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Friday, October 26, 2007
12:00pm Conference Registration/Refreshments/Booths Open
2:00pm – 2:40pm Opening Prayer and Welcoming Remarks
Rev. Dr. Douglas Learned, Executive
Pastor, National Presbyterian Church
Introduction 9th International Conference
Conference Moderators:
Marilyn Doria Shaw, HCEF, Treasurer. HCEF Board of Directors;
Gail Freeman, HCEF Pilgrimage Coordinator
Opening Remarks: Rateb Y. Rabie, KCHS
HCEF President/CEO
2:50pm –3.50 pm Diaspora Palestinian Christians:
Romantic Attachments and Active Involvement?
Approximately 800,000 Palestinian Christians live in the Diaspora, with 350,000 in Chile alone, more than in all of Palestine. The panelists will discuss the history and causes of emigration. They will discuss ways in which relations with the Holy Land can be maintained, and the function of the churches in building bridges of understanding, communication, and support.
Moderator: Jeff Abood, Chairman, Cleveland, Holy Land Christian Support Network (HCSN)
H.E. May Kaileh, Head of the PLO Mission to Chile
Raji Zeidan, Mayor of Beit Jala
Fr. Richard Van De Water, Priest, Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem , San Francisco, CA
3:50pm – 4:00pm Spotlight: the Lives of Holy Land Christians1
4:00pm – 5:00pm Christian Mayors from the Holy Land: Towns Imbedded in History and Challenged by Realities of War and Peace
Three Christian mayors will discuss living conditions in their towns. They will address the functioning of civic structures in a state of insecurity and lack of peace. They will discuss integration and contribution of Christian character in the promotion of a peaceful society. The mayors will outline their expectations from American Christians for partnerships in peace efforts and progress, and their own communities’ contribution to a vision of peace and reconciliation.
Moderator: Dr Saliba Sarsar, Assoc. Vice President for Academic Program Initiatives and Professor of Political Science, Monmouth University, HCEF Board Member.
Dr.Victor Batarseh, Mayor of Bethlehem
Ms. Jannet Michael, Mayor of Ramallah
Hani Naji Hayek, Mayor of Beit Sahour
5:00pm Closing Prayer: Rev. Roy Enquist, HCEF Advisory Board Member;
Chairman, HCEF Lutheran Outreach Committee.
6:00pm – 7:00pm Reception
Marriott Bethesda North Hotel & Conference Center,
5701 Marinelli Road, Bethesda, MD, 20852
7:30am – 8:30am Registration/Refreshments/Booths Open
8:30am – 8:40am Opening Prayer: Fr. George Rados, Pastor, Sts Peter and Paul Antiochian Orthodox Christian Church
8:40am – 8:50am Spotlight: The Lives of Holy Land Christians II
8:50am – 10:20am Christian Zionism: The Conversation Continues:
Are Christians obligated to support Israel?
Two Different Theological Perspectives
This conversation between an Evangelical Christian and a Christian Zionist will explore the positions of both groups. It will address the differences in their theological and political views. It will also touch upon the realities of Christian Zionism as it influences current events in the Holy Land.
Moderator:Serge Duss, Sr. Advisor for Global Affairs, World Vision US; Ordained Elder, National Presbyterian Church
Rev. Gary Burge, Ph.D., Professor, Wheaton College & Graduate School, Wheaton, IL. HCEF Advisory Board
Dr. Kevin D.Zuber, Professor of Theology, Moody Bible Institute, Chicago, IL
10:20am – 10:35am Break
10:35am – 10:45am Spotlight: The Lives of Holy Land Christians III
10:45am – 11:45am Illegal Wall and Settlements "Build Bridges, Not Walls"
Panelists will detail this topic with maps, aerial photos and diagrams to describe the geographic, economic, and demographic impact of the illegal Israeli wall, settlements and checkpoints on Palestinian life. The panel will address questions such as: can there be peace and reconciliation with separation? is continued Israeli occupation, settlements expansion, settlers’ exclusive road system and control with over 500 checkpoints, a formula for peace? How does the wall impact the viability and hope for a two state solution?
Moderator: Rev. Timothy Ross, Pastor, Hopwood Christian Church, Holy Land Christian Support Network (HCSN), Johnson City, TN .
Professor Jad Isaac; Director General, Applied Research Institute – Jerusalem.
Ambassador Philip Wilcox, President, Foundation for Middle East Peace, Washington, DC.
11:45am – 12:15pm Message of Peace
Moderator: Roy Castor, National Presbyterian Church, Co-Chair Middle East Committee
Keynote Speaker: Rev. Russell Siler, ELCA Pastor
12:15pm – 1:15pm Lunch
1:15pm – 2:15pm Economic Development – Contributing to Peace in the Holy Land
The Panel will discuss the key role played by economic developments in peace effort. The focus will be on integrated development programs at the community level. Policies and legislative initiatives to create an environment for equal economic opportunity will also be outlined, using the U.S. experience as a reference model.Q & A will follow by 5 attending mayors.
Moderator:
Philip Davis, HCEF Board Member, ANERA Vice President
Dr.Yousef Nasser, Mayor of Birzeit
George Ghattas, Palestine, HCEF Country Representative
2:15pm – 3:15pm Holy Land Arab Christians in Public Service in Jordan and Palestine
This panel will focus on the everyday dialogue in the life of Moslems and Christians. This is hidden to many in the outside world as they see Christianity and Islam as separate entities and unrelated. In Jordan and Palestine for both groups live together, come to appreciating each other’s religious traditions and learn respect and openness to be a part of their lives. Christians in both countries are integral part of these societies, serving in public offices, and are considered equal before law.
Moderator: Bill Yontz, Chairman, HCEF, Development Committee, HCEF Board Member.
H.R.H. Prince Zeid Ra’ad Al-Hussein, Ambassador of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan to the U.S.A.
H.E. Afif Safieh, Head of the PLO Mission to U.S.A.
3:15pm – 3:25pm Break
3:25pm – 3:30pm Spotlight: The Lives of Holy Land Christians IV
3:30pm – 4:30pm Three Women, Three Faiths, One Vision ( Sponsored by Partners for Peace)
Three women – Israeli and Palestinians- one Muslim, one Jewish, one Christian – will share their frustrations and grief living through the ongoing violence in their homeland. Their emphasis will be on their vision providing a bridge for a just and peaceful resolution of the conflict. They will elaborate on means by which this vision of coexistence can become a reality and endure.
Moderator: Ms. Lisa Gianturco, Raleigh-Durham, NC.Holy Land Christian Support Network (HCSN).
Hagit Ra’anan, Israeli / Jewish Peace Activist
Abir Kobty, Palestinian / Christian Peace Activist
Wejdan Jabr Palestinian / Moslem Peace Activist
4:30pm – 5:00pm Children’s Peace Project:
The program will present the vision of Arab and American Christian children about their hopes for a peaceful future.
5:00pm– Closing Prayer: Fr. Robert Waller, Pastor, Milford, Ohio.
5:00pm – 7:00pm Reception: Stone Hall , National Presbyterian Church
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