This seminar is designed to be of special interest to clergy and other religious professionals, people involved in international relief, or others who have a serious interest learning about the current situation in this varied and complex region. Topics will include what needs are currently being met; the future of displaced and persecuted Christians and religious minorities; current governmental and private sector policy and future options; spiritual needs, concerns and efforts to ameliorate suffering. Seminar attendees will have a unique opportunity to meet, learn from and communicate with distinguished experts.
The panel includes: Bishop Gregory Mansour, Maronite Bishop; Thomas Farr, Ph.D., former U.S. Diplomat and head of the State Department’s Office of Religious Freedom and now Director of the Program on Religion and U.S. Foreign Policy at Georgetown's Berkley Center for Religion, Peace, and World Affairs; Alain Weaver, Director of Strategic Planning at the Mennonite Central Committee, who has over a decade of hands-on experience in the Middle East; Ph.D., Michael La Civita, Vice President and Chief Communications Officer at the Catholic Near East Welfare Association a relief agency; John Farina, Ph.D., J.D. Professor at George Mason University and expert on Comparative Religion, Law, and Culture; and other nationally recognized experts. Moderator: Frank Orban III, J.D., a former senior US diplomat, a Knight of Malta and now Secretary & General Counsel of Malteser International Americas, the international relief arm of the Order of Malta.