National Christian Leadership Conference for Israel
Tel. (212) 213-8636 · Fax. (248) 353-6494 · E-mail: nclci@msn.com

NCLCI press release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 11/20/95

DAVID BLEWETT NAMED EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

The National Christian Leadership Conference for Israel (NCLCI) announces the appointment of David Blewett as its new Executive Director. He succeeds Sister Rose Thering who recently retired but will remain active with NCLCI as one of its Vice Presidents.

NCLCI is a broad based ecumenical coalition of American clergy and laity whose purpose is to deepen Christian understanding of Israel -- people, land and state. Since 1978, NCLCI has consistently stood by the democrat- ically elected governments of Israel and sought to expand understanding and support for the Jewish State in the Churches and Congress of the United States.

Mr. Blewett brings to the job an extensive background in Christian-Jewish relations, specifically in the area of dialogue. With his parents, Robert and Lois Blewett of Anoka, Minnesota, he developed the Interfaith Circles dialogue material. For many years, as the Field Director for Interfaith Resources, Inc., he worked with local pastors and rabbis to develop or expand dialogue groups in their congregations throughout the United States, Canada and Great Britain. He also consulted with national church leaders to help them implement their church statements on relations with the Jewish community.

His commitment to the State of Israel began in high school and has grown consistently since. Today, he is a seasoned advocate for Israel in national and state legislatures, church headquarters and local congregations, as well as in schools and community civic organizations.

Mr. Blewett fully supports the numerous statements that NCLCI has issued. Statements that have included calls on the United Nations to rescind its defamation of Zionism, support for the Arab-Israel peace negotiations, support for U.S. aid to Israel, and recognition of Jerusalem as the undivided capital of the State of Israel.

Dave has a B.A. in Biblical Studies from Biola College in California, and an M. Div. from Luther Northwestern Theological Seminary in St. Paul, Minnesota. He has also studied at Talbot Theological Seminary in California, and is currently a graduate student in the Department of Jewish-Christian Studies at Seton Hall University in New Jersey.