Walt B. Pontynen Honored at Capitol Hill Ceremony
By Alan J. Reinach
Walt Pontynen, president of the Interfaith Religious Liberty Foundation and member of Carmichael Seventh-day Adventist Church, was honored during a ceremony held in the United States Senate Caucus Room on April 7.
In attendance at the event were members of the U.S. Congress, representatives from the White House, the U.S. Department of Justice, the U.S. Department of State, members of the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom, representatives from the Commission for Security & Cooperation in Europe, Seventh-day Adventist Church leaders, and diplomats from nations as diverse as the Ukraine, Ethiopia, Burma and Uzbekistan.
Barry Black, U.S. Senate Chaplain, gave the evening’s keynote address. U.S. Senator Sam Brownback, Prof. Jean Bauberot of the French Presidential Commission on Laicity, and Dr. Anatoly Krasikov of the Russian Academy of Sciences also spoke. The event was organized by Liberty magazine and the International Religious Liberty Association, in cooperation with the Adventist Church.
Alan Reinach, religious liberty director for the Pacific Union, nominated Pontynen for the award. “Walt has been a tireless advocate for religious freedom,” says Reinach. “He has employed his education and communication skills to develop outstanding materials about key people and moments in this nation’s struggle to establish and maintain religious freedom, including the seminal documentary about the life of Roger Williams. If anyone deserves recognition, it is Walt, and it was wonderful to see him get his due in the presence of such an august group.”
“The event highlighted our ongoing commitment to encouraging religious freedom,” notes Lincoln Steed, editor of Liberty magazine. “Liberty has been on the forefront of this struggle for 99 years. Recognizing the contributions of those who join us in the cause is a privilege.”
Dr. John Graz, secretary general of the International Religious Liberty Association (IRLA) and leader of the General Conference’s religious liberty department, says, “We are delighted leaders in the field of religious freedom from around the world and across the nation joined us as we placed a spotlight on religious liberty in the heart of Capitol Hill. They are individuals who have dedicated themselves to the frontline of struggle to advance the cause of freedom.”
“Our Capitol Hill liberty awards dinner has become an important annual event,” notes James Standish, who represents the Adventist Church to the U.S. Government. Standish, who is also executive director of the North American Religious Liberty Association (NARLA), a regional chapter of the IRLA, notes that, “The dinner brings together representatives from the U.S. government, the international community, and representatives from diverse faith communities to recognize the importance of religious freedom and to discuss current challenges to religious liberty both at home and abroad.”
All the members of the North American Religious Liberty Association were invited to the event. Diana Czajkowski was recognized during the evening for her outstanding contribution to advancing the cause of religious freedom as a NARLA member and religious liberty leader in the Fredrick Adventist Church.
