Hla Session 2 Lesson Plan
HLA SESSION 2 LESSON PLAN
Partners in Accompaniment – Lutherans of the ELCJHL and LWF Jerusalem
You will need to print webpages for discussion and project one or more Palestine Shorts video available through a link to the Oregon Synod Peace Not Walls webpage (given in the lesson plan). If you need a DVD containing the Palestine Shorts, please contact a member of the Task Force.
A. Intro with handouts – 5-10 mins
1. Print and distribute the land loss map from the ELCA website.
2. Read the following together.
Map – Keep this map handy as a reference throughout this process as a reminder of how the Palestinian territory is dwindling. The Christian community, once 20% of the population has decreased to 1.5%, largely through emigration. Among the remaining Christians are 5,000 Lutherans of the ELCJHL who have asked us to accompany them in their determination to survive and thrive as they practice their faith and do ministry. There are Lutheran congregations in Jerusalem, Bethlehem, Ramallah, Beit Jala, Beit Sahour, and Amman (Jordan). Even in their struggle, they are a witness and inspiration for living faithfully to Christians everywhere.
3. Copy and distribute the Synod Assembly Holy Land Accompaniment Resolution 2013 printed as a
separate page at the end of this document.
4. Ask participants to read the “Resolved” clauses of the Synod Assembly 2013 Holy Land Accompaniment Resolution and review the entire Resolution independently before the next session.
B. Evangelical Lutheran Church of Jordan and the Holy Land (ELCJHL) – 10 mins
The following sampling of resources from the ELCJHL website will give you a brief introduction to the congregations and ministries of the ELCJHL.
1. Print sheets from the following web sites and distribute one each to individuals, pairs, or small groups.
2. Have participants read the information, discuss, and answer the questions which follow.
· Congregations - http://www.elcjhl.org/elcjhl-ministries/congregations/
· Our Schools - http://www.elcjhl.org/department-of-education/schools/
· Martin Luther Community Development Center - http://www.elcjhl.org/department-of-education/programs/community-devel-center/
· International Center of Bethlehem – Bright Stars - http://www.annadwa.org/brightstars/stars.htm
· In the News - www.elcjhl.org/blog/
How are they like us? How are they different?
What challenges do they face?
How/why is it different from ministries in your (or other ELCA) congregations?
3. Share information briefly with the full group.
C. Individual Palestinian Lutherans (Palestine Shorts) – 15 mins
The following videos will give you a brief introduction to individuals of the ELCJHL and their unique situations.
1. Show at least one of the following Palestine Shorts accessed from Oregon Synod website (PNW page) as a large group.
· Forbidden Family - oregonsynod.org/peace-not-walls/forbidden-family
· Love Your Enemies - oregonsynod.org/peace-not-walls/love-your-enemies
· Seven Keys to Understanding - oregonsynod.org/peace-not-walls/keys-to-understanding
2. Discuss and answer the questions which follow.
What challenges do these individuals face?
How would you handle (react to) such a challenge?
D. Closing full group discussion – 10 mins
1. Discuss the following questions with the full group to summarize your learning.
What surprised you?
What did you learn?
Have your opinions or attitudes changed? How?
2. Announce the following
In our next session, you will discern and deliberate joining the ELCJHL-ELCA Oregon Synod in accompaniment on the ground or from the pew. You will consider being an accompanier on the ground or sponsoring someone among you.
E. Prayer for open minds, compassion, and a heart for accompaniment
*Optional/Lutheran World Federation (LWF) Jerusalem – 10 mins
If you have time, learn about the work of Lutherans worldwide and their ELCJHL partners through Lutheran World Federation Jerusalem.
1. Print sheets from the following websites and distribute one each to individuals, pairs, or small groups.
2. Have participants read the information, discuss, and answer the questions which follow.
· Augusta Victoria Hospital - lwfjerusalem.org/projects/avh/
· Village Health Clinics -lwfjerusalem.org/projects/clinics/
· Vocational Training - lwfjerusalem.org/projects/training/
· Mt of Olives Housing Project - lwfjerusalem.org/wp/projects/mohp/
What is special about each of these ministries?
How/why is it different from a similar institution in the US?
3. Share with the full group.
HOLY LAND ACCOMPANIMENT PILGRIMAGE RESOLUTION
OREGON SYNOD ASSEMBLY 2013
WhereasThe ELCA confesses the Gospel as the power of God to create and sustain the Church for God’s mission in the world [ELCA Constitution 2.07]; and
WhereasThe ELCA participates in God’s mission to manifest the unity given to the people of God by joining with other Christians in prayer and action to express and preserve the unity which the Spirit gives [4.02.f]; and
Whereas The ELCA Global Mission unit supports the ELCA’s work in other countries and serves as the means through which Christian churches in other countries engage in mission to this church and society [16.12.B10]; and
Whereas The ELCA Global Mission Unit embraces “Accompaniment” — an approach to God’s mission that entails “walking together in a solidarity that practices interdependence and mutuality” —as the ELCA’s central commitment in relation to global companions [ELCA web page on “Accompaniment”]; and
Whereas One of the ELCA’s most significant companions in the Middle East is the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land (ELCJHL), led by Bishop Munib Younan [ELCA web page on “Accompaniment”]; and
Whereas Bishop Younan and the ELCJHL have repeatedly asked ELCA members to come and see, learn and tell the story of the Lutherans in the Holy Land, and to partner with them in support of their churches and ministries [ELCJHL bulletin insert available through ELCA web site]; and
Whereas The Oregon Synod Assembly, by a Resolution passed in 2004, committed congregations of the Oregon Synod to support – through prayer, education, advocacy, and church programs – the Christian communities in Palestine; and
Whereas Pilgrimage to the Holy Land has traditionally been considered of great benefit in developing Christian spirituality and values; therefore, be it
ResolvedThatan opportunity be created by the Oregon Synod to organize and carry out a “Holy Land Accompaniment Pilgrimage” to take place May 2014 in partnership with the ELCJHL, in partial fulfillment of the commitment made by this Synod in 2004; and be it further
Resolved That the bishop of this synod be authorized to constitute and supervise a task force dedicated to conducting a synod-wide process of discernment, education, and mutual support in 2013-14 so that every congregation of the Oregon Synod can be equipped, if they so choose, to identify at least one person to participate in the “Holy Land Accompaniment Pilgrimage” or a similar trip arranged by another group; and be it further
Resolved That this same task force be authorized to plan, organize, and implement the practical arrangements for this pilgrimage trip to the Holy Land; and be it further
Resolved That this task force be authorized to use the Oregon Synod’s official channels of communication, in partnership with the synod staff, to assist the task force in organizing and carrying out the “Holy Land Accompaniment Pilgrimage” trip and in offering the preparatory process of discernment, education, and mutual support associated with it; and be it further
Resolved That this task force be authorized to name someone who has taken part in this “Holy Land Accompaniment Pilgrimage” trip to submit a report about it to the Oregon Synod Assembly in 2015; and that this selected person be invited to present a summary of that report to a plenary session of the Synod Assembly in 2015.