Argue appointed IRF

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Don Argue appointed to

U.S. Commission on

International Religious Freedom

Tue, 17 Apr 2007 - 11:13 AM CST

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton announced on Friday, April 13, the appointment of Dr. Don Argue to the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF), an independent, non-political and non-partisan federal agency. Argue currently serves as president of Northwest University (AG) in Kirkland, Washington.

"It is a high honor to serve my country in this unique way. I'm looking forward to being a voice for many of the world's least, lost and forgotten," commented Argue. "You can't put a fence around conscience. Religious freedoms are basic human rights and freedom to worship is a key part in solving many of the problems experienced around the world."

Argue's work in international religious freedom gained attention when in 1998 President Bill Clinton appointed Argue, Theodore Cardinal McCarrick (Washington, D.C.) and Rabbi Arthur Schneier (New York City) as the first official (non-partisan/non-political) religious leaders delegation from the United States to visit The People's Republic of China and, as a result, he was involved in 50 personal meetings with China's top leaders. The purpose of their visit was to confront Chinese leaders on the issues of religious freedom and religious persecution. The significance of their mission was highlighted when President Jiang Zemin met with the delegation, a meeting that U.S. Embassy staff indicated was unprecedented and historic.

Before accepting the invitation to Northwest University, Dr. Argue served as president of the National Association of Evangelicals (NAE). The NAE is comprised of approximately 43,000 congregations nationwide from 53 member denominations, and individual congregations from an additional 26 denominations, as well as several hundred independent churches.

Argue is known as a Christian statesman, visionary leader and able communicator. Late in 2006, Argue announced his intention to transition from his role as president of Northwest University; the transition will be complete this summer after Argue has finished his ninth year leading the University. Argue will continue as a member of the Northwest University Foundation Board of Trustees.

Northwest University's Board recently established the Center for Evangelical Vision, which will provide a context for Argue's ongoing role at the University. The USCIRF was created to monitor violations of the right to freedom of thought, conscience, and religion or belief abroad, and to give independent policy recommendations to the President, Secretary of State and Congress.

Senator Clinton recommended the appointment, for which Argue will serve a two-year term.

The Commission is the first government commission in the world with the sole mission of reviewing and making policy recommendations on the facts and circumstances of violations of religious freedom globally.

For more information, contact Merlin Quiggle, associate vice president for Marketing at 425.889.5731 or by e-mail at merlin.quiggle@northwestu.edu.