Hillary Clinton to Attend Global Summit on "AIDS and the Church" in California

The third annual Global Summit On AIDS and the Church announced that Senator Hillary Clinton is the first presidential candidate to confirm attendance to this year's event. The summit, held in Lake Forest, California at Saddleback Church, extended invitations to all presidential candidates in hopes of fostering conversation. The summit is being held November 27 - December 1. The church's pastor, Dr. Rick Warren, is also the author of "The Purpose Driven Life."

Five of the invited candidates have expressed desire to participate and are ironing out scheduling issues. Mitt Romny, Sen. Barack Obama, former Sen. John Edwards, former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani, and Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee all said they wished to attend if possible. Senators Obama and Brownback have spoken at the Summit previously because of their work with AIDS and poverty. .

"Inviting politicians from different perspectives to the Summit is not a political decision -- it is a humanitarian and Christian action," said Dr. Warren. "When millions are dying each year, we're interested in lives, not labels. We want everyone to become concerned about the AIDS pandemic."

The organizers of the Summit believe that AIDS cannot be defeated without the credibility and resources of Christian churches worldwide. The Summit is an effort to unify and mobilize churches working in concert with government and non-profit agencies.

"The HIV/AIDS pandemic is so large that it can't be stopped without the combined efforts of leadership in the public, private/profit and faith sectors," said Kay Warren, Robert Warren's wife. "Obviously, that includes whoever is elected as the next President of the United States. We are urging all of the current presidential candidates to continue and expand the international efforts of AIDS relief of the current administration. To stop what has been started would mean the deaths of literally millions of women, children and men who are alive today solely because of treatment and prevention strategies available through the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR)."

Saddleback Church launched a huge initiative three years ago when it decided to take on the global issue of AIDS. Kay Warren has written about HIV/AIDS advocay in a new book, "Dangerous Surrender", and the summit will draw more than 50 speakers this year.

"I commend Rick and Kay Warren for their work to fight HIV/AIDS." Senator Clinton said when accepting the Warrens' invitation. "Our churches have a powerful role to play in raising the consciousness of the nation and the world to this pandemic and urge compassion for the sick and the suffering. When we come together, seeking the common good, we can find solutions to our biggest challenges and reinforce our faith that a call to action can change lives. I am honored to participate in this 'coming together' at the third annual Global Summit on AIDS and the Church."

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Source: Global Summit on AIDS & The Church, Sen. Clinton First to Confirm Participation at Global Summit on AIDS and the Church, PR Newswire