Biography

His Excellency, The Most Reverend Joseph K. Grieboski, D.D.

BIO

His Excellency, The Most Reverend Joseph K. Grieboski is a social entrepreneur whose innovative ideas have revolutionized thinking across a number of fields. 

In 1999 – at the age of 24 – Grieboski founded THE INSTITUTE on Religion and Public Policy, a well-respected and world-renowned non-governmental organization at the forefront of religious freedom advocacy. Many years and several Nobel Peace Prize nominations later, Grieboski has become an internationally recognized expert in religious freedom, national security, counter-extremism, human rights, and conflict transformation. As a matter of fact, in a letter to Grieboski in 2005, His Majesty, King Mohammed VI, of Morocco referred to Grieboski’s work as the “foundation of a new civilization”.

His extensive travels to over 140 countries in every corner of the map have allowed Grieboski to meet, interact with, and befriend leaders of business and industry, government, entertainment, advocacy, and other arenas, giving him one of Washington’s best and most sought-after rolodexes.

From confidence-building programs in Darfur to post-conflict reconstruction in Kosovo, from track-three diplomacy efforts in North Korea and Iran to minority protection and reintegration in Iraq and Afghanistan, from authoring countless laws for numerous countries to securing the successful release of hostages and prisoners, Grieboski has been at the forefront of some of most crucial and sensitive issues in the world.

His Excellency serves as Secretary for Ecumenical, Interfaith, and Global Engagement of the Independent Old Catholic Church, making him the point person for the Church’s religious, political, and diplomatic engagement. He serves as the Chair of the Faith-based Council of National Stop the Violence Alliance; Senior Fellow with The Dietrich Bonhoeffer Institute; Co-Chair of the Coalition for a Hate-Free Internet; Chair of the Board of International Campaign for the Rohingya; Secretary of the Board of Directors of the Interfaith Alliance; Member of the Global Leadership Council of the International Religious Freedom Secretariat; Member of the Board of Advisors of the Rumi Forum; Member of the Operations Council of Action for Racial Justice; Member of the Global Board, Africa Global Finance and Account Summit; Member of the Board of Trustees, Africa Asia Scholars Global Network; Peace Ambassador and Member of the Board of Advisors of World Peace Tracts; Strategic US Advisor to the Directorate, Faith and Globalization Program, Durham University, United Kingdom; Member of the Board of Advisors, Arakhan Rohingya Union; Member of the Board of Advisors, Military Religious Freedom Foundation; Member of the Board of Advisors, Anti-Predator Project.

The author of over 50 articles and two recognized publications with Palgrave Macmillan and Oakton, Grieboski served as a columnist for The Huffington Post and a foreign news editor and contributor for The Cutting Edge News. His book, Because I Believe…, is scheduled for publication in early 2021. 

Former Chair of the US State Department Strategic Dialogue with Civil Society Working Group on Religion and Foreign Policy Subgroup on International Development and Humanitarian Assistance under Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Grieboski was one of three finalists for United Nations Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion or Belief, and was a nominee for United Nations Special Rapporteur on the human rights of migrants and Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms while countering terrorism, demonstrating global recognition of his expertise on international human rights and security issues. Grieboski has advised the Foreign Office of the United Kingdom, the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, the European Parliament, the Holy See, The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, The Daily Show with Trevor Noah, The Opposition with Jordan Klepper, and many other national and international entities. As a religious freedom, human rights, and international policy expert, Grieboski has testified before the United States Congress, the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, the United Nations Human Rights Council, the European Parliament, and numerous other legislative and international bodies. 

In April 2010 Grieboski was inducted into the International Board of Sponsors of the Martin Luther King Jr. International Chapel at Morehouse College – Martin Luther King’s alma mater. The award honors those who have made significant contributions to the civil and human rights nonviolence movement in the tradition of the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King.

Grieboski holds a Bachelor of Science in Foreign Service degree and a Master of Arts degree in National Security Studies, both from Georgetown University. He received a Doctor of Divinity degree from Agape Seminary in 2020, and is completing a Doctorate of Ministry degree from the Pacific School of Religion. In 2008, Grieboski received an honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters from Marywood University in Scranton, PA. 

Ordained a bishop in the Independent Old Catholic Church in October 2020, Grieboski lives in Alexandria, VA, with his wife, Tracy, and their dogs, Eddie and Mu, and cats Theo and Charlie.