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Faith Leaders from 23 African Countries in Washington for Interfaith Summit on Africa

July 15, 2006

Church World Service Convening African, U.S. Africa Experts and Faith Leaders to Tackle Continent's Top Issues

ONSITE MEDIA CONTACTS 7/15/06 - 7/21/06
Jan Dragin - 339-236-0679
Lesley Crosson - 347-513-4030

WASHINGTON--In the face of a G8 leaders summit in St. Petersburg, Russia, this weekend focused on energy, nuclear and Middle East crises, a group of ranking African interfaith leaders and U.S. policymakers and advocates will tackle some of Africa’s pivotal challenges next week (Tues July 18 – Fri July 21) at the Interfaith Summit on Africa in Washington.

WHAT: The Interfaith Summit on Africa

Presented by international humanitarian agency Church World Service

More than 50 faith leaders from 21 African countries will meet with leading U.S. and international religious leaders and Africa-vested experts to grapple with Africa’s most pressing issues.

WHEN AND WHERE:

• Interfaith Summit on Africa: Tuesday, July 18 – Friday, July 21, 2006, with breakfast briefings on key topics, keynote luncheons and banquets, and working dialogue sessions

All Summit proceedings at the Hyatt Regency Washington on Capitol Hill, 400 New Jersey Avenue, NW, Washington, DC, USA 20001

• Congressional Human Rights Caucus Briefing by Interfaith Summit African Delegates –

”The Role of African Faith-Based Organizations in Social and Economic Development”–

Tuesday July 18, 2006, 2:00 – approximately 4:00 p.m., Room 2172 Rayburn House Office Building, Independence Avenue and South Capitol Street, Washington, D.C.

***Daybook editors, note this event is a change from June 9 advance: Originally announced Tuesday July 18 2:00 PM Congressional Hearing on Africa with delegates before the House Subcommittee on Africa, Global Human Rights and International Operations, has been cancelled.***

• Congressional Reception for African delegates and U.S. Summit participants–

Tuesday July 18, 2006, 6:00 – 8:00 PM, Rayburn House Office Building, Banquet Room B-339

Media invited to all Summit proceedings, Human Rights Caucus briefing and congressional reception.

Program agenda, delegate list, profiles available at: www.churchworldservice.org/news/africasummit

DETAILS:

Africa’s interfaith leaders play a distinctive and pro-active role as de facto NGOs (non-governmental organizations) in supporting civil society, durable people-centered solutions for the continent’s challenges, and in monitoring good governance.

The Interfaith Summit on Africa’s keynote addresses, roundtable and work session dialogues will address issues and innovative and faith-based approaches to: water resources, hunger and food security, malaria and HIV/AIDS, small arms trafficking, durable solutions for displaced people, Africa’s children, sustainable economic development, the status of women, and faith-based solutions to social issues.

WHO:

Speakers, presenters, dialogue workshop participants and guest experts include:

• Opening Plenary Keynote: Legwaila Joseph Legwaila, Under Secretary General, Special

Advisor on Africa, United Nations

• Victor A. Barnes, Ph.D., Director, HIV/AIDS Initiative, Corporate Council on Africa

• Rt. Rev. Dr. Nyansako-ni-Nku, President, All Africa Conference of Churches

• Diana Aubourg, Executive Director, Save Africa’s Children

• Archbishop Njongokulu Ndungane, Anglican Province of Southern Africa

• Rev. Edward Matuvhunye, President, United Church of Christ, Zimbabwe

• Sheikh Abu Bakarr-Conteh, First Vice President, Inter-Religious Council of Sierra Leone

• Rev. John L. McCullough, Executive Director and CEO, Church World Service

• Sabina Khoza, Secretary General, Fair Deal Agriculture Training Center, South Africa

• Steven Costner, Deputy Director, Office of Weapons Removal and Abatement, Bureau of

Political-Military Affairs, U.S. Department of State

• Baffour D. Amoa, Chairman, West Africa Action Network on Small Arms and Secretary General,

Fellowship of Christian Councils and churches in West Africa

• Leonard H. Robinson, Jr., President, The Africa Society of the National Summit on Africa

• Ruth Messinger, President, American Jewish World Service

• His Eminence Seraphim Kykkotis, Greek Orthodox Archbishop, Johannesburg and Pretoria,

South Africa

• Katherine Marshall, Counselor to the President, the World Bank

• Rev. David Beckmann, President, Bread for the World

• Rev. Mark Akec Cien, Acting General Secretary, Sudan Council of Churches

• Sheikh Mohammed Omari Riyami, Deputy Secretary General, National Muslim Council of Tanzania

• Dr. Awa Marie Coll-Seck, Executive Secretary, Roll Back Malaria Partnership, Geneva,

Switzerland

• Patrick Purtill, Director of New Partner Outreach, U.S. Global AIDS Office, U.S. Department of

State

• Most Rev. Josiah Idowu-Fearon, Anglican Archbishop, Province of Kaduna, Nigeria

• Prabhudas D. Pattni, Chairperson, Hindu Council of Africa

• Sheikh Kafumba F. Konneh, Commissioner, Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Liberia

• Rev. Dr. Mvume Dandala, General Secretary, All Africa Conference of Churches

• Dr. Kamel Esseghairi, Director, Social Affairs Department, African Union Commission

• Mrs. Tahirih Matthee, Council of the Bahåi’s of the Western Cape

• Rabbi David Saperstein, Director, Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism

• John Thomas, Global Marketing Manager for Public Health Products, BASF

• Bishop Charles E. Blake, Senior Pastor, West Angeles Church of God in Christ, Los Angeles

• Dr. John Kilama, President, Global Bioscience Development Institute

• Professor Musa W. Dube, University of Botswana and Circle of concerned African Women

Theologians

• Reed Kramer, Chief Executive Officer, All Africa Global Media

Interviews available with delegates and participants.

Radio News Producers: 60-sec produced Audio News Releases in MP3 format for direct download, provided daily from the Africa Summit at:

churchworldservice.org/news/africasummit

High res photos will be available for download during the Summit at: www.churchworldservice.org/media/hires.html

PLEASE NOTE ONSITE MEDIA CONTACTS 7/15/06 - 7/21/06
Jan Dragin - 339-236-0679
Lesley Crosson - 347-513-4030

Media Contact:
Lesley Crosson, CWS/New York, 212-870-2676;
Jan Dragin, 781-925-1526;

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