Join us for Global Leadership Forum 2011, “Religious Engagement in the 21st Century: Implications for Allies & Global Security.” The event is co-hosted by the Institute for Global Engagement (home to The Review of Faith & International Affairs) and Old Dominion University (the only American university to have an academic partnership with NATO), co-sponsored by the U.S. Army Chaplaincy Center for World Religions, and supported by the Aimee and Frank Batten Jr. Foundation. The forum begins on the evening of 20 September and ends at noon on 21 September. It is open to the public and does not require registration. It will be held at Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia at the Webb University Center (20 September) and the Ted Constant Conference Center (21 September).

The forum will feature a 20 September 2011 “keynote conversation” with the first Ambassador-at-Large for International Religious Freedom, Robert A. Seiple. The conversation will include Georgetown University’s Dr. Thomas F. Farr, the first director of the Office of International Religious Freedom (OIRF) at the U.S. State Department, and Dr. Milan Sturgis, who was assigned to OIRF when it began as a U.S. Navy chaplain.

The next day’s discussion will consist of emerging lessons in religious engagement for U.S. foreign policy and national security. Panel sessions will include discussions of NATO’s religious engagement in the Balkans and Afghanistan, and the priorities and needs of the chaplain community in the U.S. military.

Forum goals include:

    Encouraging the greater Norfolk community to reflect on religious freedom as proud history that is also more relevant than ever to U.S. foreign policy and global security;
  • Facilitating an intentional conversation between the academy, allies, and the U.S. government about religious engagement from scholarly, policy, and practical perspectives;
  • Building relationships across sectoral boundaries;
  • Comparing NATO’s religious engagement experience in the Balkans and Afghanistan;
  • Identifying themes and practical applications for follow-on, civil-military workshops that train US and NATO personnel (with an eye toward conceptual analogies for training and education in other theaters); and,
  • Listening to the U.S. military’s chaplaincy—a critical focal point for religious engagement—identifying and naming the key areas in need of further research and training for the chaplaincy amidst the global security environment.

CONFERENCE SCHEDULE:

Tuesday, September 20, 2011

6:00 p.m. – Reception

Hampton Newport News Room, Webb University Center

7:00 p.m. – Keynote Address

North Cafeteria, Webb University Center

Welcome and introduce President Broderick

Capt Dick Whalen, USN (Ret), Director of Military Activities

Remarks

John R. Broderick, President, Old Dominion University

Introduce Dr. Chris Seiple (President of Institute for Global Engagement) for Introduction of

Keynote Speakers and Conversations

Capt Dick Whalen, USN (Ret), Director of Military Activities

Keynote Conversations

“What We Wished We Knew Then & Where We Need to Go Now: Reflections on Religion, Religious Freedom, and U.S. Foreign Policy”

Three Virginians who helped establish the Office of International Religious Freedom at the U.S. State Department reflect on how religious freedom is in keeping with Virginian and American identity, as well as U.S. national security

    The Honorable Robert A. Seiple, Former Ambassador-at-Large for International Religious Freedom
  • Dr. Thomas F. Farr, Former Director of the Office for International Religious Freedom
  • Dr. Milan Sturgis, Former Navy Chaplain

Question and Answer Session

Moderator: Dr. Chris Seiple

Wednesday, 21 September, 2011 (Ted Constant Convocation Center)

8:00 a.m. – 9:00 a.m. (Breakfast)

ODU’s Dr. Regina Karp and IGE’s Dr. Chris Seiple provide a recap of the previous evening while detailing the morning’s events

9:15 a.m. – 10:15 a.m.

“Lessons from the Balkans: What is it that we should already know?”

    Brigadier General Roy Hunstok, Army
  • Dr. E. Germain, Policy Advisor, French MOD
  • Chaplain (LTC) Tim K. Bedsole, U.S. Army

10:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.

“Lessons from Afghanistan: What are we learning?”

    Brigadier General Peter Bartram, DNK, Army
  • David Hunsicker, Conflict Specialist, Office of Conflict Management and Mitigation International Development U.S.A.I.D
  • Major Dave Fielder, British Royal Marines
  • Chaplain David West, retired U.S. Army Chaplain

To RSVP to the event, click here