2024 Summit

Resources

• Watch the session recordings on YouTube
• Summit flyer and program (PDF)
• Evening session flyer: The Black Church and Human Dignity (PDF)
• State of Texas proclamation (PDF)
• CLE course accreditation notice (PDF)

Summit Objectives

• Bring together a wide range of religious, community and thought leaders in collaborative support of action oriented religious freedom initiatives in North Texas,
• Facilitate cordial and supportive real-time, interfaith conversations,
• Explore and understand the implications of current legal cases,
• Discuss and understand the impact of religious freedom on DFW business and the economy,
• Develop institutional and individual action plans to support religious freedom in DFW

Logistics

• Date: Tuesday October 15, 2024
• Time: 2:00 pm - 8:30 pm
• Venue: Dallas Holocaust and Human Rights Museum
• Parking available nearby (across the street)
• DART Station within 500 feet
• Registration is FREE: includes parking and light dinner (with dietary options)
• CLE Qualified

Summary Agenda

1:00 Registration and packet pickup

2:00 Welcome to Summit and opening session

Recent Texas Experiences and the Rising Generation Speaks

• Don and Wanda Wesson. White Rock Chapel, challenges of an historic Black church in Addison
• Salman Bhojani. Representative (District 92) in the Texas legislature on recent Texas legislation
• Representatives of the World Affairs Council “20 under 20”

3:00 Recent Wins and Challenges for Freedom and Dignity (CLE)

• Moderator: Keisha Russell, attorney and author
• Jeff Mateer, Chief Legal Officer, First Liberty Institute
• Hannah Smith, Associate Director, International Center for Law and Religion Studies, BYU Law School
• Sam Brownback, former Governor, Senator and Ambassador for International Religious Freedom

4:00 Emerging Professionals Speak about Finding Common Ground in Religious Freedom and Human Dignity

• Moderator: Brett Scharffs, Director of the International Center for Law and Religion Studies
• Panelists: Students from the Law and Religion Clinic of The University of Texas at Austin School of Law: Zachary J. Alkire, Hannah Bottorff, Matthew Zavaro

5:00 Defeating Antisemitism and Islamophobia

• Moderator: Bob Roberts, Pastor of Northwood Church; Multi-Faith Neighbors Network
• Azhar Azeez, CEO of Muslim Aid USA and Board member of Islamic Society of North America
• Rabbi Ari Sunshine, President of the Rabbinic Association of Greater Dallas

6:00 Hors D’ouevres served in the lobby

6:30 Evening Program

• Welcome by Dr. Sara Abosch, Chief Education Officer of the Dallas Holocaust and Human Rights Museum

Part 1: Being Peacemakers while Advocating for Religious Freedom and Human Dignity

• Moderator: Steven Collis, Professor at The University of Texas at Austin School of Law, founder of the Law & Religion Clinic
• Shannon Minter, Legal Director of the National Center for Lesbian Rights
• Almas Muscatwala, Chair of the Texas Muslim Women’s Foundation
• Sam Brownback, former Governor, Senator and Ambassador for International Religious Freedom

Part 2: How Black Churches Fuel Civil Rights, Human Dignity and Religious Freedom

• Moderator: Bob Ray Sanders, KERA, Ft. Worth Star Telegram
• Rev. Dr. Lucretia R. Facen, Pastor, St. Paul United Methodist Church
• Bishop Harold Edwards, Pastor, Church of the Living God
• Gospel Soloist: Areail Thomas, Shiloh Missionary Baptist Church in Plano