Wednesday Interview - Elisabeth Espersen

We are grateful that Elisabeth Espersen (link to bio) will be our guest with host, Ann Garner. Elisabeth is a pioneer in the Interfaith movement, co-founding the North American Interfaith Network www.nain.org. Prior to serving as Executive Director of Thanks-Giving Square www.thanksgiving.org, she was a Catholic nun. Her classic book, “Meeting in Faith” (1996) became a model and guide for Interfaith groups around the world.
   Elisabeth spearheaded a five-day seminar (1999) that drew participants from 33 countries to discuss the global implications of gratitude and thankful living. World religious leaders attended the gathering, due to her gracious leadership and friendships, including the Chief Tibetan Archivist for the Dahli Lama, Archbishop of Canterbury, Imam Muzamil Siddiqi and Francis Cardinal Arinze, who walked amongst the participants as ‘men amongst men.’
    Upon retiring from Thanks-Giving Square in 2000, she returned to upper state New York, where she continued her contemplative life style and currently serves as assistant to the pastor of a Catholic parish.
    Elizabeth’s visionary insights include, "Today's interfaith organizations have achieved a first level of success by creating structures where diverse religious groups can overcome ignorance and fear of one another. This achievement has created excitement, awe, and gratitude among the participants. Most seem ready for a next level, though they may not know what it is."
    Although Elizabeth does not consider herself a seasoned reader of The Urantia Book, she has read the book twice and will provide valuable insights from her theological perspective.