wfn.org | INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON "THE ORTHODOX CHURCHES IN A PLURALISTIC

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NEWS RELEASE
For Immediate Release

Date:	     September 19th , 2002.
Contact: Nikki Stournaras, (617)-850-1213
Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology

	    INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON "THE ORTHODOX CHURCHES IN
A PLURALISTIC WORLD" TO BE CONVENED AT HOLY CROSS GREEK ORTHODOX SCHOOL OF
		     THEOLOGY, BROOKLINE, MA OCTOBER 3-5

Brookline, MA - The mission of the Orthodox Churches in a global and
pluralistic world will be the focus of study at the International
Conference to be hosted by Hellenic College/Holy Cross Greek Orthodox
School of Theology, from October 3-5, 2002.

The Conference, the first of its kind, will bring together Church
hierarchs, theologians and social scientists from this country and abroad
to address the challenge of globalization, issues of human rights,
religious violence, ethnicity and nationalism, and Christian missions.

His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios of America will deliver the keynote
address on
  "Orthodoxy in a Pluralistic World". His much-anticipated presentation on
the presence and mission of the Orthodox Church in a pluralistic world will
articulate his vision as the spiritual leader of the Greek Orthodox
Archdiocese, and as a distinguished theologian.

Richard Falk, Albert G. Milbank Professor of International Law and Practice
at Princeton University, will interpret the challenges of globalization for
the Christian churches. Professor Falk, in his recent book "Religion and
Humane Global Governance," considers the contributions of religion, and
more particularly of the Christian churches, as indispensable to the
building of humane global governance. The churches through a "politically
engaged spirituality" can become sources of empowerment against the
dehumanizing consequences of globalization.

The General Secretary of the World Council of Churches, Dr. Konrad Raiser,
will challenge the conferees to become active partners with other
Christians in building a culture of peace by overcoming the logic and
culture of violence that seems to prevail in the world. Rev. Dr. Stanley
Harakas will present the Orthodox view on this matter by commenting on Dr.
Raiser's presentation.

Diana L. Eck, professor of Comparative Religion and Indian Studies at
Harvard University and Director of the Pluralism Project, will explore some
of the challenges that the plurality of religious communities pose for the
Christian churches and the dialogical challenges that Christians encounter
as they engage in new complex relationships with people of other faiths in
professional, workplace, and civic life.

The issue of Human rights and obligations from a Christian and from an
Orthodox perspective will be addressed respectively by David Little, T. J.
Dermont Dunphy Professor of the Practice in Religion, Ethnicity and
International Conflict and Director of the Center for the Study of Values
in Public Life at Harvard University, and by Christos Yannaras, Professor
of Philosophy at Panteion University (Greece) and a prolific Orthodox
theologian.

The President of HC/HC, the Rev. Nicholas Triantafilou, stated, "The coming
together of such prominent Church hierarchs, theologians, and social
scientists to discuss these highly complex, but very crucial issues facing
our Church in the modern world, is a strong indication that Holy Cross
actively fulfills its theological mission. As a center of theological
studies, Holy Cross provides to our Church the appropriate space to explore
and dialogue about its transformative presence in a global and pluralistic
context."

  The Conference is jointly sponsored by Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of
Theology and the World Council of Churches, in cooperation with Boston
Theological Institute and the Initiatives in Religion and Public Life at
Harvard Divinity School.  It is funded by the Archbishop Iakovos Leadership
100 Endowment Fund; the Marcelle R. Varver Foundation; Dr. Gregory G.
Floridis Endowment; Dormition of the Virgin Mary Parish, Somerville, MA
Trust for Conferences; and Martha Karathanasis Grant for Conferences in
Memory of David Kambourelis.

The Conference is open to the public and will be held at the Maliotis
Cultural Center on the campus of Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of
Theology, 50 Goddard Avenue, and Brookline Massachusetts. To register and
for further information, please contact Nikki Stournaras by telephone at
(617) 850-1213, or by fax at (617) 858-1460, or at www.hchc.edu.

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