The EvangelicalLutheranChurch
in Jordan and the Holy Land (ELCJHL)
Salaam and grace to you from Jerusalem, City of Peace August 2006
Warmest greetings to all of you, especially to the many friends and partners who have passed on to us their prayers, concerns and support. Without your help, and the never-failing grace of God that we all share, these situations would be impossible.
I have spoken to friends and partners in Lebanon, and they are weary, thankful to have the torturous bombings end, yet overwhelmed by the vast destruction of homes, infrastructure and human life. So far almost 1200 Lebanese have been killed, one third of them children, and the death toll keeps rising from unexploded bomblets of cluster bombs strewn over Southern Lebanon. Most condemn Hezbollah's action killing several soldiers and capturing two others, but they point out that there have been skirmishes like that 3-4 times a year – from both sides – since the Israelis withdrew from most of Lebanon. The World Council of Churches delegation that just returned from Lebanon, and most of the people of Lebanonwe have talked to just don't understand how it could possibly have warranted the complete destruction of so much infrastructure, so many civilians and so much progress. United Nations Development Programme spokesman Jean Fabre said that "fifteen years of work have been wiped out in a month." Many here fear that the perception that the West sat by condoning it has driven a further wedge between the West and the Arab world and may spawn a new generation who want revenge.
Our hearts and prayers are, of course, also with those in the Galilee and Haifa who lost homes, loved ones and those who fled the bombing there. Bishop Younan's whole family from Haifa took refuge in his house for weeks. Dozens called our churches, and we were able to house 75 in Abraham's Herberge for two weeks and more in Talitha Kumi Guesthouse. Thank you to partners in Germany and any others who are able to help with this expense.
In the midst of all the carnage in Lebanon and the Galilee, though, the worsening crisis in Gaza and the West Bank festers like the unhealed wound that it is. When the WCC delegation talked to leaders in Lebanon and the Heads of Churches here, they heard a constant theme: underlying this all is the unresolved Palestinian question. Without a just peace inJerusalem, the region is likely to be consumed by the fires of violence and extremism for some time to come.
Please continue to pray for all who have suffered, especially the people of Lebanon and our partner churches there:
- The National Evangelical Union of Lebanon
- The National Evangelical Synod of Syria and Lebanon
- The Union of Armenian Evangelical Churches in the Near East
From a letter from President Paul Heidostian, Ph.D.
of HaigazianUniversity in Beirut()
Hagazian University is an Armenian University in Beirut, well-respected for its quality education and mission. The full letter is available on our website
August 7, 2006 - In the face of the crisis, I am impressed by the solidarity of the Lebanese with each other even if they continue to politically disagree. As a friend pointed to me more than one-fourth of the population has been displaced, and yet crime, violence, and social unrest remain at a minimum.
I am impressed by the sacrificial work done by the volunteers and the aid workers, some of whom arrived in Lebanon after most foreigners had been evacuated from Lebanon! Dozens of thousands have evacuated, but hundreds of foreigners have benevolently filled the humanitarian vacuum.
I am impressed by the hope and faith of the Lebanese population. I noted after our church service in the ArmenianEvangelicalChurch in Ashrafieh yesterday that the worse the situation gets in the country the louder our hymns of praise, repentance, supplication, and dedication sound.
I am impressed by the perseverance of the people of Lebanon, including the Armenians. I see sadness, fear, uncertainty, and disappointment in the faces of the people around me every day. But I am yet to here people complain. A staff member at HaigazianUniversity spent three and a half hours today trying to secure petrol for the van that transports our staff. The professor whose house was totally destroyed (see picture) said he could only thank God for safety. These attitudes will help build the country again.
I am impressed by the multitude of individuals and organizations in the world that have shown special love for Lebanon and have tried to help in some way, have written, prayed, marched, and pledged support. These will help build both the morale as well as the bridges.
But I am also disappointed!
I am disappointed in the Lebanese official political structure. We do not have still, a crisis management center or structure in the country. There are dedicated individuals, Prime Minister F. Saniora, and Minister of Health M. Khalife, just to name two. But neither relief efforts, nor information dissemination have been organized or centralized by the government.
I am disappointed in parts of the Middle Eastern populations, Islamic parties and leaders, who capitalize on the pain and suffering of their people, neglect the human in the other, and glorify violence and hatred of the “other”, sometimes known as the “Westerner”, the “Christian” or the “infidel.”
I am disappointed in the huge gap I notice between the goodness and benevolence of the average American citizens I have tasted, and the policies of their government that often reflect a careless reading of the real needs of “weaker” nations, and a patronizing management of the situations of the world. Much material, natural, cultural, organizational, educational, and developmental wealth has been given to the USA therefore much will be expected.
