April 1999

Dear IRLA Board Members:

This is the time to share with you some information about IRLA for the first quarter of 1999. I will not be reporting on the minutes you recently received, but I want to underline a few activities.

1. Promotional Tour in Nicaragua, Jamaica, Bermuda After our IRLA ADCOM meeting of January 13, I went to a Miami meeting with Mario Nino. We traveled to Managua, January 15-17, then Jamaica, 18-21, then I flew alone to Bermuda. In this beautiful island I worked with Charles Eussey. In these three locations we met religious and government leaders. In Jamaica I spoke before a thousand students, then we had TV interviews. Mario did a great work and our local friends were very helpful. The meetings in the Managua and Bermuda churches were packed and were very interesting. I gave a report about the world situation and Mario gave a lecture on the world religions.
2. Trip to Napa Valley January 29-31, Alan Reinach welcomed me to Sacramento and we went to Pacific Union College for a symposium on religious freedom. Friday night we had a panel before a thousand or so students. Saturday morning I gave a sermon on religious freedom for about 2,000 people. Alan invited a group of experts who provided a good program on Saturday night and Sunday. Alan and his associate Arnold Trujillo did very well.
3. Visit and Farewell for Rafael Noriega February 9, Rafael Noriega and a delegation from the Cuban Interests Section in Washington, visited our headquarters where we provided a luncheon for them. Our vice presidents Leo Ranzolin and Robert Nixon were with us. Bert Beach gave a word of appreciation for the improvement of religious freedom in Cuba.
4. Fides et Libertas Becomes a Reality A dream becoming a reality—this is what happened with Fides et Libertas. I got the dream, and Richard Fenn did the work. We printed more than 3,000 copies and sent one box of 88 copies to each IRLA regional secretary general. Fides et Libertas will help us improve our presence in the field of religious freedom. If you need extra copies, please let us know.
5. 50^th Anniversary in India India is under the increasing intolerance of the Hindu activists, but Dr. Justus Devadas organized a special program to commemorate the 50^th Anniversary of the UDHR December 10, 1998 in India. He wrote "We had an inter-collegiate speech and poster competition for elementary, high school and college students. Included in the program was a symposium with people from Pune University and Spicer College, and a "street play" on human rights. Congratulations to Dr. Devadas and the students of Pune!
6. The Anglican World Communion for Religious Freedom In its resolution 1.2, Religious Freedom and Tolerance, the delegates of the Lambeth Conference, August 1998, approved an important resolution on religious freedom. We read, "...all faith communities, especially the Christian Church, to acknowledge our responsibility to mobilize our spiritual, moral and material resources to promote and protect as absolute rights, each person’s freedom of thought, conscience and religion." 1.2(e).
7. The European Tour March 11-28 March 17-19, I attended the Congress on Religious Freedom organized at Riga, Latvia, by the International Commission on Religious Freedom. Lee Boothby and Cole Durham were behind this event at which I gave a report about IRLA activities. Several participants asked to become members, and we plan to have a Latvian Chapter as soon as possible. The following day, we went to Venice, Austria, for the meeting of the OSCE on religious freedom in Europe. Fifty-five governments were represented and about a hundred NGOs. We met many friends. Lee Boothby spoke on behalf of the International Commission and IRLA. Ambassador Seiple led the US delegation. Karen Lord and Jeremy Gunn were present. Rosa Maria Martinez de Codes led the Spanish delegation, and Gheorghe Anghelescu, the Romanian delegation. Among the experts: Massimo Introvigne, Willy Fautré and Alain Garay.
8. IRLA Becomes an NGO/DPI With our presence in New York through Richard Fenn, we have received recognition from the United Nations Department of Public Information. This recognition will greatly help IRLA to be more involved within the United Nations environment. Dick is now working on UN recognition by the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC). It is a protracted process.
9. Bishop Gunnar Stålsett Chairs the Board February 23, our president Bishop Stålsett came to Washington with his wife. Both visited our headquarters and we provided a luncheon for them with officials. We also had the privilege of having Bishop Stålsett as chair of our IRLA committee. Then he flew to Seoul to give a lecture for the World bank. It was important to have him with us.
10. IRLA Congress in Moscow From Venice I traveled to Moscow for the IRLA Congress, March 23-24. Lee Boothby was there, also. It was an excellent congress thanks to the great work of Victor Krushenitsky. Victor was reelected General Secretary of the IRLA-Russia Chapter and so the President Anatoly Krasikov. IRLA-Russia is unique in that many of the religious leaders in Moscow are members of its Board.
11. Meeting of Experts in Madrid Almost everything is ready for the first IRLA Conference of Experts in Madrid, May 13-16. There will be nearly 30 attendees. Professors Alberto de la Hera, Rosa Maria Martinez de Codes, and Dr. Mantecón are planning to welcome us in the best Spanish tradition of hospitality. They will also be visiting Washington the last week of April. We are very grateful to them for their tremendous support and hospitality for this first IRLA Conference of Experts.
12. World Conference on Religious Freedom in India The title for this conference now is "The World Conference on Religious Freedom." By the request of IRLA-India, IRLA/ADCOM voted to give a new name to our Second Asia Regional Congress. IRLA will be more involved and we will work closely with Dr. Justus Devadas. Deputy Secretary General Richard Fenn and Treasurer Don Robinson are going to New Delhi in early June to consult with Justus and his team. You may want to make note of the following information:

    DATE: November 16 - 18, 1999
    PLACE: New Delhi, India/Meridian Hotel
    COST: About $600 for fees and accommodations

Why a World Conference in India? India has become a very sensitive country for religious freedom. Last year nearly a hundred attacks against Christians were recorded. Missionaries were killed and churches were destroyed. IRLA will send a few groups of experts, but we plan to attend the conference and open it to those who are interested. Just write us as soon as possible if you would be interested in attending. Please don’t hesitate to send me your own report and comments. We are still working on the release of Pastor Alexander from jail in Sri Lanka. Our list of people being arrested for religious reasons is growing. For each name we receive, we try to find the best way to help.

May God bless you and your important responsibilities.

Sincerely,

John Graz
Secretary General