The Holy Land Christian Support Network (HCSN) of The Holy Christian Ecumenical Foundation (HCEF) will convene its first Symposium titled The Future of Christians of the Holy Land: Christianity and Jerusalem, on March 31, 2001, at St. George Cultural Center, 2160 East Maple Road, Troy, Michigan. Press Release (For immediate release) The Holy Land Christian Support Network (HCSN) of The Holy Christian Ecumenical Foundation (HCEF) will convene its first Symposium titled The Future of Christians of the Holy Land: Christianity and Jerusalem, on March 31, 2001, at St. George Cultural Center, 2160 East Maple Road, Troy, Michigan. The Symposium will celebrate the central role of Jerusalem and the continued relevance of that city to Christian Americans. Speakers from the Holy Land and experts from the United States will highlight current political developments in the Holy Land that affect the native Christians and the Mother Church of Jerusalem. The Conference is intended to reinvigorate Christian efforts to maintain a Christian presence in the land of Jesus Christ’s birth, death and resurrection. The speakers will educate Americans about the plight of Christians in the Holy Land and encourage Christians, churches and concerned organizations to join the Holy Land Support Network and thereby give hope to Holy Land Christians and their churches. Featured Speakers include: The banquet keynote speaker His Eminence Adam Cardinal Maida, the Archbishop of Detroit; Fr. Emil Salayta, Director of Education, Latin Patriarchate, Jerusalem; Rev. William G. Gepford, S.C.D. Consultant for Interfaith Ministries, The Presbytery of Detroit; Fr. Dr. Majdi Syriani, The legal Advisor, Latin Patriarchate, Jerusalem; Donald Kruse, Former American Counsel, Jerusalem; Msgr. William Easton, Pastor, The Shrine of the Little Flower, Royal Oak, MI; Rev. Dr. Donald Wagner, Director, Center for Middle East Understanding, North Park University, Chicago, IL. and many other specialists in their field. The Symposium Chairman is George Khoury, an engineer, plays a leading role in advocating the plight of the Palestinian Christians in the USA. Mr. Khoury is a HCEF Board member, HCSN Michigan Committee Chairperson, and he has high expectations that the Christian community of Michigan will respond to the appeal that the first HCEF Symposium has to offer. The degradation of the Palestinian society and its economy has come about during the last 53 years due to deliberate discriminatory Israeli policies. These policies have marginalized Christians to the point that Christian culture and economic viability are no longer possible. It is our fervent hope that peace will visit the land where the three Abrahamic religions find their spiritual foundations. Rateb Rabie, KHS, HCEF President said “HCEF was founded to increase awareness among Americans of the urgent needs of Palestinian Christians in the Holy Land, enrich the lives of Americans through contacts with Palestinians, and to raise and fund programs that will encourage and assist Palestinian Christian to remain in their homeland”.
* The Holy Land Christian Ecumenical Foundation is a tax exempt, non-profit organization committed to improving the lives of Christians in the Holy Land by developing bonds of solidarity with Christians in the United States. HCEF, PO Box 6687, Silver Spring, MD 20906. (301) 871-9222, Fax (301) 871-2277. www.hcef.org. email:news@hcef.org
