December 4, 2007

CHICAGO – The Rev. Mark S. Hanson, presiding bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) and president of the Lutheran World Federation, is featured in the two-hour primetime television special "In God's Name," airing Dec. 23 at 9:00 p.m. EST on CBS.

Produced by French filmmakers Jules and Gedeon Naudet, the special explores "complex questions of our time through the intimate thoughts and beliefs of 12 of the world's most influential spiritual leaders," according to a Nov. 20 CBS news release. The spiritual leaders "speak out about violence and hatred and reveal their own thoughts about faith, peace, unity, tolerance and hope. Viewers will see them in intimate settings, including their homes and personal places of worship."

"It is a great honor to be included among such diverse and distinguished global religious leaders as those featured in ‘In God's Name.' It is my hope that members of the Lutheran World Federation and the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America will regard this as a strong affirmation of our shared witness to our Christian faith and our commitment to work with people of all faiths for a most just and peaceful world and a sustainable creation. Their personal quest for meaning amidst so many religious claims and conflicts made working with Jules and Gedeon Naudet such a fascinating experience. Again, as through their documentary on 9-11, I believe we will be given a unique opportunity to gain insights that might lead each of us to recommit to lives of both humility and courage," said Hanson.

This is the first time some of the world's religious leaders have appeared together in one broadcast, said Ava Odom Martin, director for public media, ELCA Communication Services. "It is really an honor to have the Rev. Mark Hanson, a national and world leader, participate in this wonderful documentary. To have a program on religion and faith broadcast on a major television network in a two-hour prime time slot is incredible," she said.

When brothers Jules and Gedeon Naudet came to Chicago, "I witnessed the unique and wonderful care they brought to their work as producers. The passion in which they captured Bishop Hanson's work and family life made me realize the special would be a fabulous production," said Martin.

"I have seen the Naudet's documentary about the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. Jules Naudet was caught in the South Tower. Every frame of the footage the brothers captured during the fall of the towers was astounding," she said.

"On Sept. 11 we faced death and thought we had lost each other," said Jules Naudet in the CBS news release. "This harrowing experience was the first step in a journey that would take us around the world searching for answers to the meaning of life," he said.

The 11 other leaders featured in "In God's Name" are:
+ Alexei II, Patriarch of Moscow and leader of the Russian Orthodox Church
+ Amma (Mata Amritanandamayi), a Hindu spiritual leader
+ Pope Benedict XVI, leader of the Roman Catholic Church
+ The Dalai Lama (Tenzin Gyatso), spiritual leader of Tibetan Buddhists
+ Ayatollah Muhammad Hussein Fadlallah, a Shi'ite Muslim leader
+ Michihisa Kitashirakawa, Jingu Daiguji, High Priest of the Shinto Grand Shrine of Ise
+ Yona Metzger, Ashkenazi Chief Rabbi of Israel
+ Dr. Frank Page, president, Southern Baptist Convention
+ Muhammad Sayyed Tantawi, Sheikh of Al-Azhar and a prominent Sunni Muslim leader
+ Joginder Singh Vedanti, Jathedar of the Akal Takht, the Sikh's highest authority
+ Dr. Rowan Williams, Archbishop of Canterbury and leader of the Anglican Communion

Information about the Rev. Mark S. Hanson is at http://www.ELCA.org/bishop/ on the ELCA Web site.

ELCA News Service