MEDIA ALERT: Christian and Muslim leaders press conference

From WCC media <[email protected]>
Date Wed, 3 Nov 2010 18:37:54 +0100

>World Council of Churches - Media advisory

>CHRISTIAN AND MUSLIM LEADERS PRESS CONFERENCE

>For immediate release: 03 November 2010

Christian and Muslim leaders and scholars from around the world have
been meeting at the World Council of Churches in Geneva since Monday 1
November to address issues of common concern and provide guidance for
cooperation between Muslims and Christians, including faith-inspired
approaches for joint Christian-Muslim action.

With their deliberations ending Thursday morning, a press conference 
will
be held

>Thursday, 4 November
>at 4:30 pm
>in the Ecumenical Centre,
>150, route de Ferney
>Visser 't Hooft Hall
>(free parking available)

A joint statement from the group will be released and discussed. The
statement will describe areas of common understanding, practical
recommendations and concrete ways the group has agreed upon to follow 
up,
as presented in the joint statement.

Additionally, the group is also issuing a joint statement on the 
recent
tragedy in Baghdad, Iraq, where nearly 58 people were killed after 
gunmen
took hostages in the Sayidat al-Nejat Church and security forces 
stormed
the church to end the siege.

The press conference will include,

* Rev. Dr Olav Fykse Tveit, general secretary, World Council of 
Churches
(WCC);
* Dr Muhammed al-Sammak, secretary general, National Council for
Christian-Muslim Dialogue in Lebanon;
* Rev. Dr Bernice Powell Jackson, WCC president for North America and
minister in the United Church of Christ (USA);
*  Prof. Dr Munir El-Kassem, president of Islamic Institute for 
Interfaith
Dialogue in Canada.

Both El-Kassem and al-Sammak are members of the World Islamic Call
Council.

During the 3 days of discussions this week the group explored issues 
about
majority and minority concerns, conflict and justice and developing
educational tools to resolve issues and create greater understanding
between the faiths.

For more information about the consultation and the presentations 
visit
http://www.oikoumene.org/index.php?RDCT=dbf35bb1f22e354d904c (Link:
http://www.oikoumene.org/index.php?RDCT=ab077e7a53e1df4a6921 )

The consultation's conveners are the WCC, the World Islamic Call 
Society,
the Royal Aal al-Bayt Institute and the Consortium of A Common Word.

Press must show press credentials at the entrance.

Arabic, French and English interpretation will be provided.

Media contact: +41.79.507.6363

or e-mail: Mark Beach meb[at]wcc-coe.org (Link: [email protected]
)

The World Council of Churches promotes Christian unity in faith, 
witness 
and service for a just and peaceful world. An ecumenical fellowship 
of 
churches founded in 1948, today the WCC brings together 349 
Protestant, 
Orthodox, Anglican and other churches representing more than 560 
million 
Christians in over 110 countries, and works cooperatively with the 
Roman 
Catholic Church. The WCC general secretary is Rev. Dr Olav Fykse 
Tveit, 
from the [Lutheran] Church of Norway. Headquarters: Geneva, 
Switzerland.

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