wfn.org | LWF Council 01-2005 Palestinian Lutheran Bishop Challenges

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

Palestinian Lutheran Bishop Challenges Religions to Work for Genuine
Dialogue 
Meeting in the Holy Land Is a Sign of Solidarity with Other Christians

LWF Council Meeting in Jerusalem/Bethlehem, 
31 August - 6 September 2005

PRESS RELEASE N0. 01-2005

JERUSALEM/GENEVA, 31 August 2005 (LWI) * Bishop Dr Munib A. Younan of
the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land (ELCJHL) has
called for a self critical analysis of individual churches and other
religions, in order for dialogue among religions to contribute to
peaceful co-existence in the world.

"Extremists are vocal and can hijack justice. We should not allow them
to do this," Younan told journalists prior to the opening of this year's
LWF Council meeting taking place in Jerusalem and Bethlehem, August
31-September 6. The ELCJHL bishop addressed the media representatives
jointly with LWF President, Bishop Mark S. Hanson and LWF General
Secretary Rev. Dr Ishmael Noko.

Around 170 participants are attending the meeting hosted by the ELCJHL
under the theme, "The Church: Called to a Ministry of Reconciliation."
This theme was first proposed for the 2001 meeting after the ELCJHL
formally invited the LWF Council to hold its annual meeting in the Holy
Land. Subsequent change of venue to other places since was necessary in
view of a non-conducive political situation in the region. 

Younan, also LWF Vice-President for the Asian region, stressed the
significance of the Lutheran communion for the ELCJHL not just
individually as an LWF member church but also for the Christian
community and for dialogue with other religions, in a region in which
Christians are a minority. "Your coming here strengthens us and is
important for [inter-religious] dialogue," he said in reference to the
respective dialogues with Muslims and Jews. 

Call for Bridges of Peace Not Walls

Commenting on the barrier separating Israel from Palestinian territory
in order protect Israel from Palestinian suicide bombers, the Lutheran
bishop said this was not a solution to the Israeli Palestinian conflict.
"We want peace not walls. Walls divide, peace builds bridges." He
described the Palestinian community as a good example of religious
co-existence to other parts of the world saying, "our people*Muslims and
Christians have always lived side by side." 

The LWF Council host church ELCJHL has six congregations in Jerusalem,
Bethlehem, Beit Jala, Beit Sahour, Ramallah and Amman the Jordanian
capital. It is committed to ecumenical and inter-religious service and
dialogue as critical in helping to promote peace and reconciliation. The
Lutheran church, like others churches in the region, faces many
challenges especially the emigration of Palestinian Christians due to
the harsh restrictions of the Israeli occupation.

Hanson described the theme of this year's Council meeting, "The Church
Called to a Ministry of Reconciliation," as befitting in view of the
event's venue and also important because the world's focus is so often
on the Middle East. To stand in solidarity with Palestinian Christians,
he noted is particularly important during this time. 

The theme, he said, challenged the LWF governing body at this meeting
"to speak the truth" concerning several issues among them occupation,
violence and the separation wall. "Yes, the wall protects some, but it
separates others," Hanson said. He noted that freedom and justice for
the Palestinian people is dependent on a secure Israel, inasmuch as a
secure Israel is also dependent on these very principles.

Affirmation of Roadmap for Peace 

In view of the Council's discussions on the Israeli-Palestinian
conflict, and particularly the impact of the separation wall on the
Palestinian people, Noko said the Roadmap peace process remained an
important issue for the LWF. He reiterated the LWF's position on
Jerusalem as a city of two peoples [Israelis and Palestinians] and the
three monotheistic religions [Christianity, Islam and Judaism].These
issues will be addressed when the LWF leaders meet during this week with
the President of Israel and the President of the Palestinian Authority.

Noko said the Council will also be discussing the status of the LWF-run
Augusta Victoria Hospital (AVH) on the Mount of Olives in East Jerusalem
in view of a court case over a tax exemption agreement. The LWF is
challenging the intent to revoke a tax exemption agreement between the
hospital and the State of Israel. If this tax exempt status were to be
lifted, the AVH would be required to remit some USD 400,000 annually,
which would threaten the existence of the hospital that cares mainly for
refugees from Palestinian territories. 

Other items on the Council's agenda include a decision on the venue of
the next Assembly; reports on the Strategic Planning Process; the Future
of the LWF in the Context of Ecumenical Reconfiguration; the Proposed
Ecumenical Alliance for Development (PEAD); and an Interim Report of the
Task Force on Family, Marriage and Sexuality. (774 words)

*	*	*

There are around 170 participants in this year's Council meeting,
including representatives from the LWF member churches on the 49-member
governing body. Also attending are officials from LWF partner
organizations, invited guests, stewards, interpreters and translators,
and LWF staff. The Council is the annual governing body meeting between
Assemblies held every six years. The current Council was appointed at
the July 2003 Tenth Assembly in Winnipeg, Canada. It comprises the
President, Treasurer and 48 persons elected by the Assembly. Other
members include advisors, who are ordained and lay persons representing
the different LWF regions. (874 words)

During the Council Meeting, the LWF Office for Communication Services
can be reached at mobile telephone No. +52 378 1673 

*	*	*

(The LWF is a global communion of Christian churches in the Lutheran
tradition. Founded in 1947 in Lund, Sweden, the LWF currently has 138
member churches in 77 countries all over the world, with a total
membership of nearly 66 million. The LWF acts on behalf of its member
churches in areas of common interest such as ecumenical and inter-faith
relations, theology, humanitarian assistance, human rights,
communication, and the various aspects of mission and development work.
Its secretariat is located in Geneva, Switzerland.)

[Lutheran World Information (LWI) is the LWF's information service.
Unless specifically noted, material presented does not represent
positions or opinions of the LWF or of its various units. Where the
dateline of an article contains the notation (LWI), the material may be
freely reproduced with acknowledgment.]

Pauline Mumia
Editor - English
The Lutheran World Federation
Office for Communication Services
150, route de Ferney
P. O. Box 2100
CH-1211 Geneva 2
SWITZERLAND

Telephone   +41 22 791 61 11
Direct Line   +41 22 791 63 54
Telefax        +41 22 791 66 30
E-mail		pmu@lutheranworld.org