Christopher Bishop
founder@swic.org
Conceived and nourished by people just like you, SWIC was founded in 2015 at St. Martin’s Episcopal Church in Radnor, PA. Under the leadership of The Rev. Chris Bishop, and with the encouragement and support of the Anglican Diocese of Cyprus and the Gulf, and the Episcopal Diocese of Pennsylvania, we heard and responded to the cries of those in Iraq who had suffered much and yearned for a new start. Since its founding, SWIC has partnered with a variety of sources, including individuals, dioceses and churches from multiple denominations, grants and private foundations.
While SWIC’s focus is on supporting imperiled Christian communities, our commitment is to all of the people of Iraq. We will offer friendship and resources without participating in the historic and often bitter rivalries that have beset the region for millennia. A new Iraq will depend on all of its factions finding and nurturing a common sense of humanity and national purpose.
We will never seek to drive out darkness with more darkness, nor fight hate with more hate. Rather, SWIC is committed to the long-term and sustainable building of a new, more secure, prosperous, and tolerant country for Iraq’s extraordinarily diverse peoples. This is the dream of most Iraqis.
ISIS painted ن (pronounced “noon”) as a derogatory way to refer to Christians. ن is the 14th letter of the Arabic alphabet and the equivalent to the Roman letter N. SWIC adopted this symbol to show solidarity with the Iraqi Christians. The logo includes a rose at the top to connect back to King Faisal. He said (like flowers), “Christians bring beauty and fragrance to Iraq.”
SWIC focuses on agricultural and Small Business Redevelopment efforts; we also plan to significantly expand our support for education, as schools, parents, and others prepare the next generation of Iraqi citizens and leaders.
While SWIC’s focus is on supporting imperiled Christian communities, our commitment is to all of the people of Iraq. We will offer friendship and resources without participating in the historic, ongoing, and often bitter rivalries that have beset the region for millennia. A new Iraq will depend on all of its groups finding and nurturing a common sense of humanity and national purpose. We will never seek to drive out darkness with more darkness, to fight hate with more hate.
SWIC looks to the long-term and sustainable building of a new, more secure, prosperous, and tolerant country for Iraq’s extraordinarily diverse peoples. This is the dream of most Iraqis.
After the military defeat of ISIS in 2017, SWIC shifted its focus to supporting families returning to their ancestral homes in towns like Qaraqosh/Bakhdadi, to make a fresh start on the Nineveh Plains. Responding to conditions on the ground, we have funded crucial projects including water wells (See Water wells in Qaraqosh video), and agricultural redevelopment grants, (See Veterinarian’s Day; Family Farms videos). SWIC also helped finance school construction, as well as administration, teacher, and student support (See St. George’s SOTR and St. Efram’s Qaraqosh/Bakhdadi videos).
In 2022 SWIC began offering Small Business Redevelopment Grants to Christians who had businesses destroyed by ISIS or developed business expertise but lacked capital to restore what was taken from them. These businesses range from a bakery, to restaurants, a laundry, painting business, and other construction-related services.
SWIC was founded in response to catastrophic events that imperiled Iraq’s ancient Christian communities in 2014-15. Fr. Chris Bishop’s short documentary Where Is Our Place? (34 mins) graphically tells this story. From 2015-2017 SWIC addressed needs in the refugee centers in Erbil (See Ashur’s Copy Shop, Building Caravan Housing in Salemania, and Grocery Store videos).
SWIC’s focus is on building sustainable, ongoing relationships.
Fr. Chris is an Episcopal Priest and the Founder of Stand With Iraqi Christians (SWIC).
In 2015 at the height of ISIS Fr. Chris traveled to see firsthand the desperate conditions Iraqi Christians were enduring in refugee camps in Erbil, Kurdistan. From this experience, including the documentary film he made while there “Where Is Our Place?“, Stand With Iraqi Christians was created. He is thrilled with the continuing and increasing capacity of SWIC, through the extraordinary folk joining this mission, to walk in friendship and mutual uplift with the people of Iraq.
Rector, St. David’s Episcopal Church, Wayne PA.
Frank attended Virginia Theological Seminary and was ordained in 1995, and was called as Rector of St. David’s in 1997. Frank has served on the Standing Committee for the Diocese of Pennsylvania and has been elected Deputy to The General Convention of the Episcopal Church. Frank is a Canon for Mission in the Episcopal Diocese of Guatemala and serves on the Board of the Gathering of Leaders.
Episcopal Global Missioner.
Buck has worked on mission and outreach ministries for 14 years in Virginia, Colorado, and as a member of the Presiding Bishop’s staff. Buck is passionate about connecting with and learning from Christian communities throughout the world. SWIC’s mission and ministry aligns well with Buck’s passions and interests.
