wfn.org | NCC-Led Religious Leaders Mission Begins Work in Iraq

[Worldwide Faith News <wfn@igc.org>]

National Council of the Churches of Christ in the U.S.A.
Contact: Trevor Fitzgibbon, Fenton Communications in Washington, DC
202-246-5303; trevor@fenton.com (9 a.m. - 6 p.m. EST)
Amy (Kalee) Kreider or Dr. Bob Edgar in Baghdad c/o Melia Mansour Hotel,
++964 1 537 0041 (6 p.m. - 9 a.m. Iraq time)

(Baghdad, December 30, 2002).	Dr. Bob Edgar, General Secretary of the
National Council of Churches (U.S.A.), has arrived in Baghdad, Iraq, with 12
religious leaders and experts.	The Iraq itinerary includes meetings with
heads of local churches and mosques, the Red Crescent Society, and other
agencies operating in the area.  The group will also conduct field visits to
local hospitals and schools.  This mission is part of a series of visits by
the faith community to the region and follows upon a recent trip by the
Catholic organization, Pax Christi.

On their first day, the group has visited Ibn Al Baladi hospital, the Abi
Hanifa Mosque, the Syrian Catholic Church and the Iraqi Red Crescent
Society.  Itinerary details follow.

WHO:
Dr. Bob Edgar, General Secretary, National Council of Churches (U.S.A.)
Dr. Huw Anwyl, Minister, United Churches of Christ
Rev. Ray Buchanan, President, Stop Hunger Now and United Methodist Minister
Rev. John Buehrens, former President, the Unitarian Universalist Association
Rev. Dr. Robert Evans, Executive Director, Plowshares Institute,
Presbyterian Pastor
Robin Hoeker, Legislative Assistant, Unitarian Universalist Association
Dr. Victor Makari, General Assembly staff, the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)
Don Mosley, co-founder of Jubilee Partners
Ginger Paul, Episcopal Church, Executive Committee
Dr. Samer Shehata, Assistant Professor of Arab Politics, Georgetown
University
Bishop Melvin Talbert (retired), The United Methodist Church
Jim Winkler, General Secretary, the General Board, United Methodist Church
Rev. Dr. Riad Jarjour, General Secretary, Middle East Council of Churches
(host)

IRAQ ITINERARY (TENTATIVE)

Monday, December 30
Ibn Al Baladi Hospital
Visit at Abi Hanifa Mosque
Syrian Catholic Church
Iraqi Red Crescent Society

Tuesday, December 31
8:30 AM Visit to the Hatem Al Taai school near the Al Kahera Shelter
11:00 AM Meeting and tour of Saddam Pediatric and Maternity Hospital
3:30PM Discussion with UNICEF officials
5:00PM Visit to the Syrian Orthodox Bishop Hawaa
8:00 PM Service at the Caldenian Church of St. Mary, Metropolitan Schlimoun
Warduni/Palestinian Street
10:00 PM Celebration at the Evangelical Presbyterian Church, Andulles Square

Wednesday, January 1
The delegation will visit historical sites on the holiday (Babylon)
Karbala (Shiite holy site)

Thursday, January 2
Meeting with NGOs and UN organizations
Press Conference at Melia Mansour

Friday, January 3
Delegation unavailable, returning to the US at John F. Kennedy Airport via
Royal Jordanian Airlines at 4PM from Amman, Jordan.