wfn.org | U.S. Clerics Back from Jenin, Bethlehem - Interview Opportunity

["Carol Fouke" <carolf@ncccusa.org>]

National Council of the Churches of Christ in the U.S.A.
FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT:
Jim Wetekam, CMEP, 202-488-5638, jim@cmep.org
Carol Fouke, NCC News, 212-870-2252, news@ncccusa.org

AVAILABLE FOR INTERVIEW -
U.S. CHURCH LEADERS JUST BACK FROM JENIN, BETHLEHEM

May 1, 2002 -- A delegation of four U.S. church leaders visited Jenin on
April 25, delivering food and medical aid, touring the site of destruction,
and speaking to residents.

Leading the U.S. delegation was the Rev. Dr. Bob Edgar, General Secretary of
the (U.S.) National Council of Churches (NCC) and a former six-term Member
of Congress from Pennsylvania.  The NCC has 36 member denominations
comprising 50 million adherents.

Dr. Edgar is available for interview to discuss his impressions of Jenin and
to advocate that the UN delegation be allowed to proceed with its
fact-finding mission.

Others who traveled to Jenin include: Mr. James Winkler, General Secretary,
United Methodist Board of Church and Society, Washington, DC; the Rev. Jim
Wetekam, Media Director, Churches for Middle East Peace (CMEP), Washington,
D.C., and the Rt. Rev. Arthur Walmsley, The Episcopal Church, Deering, N.H.

The four signed a statement from the larger delegation of U.S. church
leaders that urges the Government of Israel to cooperate fully with the
United Nations investigation of events that took place in Jenin and
expresses grave concern at the standoff at the Church of the Nativity in
Bethlehem and objection to the withholding of food, water and medical
supplies to those inside the church.

Others in the delegation accompanied food deliveries to Bethlehem, and one
delegation member, (Rev.) Mark Brown of the Lutheran Office for Governmental
Affairs, Washington, DC, participated in deliveries in both Bethlehem and
Beit Jala.

All persons mentioned are available for interview.  Please contact above.

-end-HH