An advertising photographer and father of four children living just outside Philadelphia.
Vincent met Fr. Chris when he presented his documentary “Where Is Our Place” and gave a talk at a local church. He was both moved and inspired by these Christians who have lived on the Nineveh Plains since the time of the apostles. Vincent quickly became involved with SWIC and visited Iraq in 2018 with Chris, hopefully only the first of many trips there in the future.
Joe Lipuma lives and works in Manhattan, NY.
He has a background in accounting, finance, and real estate. He serves on the vestry of his local parish and also serves on the board of the Holy Trinity Neighborhood Center, which specializes in feeding the hungry and serving the community. Joe joined SWIC as a volunteer in 2021 following a presentation made by Father Chris Bishop about the needs and hardships facing the Iraqi Christians and their community at large. Deeply moved, Joe is committed to expanding SWIC’s efforts and helping those in need on the Nineveh Plains and beyond.
Retired Archdeacon for the Anglican Diocese of Cyprus and the Gulf and Dean, St Christopher’s Cathedral, Manama Bahrain.
Before retirement, Fr Bill was one of the most senior appointed missionaries of the Episcopal Church who served the Church in the Middle East for more than forty-five years and speaks Arabic. As Iraq is one of the countries in the archdeaconry, Fr. Bill visited Iraq regularly, interacting with the Anglican community there and leaders of other Christian denominations. He contributes helpful insight on Iraq’s particularities as a board member of SWIC.
Ayla worked in the US House of Representatives from 2013-2017 where her portfolio involved the development of US policy responses towards emerging human rights issues, with a particular interest in genocide response.
Following federal service, she moved into the non-profit space. This period of her work initially began with a focus on documenting and raising awareness about ongoing human rights abuses in socialist countries such as Cuba, Venezuela, and North Korea. It soon shifted towards a Middle East specialization, where she worked in humanitarian assistance which supported the needs of minority victims, many of whom were victims of the ISIS genocide. She is currently pursuing her masters in Forced Migration and her dissertation research has a focus on Internally Displaced Persons.
Pam embraced the SWIC mission right from the beginning in 2015.
Her background is in International Finance, and her professional career spanned the public, private and non-profit sectors which positioned her well to serve as the SWIC Secretary/Treasurer. She is proud to be a part of the SWIC mission, is passionate about making sure that the Iraqi Christians are never forgotten and is adamant that SWIC’s financial resources are used to provide the greatest impact.
With over twenty-five years of experience in the world of financial consulting, Yvonne combines her analytical skill set with her deep passion for social justice and human rights. Joining the SWIC Board in 2024, Yvonne’s worldly experience, strong community bonds, and compassion for the oppressed will help lead SWIC’s mission of friendship, love and support for the Iraqi Christians.
She has served on myriad Boards and Committees, and was appointed by the Archbishop of Canterbury to the Advisory Council of the Anglican Communion Office at the United Nations. Yvonne is also active in various NGO committees affiliated with the UN. Yvonne is a Trustee of the Church Pension Group, and Chair of the Deputation to General Convention in 2018, 2022, and 2024. She has served on the Task Force Against Human Trafficking, and the Task Force on Domestic Violence and Sexual Abuse.
Your financial contributions put tools in their hands and hope in their hearts. Additionally, SWIC envisions a grassroots effort that requires gifts just like yours— awareness-raising, online communications, volunteering, networking, strategic planning, and, of course, prayers. None of us can build a house alone. But if we each provide one brick, together we can make a new home where there was rubble. Every gift, whether of the heart or purse, goes a long way. Just ask our past and current friends. Let’s take the next step together.
The Episcopal Church (TEC), United States
The Episcopal Diocese of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
The Episcopal Diocese of New York, New York, NY
The Episcopal Diocese of Western Massachusetts, Springfield, MA
The Anglican Diocese of Cyprus and the Gulf, Cyprus
St. George’s Church, Baghdad (Iraq)
International Christian Concern (ICC), Washington, DC
The Church of the Epiphany, New York, NY
The Church of the Holy Trinity, New York, NY
St. Gabriel’s Episcopal Church, Marion, MA
St. Martin’s Episcopal Church, Radnor, PA
St. Thomas’ Church, Whitemarsh (Fort Washington), PA
St. David’s Episcopal Church, Wayne, PA
Church of Our Saviour, Brookline, MA
First Presbyterian Church in Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA
Faith Growth, Dallas, TX
Immanuel Church-on-the-Hill, Alexandria, VA