern science to show how various religious traditions are underlain by the same wisdom which is also the summit of scientific discovery.
Steve Farrell
Before Steve Farrell co-founded Humanity’s Team with bestselling author Neale Donald Walsch, he co-founded and led two high-growth technology companies based in Silicon Valley in the 1990s that spanned across both the United States and Europe, were featured on the INC 500 list, and were each operating at more than $75 million in revenue.
By that time, Steve was also an officer in both the Young Entrepreneurs’ Organization and the Young President’s Organization, but he walked away from all of it when he felt a calling to instead play an active role in creating a movement that could help people across the globe connect more deeply with the Oneness of all of Life and the Divine energy of the Universe.
Steve is the Worldwide Executive Director of the Humanity’s Team non-profit organization and a member of the Evolutionary Leadership Council. He lives with his wife Stephanie and his two children in Boulder, Colorado.
Steve will remotely address us to open the conference proceedings.
Susan Brown
Susan Brown is interested in developing and building community, and has always had a special passion for children, education and communication. She founded an independent elementary school in 1987 and steered the direction of the school as an administrator and teacher for twenty years. The focus of the school was to support children to become independent, self-reliant learners through relationship, firstly with family and secondly with the school community.
Susan has been meditating for 35 years and is a practicing Tibetan Buddhist. She has studied with Venerable Zasep Tulku for seven years. The practice sustains and supports her, allowing her to have the strength to transform her environment, both inside and out. Susan is interested in working with people to nourish and nurture groups and individuals, both locally and internationally. She feels it is an important time for people to come together in love, mutual respect, compassion and wisdom, in the spirit of open and direct dialogue.
Susan is an active Convener of the InterSpiritual Sustainability Council in Vancouver BC.
Yasuo Fuji
Born in Toyama, Yasuo Fujii is currently the CEO for Celestial Incarnation Inc. Based on the "Four Noble Truths" which is the basis of Buddhism, he designed the Leadership Education and Mentor Program. The Mentor Program is intended to solve the many problems people face on their journey that is life. In 2013, Yasuo founded the Wakeners Foundation whose goal is to make world peace a reality. Through the foundation, he started the Mentor Certification Program, which currently has students not only in Japan, but also throughout Asian countries such as China, Singapore and Vietnam.
Yasuo will present a workshop in Daishuten comprising subtle skills in the practice of Qigong, a style of marshal art to train attention so very necessary to enable us to see our connectivity with all that exists.