From the Worldwide Faith News archives www.wfn.org
Delegation of church leaders headed to Middle East to bolster peace efforts
From
ENS@ecunet.org
Date
20 Dec 2000 10:07:13
For more information contact:
James Solheim
Director
jsolheim@dfms.org
http://www.ecusa.anglican.org/ens
2000-220
Delegation of church leaders headed to Middle East to bolster peace efforts
by James Solheim
A high-level delegation of American church leaders is headed for the Middle
East to express solidarity with Christian churches there and to lend their voices
to a growing chorus calling for renewed efforts to find a peaceful solution to
the crisis in the area.
The delegation hopes to meet with Israeli and Palestinian political and
religious leaders to discuss the escalation of violence and collapse of the peace
process, as well as difficult issues such as the future status of Jerusalem,
Israeli settlements in Gaza and the West Bank, refugees and the protection of
human rights.
"It is crucial that we sit down with those who are victims of the violence,
as well as those who are working to restore the peace process," said the Rev.
Mark Brown, assistant director in the Office for Governmental Affairs of the
Evangelical Lutheran Church (ELCA), who was instrumental in arranging the
December 7-12 visit.
Despite the heightened tensions in the area, Brown said that the delegation
also hopes to visit institutions in Jerusalem, Gaza, Bethlehem, Beit Jala, Beit
Sahour and Ramallah. "We need to better understand the breakdown in peace
negotiations and discuss ways in which churches in the U.S., Palestine and Israel
can work together to strengthen the Christian communities and to promote a just
and lasting peace between Israelis and Palestinians," he said.
The delegation include participants from the National Council of Churches,
the United Church of Christ and the Armenian Apostolic, Roman Catholic,
Episcopal, Greek Orthodox, Lutheran, Mennonite, Presbyterian, Quaker and United
Methodist churches.
The visit comes at the same time as many of the churches are involved in a
Prayer Vigil for Middle East Peace. The vigil begins on the first Sunday in
Advent, December 3, and will continue until the violence ends and a peace
agreement emerges.
Based on an initiative and organized by the ecumenical working group
Churches for Middle East Peace, the vigil holds in prayer all those who are
suffering in the Holy Land, including Palestinians and Israelis. (For details and
resources go to www.loga.org/PrayerVigilHome.htm.)
Participants in the delegation include:
Bishop Viken Aykazian of the Armenian Apostolic Church
The Very Rev. Brother Stephen Glodek of the Catholic Conference of Major
Superiors of Men's Institutes
The Rev. John McCullough of Church World Service and Witness of the National
Council of Churches
Bishop Vincent Warner of the Episcopal Church's Diocese of Olympia
Mrs. Patti Browning, wife of the former presiding bishop of the Episcopal Church
Bishop Dimitrios of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America
Former Presiding Bishop Herbert W. Chilstrom of the ELCA
Bishop Margaret Payne, bishop of the ELCA's New England Synod
Donella Clemens of the Mennonite Central Committee
Inez Allan of the Presbyterian Church USA
Mary Ellen McNish of the American Friends Service Committee
The Rev. Bernice Powell Jackson of the United Church of Christ
Bishop William Oden of the United Methodist Church
Note: If you would like to receive daily press reports and photos of the visit,
send your e-mail address to CorinneWhi@aol.com at Churches for Middle East Peace.
During the trip the delegation's press officer, Jim Solheim, can be reached at
jsolheim@dfms.org.
Browse month . . .
Browse month (sort by Source) . . .
Advanced Search & Browse . . .
WFN Home