ELCJHL Schools Wish You a Merry Christmas
The ELCHL schools send Christmas greetings to all in a card illustrated by students. See the full Christmas card | See photos of the Ramallah Christmas program | See other...
Syrian Christian Leaders Issue Statement
The leaders of the three largest Orthodox communities in Syria have issued a statement regarding the current situation in their country. The two files attached here show the letter, translated from Arabic. For the several years it has been in...
American Jewish Groups Issue Critiques of ‘Bethlehem Call’
At least two mainstream American Jewish organizations have issued statements critical of the ‘Bethlehem Call’ and the decision of some mainline denominations in the United States, including the ELCA, to draw attention to the document. Neither the ELCA Peace Not...
Kairos Palestine issues Bethlehem Call after Conference
The blog of the Peace Not Walls campaign of the ELCA does not endorse the content of items posted or linked by authors. The document known as the “Bethlehem Call” contains several elements not in agreement with ELCA policy concerning...
Join Bethlehem/Washington DC Simulcast Worship Saturday, Dec. 17
Join worshipers in Bethlehem and at the Washington Cathedral for the fifth annual joint simulcast Christmas service on Saturday, Dec. 17, at 9 am Central Standard Time. Prayers, readings, and hymns alternate between Washington, D.C., and Palestine via the Internet, bringing together people of...
Could Arab Spring turn into Christian Winter?
From the World Council of Churches: Churches in Egypt are praying and helping migrants, who flee home due to political turmoil, violence and uncertain future. There is a great need to develop stable democratic societies if the “Arab spring” is...
Council of Religious Institutions of the Holy Land condemns mosque attack
Flaming tires were thrown into a mosque in the Northern West Bank town of Burkin near the settlement Ariel Wednesday, according to Burkin’s mayor, and two cars were torched. The attacks are believed to be the latest in a string...
What is it with American news media?
Pastor Fred and Diaconal Minister Gloria Strickert, ELCA missionaries at Redeemer Lutheran Church in Jerusalem, discuss American church groups that visit the Holy Land who wonder why they haven’t seen the realities on the ground in the US media. In their most recent...
Women to Women: A Pilgrimage for Understanding and Peace
A Message from Bethlehem: Voices of Hope A Statement from an Ecumenical Delegation of Women Bishops “We came to the land of Jesus to stand in solidarity with women working for peace. We heard their voices, listened to their stories...
Ecumenical Patriarch and WCC Call for Religious Freedom
30 experts on religious rights from 23 different countries are attending “Freedom of Religion and Rights of Religious Minorities,” a conference sponsored by The World Council of Churches (WCC) Commission of the Churches on International Affairs and hosted by the...