LWF Council Meeting 2005
Jerusalem/Bethlehem, 31 August - 6 September 2005
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The Rev. Kristin Tomasdottir, left, The Evangelical Lutheran Church of Iceland, and member of the LWF Executive Committee, joined in singing the opening hymn at an August 30 worship service at the Lutheran Church of the Redeemer, Jerusalem. © LWF/J.Brooks |
Lutheran Bishop Younan Calls for Reconciliation Between Palestinians and Israelis
For true reconciliation to take place people must be willing to hear the truth about each other and to forgive. This was the message delivered by Bishop Dr Munib A. Younan of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land (ELCJHL) in his sermon at the opening eucharistic service of the 2005 LWF Council Meeting at Christ the Redeemer Lutheran Church in Jerusalem, August 30.
ELCJHL Bishop Dr Munib A. Younan was the preacher at the August 30 opening worship service for the LWF Council Meeting in Jerusalem/Bethlehem. |
There can be “no peace without justice and no justice without forgiveness,” Younan emphasized in his sermon based on the Council’s theme, “The Church: Called to a Ministry of Reconciliation.” He said the ELCJHL chose this theme for this meeting “because we believe so strongly that God is calling us, the local expression of the worldwide Lutheran communion to embody this vital ministry at this opportune time here.” The Council attended by around 170 participants is being hosted by the ELCJHL at its International Conference, Center in Bethlehem, August 31-September 6.
Younan however noted that it was easy to talk about reconciliation of the Creation with God through Christ, and to delve into the theology of reconciliation, but it was far more difficult to reconcile the animosity and hatred between people especially “when I look into your eyes to seek reconciliation with you,” yet, this is precisely what Christians are called to do.
Palestinian Churches Denounce Intolerance, Extremism
Several ecumenical guests, representing churches in Jerusalem, attended the opening worship service August 30 at Lutheran Church of the Redeemer, Jerusalem. |
God’s divine gift for reconciliation, he said, opens the way not only for reconciliation among churches but also for reconciliation between women and men, among people of different beliefs, cultures, and traditions - and among adherents of other religions.
Against the background of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, Younan decried rampant changes worldwide as a result of globalization, making the world rapidly becoming a place without values, where widening gaps are provoking clashes between civilizations. “Our world has come to worship weapons, walls, and war in the name of peace and security,” Younan said. More...
> Click here for the full text of the sermon of Bishop Dr Munib A. Younan in PDF format.
Palestinian Lutheran Bishop Challenges Religions to Work for Genuine Dialogue
International and local news organizations attended an opening press conference for the LWF Council Meeting. Dr. Ishmael Noko, LWF general secretary, Bishop Mark Hanson, LWF president, and Bishop Munib Younan spoke to the press at Lutheran Church of the Redeemer, Jerusalem. |
Bishop Dr Munib A. Younan of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land (ELCJHL) has called for a self critical analysis of individual churches and other religions, in order for dialogue among religions to contribute to peaceful co-existence in the world.
“Extremists are vocal and can hijack justice. We should not allow them to do this,” Younan told journalists prior to the opening of this year’s LWF Council meeting. The ELCJHL bishop addressed the media representatives jointly with LWF President, Bishop Mark S. Hanson and LWF General Secretary Rev. Dr Ishmael Noko.
Younan, also LWF Vice-President for the Asian region, stressed the significance of the Lutheran communion for the ELCJHL not just individually as an LWF member church but also for the Christian community and for dialogue with other religions, in a region in which Christians are a minority. “Your coming here strengthens us and is important for [inter-religious] dialogue,” he said in reference to the respective dialogues with Muslims and Jews.
Call for Bridges of Peace Not Walls
Karin Achtelstetter, director, LWF Office for Communication Services and LWF deputy general secretary, moderated the press conference August 30. To her right is Bishop Mark Hanson, LWF president. |
Commenting on the barrier separating Israel from Palestinian territory in order protect Israel from Palestinian suicide bombers, the Lutheran bishop said this was not a solution to the Israeli Palestinian conflict. He stressed the need for peace saying: “We want peace not walls. Walls divide, peace builds bridges.” He described the Palestinian community as a good example of religious co-existence to other parts of the world saying, “our people—Muslims and Christians have always lived side by side.”
The LWF Council host church ELCJHL has six congregations in Jerusalem, Bethlehem, Beit Jala, Beit Sahour, Ramallah and Amman the Jordanian capital. It is committed to ecumenical and inter-religious service and dialogue as critical in helping to promote peace and reconciliation. The Lutheran church, like others churches in the region, faces many challenges especially the emigration of Palestinian Christians due to the harsh restrictions of the Israeli occupation. More...
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