I am disappointed in those countries, churches, and individuals, who claim to have the gospel of Jesus Christ as the norm of their life and yet fail to ask the critical questions of justice, mercy and peace in this world. Christians cannot conform to this world, or to the dominant powers of this world. The peace of Christ cannot be spread by the bloodshed of humans victims of wars no matter what the reasons for those wars, and the kingdom of God cannot be built on policies that lead to violence, retaliation, and hatred.
Despite all the disappointment, we do not lose heart. There is work to be done both during and after the crisis.
Let us all remember that what binds us all is neither defined by political agreement, nor common ideology, nor convenience, but by our humbleness and love as undeserving children of God’s grace.
Heads of Churches in Jerusalem Visit Gaza and Nablus
His Beattitude Michel Sabbah, Bishop Riah Abu-Al Assal and Bishop Younan visited Gaza in July and the Armenian Bishop Aris Shirvinion joined them to visit Nablus in late July to see the people there under siege and constant closure that has been in force for months. With the tragedy in Lebanon and the Galilee, the ongoing tragedies in the Palestinian territories has been forgotten and people there feel abandoned. The people there asked them to remember them. (Pictures courtesy of the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem).
Thanks to the generous donation of Caritas, they were able to take 3000 food boxes with $100 worth of food to Gaza and 500 boxes to Nablus. This is just a drop in the ocean of need, but the religious leaders were glad to be able to offer that and to visit our people at this time of crisis. They met with religious and political leaders in both Gaza and Nablus and listened to their voices.
OPERATIONSUMMER RAINS:
From a UN report August 7:
The IDF initiative so-called "Operation Summer Rains" began June 28 after there had been an increase in Palestinians killed in Gaza in June and an IDF soldier was taken prisoner. Since then:
- 184 Palestinians have been killed, including 42 children; 650 Palestinians injured;
- During the same time period, 1 IDF soldier was killed and 25 Israelis injured.
- UNDP estimates at least $15 million in damage to infrastructure and another $15 million to Gaza's power plant.;
- Palestinians continue to fire 8-9 rockets a day towards Israel
- IDF continues to fire between 200-250 shells daily, in addition to 246 air strikes;
WCC Delegation Visits Lebanon and Jerusalem
A World Council of Churches delegation sent to Lebanon and Jerusalem in mid-August said that there was a consensus among all those they had met that the extraordinary destruction in Lebanon was "both deliberate and planned."
The main aim of the three-member delegation August 10 - August 16 was "to manifest our solidarity to the people of Lebanon and Palestine/Israel, to meet as many representatives of Churches, Muslim and Jewish leaders, civil society and the Governments." The delgation consisted of Ms. Marilia Schiller, programme executive of staff of the WCC; Pastor Jean-Arnold Clermont, President of the French Protestant Federation and of the Conference of European Churches; and Mgr. Bernard Aubertin, Archbishop of Tours in France, delegate of the Catholic Conference of French Bishops. In a statement released at a press conference Monday, Aug. 14, the delegation said they had also gone "to listen to the people we met, especially the leaders of the churches, to take back with us the voices of the people of Lebanon and Palestine/Israel, so that the churches we represent can speak out in their name."
"We heard the voices of all our partners in Lebanon who couldn’t understand the violence of destruction: more than a thousand civilian victims, crimes of war against children and infants (noting particularly Qana and the Mar Jayun convoy), destruction of infrastructure – and as the Lebanese Prime Minister told us – “a Lebanon cut in pieces”. They could not understand the violence of the military offensive, except that the intention was to destroy Lebanon. We heard also the voices of the same Christian leaders in Lebanon condemning without reservation the attacks of Hizbollah which cost the lives of eight Israeli soldiers and the capture of two others, and condemning any form of violence and the killing of civilians. But the same leaders supported the resistance of the Lebanese people underlying the unity of this country as a model of multicultural and muti-confessional understanding of democracy."
Another conclusion: It is the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and not the role and actions of Hezbollah that is at the heart of the present crisis. Nevertheless, the delegation reported that all religious leaders with whom they spoke condemned all use of indiscriminate violence from whatever source, including Hezbollah and Israel.
For full statement see
Local EAPPI Officials Visit Jayyous, Tulkaram and Bethlehem
Members of the Local Reference Group visited Jayyous, Tulkaram and Bethlehem for discussions about the role of the global church in the search for justice. These visits – and the EAPPI program – are very important here in building Muslim-Christian relations. Several of the EAPPI sites are mostly or all Muslim, and some had never encountered Christians before. Now, Ecumenical Accompaniers live there side-by-side with them for 3 months at a time, and they get to know one another as people.
Bishop Younan, as Chair of the Local Reference Group, also said it is important pastoral work to bring a caring presence to people under siege both physically and mentally. Movement restrictions have worsened and made it very difficult to get out of those and other West Bank towns.
