2008 Conference Summary
The 2008 Ecumenical Advocacy Days gathering was a huge success! Over 700 participants gathered over the March 7 weekend to ask Congress to envision and act on a new pathway to true human security – one which seeks not only the absence of tension, but the presence of justice (Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.). The Rev. Dr. Mark Lomax, Founder and Pastor First African Presbyterian Church in Atlanta, Georgia, kicked off the conference with a rousing sermon linking advocacy and peacemaking. Lisa Schirch, Professor of Peacebuilding at Eastern Mennonite University, received a standing ovation after presenting on the need for the United States to focus attention on diplomacy and development rather than military might. The closing worship service on Sunday was led by the Archbishop Vicken Aykazian, President of the National Council of Churches. Archbishop Aykazian called on participants to ease the pain and suffering in the world by relying on their faith to bring true security. The conference culminated on Monday when conference attendees participated in nearly 300 visits with their members of Congress.
Audio of Selected Presentations:
Plenary - Presentation by Lisa Schirch (.mp3)
MP3 Recording: Lisa Schirch “Using Aikido Using Aikido in Congress: Ecumenical Advocacy on Human and Environmental Security”
Worship - Archbishop Vicken Aykazian (.mp3)
MP3 Recording: Archbishop Aykazian Homily
Plenary: Faith in Action - Part I (.mp3)
MP3 Recording Faith in Action Part I
Photos
Visit the 2008 Conference Photogallery