wfn.org | Young Theologians Conference at St. Georges Cathedral Jerusalem

[Worldwide Faith News <wfn@igc.org>]

Sept. 18, 2002

JERUSALEM -- More than 30 people discussed fresh ways of communicating the
gospel during the first annual Young Theologians Conference at St. Georges
Cathedral earlier this month.

The ecumenical conference, which attracted young theologians from Europe,
the United States, South Africa and Palestine, focused on the theme
Confirming the Christian Message: Communicating the Faith Today.

The Rt. Rev. Riah Abu El-Assal, Anglican Bishop in Jerusalem, opened the
conference on Sept. 6, recognizing those who had traveled from afar and
calling all Christians to take seriously the ministry of peace and
reconciliation.

I keep on saying, One of the great blessings of being the member of a
faith community is the act of coming together, he said.

In addition to hearing presentations from students and well-known English
and South African theologians, participants learned about local liberation
theology while talking to several religious leaders and parishioners from
Palestine and Israel. Attendees traveled to tourist sites, churches,
community service centers and hospitals in Gaza and several West Bank
cities.

They witnessed bombed-out buildings in Gaza and heard first-hand accounts
about the several-day-long curfews, economic fallout and humiliation that
have come with Israeli occupation. The Diocese of Jerusalem is calling for
peace and justice for all people in the Holy Land.

Attendees also learned how residents are coping with the occupation. For
example, representatives from the YMCA and the Evangelical Home & School in
Ramallah described programs and classes they offer to help young people get
jobs despite the poor economic conditions.

I did feel renewed by the church here and the Christians, said the Rev.
Graham Miller, a participant from England.  He hopes to promote an awareness
of the problems facing the Palestinian church when he returns to his
homeland.

The Rev. Russell Blassoples of South Africa, said he was struck by how
similar the people of his native country were with the people of Palestine.

Despite the language barrier, we are connected through laughter and
sadness, he said.

In addition, there was plenty of richness to be found in the relationships
among the participants themselves, said the Rev. Janet Trisk of South
Africa.

The people involved were willing to tell their own story, she said.

The conference followed more than a year of organization by the Rev. Yazeed
Said, chaplain to the bishop of Jerusalem, and the Rev. Dr. Andreas Loewe,
curate at St. Marys Anglican Church in Slough, near London.

Rev. Said noted that he was pleased with the overall turnout, though he
hopes to get more local participation next year. In addition to allowing
Christians from all over the world to see the conditions facing
Palestinians, it gave local Arab churches a sense of encouragement and
support, he said.

Rev. Said and Rev. Loewe said they already have plans under way for a second
conference to take place in Jerusalem in late August next year. Next years
conference should have a broader focus on interfaith issues, and it should
contain more participants, Rev. Said said.

Meanwhile, this years attendees should create a solid network of support in
the weeks to come, Rev. Said said.

The most important thing about this conference is the follow up and to be
able to keep connections in the future.

###

Digital Photos:
*	 The Rev. Yazeed Said & The Rev. Dr. Andreas Loewe
*	 Mr. Christopher Pix reads the lesson at the opening service at St.
Georges Cathedral in Jerusalem
*	 The Rev. Dr. Mitri Raheb, of the Christmas Lutheran Church in
Bethlehem, discussed issues facing the Church
*	 Fr. Peter Du Brul SJ in the Chapel of Bethlehem University.

Nancy Dinsmore
devedjer@netvision.net.il
Development Office							fax:
972 2 627 3847
Episcopal Diocese of Jerusalem