North American Interfaith Network (NAIN) was envisioned by a group of leaders from existing interfaith organizations in the US and Canada from 1985 to 1987. In 1988, a North American assembly, hosted by one of the oldest interfaith councils in the US, Interfaith Ministries of Wichita, Kansas, came together as the initiation gathering of NAIN and the first NAIN conference. In 1990, at Seattle, Washington, a constitution for NAIN was approved. NAIN was incorporated as a 501c(3)non-profit organization in the State of New York.
The focus of NAIN’s work has been to support the growth of interfaith understanding by supporting the work of member organizations. NAIN chooses the term “network” to describe its work rather than institution, organization, or association. NAIN has sponsored conferences, now familiarly called “Connects”, held every two years from 1988 to 1996 and then annually every year thereafter.
In between Connects, NAIN networks with member interfaith organizations via an online public website at www.nain.org, and internet members’ worksite, and an online blog NAlNews (http://nainblog.wordpress.com), and electronic newsletter.
The 2013 North American Interfaith Network Connect Toronto was a four-day conference with exciting roster of workshops, plenary keynotes, faith and cultural interactions. At the invitation of the Catholic Archdiocese of Toronto, Rev. Archpriest Zareh Zargarian, Pastor of the Holy Trinity Armenian Church, conducted the Armenian Church Evening Vesper Service assisted by Dn. Nurhan Ipekcian. The prayer took place at the University of Toronto Multi-Faith Centre on Tuesday, August 13, 2013.
Prior to the service, Fr. Zargarian expressed his gratitude for the invitation and briefly introduced the Armenian Apostolic Church history. At the end of the speech, he invited the people present to participate and pray for peace in the world and harmony among people.
