Historic Gathering Will Feature Patriarchs from Middle East, Lawmakers and International Human Rights Activists
Contact: Joseph Cella, In Defense of Christians, 703-286-9677
WASHINGTON, Sept. 6, 2014 /Christian Newswire/ -- The deteriorating situation facing millions of Christians and other religious minorities in the Middle East will be the focus of a bipartisan and ecumenical conference in the nation's capital next month. The three-day event sponsored by In Defense of Christians (IDC) will feature speakers from all over the globe.
The IDC Summit for Middle East Christians, whose theme is "Protecting and Preserving Christianity, Where It All Began," will be the first occasion in history where six Christian Patriarchs from the Middle East will gather together in the United States.
IDC President Toufic Baaklini said, "For too long, Westerners have stood by, silent or unaware, while Christians and other groups in the Middle East have endured discrimination, persecution, and religious cleansing. Today, as the Islamic State continues its genocidal campaign against Christians in Iraq and Syria, the globe is finally awakening to their plight. IDC exists to give voice to these voiceless people. In this hour of their greatest peril, they are in desperate need of support. We must act now."
Baaklini stated: "To this end, IDC is hosting a historic global Summit for Middle East Christians, September 9-11, in Washington, D.C. This summit will empower the Middle Eastern Christian Diaspora and energize the American people to stand in solidarity the ancient Christian communities of the Middle East. Their survival is vital to stability in the region, and their ability to flourish in their countries of origin has national security implications for the United States."
Summit attendees will have the opportunity to meet with Members of Congress and their staff, policy makers, diplomats, human rights activists, and religious leaders. Speakers include: Maronite Patriarch Cardinal Rai; Syriac Patriarch Ignatius Aphrem II; Archbishop of Washington Donald Cardinal Wuerl; Leonardo Cardinal Sandri of the Vatican’s Prefect of the Congregation for Oriental Churches; Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX); Senator Debbie Stabenow (R-MI); Congresswoman Anna Eshoo (D-CA), Congressman Ted Deutch (D-FL); Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL); Dr. James Zogby; and Nina Shea, Director of the Hudson Institute's Center for Religious Freedom.
For a full roster of speakers, please click here.
To register, please click here.
In Defense of Christians (IDC) is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization committed to the preservation and protection of Christians in the Middle East.
www.indefenseofchristians.org
www.idcsummit.org
2000 Pennsylvania Avenue, Suite 325, Washington, D.C. 20006
Inaugural Summit for Middle East Christians
September 9 - 11, 2014
Washington, D.C.
Presenter Schedule*
*Note: Effective 3:00 p.m. EDT, September 6, 2014
Day One – Tuesday, September 9, 2014*
Time
Event
Location
(*Note: Please be available for media interviews throughout the day via cell phone, at the Omni Shoreham media room, or driven to in-studio interviews with outlets such as CBS, CNN, Fox News, LBC.)
12:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.
Attendee Arrival and Registration
Omni Shoreham. Hotel
Regency Ballroom
1:30 p.m.
Arrive
National Press Club
529 14th Street, N.W.
13th Floor – Holeman Lounge
2:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.
*Summit for Middle East Christians Opening Press Conference
Description: Diaspora and human rights leadership discuss the crisis of Christianity in the Middle East, religious freedom, and purpose of the Summit.
(*Note: Brief question and answer session with the media follows.)
His Eminence, Leonardo Cardinal Sandri,
Prefect of the Congregation for the Oriental Churches
His Eminence, Patriarch Mar Bechara Boutros Cardinal Raï
Maronite Patriarch of Antioch and All the East
His Beatitude, Ignatius Youssef III Younan
Syriac Catholic Patriarch of Antioch and All the East
His Eminence Donald Cardinal Wuerl
Archbishop of Washington
His Grace Bishop Angaelos
General Bishop of the Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria
His Excellency Ibrahim Ibrahim
Bishop Emeritus of Chaldean Eparchy of Saint Thomas the Apostle
Professor Robert George
Princeton Unversity
McCormick Professor of Jurisprudence
Vice Chair, United States Commission on International Religious Freedom
Nina Shea
Director, Center for Religious Freedom
Hudson Institute
Robert A. Destro
Professor of Law
The Catholic University of America
Columbus School of Law
Nermein Riad
Executive Director, Coptic Orphans
4:45 p.m.
Arrive
Omni Shoreham Hotel
Regency Ballroom
5:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m.
Ecumenical Christian Prayer Service
Omni Shoreham
Regency Ballroom
Description: Representatives of all denominations and Rites in attendance join in ecumenical Christian prayer service.
