MUSLIM LIBRARY: The first Muslim lending library...

MUSLIM LIBRARY: The first Muslim lending library in the San Fernando Valley area will mark its opening at 7 p.m. today in its building at 7219 Jordan Ave., Canoga Park.

About 500 books, the majority of them in English but many in Arabic and Spanish, will be available for borrowing by the public, said Khaled Soliman, a prime organizer behind the library and educational center, which is a project of the Islamic Schooling Foundation.

Islamic studies and classes in Arabic are being offered as well as art and karate classes for youths.

A long-range objective of the foundation is to establish a Muslim High School, according to a foundation brochure. For information, call (818) 883-1625.

INTERFAITH PANEL: “Should Human Life Ever Be Deliberately Terminated?” will be discussed Thursday night in Northridge by a panel assembled by the San Fernando Valley Interfaith Council.

The speakers are Pravrajika Bhaktiprana of the Vedanta Society of Southern California, a Hindu group; Abdel Khineche of Valencia, a Muslim representative; the Rev. Philip Price, pastor of Woodland Hills Community Church, and Rabbi Morris Rubinstein of Valley Beth Israel, Sun Valley.

Continuing as moderator in the council’s series of panel discussions is the Rev. Jeff Utter, pastor of the Congregational Church of Chatsworth.

There is no charge to attend the program at Northridge Seventh-day Adventist Church, 17700 Plummer St. For more information, call spokesman Sam Alster at (818) 343-1205.

CLERGY INTEGRITY: The Rev. Jack Hayford of Van Nuys’ Church on the Way will give luncheon talks next week at two conferences focused on the personal and professional integrity of pastors and other clergy.

The identical five-hour conferences will be held Thursday at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Long Beach and Friday at the Pasadena Hilton Hotel. Other speakers include the Revs. Judith Roska of Pilgrim Congregational Church in Pomona and H. B. London, a vice president at Focus on the Family Ministries, Colorado Springs, Colo.

“This seminar is especially directed to men and women in ministry of all faiths, including clergy spouses,” said Ron Beams, director of the sponsoring clergy relations office of the Glendale-based Forest Lawn Memorial-Parks. Registration is $45. For information, call (213) 340-4741.

PROPOSITIONS: Woodland Hills Community Church will hold public forums on Propositions 187 and 186 the next two Wednesday nights, featuring pro and con speakers for the two state initiatives on the Nov. 8 ballot.

Proposition 187, regarding social services for illegal immigrants, will be endorsed by Ezola Foster of the Save Our State Campaign and opposed by Paul Markowitz of the California Teachers’ Assn.

On Oct. 26, Felita Waxman of the League of Women Voters will speak for Proposition 186, the single-payer health-care initiative, and a representative of the Taxpayers Against Government Takeover will argue against it.

Time for questions will be allowed and child care provided at both forums. For information, call (818) 346-0820.

PEACE NOW: Jerry Freedman Habush of Van Nuys will serve as a part-time regional director for Americans for Peace Now, a three-city U.S. group supporting the efforts in Israel of Shalom Achshav (Peace Now) to encourage peace, justice and security work between Arabs and Jews in the Middle East.

Elaine Hoffman of Encino, who with her husband, Jack Cherbo, owns Cherbo Publishing, was also named as co-chair of the Los Angeles area advisory board for the national body.

AMERICANS UNITED: Nearly 75 people attended a meeting Wednesday night of Americans United for Separation of Church and State, the nationwide body that seeks to organize a San Fernando Valley chapter, said organizer Harry Schwartzbart of Chatsworth.

“It was a good turnout,” said Schwartzbart, who said a steering committee was being formed. He said he expected the chapter to be operating in two to three months.

BRASS SOUNDS: The Modern Brass Quintet will perform a variety of works at 7 p.m. Sunday at Salem Lutheran Church, 1211 N. Brand Blvd., Glendale, as a part of that church’s EvenFest Concerts. An offering will be taken and refreshments will follow the concert. For information, call (818) 243-3193.

GUEST SERMON: John Gerstner, professor emeritus at Pittsburgh Theological Seminary and a visiting professor at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, Deerfield, Ill., will speak on “theology for the layman” at the 9:30 and 11 a.m. services Sunday at Valley Presbyterian Church, 9200 Haskell Ave., North Hills.

FAMILY CHANGES: The Rev. Janet Fishburn, acting dean of Drew University Theological School in Madison, N.J., will be the featured speaker next Saturday in La Canada at a conference on the effects of cultural change on families.

Sponsored by Presbyterian churches in the San Fernando and San Gabriel valleys, the cost is minimal but registrations must be in by Monday. Call (818) 891-4781 for information.