Thanks to the support of local organizations,...

Thanks to the support of local organizations, two separate violence-education and prevention programs based in Washington are reaching large audiences in the Southland.

“Cease Fire: Stopping the Gun War Against Children” is the theme of the third annual Children’s Sabbath, a program of the Children’s Defense Fund, being observed this weekend by about 100 Jewish, Protestant, Catholic and Unitarian Universalist congregations in Southern California and more than 10,000 nationwide.

“We’re encouraging every church that has bells to toll them every two hours on Sunday to remind people that a gun takes a child’s life every two hours in this country and that homicide is now the third leading cause of death for elementary and middle-school children,” said Shannon Daley, who directs the religious affairs department of the fund.

“Children’s Sabbath is a pragmatic recognition,” she said, “that launching a movement strong enough to reverse the crises facing children will unquestionably take the leadership and participation of the nation’s religious community--just as the abolition of slavery and the civil rights movements did.”

Speaking from her Washington office, Daley noted that an unprecedented demand arose this year for specialized kits that her organization provides to Protestant, Catholic, Jewish and African American Protestant congregations. The packets include educational curricula and follow-up activities.

The Rev. Ginny Wagener, executive director of the South Coast Ecumenical Council, reports that more than 20 of the group’s member congregations in the South Bay are going all out to participate. The West Side Interfaith Council is also taking part, as are 50 churches in the Los Angeles Episcopal Diocese.

“In the past,” Wagener said, “churches haven’t done a whole lot on these issues. Now we’re seeing we’re all part of this metropolitan community. We’re all involved.”

On Wednesday, a nationwide teleconference, “Violence in the Media,” will be beamed live by satellite from Washington to six sites in the Southland--and 124 others across the United States and Canada.

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The event is sponsored by a broad-based coalition of interfaith and secular organizations. They include the National Council of Churches, the National Foundation to Improve Television, the National Alliance for Non-Violent Programming, United Methodist Communications, the Episcopal Church, the Media Action Research Center Inc., the Center for Media Literacy, Americans for Responsible Television and the National Assn. of Secondary School Principals. Helping them out locally with screening sites and equipment will be United Methodist churches.

As a result, audiences in Claremont, Pasadena, Laguna Hills, Orange, Escondido and Big Bear will be able to talk to a panel of experts by phone hookup, after hearing their presentation at 4 p.m. PDT Wednesday.

Stephanie Graham, who is coordinating the Claremont teleconference linkup, said, “Anybody interested in finding out about media violence--including parents and educators--may attend.”

Panel members include Dr. Joycelyn Elders, U.S. surgeon general, and Elizabeth Thoman, executive director of the Culver City-based Center for Media Literacy.

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“Media literacy means learning to ask the right questions,” Thoman stated. “Its principles apply to racism and sexism as well as violence.” Thoman said that during the conference, she will present part of a “hefty, big project” that her organization has been working on for the past year to “empower communities.” Entitled “Beyond Blame: Challenging Violence in the Media,” it is a video-based curriculum tailored for children of different age groups, teen-agers, adults and parents. The kit, which will be available for purchase in a few weeks, will contain nearly 300 pages of activities, exercises and teaching material, in addition to videotape, she said.

Both the Children’s Defense Fund and the media coalition see their events as catalysts to inspire sustained community efforts to educate against violence.

Congregations interested in receiving kits or information may write: Children’s Sabbath, Children’s Defense Fund, 25-E St. NW, Washington, D.C. 20001, or phone (800) CDF-1200.

Admission to the teleconference in Claremont is $7, which includes a packet of follow-up materials on media violence. Preregistration is required. For information about Claremont or the other sites, phone Graham at (800) 626-7821, ext. 280.

To inquire about the forthcoming video-based curriculum, phone (800) 226-9494.