His Eminence, Leonardo Cardinal Sandri,
Prefect of the Congregation for the Oriental Churches
His Eminence, Patriarch Mar Bechara Boutros Cardinal Raï
Maronite Patriarch of Antioch and All the East
His Beatitude, Gregorius III Laham
Melkite Greek Catholic Patriarch of Antioch and All the East, Alexandria and Jerusalem
His Beatitude, Ignatius Youssef III Younan
Syriac Catholic Patriarch of Antioch and All the East
His Beatitude, Aram I Keshishian
Catholicos of the Holy See of Cilicia of the Armenian Apostolic Church
His Eminence the Most Reverend Metropolitan Joseph Zahlawi
Archbishop of New York and All North America of the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Church
His Eminence, Donald Cardinal Wuerl
Archbishop of Washington
His Grace Bishop Angaelos,
General Bishop of the Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria
His Excellency Ibrahim, Ibrahim
Bishop Emeritus of Chaldean Eparchy of Saint Thomas the Apostle
*Note: Additional participants to be announced.
6:30 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.
Introductory Remarks
Omni Shoreham
Regency Ballroom
Andrew Doran, Executive Director
In Defense of Christians
Toufic Baaklini, President
In Defense of Christians
Opening Remarks
The Honorable John Ashcroft
Former Attorney General of the United States
His Eminence, Leonardo Cardinal Sandri
Prefect of the Congregation for the Oriental Churches
7:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.
Reception
Omni Shoreham
Ambassador Ballroom
Day Two – Wednesday, September 10, 2014
(*Note: Please be available for media interviews throughout the day via cell phone, at the Omni Shoreham media room, or driven to in-studio interviews with outlets such as CBS, CNN, Fox News, LBC.)
7:00 a.m.
Arrival
Omni Shoreham Hotel
Ambassador Ballroom
7:00 a.m. - 8:00 a.m.
Continental Breakfast
Omni Shoreham
Ambassador Ballroom
8:00 a.m. - 9:00 a.m.
Keynote Address
Omni Shoreham
Regency Ballroom
Theme: Call to Unity
Welcome by His Eminence Donald Cardinal Wuerl
Archbishop of Washington
His Eminence, Leonardo Cardinal Sandri
Prefect of the Congregation for the Oriental Churches
His Beatitude, Aram I Keshishian
Catholicos of the Holy See of Cilicia of the Armenian Apostolic Church
His Beatitude, Gregorius III Laham
Melkite Greek Catholic Patriarch of Antioch and All the East, Alexandria and Jerusalem
His Grace Bishop Angaelos,
General Bishop of the Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria
9:00 a.m. - 9:30 a.m.
Transportation to Capitol Hill
10:15 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.
Hill Briefing (brief panel event)
Congressional Auditorium
Description: Following the theme of the Breakfast keynote, senior advocacy and human rights experts discuss the most effective means of advocacy on the Hill. Educational materials are issued to Diaspora attendees. Discuss includes team assignments and other information.
(*Note: Brief question and answer session with the media follows.)
Nina Shea
Director, Center for Religious Freedom
Hudson Institute
Robert A. Destro
Professor of Law
The Catholic University of America
Columbus School of Law
Special Remarks
The Honorable François Puponi, MP
8th District of Val-d-Oise
National Assembly of France
The Honorable Henri Jibrayel
7th District of Bouches-du-Rhône
National Assembly of France
11:00 a.m. -11:15 p.m.
Statement on Behalf of All Patriarchs
Congressional Auditorium
His Eminence, Patriarch Mar Bechara Boutros Cardinal Raï
Maronite Patriarch of Antioch and All the East
11:15 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Remarks by Members of House and Senate
Congressional Auditorium
Description: House and Senate members address, and, time permitting, engage in Q&A and meet with Summit attendees.
Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX)
Senator Debbie Stabenow (R-MI)
Senator Rob Portman (R-OH)
Senator Jim Inhofe (R-OK)
Senator Mark Kirk (R-IL)
Rep. Ed Royce (R-CA)
Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ)
Rep. Jim McGovern (D-MA)
Rep. Jeff Fortenberry (R-NE)
Rep. Brad Sherman (D-CA)
Rep. Anna Eshoo (D-CA)
Rep. Kay Granger (R-TX)
Rep. Gus Bilirakis (R-FL)
Rep. Darrell Issa (R-CA)
Rep. Joe Pitts (R-PA)
Rep. Lee Terry (R-NE)
Rep. Adam Kinzinger (R-IL)
12:30 p.m. - 1:30 p.m.
General Lunch
Capitol Hill
Congressional Meeting Room South
12:30 - 1:30 p.m.
VIP LUNCH
Congressional Meeting Room North
1:30 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Direct advocacy and education
House and Senate
Description: Attendees meet at pre-scheduled meetings with targeted key House and Senate members and their staffs to educate them on the crisis. Diaspora meetings will be arranged in advance by IDC staff.
4:00 p.m
Return to Omni Shoreham.
7:30 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Cocktail Reception
Regency Ballroom
8:00 p.m.
Arrive
Regency Ballroom
8:00 p.m. - 9:30 p.m.
Gala Solidarity Dinner
Regency Ballroom
Theme: Religious Freedom and Human Dignity
National Anthem
8:05 p.m. - 8:10 p.m.
Welcoming Remarks
Toufic Baaklini, President
In Defense of Christians
8:10 p.m. – 8:20 p.m.
