Community events

Legislative gathering today

The Interfaith Council is hosting the Eastern Washington Legislative Conference today from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Unitarian Universalist Church, 4340 W. Fort Wright Drive.

The Rev. Dr. Flora Wilson Bridges, author of “Resurrection Song: African-American Spirituality” and the pastor at Madrona Presbyterian Church in Seattle, will discuss her work.

Leaders from local Jewish, Christian and Muslim churches will speak on “Justice Teachings of the Children of Abraham.” The day also will include policy briefings from the Washington Association of Churches, the Lutheran Public Policy Office and Washington State Catholic Conference.

The cost is $20, or $15 per person in groups of five or more.

For more information, call the Interfaith Council at 329-1410 or e-mail info@interfaithnw.org.

Speaker event

Westminster Congregational United Church, 411 S. Washington St., is presenting Rev. Dr. Mel White on Sunday at 6 p.m.

White is the founder and leader of SoulForce, an organization seeking through nonviolent means to eradicate religious teachings that persecute gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered people

He has also ghostwritten for Billy Graham, Jerry Fallwell, Jim Bakker, Pat Robertson and Oliver North.

The event begins at 6 p.m. with a fund-raiser for the United Church of Christ and its efforts with the World Council of Churches to call for a Decade to Overcome Violence. The suggested donation is $65.

Tickets for the presentation at 7 p.m. are $15.

For more information, call the church office at 624-1366.

Tsunami relief

The United Methodist Committee on Relief has set up a Web site to collect donations for the relief efforts in Southeast Asia.

Donations can be made at www.umcor.org, or checks may be mailed to UMCOR, 475 Riverside Drive, Room 330, New York, NY 10015. The checks should be clearly marked “Advance #274305, South Asia Emergency.”

For more information, visit www.umcor.org.

Vacation Bible school benefit

The St. Nicholas Guild of the Episcopal Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist, 127 E. 12th Ave., is hosting a fund-raiser Jan. 30 from 3 to 5 p.m. to benefit the church’s vacation Bible school .

Eckart Preu, music director of the Spokane Symphony, will be on hand for entertainment and hors d’oeuvres, and wine will be served.

Tickets are $7.50. For more information, call the church office at 838-4277.

Christian classes

Adults who are developmentally disabled can now attend basic Christian classes at St. Mark’s Lutheran Church, 316 E. 24th Ave., Sundays at 9:45 a.m.

For more information, call the church office at 747-6677, or call Jim and Alice Nelson at 535-3802.

Christian singles

Spokane Christian Singles, 11410 E. Sprague Ave., is presenting another opportunity for speed dating before Valentine’s Day.

Singles in their 20s, 30s and 40s are invited to come and meet others today at 2 p.m. . Admission is $10. For more information, call 226-7674.