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HOLY CHRISTIAN ECUMENICAL FOUNDATION FORGES COALITION TO HELP HOLY LAND CHRISTIANS
The Arab Daily News
Oct 24 2014
(WASHINGTON, D.C., 10/23/14) - A group of American Muslim and Christian
organizations today announced the formation of an interfaith coalition
to protect Christians and other religious minorities in Arab countries
and to promote peaceful coexistence.
Leaders of major Muslim and Christian organizations, religious
leaders and activists met earlier this week in Washington, D.C.,
at the invitation of theHoly Land Christian Ecumenical Foundation
whose mission is to maintain and support the presence of Christians
in the Holy Land.
Discussions at that meeting resulted in the creation of the coalition
to achieve the long-term goal of defending and protecting indigenous
Christians and other religious minorities in Arab countries by
restoring the historical coexistence of Muslim and Christians and
preserving the presence of Christians and other religious groups as
part of the fabric of Arab and Muslim civilization.
The coalition will work with all concerned organizations and
individuals around the world to challenge stereotypes of Arabs of
all backgrounds and to show that Christians and Muslims are united
in working toward the common goals of peace and justice.
Coalition members say they will hold two conferences; one in early
2015 in Washington, D.C., followed by a second conference in an
Arab country.
The coalition's leadership committee includes the Very Reverend
Joseph Rahal, pastor of the St. George Orthodox Church, the
Antiochian Orthodox Archdiocese; Syed Moktadir, president, All
Dulles Area Muslim Society; Dr. Sayyid M. Syeed, national director
of the Office of Interfaith & Community Alliances, Islamic Society
of North America (ISNA), Nihad Awad, national executive director,
Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR); Bassel Korkor, Esq.,
legal officer, Syrian Christians for Peace; Haris Tarin, director of
the Washington, D.C., office, Muslim Public Affairs Council (MPAC);
Salam Al Marayati, president, Muslim Public Affairs Council (MPAC);
and Kamal Nawash, Esq., president, Free Muslims Coalition.
The committee elected Sir Rateb Y. Rabie, president/CEO of the Holy
Land Christian Ecumenical Foundation, as chair.
The coalition is open to any organizations, leaders and religious
institutions committed to its mission.
Also in attendance at the formation of the coalition were His
Excellency Archbishop Atallah Hanna, Archbishop of Sebastia, Greek
Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem; His Eminence Archbishop Vicken
Aykazian, Legate of the Eastern Diocese, the Armenian Church of
America (Eastern); Aram Suren Hamparian, executive director, the
Armenian National Committee of America; Majd Akkawi, Youth Director,
Saints Peter and Paul Antiochian Orthodox Church; Khaled Elgindy;
and Samer Anabtawi.
The Holy Land Christian Ecumenical Foundation is very excited to be
given the honor of leading the effort to have Christians and Muslims
work for peace, justice and the common good.
For more information please contact Sir Rateb Rabie at [email protected]
or by phone at 301-951-9400 extension 212.
http://thearabdailynews.com/2014/10/24/holy-christian-ecumenical-foundation-forges-coalition-help-holy-land-christians/
The Arab Daily News
Oct 24 2014
(WASHINGTON, D.C., 10/23/14) - A group of American Muslim and Christian
organizations today announced the formation of an interfaith coalition
to protect Christians and other religious minorities in Arab countries
and to promote peaceful coexistence.
Leaders of major Muslim and Christian organizations, religious
leaders and activists met earlier this week in Washington, D.C.,
at the invitation of theHoly Land Christian Ecumenical Foundation
whose mission is to maintain and support the presence of Christians
in the Holy Land.
Discussions at that meeting resulted in the creation of the coalition
to achieve the long-term goal of defending and protecting indigenous
Christians and other religious minorities in Arab countries by
restoring the historical coexistence of Muslim and Christians and
preserving the presence of Christians and other religious groups as
part of the fabric of Arab and Muslim civilization.
The coalition will work with all concerned organizations and
individuals around the world to challenge stereotypes of Arabs of
all backgrounds and to show that Christians and Muslims are united
in working toward the common goals of peace and justice.
Coalition members say they will hold two conferences; one in early
2015 in Washington, D.C., followed by a second conference in an
Arab country.
The coalition's leadership committee includes the Very Reverend
Joseph Rahal, pastor of the St. George Orthodox Church, the
Antiochian Orthodox Archdiocese; Syed Moktadir, president, All
Dulles Area Muslim Society; Dr. Sayyid M. Syeed, national director
of the Office of Interfaith & Community Alliances, Islamic Society
of North America (ISNA), Nihad Awad, national executive director,
Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR); Bassel Korkor, Esq.,
legal officer, Syrian Christians for Peace; Haris Tarin, director of
the Washington, D.C., office, Muslim Public Affairs Council (MPAC);
Salam Al Marayati, president, Muslim Public Affairs Council (MPAC);
and Kamal Nawash, Esq., president, Free Muslims Coalition.
The committee elected Sir Rateb Y. Rabie, president/CEO of the Holy
Land Christian Ecumenical Foundation, as chair.
The coalition is open to any organizations, leaders and religious
institutions committed to its mission.
Also in attendance at the formation of the coalition were His
Excellency Archbishop Atallah Hanna, Archbishop of Sebastia, Greek
Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem; His Eminence Archbishop Vicken
Aykazian, Legate of the Eastern Diocese, the Armenian Church of
America (Eastern); Aram Suren Hamparian, executive director, the
Armenian National Committee of America; Majd Akkawi, Youth Director,
Saints Peter and Paul Antiochian Orthodox Church; Khaled Elgindy;
and Samer Anabtawi.
The Holy Land Christian Ecumenical Foundation is very excited to be
given the honor of leading the effort to have Christians and Muslims
work for peace, justice and the common good.
For more information please contact Sir Rateb Rabie at [email protected]
or by phone at 301-951-9400 extension 212.
http://thearabdailynews.com/2014/10/24/holy-christian-ecumenical-foundation-forges-coalition-help-holy-land-christians/