The F.I.S.H. Foundation, Inc., joined the Washington National Cathedral, as the lead sponsor for this event. An event, which called together religious and political leaders from Christianity and Islam as well as Eastern and Western nations to promote understanding and reconciliation between Islam and the West. The F.I.S.H. Foundation, Inc., is committed to religious and national dialogue to help promote the cause for peace and understanding amongst diverse religious groups. Given the Washington National Cathedral’s unique ability to call together religious leaders from around the globe and national leaders, we were most pleased to join them in sponsoring this initial dialogue event. In addition to invited participants from academic, diplomatic, faith-based, nonprofit, and political science communities there were four principle contributors:

• Ayatollah Dr. Ahmad Iravani, president of the Center for the Study of Islam and the Middle East -
Research Scholar, Catholic University of America, Washington, D.C.
• Professor Dr. Ahmad Mohamed El Tayeb, president of Al-Azhar University in Cairo, Egypt
• His Eminence Jean-Louis Cardinal Tauran, president of the Pontifical Council for Inter-religious Dialogue
• The Right Reverend John Bryson Chane, bishop of Washington, D.C.