Western Diocese

On July 20, 2010, the Primate welcomed the Los Angeles Council of Religious Leaders (LACRL) to the Headquarters of the Western Diocese. As we had mentioned in our previous communiqués, the Primate was elected Chairman of the LACRL in May 2010.

The meeting was held at the Armen and Gloria Hampar Reception Room with the presence of the following members: the Primate, the Right Rev. Bishop Jon Bruno - Episcopal Bishop of Los Angeles, Very Rev. Fr. Dajad Dz. V. Yardemian, Vicar General, Rabbi Mark Diamond - Executive Vice President of the Board of Rabbis of Southern California, Rev. Jane Fisler Hoffman - Interim Conference Minister, Southern California Nevada Conference, Rabbi Alan Henkin - Regional Director of Pacific Southwest District, Union for Reform Judaism, Bishop Dean Nelson - Southwest California Synod, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, Bishop Mary Ann Swenson - Los Angeles Area, United Methodist Church, Br. Shakeel Syed - Executive Director, Islamic Shura Council of Southern California, and Rev. Norm Copeland - Presiding Elder - African Methodist Church.

Mr. Mitchell Landsberg, Staff Writer of The Los Angeles, was also invited to the meeting. He was accompanied by Mr. Robert Williams, Canon for Community Relations of the Episcopal Diocese of Los Angeles.

The agenda on the upcoming meeting will include coordinating meetings with the Mayor of Los Angeles, Rev. Jan Olav Flaaten, Executive Director of the Arizona Ecumenical Council, and with Archbishop Jose Gomez, Coadjutor Archbishop of the Catholic Archdiocese of Los Angeles.

The next meeting of the LACRL will be held on August 18, 2010 at the Episcopal Diocese of Los Angeles. It will be hosted by the Right Reverend Bishop Jon Bruno.