May 9, 2003

VALLEY FORGE, Pa.. - Rev. Dr. J. Paul Rajashekar, a Lutheran minister, scholar, international lecturer and author, will speak on "Dialogue or Mission: A Christian Response to Religious Pluralism" at the Christian Unity Dinner June 29 during the American Baptist Churches USA Biennial Meeting in Richmond.

Rajashekar, the Luther D. Reed Professor of Systematic Theology and dean of The Lutheran Theological Seminary at Philadelphia, is a well-known expert in inter-religious dialog. In his presentation at the Christian Unity Dinner he will address such issues as how Christians can engage in interfaith dialog without compromising their claims and convictions, the place for conversion in such dialog, and how Christians can navigate their faith in the midst of a rising tide of religious pluralism.

Rajashekar has written and lectured extensively on Hinduism and Christianity, Islamic fundamentalism, religions in African cultures, Islam in Asia, and faith and faithfulness in a multi-faith world. He has served as an advisor and consultant to many international organizations and conferences, including the World Conference on Mission and Evangelism, the Christian Conference of Asia, the All Africa Consultation on Theological Education and the Commission on Faith and Order of the World Council of Churches.

He is a member of the Commission on Interfaith Relations of the National Council of Churches of Christ.

The Luke Mowbray Ecumenical Award will be presented during the dinner to the Rev. Lawrence Hargrave, pastor of the Church on the Hill and director of alumni/nae church and community relations at Colgate Rochester Crozer Divinity School.

Tickets for the dinner are $21 each. Those interested in attending should return the "Ticketed Meals/Events" form contained in both the Biennial Meeting publicity packet brochure and Winter issue of American Baptists In Mission, each sent to all American Baptist churches in February. Publicity information and forms also are posted on (and can be downloaded from) the American Baptist Churches USA Web site: www.abc-usa.org. Forms need to be received no later than May 30 by the Office of Travel and Conference Planning, American Baptist Churches USA, P.O. Box 851, Valley Forge, PA 19482-0851; fax (610)768-2229.

American Baptist News Service