– January 26, 2011 –

WASHINGTON – Following the State of the Union and as the new 112th Congress gets underway, Christian advocates from across the country are planning to voice their concern for development,security and economic justice, especially for women and girls. Over 700 persons of faith from across the country will visit Capitol HillMarch 25-28, 2011, for the ninth annual Ecumenical Advocacy Days for Global Peace with Justice Conference.

Policy makers, expert speakers and representatives from global regions will join church leaders and grassroots activists in reflecting on the 2011 Ecumenical Advocacy Days (EAD) conference theme, “Development, Security and Economic Justice: What’s Gender Got to Do with It?” “Gender’s got a lot to do with it. Around the world, women and girls comprise seventy percent of those living in poverty. The 2011 EAD conference will lift-up the vital issues of U.S. and global economic justice, safety and security, and sustainable development, with a particular focus on those most impacted – women, girls and families,” said Douglas G.Grace, M.Div., S.T.M., coordinator of Ecumenical Advocacy Days. He added, “Not specifically a gathering on ‘gender issues,’ this year’s EAD conference is for men and women of faith who want to be a force for change for the betterment of all!”

Speakers and preachers confirmed so far include the husband-wife team, Rev. John Nunes, President and CEO of Lutheran World Relief, and Monique Nunes, Administrator for the Baltimore Lutheran School, Towson, Maryland; the Rev. Peg Chemberlin, President of National Council of Churches in Christ USA and Executive Director for the Minnesota Council of Churches; Daisy Machado, Academic Dean and Professor of the Church History Union Theological Seminary, New York, NY; Regina Oldak, Senior Counsel for the Women’s Law Center; Ritu Sharma, Co-Founder and President of Women Thrive Worldwide; and Jack Jezreel, Founder and Executive Director of JustFaith Ministries.

Participants will attend plenary sessions and workshops addressing a range of issues from ending violence against women to empowering and educating women in the United States, Middle East, Asia-Pacific region, Africa and Latin America. On March 28, participants will meet with their members of Congress to discuss ways of addressing these concerns through legislation or budget priorities.

“The issues facing women affect all of humanity, and people of faith are invited to come and be inspired and equipped to speak boldly. Now more than ever, we must provide a means for sound public policy analysis and the voice of the faith community’s witness to reason and Biblically-based social justice,” said the Rev. Ann Tiemeyer, Program Director for Women’s Ministry – Justice for Women Working Group of the National Council of Churches and a member of the EAD Leadership Team.

Ecumenical Advocacy Days is a movement of Christian denominations and over forty recognized partners and allies which is grounded in biblical witness and shared traditions of justice, peace and the integrity of creation. Its goal, through worship, theological reflection and opportunities for learning and witness, is to strengthen the Christian voice of citizens mobilized for advocacy on a wide variety of U.S. domestic and international policy issues.

Registration and more information about Ecumenical Advocacy Days is at http://www.AdvocacyDays.org on the Web. Student scholarships are available.

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