In a special two-hour class held at Truckee Meadows Community College, the Reverend Gary Robert Buchanan of the International Community of Christ represented Christianity in a many-sided discussion of the topic “Religion and the Paranormal.” Other religions represented were Hinduism, Judaism, and Spiritualism. Before a general panel discussion, each representative was given ten minutes to speak on the topic from his or her perspective. Much of the discussion centered around reincarnation, daemons, channeling, and spiritual healing.

A meeting of Northern Nevada faith leaders was held August 28, 2009, at Joe Crowley Student Union on the University of Nevada-Reno campus, hosted by U.S. Senate majority leader Harry Reid (D-NV). The purpose of this roundtable discussion among Northern Nevada interfaith leaders was to discuss the importance of faith in Nevada, as well as the role of clergy and religious organizations in working to address issues of mutual concern. The meeting was a prelude to a larger faith summit that the senator hopes to hold in November. Rt. Rev. Gene Savoy assisted Reid’s staff in organizing the meeting, through the budding Nevada Clergy Association, and at the meeting served to introduce Reid to the assembly of religious leaders, almost seventy in all, and to moderate and close the meeting. In the future, Savoy will be working with Reid’s staff to put together the larger and more comprehensive faith summit in November.

The breakfast meeting on October 19, 2009, sponsored by Food Bank of Northern Nevada in conjunction with Feeding America brought together local faith leaders to commemorate International World Food Day. Representing the International Community of Christ was the Reverend Canon Robert Petrovich. Local Food Bank officials spoke at the meeting and introduced speakers from the local community to discuss their experiences in this area. Among these were Lori Anderson, an elementary school principal from Sun Valley, who gave examples of how the Food Bank program works at her school, where 94-99{1fa2ef75e2e78439128d99df03acfe1d8ee3047374abe3d4676fe3470ff8b909} of the students are enrolled in both the Food Bank program and a federal program to provide them with all their primary meals. Local elected officials described the situation of need throughout Washoe County, where about 100,000 people per year now receive assistance from Food Bank. Food Bank officials noted that about 60{1fa2ef75e2e78439128d99df03acfe1d8ee3047374abe3d4676fe3470ff8b909} of the aid provided by Food Bank is provided by faith-based groups.

The 6^th Annual Dialogue and Friendship Dinner, held at the downtown Reno Ballroom, was attended by the Right Reverend Gene Savoy Jr. Hosted by the Sierra Foundation, founded in 2004 by the Turkish-American Community of Northern Nevada, the annual dinner reinforces friendship and dialogue between diverse communities and emphasizes the values of mutual respect, understanding, love, and peace. The Sierra Foundation promotes harmony within diversity among he world’s cultures. Bishop Savoy was invited to speak at the 2007 dinner and visited Turkey in 2006 at the invitation of the Sierra Foundation.

On the evening of Friday April 20, Swami Vedananda from California presented a talk about the wisdom of the ancient Sanskrit scriptures the Upanishads and the Bhagavad-Gita at the Vajra Temple in Reno. Attending on behalf of the sponsoring Nevada Clergy
Association and The Second Advent Church was the Reverend Dr. William Bartlett.

The Right Reverend Gene Savoy Jr. attended a lecture at the University of Nevada on Saturday April 20, titled “Jihad: Between Myth and Truth.”

The lecture was presented by Dr. Emad Bayoun and organized by the Muslim Students Association at UNR and the Northern Nevada Muslim Community (Imams Abdul Barghoutti and Abdu Mulla). Dr. Bayoun is widely recognized for his commitment to religious education, especially among youth. As a lecturer for the Muslim American Society (MAS) and as a council member of the MAS Inland Empire Chapter, Bayoun spends most of his free time teaching others about Islam.

A Hindu baccalaureate service was held at the University of Nevada–Reno in the Joe Crowley Student Union on Saturday April 11. Attending on behalf of the Second Advent Church were the Right Reverend Gene Savoy Jr.  and the Reverends Robert and Francine Petrovich. Bishop Savoy also participated in the planning of the event.

The bishop also gave a blessing on behalf of the International Community of Christ and the Nevada Clergy Association. Others seated on the dais were Imam Abdul Barghoutti (Northern Nevada Muslim Community); Rabbi Elizabeth Beyer; Elder Bruce Brinkerhoff (Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints); the Reverend Phil Bryan (Reno Buddhist Church); Elder Ralph Burns (Paiute tribe); Roya Galata (Baha’i faith); Nevada First Lady Dawn Gibbons; UNR provost Marc Johnson; Father John Legerski (Bishop Manogue High School); Reno police chief Michael Poehlman; the Reverend Bruce Taylor (Spanish Springs Presbyterian Church); Swami Vedananda (Vedanta Society of Northern California); Reno Hindu leader Rajan Zed; and UNR vice president Stephen Zink. Jim Eaglesmith gave a musical presentation, and L. Martina Young presented a dance.

On Friday evening April 3, Bishop Gene Savoy Jr. attended the Cultural Image Awards gala at the Peppermill Resort and Casino in Reno. At the request of the Reverend Terry McCray-Hill, pastor of Bethel AME Church, Savoy delivered the invocation for the event.
Individuals in attendance with whom Bishop Savoy conversed included Washoe district court judges Bretn Adams and Patrick Flannigan; Lonnie Feemster, president of the local chapter of the NAACP; Dolores Feemster; Guy Rocha; archivist Gerald Miller of the Reno Gazette Journal; Shirley Rogers of Nevada State Bank; and Alberta Rederford.

On Saturday March 21, head bishop Gene Savoy Jr. visited the Sivananda Ashram Yoga Farm in Grass Valley, California. Accompanying him were Sonya Savoy, Sabrina Savoy, Sophia Savoy, and Lisamarie Wand.

Organized by Hindu leader Rajan Zed through the Nevada Clergy Association with about twenty Nevada participants, the visit included a tour of the ashram, lunch, a lecture presented by Swami Sitaramananda, and two yoga classes (beginner and intermediate).

During the yoga portion of the visit, Bishop Savoy had tea with the swami and exchanged information. The swami talked about her background and recent visit to Rome. Bishop Savoy discussed Cosolargy, the International Community of Christ, and the Red Rock Consecrated Sanctuary. An invitation was extended for the swami to visit the Sanctuary on her next trip to Reno.

On Friday evening March 13, 2009 the Reverend Robert Petrovich attended a lecture titled “Darwin, Dover, and Intelligent Design” at the Temple Sinai social hall in Reno. The speaker was Dr. Kevin Padian, president of the National Center for Science Education and curator of paleontology at the University of California Museum of Paleontology in Berkeley.
The lecture explored a range of topics primarily concerned with “theistic evolution” and “intelligent design.” The lecture was preceded by the traditional Jewish Sabbath service.