RELIGION BRIEFS

UR professor to discuss book on leaders Jan. 6

Douglas A. Hicks, associate professor of leadership studies and religion at the Jepson School of Leadership Studies and executive director of the Bonner Center for Civic Engagement at the University of Richmond, will speak about his book "With God on All Sides: How leaders should look at faith and lead diverse and devout communities," at 5:30 p.m. Jan. 6 at The Library of Virginia, 800 E. Broad St. in Richmond.

The program is sponsored by The Jepson School of Leadership Studies, The Library of Virginia, The Bonner Center for Civic Engagement and the Virginia Center for Inclusive Communities.

For more information, visit news.richmond.edu/jepson/2008/hicks_booktalk.html.

Neither reservations nor tickets are required. Seating is first-come, first-served.

Festival of plays will explore beliefs, values

Second Presbyterian Church will begin its Acts of Faith Theater Festival Jan. 16 at 7:30 p.m. at Second Presbyterian, 5 N. Fifth St., in Richmond. The event is free.

The festival, a collaboration between the faith community and Richmond's professional theater companies, will run January through March. On Jan. 16, participating theaters will present brief scenes of their plays to give a preview of the coming festival. An intermission reception will offer the audience the opportunity to speak with actors and directors.

Acts of Faith is a way to bring the community together in a shared discussion about how faith and values shape our public and private lives. Some plays are not religious but deal with issues of individual and community values and beliefs.

For more information about play dates, tickets and discussion-forum times, visit http://www.theactsoffaith.com.