The Holy Land Christian Ecumenical Foundation (HCEF), in co-sponsorship with the Pope John Paul II Cultural Center (JPII), announces the full 11th Annual International Conference program and they invite you to join them.
The HCEF conference will address faith and dialogue for peace and justice from a Christian perspective, as well as from the perspectives of Muslims and Jews.  It will also continue to focus on the HCEF mission in support of the Christians of the Holy Land by strengthening bonds of solidarity between them and Christians elsewhere and by developing programs that provide spiritual, moral, and financial support to replace despair with hope, fear with security, and humiliation with human dignity.
Topic Highlights and Speakers:
  • The conference keynote speaker will be H.E. John Cardinal Foley, Grand Master of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem.
  • Is there Hope for a Two-State Solution – Jewish and Arab Perspectives for Peace in the Holy Land – Dr. James Zogby, President AAI, Scott Lasensky, USIP,Ambassador Warren Clark (ret),Executive Director, CMEP.
  • Religious Faith as a Path to Peace – Imam Yahya Hendi, Muslim Chaplain Georgetown University, Bishop Richard Graham, ELCA.
  • Three Women from Jerusalem-Christian, Jewish, Muslim Dialogue for Peace -this panel is co-sponsored by Partners for Peace, Washington, DC
  • The Mother Church Needs Us: The Importance of Supporting the Mother Church to Promote Christians’ Well-being and Peace in the Holy Land – Rev. Dr. Craig Barnes, Senior Pastor, Shadyside Presbyterian Church
  • Human Security in the Holy Land: Health, Education and Economic Well-being – Robert Destro, CUA andPatricia Parma, HCEF Board of Directors
  • Media for Dialogue and Peace- Ronit Avni, Just Vision, Fr. Drew Christiansen,S.J., Ph.D. America Magazine, Mohamed Elshinnawi, Voice of America
 
 
On Friday October 23, 2009, the evening preceding the conference, the Annual HCEF Awards Banquet will be held at the Bethesda Marriott at 5151 Pooks Hill Road, Bethesda, MD 20814.  The Awards Banquet honors individuals and organizations that have contributed tirelessly to promote reconciliation between Christians, Muslims, and Jews in the Holy Land. Specifically, H.E. John Cardinal Foley, Grand Master, Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem (Vatican) will receive the 2009 Living Stones Solidarity Award on behalf of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem; Archbishop Pietro Sambi, Apostolic Nuncio to the U.S. will be honored with the Path of Peace Award; Dr. Abu-Ghazaleh, KC*HS will receive the HCEF Award and Ms. Mary Beahn, LHS will receive the HCEF President’s Award.  Master of Ceremonies; Hugh Dempsey, Ph.D., COO, JPIICC
Visit us online TODAY at www.hcef.org to:
 
Register for the conference click on this link: Conference Registration!
Express your ‘Congratulations‘ for any of the Awardees by submitting a salutation for publication in the Conference Program Book – click on this link: Honor the Awardees with a Salutation