Welcome to the official website for American Religious Town Hall Meeting, Inc.

American Religious Town Hall Meeting is a non-profit organization dedicated to:

• The preservation of basic American civil and religious liberties including freedom of speech and freedom to worship God as one chooses.
• Fostering a spirit of unity among all religions and encouraging interfaith understanding in an atmosphere of cooperation without compromise.
• Educating the public – world-wide – regarding varying viewpoints through weekly worldwide television broadcasts.

The American Religious Town Hall Meeting, Inc. began more than 50 years ago to foster understanding between people of all faiths. Bishop A. A. Leiske, the founder, believed that when people talk to one another, they will develop compassion for each other.

Bishop Leiske decided to capitalize on the new communication medium, television, in his quest to help bring people together. He invited key local clergy from 5 different denominations to a meeting in his home in the Minneapolis area, and asked them to join him in a televised panel discussion. The first program was aired in St. Paul, Minnesota, on January 10, 1953. They agreed, and formed an organization, complete with its own charter, to produce the program. To fund the costs, Bishop Leiske, a preacher as well as an astute businessman, began purchasing nursing homes.

After Bishop Leiske died in 1983, his son Robert, also an ordained minister, became moderator of the television program and president of the organization. He served in these roles until his death in 2004. At that time his widow, Elizabeth Ann Leiske, became president and CEO, and Pastor Stephen Gifford assumed the moderator’s position on the television program. Today ARTH owns 4 nursing homes, one assisted living facility, one retirement home, and one adult day-care center. The profits from these facilities fund the television production costs, and enable the corporation to purchase television time.

We invite you to tour this web site. We are sure you’ll be impressed with the ministry of The American Religious Town Hall Meeting - which is “to beam brotherhood to the world.” We also invite you to visit any of our facilities, and see how “love makes the difference.”

Address:
745 North Buckner Boulevard
Dallas, Texas 75218

Phone: (214) 328-9828
Toll-Free: 1-800-783-9828
Fax: (214) 328-3042

E-Mail Us @ AMERICANRELIGIOUS.ORG