wfn.org | ELCA Presiding Bishop Writes Jewish, Muslim Leaders About Assembly

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Action
ELCA NEWS SERVICE

August 23, 2005

ELCA Presiding Bishop Writes Jewish, Muslim Leaders About Assembly Action
05-151-JB

     CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Rev. Mark S. Hanson, presiding bishop
of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), wrote to
leaders of several U.S. Jewish and Muslim organizations Aug. 15
to communicate the actions of the 2005 ELCA Churchwide Assembly
related to the Middle East.
     The churchwide assembly met Aug. 8-14 at the Marriott World
Center Resort and Convention Center in Orlando.  About 2,300
participated including 1,015 voting members.
     Among other actions, churchwide assembly voting members
urged Lutherans to participate in a campaign, "Peace Not Walls:
Stand for Justice in the Holy Land."  The campaign is designed to
build awareness, and encourage accompaniment and advocacy
activities for "peace with justice" between Israel and Palestine.
By 668-269 the assembly endorsed the campaign.
     In the letter Hanson said the resolution "builds upon the
[ELCA] Churchwide Strategy for Engagement in Israel and
Palestine, which was adopted by our ELCA Church Council in April
of this year."
     "The assembly approved a straightforward action that
included a summary of key commitments of the ELCA, which are
described in more detail in the strategy," Hanson continued.
These include:
+ advocating for political solutions that address the rights to
security and peace with justice for both Palestinians and
Israelis
+ working to strengthen the political will of leaders in this
country, Israel and Palestine to implement the "Road Map" for
peace, specifically the cessation of terrorism and violence, an
end to the Israeli occupation, and the goal of a viable,
contiguous, independent Palestinian state living side-by-side
with a secure Israel
+ encouraging both Israelis and Palestinians not only to avoid
taking actions that threaten the fragile hope for peace (attacks
on civilians and confiscation of land) but also to take positive
steps that will lead to peace
+ strengthening relationships with the Evangelical Lutheran
Church in Jordan and the Holy Land (ELCJHL) and supporting the
humanitarian work done by that church and the Lutheran World
Federation, such as through Augusta Victoria Hospital in East
Jerusalem.
     While affirming the security interests of the State of
Israel, the assembly action acknowledged the hardship caused by
construction of the Israeli separation wall/barrier on
Palestinian land and "the threat it poses to our companion
church's [ELCJHL] life and work," Hanson wrote.  Hardships he
cited included examples such as Palestinians getting to jobs,
schools and places of worship.
     "Noting that the ELCA, through earlier church council
action, had joined the Lutheran World Federation and World
Council of Churches in calling for an end to the construction of
the Israeli separation wall or barrier being built on Palestinian
land, the assembly urged all parts of the ELCA to participate in
a churchwide campaign, 'Peace Not Walls: Stand for Justice in the
Holy Land,'" Hanson wrote in the letter. "The elements of this
campaign include prayer, deepening understanding of the situation
in the region, building relationships and working for peace with
the ELCJHL and with Christian and interfaith partners, building
bridges with Christian churches throughout the Middle East,
intensifying advocacy for a just peace in the region, stewarding
financial resources in ways that support the quest for a just
peace in the Holy Land, and giving to support the church and
humanitarian work in the region."
     In adopting the resolution, "the assembly has begun living
out the strategy, which in many ways consolidates and clarifies
our existing ELCA policy and practice," Hanson wrote.  The
strategy benefited throughout its development from the input of
those who have strong and ongoing relationships with all parties
in the conflict, he wrote.  Hanson cited members of the
Consultative Panel on Lutheran-Jewish Relations, those engaged in
conversations with Muslims, academics, activists and a range of
others who brought "diverse views and experiences" to the task,
Hanson wrote. Key in developing the strategy was the ELCA's
relationship with its companion church, the ELCJHL, and the
Middle East Council of Churches, he wrote.
     "The question that has been asked repeatedly by the press
is, 'Did the assembly vote to divest from Israel?' The answer is
no," Hanson wrote.  "The action taken by the assembly was to
affirm the "stewarding of financial resources - both U.S. tax
dollars and private funds - in ways that support the quest for a
just peace in the Middle East."
     Hanson listed several methods from the strategy by which the
church can encourage stewardship of financial resources: giving
by members to support ministries in the Holy Land; promoting
positive economic development in the region; urging U.S. foreign
aid be directed to economic and humanitarian needs; making
consumer decisions that support those in greatest need; and
managing collective or personal investments with concern for
their impact on the lives of all Holy Land peoples.
     Hanson added that the strategy makes explicit the way the
ELCA will continue to work in the Middle East.	The ELCA will
listen and learn from companions and those with whom they agree
and disagree, draw insights from dialogues with Jews and Muslims,
work for balance in terms of care to all parties in the conflict
but address imbalances of power and build relationships with all
who seek peace in the region, he said.
     Hanson noted that Rabbi Eric Yoffie, president, Union for
Reform Judaism, addressed the assembly.
     "We agree with him that, even as we continue to engage in
frank discussion about issues relating to Israel and Palestine,
we will continue to work shoulder to shoulder to address issues
of poverty and injustice both at home and throughout the world,"
Hanson wrote in the letter.  "In the light of that commitment, I
look forward to continuing conversation relating to actions that
can best build peace in Israel and Palestine."
     Jewish leaders to whom Hanson wrote to represented the
National Council of Synagogues, Needham, Mass.; and American
Jewish Committee, Anti-Defamation League, Union for Reform
Judaism and United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism, all in New
York City.  Muslim leaders to whom he wrote represented the
Islamic Society of North America, Plainfield, Ind.; Council on
American-Islamic Relations, Washington, D.C.; Islamic Circle of
North America, Jamaica, N.Y.; Muslim Public Affairs Council,
Washington, D.C., and Los Angeles; American Sufi Muslim
Association, New York City and North Bergen, N.J.
-----
     The text of Bishop Hanson's letter is at
http://www.ELCA.org/bishop/m_0508letter.html on the Web.

     The text of the assembly's action related to the "Strategy
for Engagement in Israel and Palestine" is at
http://www.ELCA.org/assembly/05/voting/index.html
on the 2005 ELCA Churchwide Assembly Web site.

     The text of Rabbi Yoffie's remarks to the 2005 Churchwide
Assembly is at
http://www.ELCA.org/assembly/05/0811/RabbiYoffie.pdf on the Web.

For information contact:
John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or news@elca.org
http://www.elca.org/news