October 2000

Dear IRLA Board Member:

A few weeks ago, we had our Legal Meeting followed by the Board of Directors meeting. I am very pleased to share with you some information and to keep your interest in IRLA alive!

1. Dr. Denton Lotz - IRLA President

    

   The Board of Directors met in Silver Spring October 28. Dr. Denton Lotz, Secretary General of the Baptist World Alliance was elected as president of IRLA for 2001-2002. He follows Dr. Bert Beach in that position.

    

   Dr. Lotz has accepted the nomination, and we thank him for his support. We also thank Dr. Beach for all the work and support he has given, and continues to give as vice president to the IRLA. Pastor Leo Ranzolin is no longer a members of the Board but remains a member of the IRLA, and we thank him for his help and cooperation. Dr. Eugene Hsu was elected as a new vice president and also Raymond Dabrowski. The Board of Directors asked me to keep the position of Secretary-General for the next five years. I am pleased to serve the IRLA with all of you. My close associate and Deputy Secretary-General, Richard Fenn, is opening a new page in his life called "retirement." On behalf of all of you, I want to thank him for his great work. He was the key organizer of the 50th Anniversary of the UDHR in November 1998, our liaison to the United Nations, and the first editor of Fides et Libertas. Dr. Jonathan Gallagher from Britain will replace Richard Fenn.

    

   
   
   
2. A Full-Time Position for the United Nations Organizations (UNO)

    

   Jonathan Gallagher has been working for two months and has accomplished several significant actions. He is our new United Nations liaison in New York and Geneva. He attended the World Summit in September, went to Geneva for the Special Committee on Human Rights, and will go to Vienna soon for the General Assembly of the Conference of Non-Governmental Organizations (CONGO). Jonathan is building a network which will boost our presence at the UN. He will also work for the next World Conference in South Africa. All our team are glad to welcome Dr. Gallagher.
   

    

3. Ambassador Robert Seiple's Meeting

    

   This September, Bert Beach and I had the privilege of being invited by Ambassador Seiple to a farewell gathering for him. At the meeting, Secretary of State Madeleine Albright and Assistant Secretary Harold Koh gave official thanks to Robert Seiple for his excellent work. It was a good opportunity for me to talk with Seiple, with the new President of the United States Commission for Religious Freedom, and others. Ambassador Seiple told me he is impressed with the work of the IRLA. He has just begun to organize a new NGO, The Institute for Global Engagement, and will be happy to cooperate with the IRLA in the future.

    

   
   
   
4. The Russian Chapter Leader on Religious Freedom

    

   IRLA-Russia is playing a leading role in promoting and defending religious freedom in other republics of the former U.S.S.R.. Earlier in October, they organized a seminar at the University of Kurgan with 200 participants coming from eight regions. Among them were state officials, religious leaders, and scientists. A new branch of the Russian Chapter was organized. For 2001, the Russian Chapter has an impressive program:
   

    

   • January Seminar in the Ukraine
   • February Seminar in Tula
   • March Seminar in Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan
   • April New IRLA chapter in Kiev, New IRLA chapter in Georgia
   • May IRLA Conference in Moscow
   • June Advisory in Moscow
   • July Seminar in Moldova
   • September Conference in St. Petersburg
   • October Conference in Rostov
   • November New IRLA chapter in Central Asia
     
     

      

     What an active chapter!

      

     
     
     
5. In brief...

    

   • IRLA was listed as a sponsoring organization for the Seventh Annual Conference on "Comparative Constitutional Perspectives on Freedom of Religion and Belief," held at the George Washington University Law School in October, and at the Columbus School of Law.
   • Dr. Denton Lotz, the IRLA President for 2001-2002, received an honorary Doctorate of Divinity from the Dallas Baptist University where he has also been given the title of "World Class Christian Statesman."

      

   • Anatoly Krasikov represented the IRLA at the UNESCO conference of Tashkent in September. Professor Abdelfattah Amor, Rosa Maria Martinez de Codes, and Dr. Doudou Diene were part of this important event.
   • Monday, September 19, I met Rabbi Sobel in Sao Paulo, and later in September gave five lectures during the Seminar on Religious Freedom in Rio. Siloé de Almeida was involved also.

      

   • The list of guests for the International Conference in Bermuda is being completed with UN Under Secretary General, Joseph V. Reed, Dr. Doudou Diene, Rosa Maria Martinez de Codes, ... For more information, check our website at www.irla.org

Thank you for your support. IRLA needs you to increase its visibility and promote and defend religious freedom for all with more efficiency.

God's richest blessings for you.

Sincerely,

John Graz
Secretary-General