wfn.org | LWF Council 02-2005 - LWF Council Meeting Opens in Jerusalem

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

LWF Council Meeting Opens in Jerusalem
Lutheran  Bishop Younan Calls for Reconciliation Between Palestinians
and Israelis

LWF Council Meeting in Jerusalem/Bethlehem, 
31 August * 6 September 2005

PRESS RELEASE N0. 02-2005

JERUSALEM/GENEVA, 31 August 2005 (LWI) * For true reconciliation to take
place people must be willing to hear the truth about each other and to
forgive. This was the message delivered by Bishop Dr Munib A. Younan of
the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land (ELCJHL) in
his sermon at the opening eucharistic service of the 2005 LWF Council
Meeting at Christ the Redeemer Lutheran Church in Jerusalem, August 30.

There can be "no peace without justice and no justice without
forgiveness," Younan emphasized in his sermon based on the Council's
theme, "The Church: Called to a Ministry of Reconciliation." He said the
ELCJHL chose this theme for this meeting "because we believe so strongly
that God is calling us, the local expression of the worldwide Lutheran
communion to embody this vital ministry at this opportune time here."
The Council attended by around 170 participants is being hosted by the
ELCJHL at its International Conference, Center in Bethlehem, August
31-September 6.

Younan however noted that it was easy to talk about the reconciliation
of the Creation with God through Christ, and to delve into the theology
of reconciliation, but it was far more difficult to reconcile the
animosity and hatred between people especially "when I look into your
eyes to seek reconciliation with you," yet, this is precisely what
Christians are called to do. 

Palestinian Churches Denounce Intolerance, Extremism

God's divine gift for reconciliation, he said, opens the way not only
for reconciliation among churches but also for reconciliation between
women and men, among people of different beliefs, cultures, and
traditions - and among adherents of other religions.

Against the background of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, Younan
decried rampant changes worldwide as a result of globalization, making
the world rapidly becoming a place without values, where widening gaps
are provoking clashes between civilizations. "Our world has come to
worship weapons, walls, and war in the name of peace and security,"
Younan said.

He said Palestinian churches had denounced a growing wave of
anti-Semitism, Islamophobia and the proliferation of xenophobia
worldwide which stigmatize and demonize people through racism, fear and
ignorance. "We believe it is our calling as ministers of reconciliation
to raise up a new generation of the faithful who will urgently seek to
see God in other religions and cultures" and genuinely seek common
values of respect for all human life, mutual understanding, love,
justice, forgiveness, and healing.

It Is Possible to Achieve Justice among Israeli and Palestinians

Concerning the search for a just peace among the Israeli and Palestinian
people, the ELCJHL bishop said genuine reconciliation could only grow in
a culture of truthfulness; must be built on justice; and could only
occur if both peoples were willing to forgive. "Only when the light of
truth exposes the lies that have been used to inflict suffering on
innocent people can the seeds of reconciliation take root," he said. 

He acknowledged that both peoples had their own histories that cannot be
relinquished, but noted however, that they must not allow themselves to
be so rooted in their life stories to the point that they could or would
not understand the suffering of others. "We need to confess the
injustice that has been done to the Palestinian people, and we need to
confess the fear that has been imposed on the Israeli people. The time
has come for hearing one another's truths because it is essential for
healing and reconciliation," the ELCJHL bishop said.

On the question as to whether it was possible to achieve justice in
Israel-Palestine and implement a two-state solution with a shared 
Jerusalem, Younan affirmed this is possible when people realize that the
security of Israel is dependent on the freedom and justice for
Palestinians, and simultaneously that freedom and justice Palestinians
is dependent on the security of Israel. "This is a symbiotic
relationship and is the key for any just peace and reconciliation in
this land," he added.

Younan, who is also LWF Vice-President for the Asian region requested
the LWF to consider using the Church of the Redeemer as the site of an
annual prayer rally for Christians, Muslims and Jews, Palestinians and
Israelis to pray "unceasingly until just peace and reconciliation
becomes a reality." 

The ELCJHL bishop challenged the churches as true ambassadors of
reconciliation to do more than just talk about peace itself. He
encouraged them to work for peace so that that this ministry of
reconciliation would bring down the walls that divide people and instead
build bridges that forge common humanity. (762 words)

*	*	*

There are around 170 participants in this year's Council meeting,
including representatives from the LWF member churches on the 49-member
governing body. Also attending are officials from LWF partner
organizations, invited guests, stewards, interpreters and translators,
and LWF staff. The Council is the annual governing body meeting between
Assemblies held every six years. The current Council was appointed at
the July 2003 Tenth Assembly in Winnipeg, Canada. It comprises the
President, Treasurer and 48 persons elected by the Assembly. Other
members include advisors, who are ordained and lay persons representing
the different LWF regions. 

During the Council Meeting, the LWF Office for Communication Services
can be reached at mobile telephone No. +52 378 1673 

*	*	*

(The LWF is a global communion of Christian churches in the Lutheran
tradition. Founded in 1947 in Lund, Sweden, the LWF currently has 138
member churches in 77 countries all over the world, with a total
membership of nearly 66 million. The LWF acts on behalf of its member
churches in areas of common interest such as ecumenical and inter-faith
relations, theology, humanitarian assistance, human rights,
communication, and the various aspects of mission and development work.
Its secretariat is located in Geneva, Switzerland.)

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