San Rafael, Calif. (June 30, 2021) — In Defense of Animals’ Interfaith Vegan Coalition announces its first-ever Sermon/Spiritual Presentation Contest on the topic of compassion for all beings. Religious, spiritual, and lay applicants have a full year, from June 30, 2021 to June 30, 2022, to write and deliver their presentations live and/or online before a religious, spiritual, or community group.

“People are searching for answers to the dire challenges faced by humanity, animals and the earth. Spiritual leaders around the world are being called to assist in the greatest spiritual transformation of humanity ever witnessed,” said Judy Carman, co-founder of the Interfaith Vegan Coalition and author of Peace to All Beings and Homo Ahimsa. “The Interfaith Vegan Coalition joyfully invites faith and lay spiritual leaders to share their life affirming voices in our Sermon Contest.”

Seasoned leaders and new voices from diverse backgrounds and wisdom traditions are welcome to apply. Submissions are encouraged in two categories: how your faith/practice supports a vegan lifestyle and how your faith/practice embraces compassion for all animals. Winners in both categories will receive an award and a cash prize of $500. Please review the complete contest guidelines for details.

“We offer this sermon/spiritual presentation contest as a means to spread the message of compassion for all beings far and wide” said Lisa Levinson, of In Defense of Animals and co-founder of the Interfaith Vegan Coalition. “May applicants be inspired to offer more inclusive perspectives on our relationships with our animal neighbors. We hope these interfaith sermons/spiritual presentations will help people around the world to include domestic, farmed, and wild animals in their circles of compassion.”

In Defense of Animals started the Interfaith Vegan Coalition to help animal activists and spiritual leaders bring vegan values to spiritual, ethical, and religious communities. The coalition provides faith-based tools to help all faith and secular wisdom traditions practice the ideals of nonviolence, lovingkindness, and harmlessness toward all animals. The coalition is composed of 34 member organizations, 2 partner organizations, and 2 allies working in harmony for a common cause.

The Interfaith Vegan Coalition thanks our allies at the Unitarian Universalist Animal Ministry (UUAM) for funding one of the prizes. Our contest was modeled directly after the longstanding annual UUAM sermon contest with assistance from coalition member Shamayim: Jewish Animal Advocacy.

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Calling All Religious, Spiritual, and Lay Speakers!

Join our contest to compose and deliver a sermon/spiritual presentation on compassion for animals from June 30, 2021 - June 30, 2022. Winners receive an award and a cash prize!

Submission deadline is August 30, 2022.

Details and guidelines at www.idausa.org/sermoncontest

Contact interfaith@idausa.org with questions.

Images: https://bit.ly/SermonContest

Contacts:

In Defense of Animals, Interfaith Vegan Coalition co-founder, Lisa Levinson, lisa@idausa.org, 215-620-2130
Interfaith Vegan Coalition co-founder, Judy Carman, judycarman@ymail.com, 785-760-2446  
 

In Defense of Animals is an international animal protection organization with over 250,000 supporters and a 37-year history of protecting animals’ rights, welfare, and habitats through education, campaigns, and hands-on rescue facilities in India, South Korea, and rural Mississippi. www.idausa.org

The Interfaith Vegan Coalition (IVC) helps animal activists and spiritual leaders bring vegan values to spiritual, ethical, and religious communities. The IVC provides tools to help all faith and secular wisdom traditions practice the ideals of nonviolence, lovingkindness, and harmlessness toward all animals. www.interfaithvegancoalition.org

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