DATES

* Bel-Air Presbyterian Church and its partner, Faithful Central Missionary Baptist Church of Inglewood, present a benefit concert, “The Gospel Truth,” at 6:30 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 23, at Bel-Air Presbyterian. The Inglewood church’s 100-voice gospel choir will perform, and singers Marilyn McCoo and Billy Davis Jr. will speak. Tickets are $10, with proceeds going to the churches’ outreach programs for the needy. To order tickets, phone Mary Erickson at (818) 788-4210, ext. 137. 16221 Mulholland Drive, Bel-Air.

* “In the Image of God: A Dialogue Between Men and Women on Spirituality” will be offered beginning at 6 p.m. Tuesday at the University of Judaism. Instructors Rabbi Richard Levy, executive director of the Los Angeles Hillel Council, and Carol Levy, Brandeis Collegiate Institute faculty member and former chairwoman of the Council on Jewish Life, will use traditional texts and old and modern stories. For registration information, phone (310) 476-9777.

* “Portrayals of Jewish Women by the Media: Engaging or Enraging?” is a seminar offered by the Jewish Federation’s Women’s Conference Annual Organizations Assembly from 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Thursday in Century City. The panel will include entertainment executives, a journalist and an actress. Registration, including breakfast and materials, is $22. For complete information, phone (213) 852-7712.

* Olya Roohizadegan, who escaped from pre-revolutionary Iran, where she is under a death sentence for her Bahai beliefs, will sign her biography at 6 p.m. and deliver a free public lecture at 7:30 p.m. at the Los Angeles Bahai Center, 5755 Rodeo Road, Los Angeles. (213) 933-8291.

* Two groups to provide free education and support for families dealing with problems of addiction will be available in Santa Monica beginning Wednesday by Gateways Westside Center and Gateways Beit T’Shuvah. One group is for older adults whose adult children or grandchildren are dependent on alcohol or illicit or prescription drugs; the second group is for adult children and grandchildren whose parents are addicted. Preregistration is requested. For complete information, phone (310) 998-5500.

* Agape Church of Religious Science in Santa Monica invites the community to spend Saturday, Oct. 22, helping others. The church has organized 10 projects throughout the city. They include cleaning up the Ballona wetlands, leading blind bicyclists on a bicycle-built-for-two excursion and helping members of a homeless youth organization create costumes for their upcoming Halloween party. Volunteers will meet at the church at 8:15 a.m. for registration and a spiritual service, then car pool to work sites and return to the church at 3:30 p.m. Participation is free; preregistration is recommended. 3211 Olympic Blvd. (310) 837-2040.

* Beginning Monday, Westwood United Methodist Church launches six weeks of study designed to deal with what it calls “one of the most vexing questions facing Christians over the past several decades. How should the Church deal with the unresolved questions related to homosexuality?” The Rev. Melvin Wheatley, retired bishop of the Rocky Mountain Annual Conference, will lead the weekly lecture-discussions from 7 to 8:30 p.m. The series is based on a curriculum developed by the denomination. Registration, $5 for resource materials, is required. For complete information, call the church office at (310) 474-4511.

* Cal State Northridge President Blenda Wilson will be the guest speaker at services at 10:45 a.m. Sunday at the Sepulveda Unitarian-Universalist Society. She will discuss tolerance, change and creative opportunities on campus and in the greater community; 9559 Haskell Ave., North Hills. (818) 894-9251.

HONORS

The School of Theology at Claremont honors Mildred Hutchinson, a longtime social and community activist and benefactor of the school, on her 100th birthday Monday with a celebration and lecture.

Rubin M. Lazar will be feted by the University of Judaism Sunday for a decade of leadership.

Lisa Sharlin, the daughter of Cantor Emeritus William Sharlin of Leo Baech Temple in West Los Angeles, will be installed as cantor at Temple Beth David of Orange County in a festive Sabbath eve service at the Westminster synagogue Friday.

BRIEFLY

A Mass and anointing for people living with AIDS/HIV, their families, friends and care-givers will be celebrated at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 22, at St. Paul the Apostle Church, 10750 Ohio Ave., Westwood. Donations will benefit the Serra Project, housing for men, women and children with AIDS. (310) 474-1527.