VOUCHER DEBATE: A forum to discuss the...

VOUCHER DEBATE: A forum to discuss the pros and cons of the school voucher initiative on the Nov. 2 ballot will be held Tuesday night at Church of the Valley, 6565 Vesper Ave., Van Nuys.

Organized by the San Fernando Valley Interfaith Council’s Peace and Justice Committee, the free event, which will start at 7:30 p.m., will be moderated by Will Forthman, professor of philosophy and ethics at Cal State Northridge.

The effects of Proposition 174 on education will be debated by Sean Walsh, communications director of Better Choice, speaking for 174, and Wayne Johnson, a board member of the California Teacher’s Assn. and social studies teacher at Hamilton High School, speaking against.

Church-state separation issues related to Proposition 174 will be debated by Eddie Tabash, an attorney with Americans United for Separation of Church and State, and Helen Dennis, principal of Calvary Baptist Christian School.

Panelists will be given time for rebuttal and questions from the audience will follow each panel discussion, said Nick Seidita of the Peace and Justice Committee. Call (818) 718-6460 for more information.

PSALMS CALLIGRAPHY: The works of 35 calligraphers will be on display this month and next at a University of Judaism exhibition titled “From Psalms,� celebrating the biblical Book of Psalms.

Among the works by European, Israeli and American artists are paintings, books and a lettered porcelain globe. The exhibition, which will run through Nov. 28, will open Sunday with a reception from 2 to 5 p.m. in the Marjorie and Herman Platt Gallery on the Sepulveda Pass campus.

SPEAKER: Former Beirut hostage Jerry Levin, a CNN correspondent when he was kidnaped in 1984, will be the featured speaker at 8 a.m. next Saturday at the Presbyterian Men’s Breakfast at Granada Hills First Presbyterian Church, 10400 Zelzah Ave.

Levin, who escaped his captors after a year, is now director of news and information for World Vision, the relief agency based in Monrovia. Information on the breakfast, which costs $5, is available at (818) 360-1831.

WORKERS WITH ELDERLY: The San Fernando Valley Interfaith Council and the host Holy Spirit Retreat Center in Encino are inviting clergy and lay persons who serve elderly people to share ideas and problems at a three-hour planning session starting at 9 a.m. Wednesday.

The ecumenical, Catholic-run retreat center is at 4316 Lanai Road. Call Sister Patrica McCarthy at (818) 784-4515 for reservations and information.

WORLD COMMUNION SUNDAY: The English and Korean-speaking congregations of Woodland Hills United Methodist Church will join together 11 a.m. Sunday on the church lawn at 5650 Shoup Ave. for a joint worship service.

The Rev. Brandon Cho, district superintendent for the denomination, which is one of many celebrating World Communion Sunday, will preach. Phone (818) 346-6528 for information.

News and announcements for this column may be sent to Religion Desk, Los Angeles Times, 20000 Prairie St., Chatsworth, Calif. 91311.