wfn.org | Holy Land Reconciliation Video Conference February 19

[News News <NEWS@ELCA.ORG>]

ELCA NEWS SERVICE

February 11, 2002

HOLY LAND RECONCILIATION VIDEO CONFERENCE FEBRUARY 19
02-025-JB/JS*

     CHICAGO (ELCA) -- A video conference addressing issues related to
peace in the Middle East is scheduled for Feb. 19.  The conference,
produced by the Episcopal Church's Office of Communication, was
originally scheduled last fall but postponed after the September 11
terrorist attacks until this month.
     Leaders of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) will
participate in the video conference.  The ELCA and Episcopal Church
share a relationship of full communion in which the churches engage in
cooperative ministries and, under certain circumstances, share clergy.
     Origination sites for the video conference are Episcopal
congregations in New York and Pasadena, Calif.  A number of downlink
sites have been established at Episcopal congregations throughout the
United States. The conference will begin at 11 a.m. Eastern Time and is
expected to conclude at 5:30 p.m. Eastern Time.
     The conference theme is "Waging Reconciliation in the Holy Land:
Salaam, Shalom, Peace."
     The conference will open with greetings by the Most Rev. Frank T.
Griswold, presiding bishop of the Episcopal Church.  He will speak on
"Waging Reconciliation," drawing on themes developed at last fall's
meeting of the Episcopal House of Bishops.
     The Rev. Mark S. Hanson, ELCA presiding bishop, will participate.
In video taped remarks he will focus on an ecumenical prayer vigil for
Middle East peace and the importance of supporting Christian communities
and institutions in that region.
     An interfaith panel, addressing the search for peace, will be
moderated by the Rev. Edwin Bacon, rector, All Saints Episcopal Church,
Pasadena. The panel will be introduced by Bishop Christopher Epting,
deputy for Interfaith and Ecumenical Relations, Episcopal Church.
Members of the panel and Griswold will participate in a question-and-
answer period.
     A portion of the conference will feature video presentations on
peace in the Middle East by a variety of Christian, Jewish and Muslim
speakers. Among the speakers is the Rev. Munib A. Younan, bishop of the
Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan (and Palestine).
     A presentation on advocacy will feature the role of Churches for
Middle East Peace (CMEP), an ecumenical coalition based in Washington,
D.C., and the public policy offices of the Episcopal Church and the
ELCA, both based in Washington. The ELCA's federal public policy office
there is the Lutheran Office for Governmental Affairs (LOGA). CMEP
director Corinne Whitlatch and the Rev. Mark B. Brown, LOGA's assistant
director for international public policy advocacy ministry, will be
special guests, as well as the Rev. Naim Ateek, director of Sabeel,
a Palestinian peace and liberation institute on the West Bank.
-- -- --
     To view the video conference, satellite coordinates are Telstar 6
(Ku-Band), transponder K16.  For further information about the video
conference, call 800-334-7626, ext. 6050 or go to
www.episcopalchurch.org/peace-justice/ on the Episcopal Church Web site.

     * James Solheim is director of the Episcopal News Service.

For information contact:
John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or NEWS@ELCA.ORG
http://listserv.elca.org/archives/elcanews.html