GAC creates team to address religious freedom abroad By Paula R. Kincaid The Presbyterian Layman Thursday, February 18, 1999 LOUSIVILLE - A Human Rights and Religious Freedom Abroad Initiative Team has been approved by the General Assembly Council. Their task is to add a PC(USA) voice, consistent with General Assembly policy, to those of other Christian voices addressing U.S. government decision-makers, and others, on issues of religious freedom abroad. Peter Pizor Chair of Worldwide Ministries Division The recommendation came from the Worldwide Ministries Division. "We think this is a very important worldwide issue," said Peter Pizor, chair of WMD in his presentation to the GAC. "There has been a concern for persecuted Christians around the world." The initiative team will track issues of human rights and religious freedom through the U.S. State Department and unofficial reports and will coordinate the PC(USA) response to these issues, with particular attention to U.S. government legislation and its effects. The team will advocate, when appropriate, for those being oppressed; provide guidance and educational materials for use in the church; advise the GAC and respond to GA initiatives on religious freedom abroad. WMD plans to invite one elected member of the Congregational Ministries Division, National Ministries Division, Mission Support Services, the Advisory Committee on Social Witness Policy, and the Office of the General Assembly to be a part of the team for guidance. Appropriate staff persons from each entity will be part of the team for implementation of its objectives. WMD will convene the original meeting of the team through the associate director for ecumenical partnership, then the team will organize itself.

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