Now that the dust has settled after the recent In Defense of
Christians (IDC) Gala dinner in Washington on 10 September 2014, I feel it is
appropriate to comment because of the nature of my work on inter-religious relations
and reconciliation in Britain and around the world.
My observation was of a large gathering of people, particularly
connected to Iraq and Syria, experiencing very real pain who had
come together to represent relatives either displaced, persecuted, missing, or murdered.
In my own address and in my general view as a Christian and a minister I believe
there is complete clarity that advocacy must be for all who suffer persecution,
Christian or otherwise, and that this is a time for collaboration to this end.
As mentioned in my previous statement of 10 September 2014, “Christians,
along with those who live by faith, morals, and ethics, and the international
community, must collaborate to address this threat against not only innocent
civilians, but our way of life as we know it today.” Having spoken at this IDC Summit
on the plight of Christians in the Middle East, and particularly in Iraq and
Syria, I take personal exception to sweeping statements made about those in attendance
as espousing "bigotry and hatred...against Jews and Israel".
