Dr. David Hall (left) greets His Holiness Drikung Skyabgon, Chetsang Rinpoche, Supreme Head of the Drikung Kagyu Order.

Queen Beatrix welcomes Dr. Hall to a reception at The Palace in the Netherlands.

Dr. David Hall  is keeping company with His Holiness Sri Swami Davananda Saraswati (center), a transitional teacher of Vedanta, convener of the Acharya Sabha, and Saraswati’s interpreter.

Dr. Al-Shekih (center), a representative of Hawza Al-Najaf, Iraq, enjoys a photographic moment with Dr. Hall.

Dr. David Hall (third from right), a  Special  Emissary for the Church of God in Christ Presiding Bishop Charles E. Blake, is flanked by her Majesty Queen Beatrix of The Netherlands (center) and an entourage of religious leaders, heads of state, and United Nations’ officials. (Courtesy photos)

As the presiding bishop of the Church Of God In Christ, Bishop Charles E. Blake has met many dignitaries. On Dec. 10, he was invited to meet her Majesty H. M. Queen Beatrix of The Netherlands during the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.  

Blake sent a video message while Dr. David Hall, pastor of Temple COGIC and chief executive officer of the COGIC Publishing House, stood in for him as a special emissary.

The meeting took place in the Peace Palace during the International Inter-religious Faith in Human Rights Conference. Sponsored by The Carnegie Foundation and the government of The Netherlands, the event attracted an entourage of 10 supreme authorities of various world religions, political leaders, heads of state, and high-level UN officials.

Invitees were asked to sign the 2008 Faith in Human Rights Statement, which, in essence, pronounces and confirms that true religion, irrespective of religion, gender, race or other distinctions, defends the human rights and fundamental freedoms of every human. This revolutionary document was adopted by The United Nations’ General Assembly on Dec.10, 1948.

 “As Presiding Bishop of the Church Of God In Christ, International, it is my great honor and privilege to attach my signature to the 2008 Faith in Human Rights Statement,” Bishop Blake said in his message. “On behalf our 12,000 plus Church of God in Christ congregations in America and in 60 nations of the world, I endorse and encourage the great ideas and ideals of this document.”

Bishop Blake concluded his statement with a prayer.

“This is the first international document signed by the Church Of God

In Christ that will impact every government in the world,” Dr. Hall pointed out. “Our church had a fresh voice and an opportunity to stand on the world stage to bring some sanity to some of the conditions and conflicts in the world. Leaders from political and social hotspots came to sign this document.”                                     

 The original signed copy, Hall said, will remain at The Palace.

“Peace is the way the Lord would want us to live and respect each other’s rights and dignity,” said Hall. “The Human Rights Accord speaks louder than our politics or our religious affiliations.  We embraced each other and talked about issues that face humanity.”