This year's service boasted an unusual amount of audience participation. In the spirit of King's historic "I Have a Dream" speech, the ministers asked audience members to write down their own dreams. They asked several people to read aloud during the service.

Some were quite specific: Several people wrote that they hope President Clinton pardons Leonard Peltier, a Native American activist who was convicted and sentenced in 1977 for killing two FBI agents.

Others wrote that they dream of an end to all racial bigotry and violence, that King's dreams of perfect acceptance of all people will become reality.

"I would like people to look beyond superficial differences and hold true compassion for nature and for all people," said one audience member.

"I dream that we will be able to unite across all beautiful differences," said another.

Although such optimistic goals may seem out of reach, Carter said, they are realistic and require respect for divinity because the world is in the midst of a "quantum leap."

Carter said that people do not need to foresake their own religions to understand others, citing civil disobedience leader Mohandas K. Gandhi's devotion to Hinduism alongside his understanding of Christianity.