Friday, April 10, 2009
Thu, 08 May 2008
Today marks the beginning of a strategic relationship between pro-family organizations and educational institutions in the United States and Chinese leaders who are concerned about family values. The Hong Kong International Conference on Family Values at Hong Kong Baptist University runs May 9-12. Conference presenters are meeting today with Chinese lawyers, legislators, and governmental leaders.
Rena Lindevaldsen, Assistant Professor of Law at Liberty University School of Law and of Counsel for Liberty Counsel, will give six presentations that include topics such as: The Family in Civil Society, Teen Sexual Activity, AIDS and Other Sexually Transmitted Diseases, Same-Sex Marriage, and The Threat of the Homosexual Agenda on Free Speech and Freedom of Religion.
The purpose of the conference is to provide Chinese Christians an opportunity to learn from international experts on how to defend family values. Sponsors include the Family Values Foundation, the Society for Truth and Light, Hong Kong Sex Culture Society, and local churches. About 1,000 Chinese Christians from Hong Kong, Macau, Mainland China, Taiwan, Singapore, and Malaysia are expected to attend.
Hong Kong currently suffers from high abortion, divorce, and teen pregnancy rates. However, Hong Kong allows for greater religious expression in public places than in the United States, such as prayer in schools and crosses displayed in judicial chambers.
The International Conference on Family Values has been in the planning stages for more than 2 years. In 2006, Mathew Staver, Dean of Liberty University School of Law and Founder of Liberty Counsel, arranged a training and educational conference at the School of Law in Lynchburg, Virginia, for some of the organizational leaders from Hong Kong. Speakers at the conference included attorneys from Liberty Counsel and faculty of Liberty University School of Law.
Regarding the conference, Professor Lindevaldsen stated, "This International Conference on Family Values provides an historic opportunity to equip the Chinese people to strengthen and to defend marriage and family values."
Dean Staver commented, "The launch of the International Conference on Family Values in Hong Kong is the beginning of a strategic partnership between Chinese leaders and American pro-family organizations. Liberty University School of Law and Liberty Counsel are pleased to be a part of this historic event."