wfn.org | Just Back from Jenin -- Head of U.S. Council of Churches

["Nat'l Council of Churches" <nccc_usa@ncccusa.org>]

FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT:
Jim Wetekam, CMEP, 202-488-5638, jim@cmep.org
Carol Fouke, NCC News, 212-870-2252, news@ncccusa.org
NCC5/2/02

MEDIA ADVISORY: AVAILABLE FOR INTERVIEWS
HEAD OF U.S. COUNCIL OF CHURCHES JUST BACK FROM JENIN

A delegation of four U.S. church leaders visited Jenin on April 25,
delivering food and medical aid, touring the site of destruction, and
speaking to residents.

Leading the U.S. delegation was the Rev. Dr. Bob Edgar, General Secretary of
the (U.S.) National Council of Churches (NCC) and a former six-term Member
of Congress from Pennsylvania.  The NCC has 36 member denominations
comprising 50 million adherents.

Dr. Edgar is available for interviews to discuss his impressions of Jenin
and to advocate for an independent fact-finding mission.

Others who traveled to Jenin include: Mr. James Winkler, General Secretary,
United Methodist Board of Church and Society, Washington, DC; the Rev. Jim
Wetekam, Media Director, Churches for Middle East Peace (CMEP), Washington,
D.C., and the Rt. Rev. Arthur Walmsley, The Episcopal Church, Deering, N.H.

The four signed an April 30 statement from the larger delegation of U.S.
church leaders that urges the Government of Israel to cooperate fully with
the United Nations investigation of events that took place in Jenin and
expresses grave concern at the standoff at the Church of the Nativity in
Bethlehem and objection to the withholding of food, water and medical
supplies to those inside the church.

Others in the delegation accompanied food deliveries to Bethlehem, and one
delegation member, (Rev.) Mark Brown of the Lutheran Office for Governmental
Affairs, Washington, D.C., participated in deliveries in both Bethlehem and
Beit Jala.

All persons mentioned are available for interview.  Please contact above.

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