wfn.org | LWF 'Anti-Semitism and Anti-Judaism Today' Conference Condemns Terrorist Attacks

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

"We Condemn Any Form of Terrorist Activities" 

BUDAPEST, Hungary/GENEVA, 17 September 2001 (LWI) - Over 60 participants in a
Lutheran World Federation (LWF) consultation in Dobogokv near Budapest, Hungary
on the theme "Anti-Semitism and Anti-Judaism Today" have strongly condemned the
devastating September 11 terrorist attacks on the United States of America. 

In a September 12 statement, the Lutheran and Jewish participants drawn from 15
countries worldwide expressed "deep abhorrence at the enormous atrocity in the
USA" and condemned "all terrorist activities." 

"We see this attack as a crime against humanity," and pray in this dark hour
that God will guide leaders to "make wise decisions and lead the peoples of the
world towards justice and peace." They mourned the loss of victims and
expressed sympathy to the families affected and to the US people. 

Participants in the September 9-13 consultation, who included representatives
of LWF member churches and their dialogue/relationship partners from amongst
the Jewish communities and ecumenical participants, came together to assess the
status of dialogue in these churches and explore the directions in which
responses to anti-Semitism and anti-Judaism could move. 

Rev. Dr. Wolfgang Greive, study secretary for theology and the church in the
LWF Department for Theology and Studies, who together with others initiated
this project, said "the uniqueness of this meeting is that the Jewish and
Lutheran participants came from 15 countries representing a global
dimension-Australia, South Africa, Latin America, North America, West and
Eastern Europe and Jerusalem." The conference "was marked by a spirit of mutual
respect" and contributed toward mutual enrichment, he said. A Jewish
participant likened the meeting to "a family experience." 

Reports discussed at the meeting brought reality to the understanding of the
Jewish-Christian dialogue/relationship and acted as an eye opener. There was
neither idealistic nor polemic understanding. The insight is that the door is
open for a shift in Jewish and Christian relations, "but it is still a long way
for some churches to enter in this new relationship," participants said. 

The meeting was a forum aimed at focusing on re-emerging and new forms of
anti-Semitism and anti-Judaism in many different countries. Also discussed was
the proliferation of anti-Semitic hate sites on the Internet, desecration of
Jewish cemeteries, neo-Nazism, and increasing expressions of anti-Semitic
attitudes. Facing this situation, it is of great importance that the churches
have a very clear stand-point and self-understanding of the church's
relationship to Israel. It was underlined that Christians have not replaced
Jews. Participants encouraged LWF member churches to produce more materials
that counter anti-Judaism in the church's theology and liturgy.

Participants expressed deep concern about the ongoing conflict in the Middle
East and the sufferings of the Israelis and Palestinians, including members of
the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan. They urged the State of Israel and
the Palestinian leadership to seek all possible ways to end the violence and to
resume negotiations seeking agreement between the two peoples. 

The results of the LWF consultation in Dobogokv will be published in the LWF
Documentation series. 

The conference participants' statement on the USA attacks follows: 

We, Lutherans and Jews of many countries gathered in Dobogokv near Budapest,
Hungary for an LWF Consultation on Anti-Semitism and Anti-Judaism Today,
express our deep abhorrence at the enormous atrocity that was perpetrated in
the USA on Tuesday, 11th September 2001. 

We totally condemn all terrorist activities. 

We mourn the loss of the victims and express our sympathies to the families of
the victims and to the people of the USA. 

We see this attack as a crime against humanity. 

In this dark hour we pray that God will guide the leaders to make wise
decisions and to lead the peoples of the world towards justice and peace. 

