wfn.org | Christians To Advocate for More Complete Vision of Moral Values

["Carol Fouke" <cfouke@ncccusa.org>]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE				CONTACT:  Rev. Leslie Tune,
NCC
March 10, 2005						  202/544-2350, ext.
11

Nearly 800 Christians Gather in Nation's Capital to Advocate for More
Complete Vision of Moral Values in U.S. Policy at 2005 Ecumenical Advocacy
Days, March 11-14 
 

What:	Nearly 800 Christian pastors, ministers, and laypersons as well as
humanitarian and ecumenical leaders from across the United States and
abroad-including the general 
secretaries of the New Sudan Council of Churches, the National Conference of
Churches in the Philippines and the Pacific Council of Churches, Fiji; and a
delegation from Argentina's 
Protestant, Catholic and Anglican churches-will participate in the third
annual Ecumenical Advocacy Days for Global Peace with Justice, March 11-14 in
Washington, D.C.  More than 
30 faith-based groups are sponsoring or supporting this year's event (see
complete list below).

Participants will confront controversial topics head-on with workshops and
plenary sessions 
that explore issues such as the genocide in Darfur, Sudan; the impact of U.S.
policy on 
HIV/AIDS in Africa; water privatization issues; militarism, terrorism, peace
and security; 
economic justice; protecting God's creation; peacemaking in Israel/Palestine;
U.S.-Iran 
relations; creating a federal budget for the common good; taxation as civil
stewardship; re-
envisioning justice and the federal prison system; what it takes to escape
poverty; the social 
security debate; and more. In addition, Rep. Lynn Woosley (Calif.) will
discuss her 
resolution on SMART Security (Sensible, Multilateral American Response to
Terrorism).

Who:		
- Rev. Dr. Bob Edgar, General Secretary, National Council of Churches USA
- Bishop Vashti McKenzie, presiding bishop of the African Methodist Episcopal
Church and the first woman to be elected to the bishop's council
- Elder Rick Ufford-Chase, moderator of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)
- Dr. Maryann Cusimano Love, Professor of Politics, Catholic University of
America and a U.S. foreign policy and international affairs expert
- Baldemar Velasquez, the founder/president of the Farm Labor Organizing
Committee, which recently settled a labor dispute with Mt. Olive Pickle
Company following more than five years of public action
- Rev. Dr. Haruun Ruun, Executive Director, New Sudan Council of Churches
- Rev. Sharon Rose Joy Ruiz-Duremdes, General Secretary, National Conference
of Churches of the Philippines
- Ricardo Esquivia, Colombia Council of Evangelical Churches
- Peter Weiderud, World Council of Churches, Geneva, Switzerland 

When&
Where:	Workshops and Plenary Sessions
		Friday, March 11-Sunday, March 14 
		Doubletree Hotel Crystal City
		300 Army Navy Drive
		Arlington, VA

		Lobby Day on Capitol Hill
		Monday, March 14 
		Church of the Reformation
		212 East Capitol Street N.E.
		Washington, DC

Why:	The 2005 Ecumenical Advocacy Days will highlight the importance of
identifying peace and justice issues as moral values and the urgency of
pursuing sensible and peaceful solutions to conflicts as well as the need for
aid, debt and trade policies that benefit impoverished people worldwide. 

The theme, "Make All Things New," is based on God's promise, as recorded in
the Bible, 
"See, I am making all things new" (Revelation 21:5); and underscores the need
for a new 
vision of U.S. foreign and domestic policies which will build a just global
community that 
nurtures peace, alleviates poverty, and protects the integrity of God's
creation.

###

EDITOR'S NOTE: A complete schedule of workshops, speakers and plenary
sessions is available to the media. To obtain a copy of the complete agenda,
receive media credentials or to schedule an interview with speakers, please
contact Leslie Tune, Washington Communication Officer, National Council of
Churches USA, 202/544-2350, ext. 11 or 202/297-2191 (cell). 

Conference Schedule Outline

Friday, March 11
7 p.m.			
Opening Plenary
Speakers: Bishop Vashti McKenzie and Dr. Maryann Cusimano Love, Professor of 
Politics, Catholic University of America

9:15-9:45pm
Conversations with...Bishop Vashti McKenzie, Dr. Maryann Cusimano and Barry
Shelley of Sabbath Economics Collaborative
Tsunami Relief Efforts Discussion

Saturday, March 12
9:00-10:30am		Session I 
11:00am-12:30pm 	Session II
12:45-2:15pm		Denominational Lunches
2:30-3:50pm		Session III 
4:10-5:30pm		Session IV

5:45-6:45pm	 
Conversations with... the General Secretaries

Rev. Dr. Bob Edgar, National Council of Churches USA

Rev. Dr. Haruun Ruun, New Sudan Council of Churches (Executive Director)

Rev. Sharon Rose Joy Ruiz-Duremdes, National Conference of Churches of the
Philippines

Sunday, March 13
8:30-10:00am		
Worship Service
Preacher: Rick Ufford-Chase, Moderator of the 216th General Assembly of the
Presbyterian Church (USA)

10:15-12:30pm
Plenary: "From the Desert to the Living Waters: Strategies for Strengthening
Our Advocacy"

12:45-2:15pm	Lunch by States and Region
2:30-3:30pm		SESSION V
3:45-5:00pm		SESSION VI

5:15-6:00pm
Conversations with...Baldemar Velasquez, President, Farm Labor Organizing
Committee, AFL-CIO

7:00-9:00pm		
Advocacy Days Banquet and Keynote Address
Baldemar Velasquez, Farm Labor Organizing Committee

Monday, March 14
9:30am-5:30pm		Lobby Visits on Capitol Hill

*****

2005 Ecumenical Advocacy Days Sponsors and Supporters:

Africa Faith and Justice Network 

American Friends Service Committee 

Catholic Conference of Major Superiors of Men's Institutes 

Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) 

Church of the Brethren Witness/Washington Office 

Church World Service 

Churches' Center for Theology and Public Policy 

Churches for Middle East Peace

Episcopal Church USA

Evangelical Lutheran Church in America

Franciscan Friars-Holy Name Province

Franciscan Friars, OFM Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation ESC-Council

Interfaith Committee for Nuclear Disarmament

Interfaith Working Group on Trade and Investment

Jubilee USA Network

Latin America Working Group

Lutheran World Relief

Maryknoll Office for Global Concerns

Mennonite Central Committee/Washington Office

Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate Justice and Peace/Integrity of Creation
Office 

National Council of Churches USA

NETWORK: A National Catholic Social Justice Lobby

Oikocredit USA

Peaceful Ends through Peaceful Means

Presbyterian Church (USA)

Reformed Church in America

Sisters of Mercy of the Americas

Stand With Africa

United Church of Christ

United Methodist Church, General Board of Church and Society

United Methodist Church, General Board of Global Ministries, Women's Division

Washington Office on Africa

Witness for Peace