February 25, 2014 – WASHINGTON – Ecumenical Advocacy Days for Global Peace with Justice (EAD) is thrilled to announce that James E. Winkler, newly elected General Secretary and President of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the USA will serve Sunday morning preacher during EAD’s Interdenominational Worship on March 23, 2014.

Beginning in January, Winkler succeeded Peg Birk, who served as Transitional General Secretary of the Council since July 2012. Previously, Winkler served as general secretary of the General Board of Church and Society (GBCS), the international public policy and social justice agency of The United Methodist Church, since November 2000.

Jim has led delegations to the Middle East, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Iraq and Germany seeking peaceful solutions to global conflict and has traveled throughout the world to support the justice work of the United Methodist Church in Africa, Asia and Europe. Winkler has preached and led workshops and training events in Russia, Nigeria, and the Philippines, and has been a frequent spokesperson for the justice work of The United Methodist Church to the national and international media.

Previously, EAD announced that internationally known “Peace Activist, Author, Organizer, Lecturer and Outreach Coordinator for Pace E Bene,” The Rev. John Dear, will serve as keynote speaker/preacher at EAD’s Friday Opening Celebration on March 21, 2014.

Again this year, music and worship leadership during EAD’s national gathering will be provided by the Glocal Musicians of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). The musicians were formed by the Global Formation Team in ELCA Global Mission to provide musical leadership for the Glocal Gatherings hosted by congregations and other Christian communities throughout North America and the Caribbean. Through its intentional diversity-including representation from many countries, denominations, and several cultures-the group embodies ways to stand in mutual solidarity while amplifying marginalized voices.

In addition to offering musical worship that includes global voices, the musicians are committed to forming local leaders seeking to introduce global themes in their communities. The songs they teach are grounded in the community stories that raise awareness and inspire advocacy. The musicians embody what it means to be “Glocal”-simultaneously global and local-so “we can accompany one another across cultures, even in our own neighborhoods.”