Name and community of each person present at this conference: 

ADUNKA, Dr. Evelyn, Vienna, Austria; BANKI, Ms Judith H., Director, Special
Programs, Tanenbaum Center for Interreligious Understanding, New York, USA;
BAUER, Rev. Heinrich, Dachau, Germany; BRANDT, Rev. Newton, Lutheran
Theological Seminary, Umphumulo, Mapumulo, Kwa-Zulu Natal, Rep. South Africa;
FISHER, Dr. Eugene, National Conference of Catholic Bishops, Secretariat for
Ecumenical and Interreligious Affairs, Washington, D. C. , USA; FRISHMAN, Prof.
Dr. J., Amsterdam, The Netherlands; GOEHRING, Pfr.i.R. Othmar, Graz, Austria;
GROSSKOPF-DA COSTA, Ms. Carla, Chemnitz, Germany; HACKEL, Very Rev. Sergei,
Lewes, E. Sussex , United Kingdom; HALPERIN, Prof. Jean, World Jewish Congress,
Switzerland; HAUSMANN, Prof. Dr. Jutta, General Secretary, Lutheran European
Commission for Church and Judaism, Budapest, Hungary; KATSELNIK, Dr. Vadim, St.
Petersburg, Russia; KLEEMANN, Rev. J|rg, Fiesole, Italy; KLENICKI, Rabbi Leon,
Consultant for Interfaith Relations, Anti-Defamation League, New York, USA;
KRAUS, Prof. Dr. Wolfgang, Institut f|r Evangelische Theologie, Universitdt
Koblenz-Landau, Rheinau, Koblenz, Germany; LAATO, Dr. theol. Anni Maria, Turku,
Finland; LANG, Mr. Thomas, Nove Zamky, Slovak Republic; LEVI, Rabbi John,
Executive Council of Australian Jewry, Armadale, Australia; LICHTMANN, Prof.
Dr. Tam`s, Budapest, Hungary; MENN, Dr. Esther, The Lutheran School of Theology
at Chicago, Chicago, USA; MESKIN, Ms Paddy, Chairperson WCRP Durban, South
Africa; METZGER, Rev. Willy F., Amsterdam, The Netherlands; NARROWE, Morton,
Chief Rabbi Emeritus of Stockholm, Sweden; NELSON, Rev. Glen, 104 Kimbark Blvd,
Toronto, Canada; PASTOR, Dr. Alexander, President of the General Synod of
ELCROS, St. Petersburg, Russia; PASZTA, Mr. Zbigniew, Warsaw, Poland; PETTIT,
Dr. Peter A., Director, Institute for Jewish-Christian Understanding,
Muhlenberg College, Allentown, USA; PIETRANTONIO, Rev. Dr. Ricardo, Instituto
Superior Evangilico de Estudios Teolsgicos - Isedet, Buenos Aires, Argentina;
PIEPER, Rev. Friedhelm, International Council of Christians and Jews,
Heppenheim, Germany; PITUM, Dr. Abi, Innstrasse 2a, D-81679 Munich, Germany;
RAUPACH-RUDNICK, Rev. Wolfgang, Amt f|r Gemeindedienst, Hanover, Germany;
SCH\NEMANN, Pastor Sinodal Dr . Rolf, Sco Paulo, Brazil; SENDER, Ms Anne, Oslo,
Norway; SHERMAN, Rev. Dr. Franklin, Associate for Interfaith Relations, ELCA,
Allentown, USA; SKORKA, Rabbi Dr. Abraham, Rector Seminario Rabinico,
Latinoamericano, Buenos Aires, Argentina; STOLZ, Dr. David, BOX HILL,
Australia; STRXMMEN, Rev. Cecilie Jxrgensen, Oslo, Norway; SVARTVIK, Ph.D.,
V.D.M. Jesper, Lund, Sweden; SZEBIK, Bishop Imre, Evangelical Lutheran Church
in Hungary, Budapest, Hungary; WEISSMAN, Dr. Deborah, Jerusalem, Israel;
WERNER, Rev. Matthias, Arnsdorf, Germany; WETTBERG Ms. Ingrid, Liberal Jewish
Community Hannover, Garbsen, Germany

(The LWF is a global communion of Christian churches in the Lutheran tradition. 
Founded in 1947 in Lund (Sweden), the LWF now has 133 member churches in 73 
countries representing over 60.5 million of the 64.3 million Lutherans 
worldwide. The LWF acts on behalf of its member churches in areas of common 
interest such as ecumenical 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 information service of the Lutheran 
World Federation (LWF). 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 acknowledgement.] 

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