John Graz

Dr John Graz, "a citizen of both Switzerland and France, was born at Thonon-les-bains, France. His father was Swiss, and his family has lived in Switzerland for centuries. He was elected Secretary General of the International Religious Liberty Association (IRLA) in 1995, and he served as liaison to the United Nations at Geneva.

"John Graz studied theology, history of religion, and sociology of communication, obtaining his Master's Degree at the University of Montpellier, and his Doctorate from the Sorbonne University in Paris.

"He began his career as a pastor for students in Montpellier, France and then worked in Pau, and in 1989 in Paris as a church Communication Director for 6 years.

"John Graz was also director of an international youth organization for ten years, a guest speaker for many international congresses, and has organized major international meetings in Europe and throughout the world. He organized the Fourth IRLA World Congress on Religious Liberty in Rio de Janeiro in 1997, the Fifth IRLA World Congress in Manila in 2002, and is planning one for Cape Town in 2007. Graz organized and initiated the annual IRLA Meetings of Experts for Religious Freedom, the Festival of Religious Freedom, The Washington Coalition for International Religious Freedom with Ambassador Robert Seiple and many International Congresses which have been held in several capital cities around the world. With his team, he has developed the IRLA world network in more than 80 countries.

"Since the beginning of his career Dr Graz has been involved in the promotion and defense of religious freedom. For ten years he was Public Relations Director for the Association Internationale pour la Défense de la Liberté Religieuse in Europe. He has produced radio and television programs and currently is Executive Producer of the TV show Faith and Freedom. He has written several books and numerous articles, some of which have been translated into more than ten languages. He is the publisher of the journal on religious freedom, Fides et Libertas...

"In July 1995, Dr Graz was elected director of the Department of Public Affairs and Religious Liberty for the General Conference of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. He is a member of the John Weidner Foundation's Board, and in 2002 was elected, then reelected in 2004, as Secretary General of the Conference of Secretaries of the World Christian Communions—a conference of Christian leaders representing two billion Christians. He is also a member of the Board of the International Academy of Religious Freedom. He has been Director for External Relations for the International Center on Government and Religion at Andrews University.

"In December 2004 he was awarded the National Medal For Merit in Rank of Commander by the President of Romania.

"John Graz is married to Medina Chitty Graz".