wfn.org | WCC NEWS: Israel-Palestine: "Constructive confrontation" on "Promised Land"

["WCC Media" <Media@wcc-coe.org>]

World Council of Churches - News Release

Contact: +41 22 791 6153 +41 79 507 6363 media@wcc-coe.org

>For immediate release - 15/09/2008 17:34:13

"PROMISED LAND" CONFERENCE BRINGS ABOUT "CONSTRUCTIVE
CONFRONTATION", NEW VIEWS ON ISRAEL-PALESTINE CONFLICT 

A conference on "Promised Land" that aired different theological
approaches to this key issue in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict
has given church leaders and theologians new views to take home
to their churches. Some participants said their outlook had been
changed by the "constructive confrontation" at the World Council
of Churches (WCC) event.

A key result of the conference is a better understanding of the
question of land in the Bible, in theology and in the conflict.
The conferees said decades of violence in Israel-Palestine
challenge Christian theologians to work out "life-affirming"
responses to the conflict. The Bible "must not be utilized to
justify oppression or supply simplistic commentary on
contemporary events", the final document said. 

The 10-14 September 2008 conference was hosted by the Swiss
Protestant Federation and the Reformed Churches in
Bern-Jura-Solothurn. The encounter took place as part of the WCC
Palestine Israel Ecumenical Forum, an inter-church advocacy
initiative. The 85 participants came from Europe, the Middle
East, the Americas, Africa and Asia.

"Concrete contributions to the discussions from Palestinian
Christians helped to significantly change approaches to the
issues," the host churches said in a communiqué. "In the
controversial and at times passionate debates a constructive
sensitivity to the central themes developed."

Scholars from Europe and North America outlined progress made in
years of dialogues between Christians and Jews. Recognizing this
"Jewish-Christian healing" the conference expressed hope that
Christians in Palestine-Israel would be welcomed into such
dialogues in future and invited similar dialogues with Muslims as
well. 

"Let us continue to critically and creatively examine notions of
the 'Promised Land', rediscovering in the Bible and in our
traditions life-giving metaphors for promoting justice, peace,
reconciliation and forgiveness for the fullness of the earth and
all its inhabitants", said the final document, the "Bern
Perspective". 

It is particularly important to differentiate between biblical
history and biblical stories, the "Bern Perspective" says, and as
well to distinguish between the Israel of the Bible and the
modern State of Israel. 

Nine panel discussions at the conference gave different
perspectives on the concept of the "Promised Land" and related
issues. Much follow-up work will be needed on the matters raised,
including material for use in parishes.

During the meeting participants visited a House of Religions
established in Bern after years of relationship-building between
the city's Christian, Jewish, Muslim and other religious
communities. At the ecumenical service to end the meeting,
Palestinian theologian Fr Jamal Khader highlighted the central
significance for peace of Jerusalem, as the home of two peoples
and three religions. “Peace begins in Jerusalem and shines forth
into the world from there.“

>Full text of the "Bern Perspective":
>http://www.oikoumene.org/?id=6281

>Photo gallery:
>http://www.oikoumene.org/?id=6280

More information on the consultation: 

http://www.oikoumene.org/en/news/news-management/eng/a/article/1722/international-conference-6.html

WCC Programme "Churches in the Middle East: solidarity and
witness for peace": 
http://www.oikoumene.org/?id=3113

>Federation of Swiss Protestant Churches: 
>http://www.sek-feps.ch

Additional information:Juan Michel,+41 22 791 6153 +41 79 507
6363media@wcc-coe.org

The World Council of Churches promotes Christian unity in faith,
witness and service for a just and peaceful world. An ecumenical
fellowship of churches founded in 1948, today the WCC brings
together 349 Protestant, Orthodox, Anglican and other churches
representing more than 560 million Christians in over 110
countries, and works cooperatively with the Roman Catholic
Church. The WCC general secretary is Rev. Dr Samuel Kobia, from
the Methodist Church in Kenya. Headquarters: Geneva, Switzerland.