Los Angeles Police Chief Willie L. Williams,...

Los Angeles Police Chief Willie L. Williams, along with a Who’s Who of local theologians and a smattering of visiting experts, will address a conference, “Violence: Reign of Terror, Reign of God,” at the School of Theology at Claremont next week.

Organizers pointedly scheduled the gathering during Lent, traditionally a time for reflection and study. The five denominational schools on the Claremont campus consider the event so important that they have rearranged classes every day next week so that most of the 350 seminarians can attend. In addition, about 100 pastors and lay people are expected, said the Very Rev. Mary June Nestler, dean of the Episcopal Theological School.

Nestler said Williams’ plenary address at 2:30 p.m. Monday will be important. “This is his opportunity to talk to the religious community,” she said. “We are very anxious to hear what responses (to violence) he hopes the religious community can make.”

Another highlight will be a plenary address at 1:30 p.m. Tuesday by Walter Wink, a professor at Auburn Theologian Seminary in New York. Wink is the author of “Engaging the Powers,” an examination of evil and violence.

Delivering the closing sermon at 10 a.m. Friday will be the Rev. James Forbes, senior minister of the Riverside Church in New York, whom Nestler called “an exciting orator--possibly the best preacher on the planet.”

Nestler will deliver the opening sermon at 1:30 p.m. Monday. She will focus not on the perpetrators of violence, she said, but rather on “the church’s need to first heal the brokenhearted--the victims of violence and people afraid of living in a violent world.”

The conference’s goal is “to be as practical as we possibly can,” she said. “Workshops will give participants real information and real tools to help their ministry.”

Among the more than 30 scheduled speakers are: Claremont’s Rev. Michael Mata, director of the Urban Leadership Institute; Professor Mary Elizabeth Moore, co-director of the Center for Process Studies and president of the national Religious Education Assn., and the Rev. Cornish Rogers, founding director of the Urban Ministries Study Program.

Community activists include Father Gregory Boyle, a Jesuit priest known for his work with gangs in East Los Angeles; the Rev. Romie Lilly, executive director of the Southern Area Clergy Council of Los Angeles; and the Rev. Cecil Murray, whose First AME Church runs 30 social action task forces, including health, substance abuse prevention and services for the homeless.

Media experts include Prof. Brian Stonehill of Pomona College, Prof. Jack Coogan of the School of Theology at Claremont, and the Very Rev. Patricia Greig Bennett, rector of St. Barnabas Episcopal Church in Pasadena and dean of the West San Gabriel Valley Deanery of the Episcopal Diocese.

Artists, counselors and specialists in Korean and feminist theology will also speak. The public may attend all or part of the conference, to be held Monday through Friday. For a schedule of speakers, workshops and registration fees, phone (800) 626-7821, Ext. 262.

DATES

* Arcadia Congregational Church will present a special free Lenten series, “Soup and Cinema,” beginning at 6 p.m. Wednesday and continuing for five Wednesdays. A simple meal will precede the screening of films including “Romero,” “Tender Mercies” and “Shadowlands.” For information and reservations, call (818) 447-8053.

* Centenary United Methodist Church in Little Tokyo will consecrate its new sanctuary with a 10:30 a.m. dedication service Sunday. Bishop Roy Sano, Episcopal leader of the California-Pacific Annual Conference and a former minister at the church, will preside. 300 S. Central Avenue, Los Angeles. (213) 617-9097.

* St. Matthew Orthodox Christian Church in Torrance will hold its first service at its new location at 10 a.m. Sunday. 2368 Sonoma Avenue. (310) 371-2120.

* Lama Tharchin Rinpoche, spiritual head of the Nyingma school of Tibetan Buddhism, will speak on how to realize the wisdom of the Dakini, or female form of Buddha, at 8 p.m. Wednesday at the University Religious Conference, 900 Hilgard Ave., Westwood. Donations accepted. (310) 208-5055 or (310) 202-0832.

* Clinical psychologist Michael French, a specialist in family issues, will discuss how to develop marriages and prevent their failures within our society from 7 to 9 p.m. Thursday and March 16. His talks are sponsored by the Institute for Christian Ministries of the University of San Diego. Admission is $20 in advance, $25 at the door. Serra Hall Room 312. (619) 260-4784.

* Michael Lerner, founder and editor of Tikkun magazine, will speak on “Jewish Renewal: How Can We Make Judaism Emotionally, Ethnically, Spiritually Nourishing?” at 8 p.m. Thursday in the University of Judaism’s Gindi Auditorium. Feminist theology expert Susannah Heschel, a professor at Case Western Reserve University, will respond. The discussion is part of a series. For ticket information, phone (310) 476-9777, Ext. 244.

* Glendale Presbyterian Church will present “Worship and Waiting: A Healing Conference,” from 6 p.m. Friday through 8 p.m. next Saturday. The main speaker will be John Dawson, author of “Taking Our Cities for God” and founder of the International Reconciliation Coalition, dedicated to healing wounds among ethnic groups. Nine other speakers will deal with various kinds of spiritual healing, including many related to urban life. Participants may attend general sessions and/or workshops. Registration is required for workshops. Admission is free; donations will be accepted. 125 S. Louise St., Glendale. (818) 242-8873.

* J Craig Fong of the Lambda Legal Defense and Education Fund will speak on “The State of the Union: An Update on Gay and Lesbian Marriages” at the 8 p.m. Shabbat services of Congregation Kol Ami, held in the West Hollywood Presbyterian Church, 7350 Sunset Boulevard. (213) 656-6093.

* “Aesthetics and the Education of the Soul” is the title of a lecture by research psychoanalyst David McCann at 11 a.m. March 12 at the Philosophical Research Society, 3910 Los Feliz Blvd., Los Angeles. Admission is $5. (213) 663-2167.

* The UCLA Hillel Forum presents a round-table discussion, “For Those Who Can’t Believe: Overcoming the Obstacles to Faith,” featuring Rabbi Harold Schulweis, author of the book by the same title, feminist theologian Rachel Adler and rabbis Mordecai Finley and Chaim Seidler-Feller, at 7:30 p.m. Thursday. Tickets are $10 in advance, $12 at the door, free for full-time students with current student ID. 900 Hilgard Ave., Westwood. For information about series tickets for the forum, phone (310) 208-3081.

* Five choirs and vocal and instrumental soloists will join the Los Angeles Jewish Symphony, under the direction of Noreen Green, in an all-Ernest Bloch concert, including some rarely performed works, at 7:30 p.m. Sunday at the Beverly Hills High School Auditorium. For ticket information, phone (818) 753-6681.

* Marilyn Mason, professor of music and chairwoman of the Organ Department at the University of Michigan, will perform the works of Bach, Roger-Ducasse, Guilmant, Bolcom and Sowerby at 8 p.m. Friday at First Congregational Church of Los Angeles, which has one of the largest pipe organs in the world. Tickets are $10, with discounts for groups, seniors and students. 540 S. Commonwealth Ave. (213) 385-1345.

Southern California File welcomes submissions by mail c/o Religion Editor, Los Angeles Times, Times Mirror Square, Los Angeles, CA 90053, or by fax to (213) 237-4712. Items must be brief and arrive at least three weeks before the event announced. Please include a phone number, date, time and full address.