2009 Conference of Bishops

More than half of the 66 bishops of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), the ELCA secretary, and five of the six bishops of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada (ELCIC), plus spouses and staff visited the Middle East, Jan. 6-13, 2009.

Christians Express Fear, Concern to North American Lutheran Bishops

Posted on January 15th, 2009 by Ben McDonald Coltvet

Jan. 13 meeting in Ramallah with Palestinian National Authority Prime Minister Salam Fayaad, right, and, from left, Bishop Margaret Payne, ELCA New England Synod; ELCIC National Bishop Susan Johnson; ELCJHL Bishop Munib Younan; and ELCA Presiding Bishop Mark Hanson.RAMALLAH, West Bank (ELCA) — Israel is targeting the small Palestinian Christian community here, threatening a key connection to the West and worrying Christian leaders, said Dr. Rafiq Husseini, chief of staff to the president, Palestinian National Authority. He made the comment Jan. 13 in a meeting here with seven North American Lutheran bishops.

The bishops were part of a group of 44 bishops representing the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) and the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada (ELCIC), who visited the West Bank and Israel Jan. 6-13. The bishops met with religious, political and community leaders, and visited sacred sites. Their visit focused on support and encouragement for the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land (ELCJHL).

More than 1,000 Palestinians have died and nearly 5,000 have been injured in the war between Hamas and Israel in Gaza. Many of the dead and injured are women, children and elderly people. “Civilians are paying the price,” Husseini said. Thirteen Israelis have died.

The Rev. Mark S. Hanson, ELCA presiding bishop and president of the Lutheran World Federation, said the committee’s comments were disturbing and showed regression for Christians here. He said the war in Gaza fails to meet the test of Christian “just war” principles and the Israeli response to Hamas is disproportionate.

“As leaders we are called to obstruct injustices and (to) open doors,” he said. Hanson pledged that Lutherans in the United States will engage the Obama administration, which he hopes will exercise power in ways different than the Bush administration has.

“The war in Gaza has made it difficult for us as moderates. Extremists are winning the day,” Hanson said. He pledged to use his influence to help U.S. religious leaders speak with one voice on the Middle East.

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North American Lutheran Bishops Learn about Bethlehem Ministry

Posted on January 13th, 2009 by Ben McDonald Coltvet

The Rev. Mitri Raheb, center, talks with John Payne, husband of ELCA New England Synod bishop Margaret Payne, Jan. 10 in Bethlehem.BETHLEHEM, West Bank (ELCA) — With the vision “that we might have life and have it abundantly,” a Lutheran congregation here has embarked on a ministry of preaching, teaching and healing, aimed at empowering the people who live in this conflicted area.

The Rev. Mitri Raheb, pastor, Evangelical Lutheran Christmas Church, presented his congregation’s vision to 44 North American Lutheran bishops who met here Jan. 10. The bishops, representing the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) and Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada (ELCIC), are participating in a weeklong series of meetings with religious, political and community leaders in Israel and the West Bank, and visiting sacred sites. Their visit, concluding Jan. 13, also focuses on support and encouragement for the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land (ELCJHL).

Christmas Lutheran Church formed DIYAR (meaning “homeland”), a consortium of Lutheran-based ecumenically oriented institutions serving the whole Palestinian community, Raheb said. DIYAR now has a staff of 100 people. He said the 200-member congregation is reaching out through DIYAR to about 60,000 people each year by means of its International Center of Bethlehem, a conference and media center, plus a health and wellness center. In 2006 the congregation started Dar al-Kalima College, the only Lutheran higher education institution in the Middle East, Raheb said.

DIYAR focuses its programs on peacemaking, care for the city, investing in spirituality, empowering individuals and the community, building bridges for intercultural dialogue, creating room for hope, and the “mysteries of the risen Lord,” Raheb said.

In a question and answer session with the bishops, Raheb said that he is concerned about the future for Palestinians, especially because of the current conflict between Israel and Gaza.

“I think we are heading with full power to a fully developed apartheid system. This war on Gaza had many goals, but one important goal is to make the two-state solution not viable. A two-state solution made sense, but what is happening in Gaza makes this impossible,” he said. Raheb said he’s also concerned about the future safety and security of people living in the West Bank because of the war in Gaza.

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Confirmation Day

Posted on January 4th, 2009 by Ben McDonald Coltvet

By Daniel J. Lehmann

With fighting in the Gaza Strip hovering ominously in the background, a
small group of bishops from the ELCA turned to the more pleasant church
business Sunday evening of witnessing the confirmation of five youths at
a Lutheran church in Amman, Jordan.

The six bishops and spouses helped fill Good Shepherd Lutheran Church on
the edge of city’s downtown, easily spotted with its lighted cross
atop the church belltower.

The reception that followed in the church basement was as celebratory as
they come: dance music and a lighted, spinning disco ball greeted the
youth as they entered in line and were followed by a sheet cake
featuring two lit roman candles. The smoke released for added atmosphere
probably wasn’t needed since nearly every parishioner smoked cigarettes.

During the worship service, Bishop Munib A. Younan of the Evangelical
Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land thanked the bishops for
coming to the Middle East “not only in times of joy” but also during
periods of sorrow, and in the current situation, fighting between
Israelis and Palestinians.

ELCA Presiding Bishop Mark S. Hanson pledged the denomination’s support
for the ELCJHL and said he hoped the change of presidential
administrations in the United States would help bring “the conflicting
sides to a lasting, two-state solution” of peace.

Hanson and the other bishops were to be joined by Presiding Bishop Susan
C. Johnson of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada for a two-plus
day visit to Jordan before hooking up with a majority of the bishops
from both nations in Jerusalem and the West Bank Jan. 6-13. The bishops
hope the trip will stress accompaniment with the ELCJHL, raise awareness
of regional issues and boost advocacy for peace.

The day wasn’t all serious. Using a sunny day to overcome jet lag
following Saturday’s flight, the bishops took in Petra, the ancient
Roman ruin in southern Jordan. The sight of the delegation atop trotting
donkeys lugging them up and out of the valley for more than a mile
wasn’t captured on film as the media traveling with the bishops
struggled to stay upright on their own beasts of burden.

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