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["Nat'l Council of Churches" <nccc_usa@ncccusa.org>]

U.S. CHURCH LEADERS' PEACE MISSION HEADS FOR ISRAEL/WEST BANK APRIL 23

National Council of Churches News Release
Full Contact Information Follows

April 22, 2002, NEW YORK CITY - Fourteen U.S. church leaders are set to
arrive in Israel/West Bank April 23 for the final leg of their April 16-27
journey to offer pastoral support for Christians in the Holy Land and to
support efforts for a just and lasting peace between Israelis and
Palestinians.

The (U.S.) National Council of Churches delegation -- led by NCC General
Secretary Bob Edgar and President Elenie Huszagh -- left New York April 16,
and met with Orthodox Christian leaders in Istanbul, Turkey, April 17-18.

The U.S. Protestant, Orthodox and Anglican church leaders then went on to
Lebanon (April 19-20) and Syria (April 21-22) and are to continue to Jordan
(April 22-23), then Israel/Palestine (April 23-26, departing April 27).

The group is being hosted by the Middle East Council of Churches and
Jerusalem church leaders. The (U.S.) National Council of Churches' 36 member
denominations comprise 50 million adherents.

Planned for several months, the visit's mission is "all the more urgent"
given the current crisis, Dr. Edgar said.  Acknowledging the security
concerns, the delegation nevertheless intends to fulfill as much of its
planned itinerary as possible.

"We intend to meet with our Christian partners in both Israel and
Palestine," the NCC general secretary said.  The Washington, D.C.-based
Churches for Middle East Peace estimates there are 175,000 Christians living
in Jerusalem, the West Bank and Israel.

"We go to offer pastoral support for Christians in the Holy Land; seek ways
churches in the U.S. and Holy Land can promote a just and lasting peace
between Israelis and Palestinians; encourage Christians, Jews and Muslims
working for peace, and bring our ecumenical witness to U.S., Israeli and
Palestinian political leaders," Dr. Edgar said.

See www.ncccusa.org for itinerary/stories/photos.

Delegation members are: Rev. Janet Arbesman, Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.),
Scottsdale, Ariz.; Bishop Vicken Aykazian, Diocese of the Armenian Church,
Washington, D.C.; Mark Byron Brown, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America,
Washington, D.C.; Dr. Edgar, NCC general secretary and a United Methodist
minister; Rev. Dr. James A. Forbes, Jr., Senior Minister, The Riverside
Church, New York City; Rev. Joseph Rice Hale, United Methodist Church,
Waynesville, N.C.; Mrs. Huszagh, NCC president and a Greek Orthodox lay
leader; Rev. Robert S. Jones, National Baptist Convention U.S.A., Inc., West
Chester, Pa.; His Eminence Cyril Aphrem Karim, Archdiocese of the Syrian
Orthodox Church of Antioch for the Eastern United States, Teaneck, N.J.;
Rev. William Shaw, President, National Baptist Convention U.S.A., Inc.,
Philadelphia, Pa.; Rt. Rev. Arthur Edward Walmsley, The Episcopal Church,
Deering, N.H.; Rev. James Wetekam (United Church of Christ), Media Program
Director, Churches for Middle East Peace, Washington, D.C., and Mr. James
Edward Winkler, General Secretary, United Methodist Board of Church and
Society, Washington, D.C.

On April 18, in Istanbul, the delegation received the advice and blessing of
His All Holiness Bartholomew, Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople and
spiritual leader of more than 250 million Orthodox Christians worldwide.

Discussing the situation in the Middle East, Patriarch Bartholomew, who
mid-week had sent letters to both Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat and
Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, told the American church leaders, "We
bless your mission to the Middle East because it is a mission of peace and
solidarity...We are hopeful that you will be able to contribute essentially
to the settlement of the critical situation there."

He cited an interfaith meeting of religious leaders convened last week in
Turkey that called for reconciliation and peace, and condemned terrorism and
the violation of human rights.  The Ecumenical Patriarch urged the U.S.
delegation "to speak the truth" when in Palestine and Israel and spoke of hi
s particular concern for those trapped in the Church of the Nativity.

-end-

Media Contacts:
In New York, NCC/CWS News, 212-870-2252/2227
E-mail: news@ncccusa.org
Evenings: 212-662-9999 (C. Fouke, home); or 917-690-6075 (P. Pattillo, cell)

Delegation mobile: (011) 4-4787-635-8534; E-mail: marsusab@aol.com

Jerusalem host: Ramzi Zananiri, International Christian Committee,
Jerusalem: Mobile: (011) 972-50-662-027; Office: (011) 972-2-628-8857/8
E-mail: iccjer@netvision.net.il