Special Remarks
Dr. Imad S. Mufarrij, Event Chairman
In Defense of Christians
Inaugural Summit for Middle East Christians
Keynote Address
The Honorable Ted Cruz (R-TX)
United States Senator
His Eminence, Patriarch Mar Bechara Boutros Cardinal Raï
Maronite Patriarch of Antioch and All the East
His Eminence the Most Reverend Metropolitan Joseph Zahlawi
Archbishop of New York and All North America of the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Church
His Excellency Ibrahim, Ibrahim
Bishop Emeritus of Chaldean Eparchy of Saint Thomas the Apostle
Day Three – Thursday, September 11, 2014
(*Note: Please be available for media interviews throughout the day via cell phone, at the Omni Shoreha.m. media room, or driven to in-studio interviews with outlets such as CBS, CNN, Fox News, LBC.)
7:15 a.m.
Arrive
7:30 a.m. - 8:30 a.m.
Breakfast
Regency Ballroom
Keynote Address
His Beatitude, Mor Ignatius Aphrem II
Syriac Orthodox Patriarch of Antioch
His Beatitude, Ignatius Youssef III Younan
Syriac Catholic Patriarch of Antioch and All the East
8:30 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.
First Panel
Omni Shoreham
Regency Ballroom
Theme: Christians in The Middle East Present and Future
Moderator: Alexis Moukarzel
Opening Remarks
His Eminence the Most Reverend Metropolitan Joseph Zahlawi
Archbishop of New York and All North America of the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Church
His Grace Bishop Angaelos,
General Bishop of the Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria
His Excellency Ibrahim Ibrahim
Bishop Emeritus of Chaldean Eparchy of Saint Thomas the Apostle
Patriarchal Keynotes
His Eminence, Patriarch Mar Bechara Boutros Cardinal Raï
Maronite Patriarch of Antioch and All the East
Topic: "Consolidating Christian Presence and Role in the Middle East: Solutions and Perspectives"
His Beatitude, Gregorius III Laham
Melkite Greek Catholic Patriarch of Antioch and All the East, Alexandria and Jerusalem
Topic: "Christians in the Middle East: Presence. Role. Vision"
His Beatitude, Mor Ignatius Aphrem II
Syriac Orthodox Patriarch of Antioch
Topic: TBD
His Beatitude, Ignatius Youssef III Younan
Syriac Catholic Patriarch of Antioch and All the East
Topic: "Advocacy for Christian Survival in the Middle East"
His Beatitude, Aram I Keshishian
Catholicos of the Holy See of Cilicia of the Armenian Apostolic Church
Topic: "The Future of Christianity in the Middle East: Vision and Plan of Action"
10:30 a.m. - 10:45 a.m.
Break
10:45 a.m. - Noon
Second Panel
Omni Shoreham
Regency Ballroom
(*Note: Brief question and answer session with the media follows.)
Theme: Changing Policy Through Awareness and Advocacy
Moderator: Dr. Robert Danin
Nermein Riad
Executive Director, Coptic Orphans
Nina Shea
Director, Center for Religious Freedom
Hudson Institute
Tom Farr
Director of the Religious Freedom Project
Georgetown University's Berkeley Center for Religion, World Peace and World Affairs
Reverend Nabil Haddad
Founder and CEO of Jordanian Interfaith Coexistence Research Center
Dr. James Zogby
Arab American Institute
Sir Rateb Rabie
Holy Land Christian Ecumenical Foundation
Noon - 12:30 p.m.
Break
Omni Shoreham
Regency Ballroom
12:30 p.m. - 1:45 p.m.
Lunch
Omni Shoreham
Regency Ballroom
Keynote Address
Theme: Unity with the Persecuted
Eric Metaxas
Author, Scholar, Speaker
1:45 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Break
2:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.
First Afternoon Panel
Omni Shoreham
Regency Ballroom
(*Note: Brief question and answer session with the media follows.)
Theme: Why Christianity Is Vital to The Middle East
Moderator: Judge Joseph Boohaker
Bishop Julian Dobbs
Barnabas Fund
Michael LaCivita
CNEWA
Edward Clancy
Aid to the Church in Need
Nabil Costa
Supreme Council for Evangelicals in Syria and Lebanon
Nehmet Frem
Vice President, Maronite Foundation
IDC Board Member
Dr. Phillip Salem
Director of the Cancer Research Program
St. Luke's Episcopal Hospital, Houston
4:00 p.m. - 4:15 p.m.
Break
4:15 p.m. - 4:45 p.m.
Second Afternoon Panel
Omni Shoreham
Regency Ballroom
(*Note: Brief question and answer session with the media follows.
Theme: Using Social Media to Promote Human Rights in Iran and Other Countries
4:45 p.m. - 5:15 p.m.
Concluding Remarks
Omni Shoreham
Regency Ballroom
Toufic Baaklini, President
In Defense of Christians
Andrew Doran, Executive Director
In Defense of Christians
Description: Thanks attendees and closes with a "call to action."
5:15 p.m.
Summit Concludes
