wfn.org | ELCA Assembly Receives Greetings from Lutheran Church in Jordan

[News News <NEWS@ELCA.ORG>]

ELCA NEWS SERVICE

August 10, 2001

ELCA ASSEMBLY RECEIVES GREETINGS FROM LUTHERAN CHURCH IN JORDAN
01-CWA19-LJ

     INDIANAPOLIS (ELCA) -- Viola Raheb, director of Lutheran schools
in Jerusalem and Palestine, brought greetings Aug. 9 from Bishop Munib
A. Younan, Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and Palestine (ELCJ) to
the ELCA Churchwide Assembly.
     The churchwide assembly, the chief legislative authority of the
ELCA, is meeting here Aug. 8-14 at the Indiana Convention Center.  There
are more than 2,000 people participating, including 1,040 ELCA voting
members.  The theme for the biennial assembly is "Making Christ Known:
Sharing Faith in a New Century."
     Timeliness was key when the churchwide assembly was called by
Raheb "to stand for a few moments of silence for those on both sides of
the fighting and to pray for those who have been killed today in the
bombings and for those who are being killed at this moment by the
shellings at the West Bank."
     Raheb presented Jerusalem crosses to Presiding Bishop H. George
Anderson and the Rev. Robert N. Bacher, ELCA executive for
administration, "As a sign of our love and gratitude from the
Palestinian Lutheran sisters and brothers for all that they [Anderson
and Bacher] have done for this companion synod, the ELCJ."
     The ELCJ grew out of mission schools and orphanages initiated by
European missions in the mid-19th century.  People became interested in
Lutheran teachings and eventually established congregations.  Redeemer
Lutheran Church, founded in 1898 in Jerusalem, became a hub of church
activities, serving Arab, German and English-speaking members.
     The ELCJ joined the Lutheran World Federation in 1974.  The ELCJ
currently has 2,000 members in six congregations: five in Palestine
(Jerusalem, Ramallah, Bethlehem, Beit Jala and Beir Sahour) and one in
Amman, Jordan.  Membership has declined due to emigration caused by the
difficult economic situation and unstable political climate.
     The ELCJ is the only indigenous Lutheran church in the Middle
East. It has a special calling to work for reconciliation among those
who have been victimized by war, to concentrate actively on peace
education, and to initiate dialogue among Christians, Muslims and Jews
for truth and reconciliation.
     Bishop Younan's letter continues, "We are grateful to the ELCA for
all that you have done, for your zeal and prayers for the mission of the
Lord, both in the United States and in our country, Palestine. We thank
you for the continuing concern, two ELCA companion synods, for allowing
Augusta Victoria hospital to stand on its feet, for your accompaniment
in allowing our church to continue its struggle in mission, and above
all, for your response in initiating prayer vigils for us so that
justice and reconciliation may commence."
     In conclusion, Raheb said that, "53 percent of our people live
under the poverty line with an income of $2 a day.   Our people are
living under siege -- we have to postpone meetings, schools are
sometimes closed because of the danger, the situation is grave.  We feel
called by God to carry the cross of Christ, more and more working for
peace, for justice, and for the dignity of all human beings, and we know
our mission is your mission."
-- -- --
     Information about assembly actions is at
http://www.elca.org/assembly/01 on the ELCA's Web site.  Recorded
updates during the assembly are available by calling 773/380-2477.

For information contact:
John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or NEWS@ELCA.ORG
http://listserv.elca.org/archives/elcanews.html