Consecration of Bishop Sani Ibrahim Charlie Azar of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land on Friday January 12, 2018 at Redeemer Lutheran Church in Jerusalem’s Old City. Photo by Ben Gray / ELCJHL
In Jerusalem on January 12, 2018 the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land consecrated and installed The Rev. Sani Ibrahim Charlie “Barhoum” Azar as its fourth Bishop in the church’s history. Under the guidance of the Scripture, “You did not choose me, but I chose you,” John 15:16 Bishop Azar addressed the congregation and honored guests.
“It seems the Lord has called me today to follow in a new way, and to bear new fruit. Today, the six congregations of the ELCJHL are under my care. I am humbled and honored to take up this new responsibility, and promise to continue our relationship based on love companionship and respect,” Bishop Azar.
For more information, including a biography of Bishop Azar, Bishop Azar’s sermon, a Q&A with Bishop Azar and photos go here.
Bishop Ibrahim Azar speaks to the ELCJHL partners on Saturday January, 15, his first full day as bishop of the church. PHoto by Ben Gray / ELCJHL
On January 13 Bishop Azar addressed the international partner churches in attendance for the installation. The international partners of the ELCJHL include organizations, churches and councils that have entered into mutual companionship and accompaniment for the betterment of both.
Representatives from all of the 29 ecumenical partners, member organizations and companion churches attended the first address to them from the newly consecrated, Bishop Azar.
In a gentle and measured manner, Bishop Azar thanked partners for decades of missional work in the region. Peppered with humor, Bishop Azar told the partners that he would implement a new strategic plan for the next five years that would include: Spiritual care for the people of the church, financial sustainability projects, Diakonia to the community, and efforts to continue gender justice.
“Our pastors and laypeople will go where the people are, we will not sit by idly in our churches waiting for the people to come to us,” Bishop Azar said.
More info at the ELCJHL blog
