Ecumenical Leaders Prepare for Third Ecumenical Advocacy Day

By Pauline J. Chang, Christian Post Reporter Friday, February 04, 2005

Leaders representing more than 30 faith-based groups will gather in Arlington, Virginia, for the third annual Ecumenical Advocacy Days for Global Peace and Justice, March 11-14, 2005. The effort, supported by dozens of Christian, Jewish and Muslim groups, seeks to find “wise and peaceful solutions” to conflicts in the world.

This year, the theme of the Ecumenical Advocacy Days is “Make All Things New.” Participants at the conference plan to “learn together and raise their voices in advocacy for a more just and peaceful world.”

According to Maureen Shea, director of the Episcopal Church's Washington-based Office of Government Relations, the Virginia event is an opportunity for participants to discuss a wide variety of issues, "and lobby the 109th Congress on how we go about building a more just global community."

"We hope many Episcopalians will attend this year's Ecumenical Advocacy Days," said Shea. "...[It] is another important way in which to fulfill our baptismal covenant that we 'will strive for justice.'"

In 2004, more than 600 advocates from the supporting faith-groups gathered for the events. This year, the ecumenical advocacy events feature well-known speakers such as the moderator of the Presbyterian Church (USA), Rick Ufford-Chase, and the first woman bishop of the African Methodist Episcopal Church, Bishop Vashti McKenzie.

For more information and to register, please visit www.advocacydays.org, or email info@advocacydays.org; telephone, 202.544.2350.