Al Raja Dance Troupe Arrives Safely Home After 6-week US Tour
After more than 50 performances in 50 days in the US, the 18 Al Raja Dancers/Musicians and their 3 courageous adult leaders returned home triumphant though a bit weary from the wear and tear. From California to New York, from Minnesota to Texas, the group shared their music, dance and stories with thousands of people from coast to coast.
In San Antonio, they attended and performed at two sessions of the ELCA Youth Gathering, each session with over 15,000 people. In addition, they gave workshops where they showed a powerpoint presentation they had prepared about their history and told students about their daily lives. In many sessions, few in the audience knew much about what was happening in Palestine: occupation, the new 30-ft high wall, land confiscation, etc.
"Wait a minute, you mean they are building that wall NOW? I thought we were done with that kind of thing when the Berlin Wall fell. But why don't you do something about it?"
One young person's response to a seminar given at the ELCA Youth Gathering
Their last few days was spent at the Global Mission Event in Amherst, Massachusetts. Friday evening was devoted to the Middle East, and featured video clips of the kids and the situation. Hania Jamal Halabi, Atwa Rabah Jaber and Saba Nader Albis spoke to the crowd of 1200 about their dreams and hopes of a better tomorrow. Everywhere they went, people cheered them. They were the heroes of the event. They returned home on August 3.
You see the wall is not only standing between people and their jobs or schools it also stands between dreamers and their dreams. It is strangling us and destroying our ambitions. I think that you have to give peace a chance. Hania
Many thanks to all who made this trip possible: Rev. Said Ailibouni, Ann Helmke, Christoph Yattara and the whole ELCA; School of Hope Principal Mikhael Abu Ghazaleh, Najwa Kreitem and the whole staff of the School of Hope and David Tannous. We are ready to have this group or another from our schools tour in your country. Just contact us at
ELCJHL Youth Visit Partner Synod in Michigan
Six ELCJHL youth and Pastor Samer Azar from GoodShepherdLutheranChurch inAmman visited the Southeast Michigan Synod in the United States in June, returning a visit from the SEMI last summer. The ELCJHL kids represented different churches who each have a partner church in the synod, and they carried their congregations' greetings to those churches. They experienced a church summer camp in Northern Michigan and spoke with people in many different settings. They were amazed when they attended the Arab Festival in Dearborn, Michigan, to see so many Arab faces. Dearborn has one of the highest Arab populations in the world. Pastor Rani Abdulmasih and Abundant Life Arabic Congregation in Dearborn also gave them a warm welcome. Thanks to SEMI for all they did to make this possible.
JerusalemChurch of the Redeemer's Arab Christian-Jewish Dialogue Trips
Almost 80 Arab and Israeli families went on a 3-day trip to Tiberias this summer, the third of such trips in a series designed to promote mutual understanding and friendship. The group, sponsored by the EvangelicalChurch in Germany (EKD), has been visiting historical places of Jews and Arab Christians, learning one another's histories and seeking to understand their experiences. Last year, the group traveled to Ramla and heard stories of Palestinian families that had to leave their homes. They also went to the Negev in March of this year. During this trip to Tiberias, they traveled to the Holy sites of Jesus and then to an ancient Jewish village. Pastor Sani Ibrahim Azar of RedeemerChurch says that the trips have been a good way to build trust and friendship in a non-threatening way, and that they are gradually getting into deeper discussions about justice and peace between Palestinians and Israelis.
ELCJHL Congregations Meet about Christian Zionism
Concerned about the growing theological rationalizations for violence in the Middle East, ELCJHL congregations met in July to discuss the teachings known to some as "Christian Zionism." In a statement released in August by the Patriarch and Heads of Churches in Jerusalem, Christian Zionism is described as:
"a modern theological and political movement that embraces the most extreme ideological positions of Zionism, thereby becoming detrimental to a just peace within Palestine and Israel. The Christian Zionist programme provides a worldview where the Gospel is identified with the ideology of empire, colonialism and militarism. In its extreme form, it places an emphasis on apocalyptic events leading to the end of history rather than living Christ’s love and justice today.
Events this summer have stirred this boiling pot even more, as conservative Pastor John Hagee has formed a group to build a lobby for this Christian Zionist point of view called Christians United for Israel. Some of these leaders welcomed the war in Lebanon because it may spark the Second Coming of Jesus, and they lobby for more violence:
"the United States must join Israel in a pre-emptive military strike against Iran to fulfill God's plan for both Israel and the West... a biblically prophesied end-time confrontation with Iran, which will lead to the Rapture, Tribulation, and Second Coming of Christ."
John Hagee July 19, 2006, WashingtonD.C.
More from the Statement from Local Heads of Churches: