New York, March 21, 2007 – The PBS news magazine, 'NOW,' this weekend will feature a report on last month's delegation of religious leaders to Iran.  The Rev. Dr. Shanta Premawardhana, associate general secretary for interfaith relations at the National Council of Churches USA (NCC), was a member of that delegation.

"Can U.S. religious leaders make a difference in the standoff between America and Iran?" is how NOW's website previews this week's program.  NOW producers and videographers accompanied last month's delegation which met with several of Iran's religious and government leaders including President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.

The Rev. Dr. Premawardhana was among a 13-member delegation of U.S. religious leaders from the Mennonite, Quaker, Episcopal, Roman Catholic, Baptist and United Methodist churches.   They spent a week in Tehran and the holy city of Qom.

The PBS broadcast is a regular weekly program exploring a wide range of news topics.  Broadcast times vary by city.  Check your local PBS station for the broadcast time in your area or go online to http://www.pbs.org/now/sched.html?edit_st=y and search the NOW website for your area.

NCC News contact:  Dan Webster, 212.870.2252, NCCnews@ncccusa.org .