News June 2007

Jonathan Gallagher (center) with Christine Law (in blue) and students

"I Want to Change Your Lives": Adventist UN Representative Speaks at La Sierra University

Riverside, California… Challenging students at La Sierra University, Seventh-day Adventist Church representative to the United Nations Jonathan Gallagher told his audience that he wanted to change their lives by sharing what he called "the amazing opportunities to work on the international scene."

Gallagher responded to an invitation from Christine Law, instructor in communication at the University, to share details of his work at the UN with a select group of students at the meeting on June 8.

"I always try to say yes to such invitations," Gallagher comments, "since they are wonderful forums for conveying the excitement and potential of getting involved at the highest levels of international diplomacy. As a church we have not always taken advantage of these opportunities to share our values and principles with ambassadors and high-level leaders. Students often ask what we are doing to make a difference in our world-and this is a very practical answer."

Gallagher shared experiences and cited contributions made by the church in the areas of religious freedom, human rights, gender issues, education, and health, and encouraged students to think seriously about what part they could play in this wider work of the Adventist church. [PARL News]

UN Human Rights Council in its June session

Adventist Church Representative Attends UN Human Rights Council

Seventh-day Adventist Church representative Dr. Jonathan Gallagher attended the June Session of the United Nations Human Rights Council from June 10-17.

"We are always pleased to be able to participate in these meetings and speak up on issues of great importance for human rights," says Gallagher. "We are specially focussed on problems involving religious freedom, and had opportunity to speak to a number of country representatives on such issues. In general the ambassadors are receptive and interested to help in resolving these problems."

The Seventh-day Adventist Church has had special consultative status with the United Nations since 1985. [PARL News}

The main UN HRC podium, and (right) the delegates' lounge where much of the true work is done!

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