U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE

Notice to the Press
Office of the Spokesman
Washington, DC
April 25, 2006

"Three Faiths, One God" Documentary Clip Showing and Discussion

The Department of State will show select clips of the documentary "Three Faiths, One God," a documentary by Washington producers Gerald Krell and Meyer Odze, followed by an expert panel discussion and audience Q and A on Wednesday, April 26, 2006 from 12:00-1:00 p.m. in the Department�s Dean Acheson Auditorium.

Under Secretary of State for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs Karen Hughes will make opening remarks on the importance of interfaith dialogue. While this panel will look at Christianity, Judaism, and Islam, the State Department advocates for the freedom of all people to worship according to their religion and conscience. The Department does not endorse the views portrayed in this film, but is interested in promoting an open exchange of different perspectives. Assistant Secretary of State for Democracy, Human Rights and Labor Barry Lowenkron will moderate the discussion. Panelists include:

Ambassador Akbar Ahmed is heavily engaged in the Buxton Initiative which brings together professional Muslims and Christians in America for discussion. Additionally, he is the former High Commissioner of Pakistan to Great Britain and currently Ibn Khaldun Chair of Islamic Studies and professor of international relations at American University in Washington, DC.

Rabbi David Rosen is President of the World Conference on Religion and Peace (WCRP), the all-encompassing world inter-faith body (incorporating fifteen religions in over fifty countries), and is a charter member of the International Advisory Committee of the Council for a Parliament of the World's Religions (CPWR). He is also the International Director of Inter-religious Affairs of the American Jewish Committee.

Imam Yahya Hendi, is the Muslim chaplain at Georgetown University. Mr. Hendi is also the Imam of the Islamic Society of Frederick and the Muslim Chaplain at the National Naval Medical Center, Bethesda, MD. His other work includes being a member and the Spokesman of the Islamic Jurisprudence Council of North America as well as directing the PEACE (Public Education and Assistance Conference) office of the Muslim American Society.

Reverend Clark Lobenstine serves as the Executive Director of the InterFaith Conference of Metropolitan Washington (IFC) and Parish Associate (volunteer assistant minister) at the Silver Spring Presbyterian Church. He is a founding member of the Washington Metropolitan Dialogue and is Secretary of D.C. Mayor Anthony Williams' Interfaith Council.

This event will be open to the press.

Pre-set for cameras: 11:15 a.m. from the 23rd Street entrance.
Final access for all press: 11:45 a.m. from the 23rd Street entrance.

Media representatives may attend this event upon presentation of one of the following: (1) a U.S. Government-issued identification card (Department of State, White House, Congress, Department of Defense, or Foreign Press Center), (2) a media-issued photo identification card, or (3) a letter from their employer on letterhead verifying their employment as a journalist, accompanied by an official photo identification (driver�s license or passport).

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