wfn.org | (LWF) LWF Tenth Assembly Public Statement Affirms *Roadmap*

["Frank Imhoff" <franki@elca.org>]

LWF Tenth Assembly, Winnipeg, Canada, 21-31 July 2003

PRESS RELEASE NO. 37

LWF Tenth Assembly Public Statement Affirms "Roadmap" as Golden Opportunity
for Middle East Peace 
Support of Major World Powers Offers New Hope for Separate, Equal States of
Israel and Palestine

WINNIPEG, Canada, 30 July 2003 * On the final full day of the Tenth Assembly
of the Lutheran World Federation (LWF) delegates unanimously approved a
public statement regarding the conflict in the Middle East between Israel and
Palestine.  In part the statement endorses the "Roadmap for Peace in the
Middle East" as offering true potential for a solution in the strife-torn
Middle East, provided that certain benchmarks are met. 

The Rev. Dr Munib A. Younan, bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of
Jordan (ELCJ) which includes Lutheran congregations in Palestine and Israel,
read the statement aloud on the Assembly floor.

The statement affirms "all persons of good will" in their quest for peace and
justice in Israel and Palestine and denounces all activities that hinder
Palestinian independence.

It cites the "Roadmap for Peace" recently ratified by the essential "quartet"
of world partners (United Nations, the United States, European Union and
Russia) as a golden opportunity for a peaceful two-state solution to this
historic conflict. The statement declares that this new level of involvement
by major world powers gives legitimacy to the process. 

The "benchmarks" called for by the Assembly as prerequisites to the
establishment of a full and free Palestinian state contiguous to Israel by
2005 include the miliary occupation of the West Bank, Gaza and East
Jerusalem, the issue of Israeli settlements on Palestinian land, Palestinian
refugees' right of return to their homes, fair distribution of water
resources, the immediate razing of the wall, or "security fence," constructed
by the Israeli Army in Jerusalem and religious freedom for all.  

The Assembly statement also calls upon member churches in the worldwide LWF
communion to support the ELCJ's efforts in inter-religious dialogue, as well
as the development of community-based education and housing that will
encourage Palestinian Christians to stay in their country instead of
emigrating out of the area. It further urges the international community of
churches to support programs that build awareness of the situation, such as
the Ecumenical Accompaniment Program in Palestine and Israel that sends
volunteers to live and work in the region for three months.

The statement also calls for a favorable resolution by the government of
Israel to the current crisis concerning the tax status of LWF's Augusta
Victoria Hospital, which serves primarily Palestinians. 

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The Tenth Assembly of the Lutheran World Federation (LWF) is taking place
21-31 July 2003 in Winnipeg, Canada, under the theme "For the Healing of the
World." It is being hosted by the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada
(ELCIC).

There are around 820 men, women and youth participants in the Tenth Assembly
including 380 delegates from the 133 churches with full membership and three
associate members. The Assembly is the highest decision-making body of the
LWF, and meets normally every six years. Between Assemblies, the LWF is
governed by its Council that meets annually, and by its Executive Committee. 

Further information including photos, video and audio news, is posted on the
Assembly Web site www.lwf-assembly.org

To order photographs, please contact LWF-Photo@lutheranworld.org

*	*	*

The LWF is a global communion of Christian churches in the Lutheran
tradition. Funded in 1947 in Lund (Sweden), the LWF now has 136 member
churches in 76 countries representing over 61.7 million of the 65.4 million
Lutherans worldwide. 

The LWF acts on behalf of its member churches in areas of common interest
such as ecumenical and interfaith relations, theology, humanitarian
assistance, human rights, communication, and the various aspects of mission
and development work. Its secretariat is located in Geneva, Switzerland.