wfn.org | U.S. Evangelical Group Announces "Lebanon Declaration" from Beirut

[Worldwide Faith News <wfn@igc.org>]

Contact:  J. Martin Bailey
Evangelicals for Middle East Understanding
Beirut, Lebanon
Email:  MartBailey@aol.com

BEIRUT, Lebanon, May 23, 2002 - A group of American Evangelical Christians 
has completed a three day conference here with Middle East Church leaders 
and issued a declaration that rejected  "all efforts to demonize our 
brothers and sisters," and "stood against repeated political efforts to 
label some as 'evil', to call others 'men of peace,' and to use Scripture 
for the purpose of waging war."

They also rejected "any and all forms of violence,"  specifically citing 
"sanctions, occupation, terrorism and war."

The evangelicals who are members of various American Protestant and 
independent churches called for "an end to the illegal occupation of 
Palestinian territory" and for "the lifting of sanctions against our 
brothers and sisters in Iraq."

The group, Evangelicals for Middle East Understanding, also heard Lebanese 
Christians and Muslims describe their effective dialogue that has opened 
channels for collaborative efforts in society.

Led by Professor Gary Burge of Wheaton (Illinois) College, the EMEU annual 
conference this year was held in collaboration with the Middle East Council 
of Churches.  The MECC is considered the "most ecumenical council anywhere 
in the world," because it incorporates all four families of churches, 
Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox, Catholic, and Protestant.

The EMEU Conference was held at Our Lady of the Mountain Monastery in the 
Beirut suburb of Jounieh.  The Monastery is an institution of the Maronite 
Catholic Church which is centered in the mountains of northern Lebanon.

The "Lebanon Declaration" was developed jointly with the historic churches 
of the Middle East, many of which trace their roots to the first Pentecost 
nearly 2000 years ago.

The full text of the declaration follows:

The Lebanon Declaration
A Statement from a joint conference sponsored by
Evangelicals for Middle East Understanding and
The Middle East Council of Churches:
"The Church: A Sign of Hope and Healing in the Middle East"

May 19 - 22, 2002

                        Our Lady of the Mountain Monastery, Jounieh

We, members of the Body of the Christ, have gathered in Beirut, Lebanon, 
for three days of worship, discernment, and fellowship.  We have come " 
eager guests ", as members of Evangelicals for Middle East Understanding 
and "welcoming hosts" as members of the Middle East Council of Churches. As 
we face what some would call the clash of civilizations, we, ambassadors 
for Christ, embrace our prophetic mission to speak truth to power, our 
pastoral mission to heal the broken and hurting body of Christ, and our 
ecclesial mission to bear witness to the oneness of the Church.  These 
incarnate ministries witness to the world that we stand fast to the ancient 
faith to which we are grateful heirs and which was brought forth from this 
land.

"God our Savior desires everyone to be saved and to come to the knowledge 
of the truth." - I Timothy 2:3-4
We affirm that God loves all humanity, and that all people " regardless of 
race, nation, or religion " are created in the image of God.  This binds 
the world, makes us children of God, and unites us as brothers and sisters.
We reject all efforts to demonize our brothers and sisters.  We stand 
against constant political threats to nations and repeated political 
efforts to label some as "evil", to call others "men of peace," and to use 
Scripture for the purpose of waging war.

"My kingdom is not from this world." - John 18:36
We affirm that the common citizenship of the Church is in the household of 
God.  It is this citizenship that will gather and does gather us " 
strangers and aliens all " together in a homeland of grace and truth.
We reject the claims of any earthly kingdom that would attempt to replace 
the kingdom of God.  We refuse all efforts to establish territorial or 
national superiority based on military might, economic power, or by a 
claimed divine decree.

"On behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God." - II Corinthians 5:21
We affirm the importance of peacemaking through non-violence.  We affirm 
this not only because of its effectiveness, but because it is faithful to 
the prophetic, suffering footsteps of Christ.
We reject any and all forms of violence, whether manifested as sanctions, 
occupation, terrorism, or war.  Violence is a sin that must be expiated, 
and is an offense to the redemption of the cross.

"Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God." - 
Matthew 5:9
We affirm the crucial role of the Church in establishing glimpses of the 
kingdom of God on earth.  We urge the Church to make truth, grace, hope, 
and reconciliation visible in our respective societies.
We reject those voices that would exploit spirituality in the service of 
nationalism or war-making, and that seek to legitimize conquest as the work 
of God.

"I have become all things to all people" and for the sake of the gospel." - 
I Corinthians 9:22-23
We affirm the unique role of the Church in this region, born at Pentecost, 
which has faithfully safeguarded the witness of the gospel for our benefit 
and that of generations to come.  We believe that our brothers and sisters, 
Christians of the Middle East, are the incarnate model of reconciliation as 
a sign of hope in our efforts to heal what some would call the clash of 
civilizations.

Taking these commitments into consideration:

We call for:

*   The lifting of sanctions against our brothers and sisters in Iraq
*   The end of the illegal occupation of Palestinian territory
*   The cessation of continued threats by major powers against the people 
and nations of this region.

   We covenant:

*   To tell the story of the Church of the Middle East, as ambassadors for 
Christ, rejoicing in the vitality of her faithful word and witness
*   To maintain and sustain the friendships that have developed despite the 
cultural, linguistic, and denominational barriers that might separate us, 
and in so doing, set a dynamic model for the use of dialogue in fostering 
understanding and resolving conflict
*   To be in solidarity through prayer, ministry, and action with and for 
all the peoples of the region

All praise and glory to God our Father who has made us one in Christ our 
crucified and resurrected Lord through the power of the Holy Spirit.  Amen.

               -end-