Contact: Peggy Nienaber, National Clergy Council, 202-546-8329, peggy@faithandaction.org

ORLANDO, Fla., June 17, 2016 /Christian Newswire/ -- The conservative-leaning National Clergy Council and the Dietrich Bonhoeffer Institute, both based in Washington, DC, will conduct a private conversation about the June 12 Pulse terrorist attack with Orlando area pastors during a complimentary luncheon at 11:30 AM on Tuesday, June 21, 2016, at the Faith Christian Academy, 9307 Curry Ford Rd, Orlando FL 32825.

The 90-minute closed-door conversation is for the purpose of conveying the insights of pastors and other ministry leaders to denominational executives around the country and to members of Congress as they consider actions in the wake of the most horrific mass shooting in American history.

The Reverend Dr. Rob Schenck, president of the National Clergy Council and chairman of the Evangelical Church Alliance, will lead the team of three facilitators that will moderate the discussion. A graduate of Faith Evangelical College and Seminary, Dr. Schenck has been a minister to top government officials in Washington for 21 years, is a member of the U.S. Senate Chaplain's Emergency Pastoral Response Team, and is a senior fellow of the Oxford Centre for the Study of Law and Public Policy.

"Our purpose in Orlando will be to listen deeply to pastors and other ministers to learn how they have responded to this terrible tragedy, what they believe people need to know about it, and how they would advise other church leaders who may experience something like it in the future," said Dr. Schenck. "Their insights will also be shared with members of Congress that have reached out for input from church leaders."

Senior pastors, their staff pastors, and ministry executives are invited to join in the open conversation. A light meal will be provided at no cost. Reservations must be made before Monday, June 20, 10:00 AM. Please send name, number in party, church or ministry affiliation, and contact information, including a telephone number to peggy@faithandaction.org.

The National Clergy Council is a nationwide network of church leaders from all Christian traditions including Catholic, Evangelical, Orthodox and Protestant. Its mission is to bring classical Christian and biblical moral instruction into the conversation and debate surrounding public policy in Washington, DC.

The Dietrich Bonhoeffer Institute is named for the courageous World War II pastor, theologian, and Christian ethicist killed by the Nazis for his opposition to Adolf Hitler. The Institute uses Bonhoeffer's ideas, experience, and rich legacy of writings and sermons to help Christians to prayerfully and biblically explore difficult questions, including Christians and guns.