19.03.2004
ELCA, Jerusalem Bishops Meet US Congressional Representatives
Congress Members, Hanson and Younan Discuss Hopes and Concerns for Middle East PeaceIn an extraordinary off-the-record meeting, Rev. Mark S. Hanson, presiding bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), and Bishop Dr Munib A. Younan, Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan (ELCJ) met February 11, with members of the United States Congress and staff in Washington, D.C. They discussed their hopes and concerns for Middle East peace. Hanson is president of the Lutheran World Federation (LWF), and Younan is LWF vice-president for the Asia region.
“I went [to Washington] to try to build a sense of hope for peace in the Middle East when there are so many signs today that we’ve moved back from the precipice of peace,” Hanson said. He encouraged the members of Congress present to visit the Middle East with their local religious leaders.” Hanson, who had travelled there himself, said such visits to the Middle East were “balanced” politically and can be “eye-opening.”
The meeting was organized by US Representatives Lois Capps (Democrat) and John Shimkus (Republican). Capps, an ELCA member, had earlier visited the Middle East with two ELCA bishops.
Younan said he offered three “points” for contemplation: “The Christian church is prophetic and we should be a prophetic people”; A vision for peace and for a two-state solution that involves the coexistence of people living side-by-side peacefully with equality, reconciliation and justice; and working for a new “Palestinian society” that respects every human being regardless of religion or gender. He thanked the ELCA and Hanson for providing the opportunity to meet with the Congress representatives, and stressed that those who visit the Middle East “should not be pro-Palestinian or pro-Israeli. We want [Lutherans], congressional members and the American people to be pro-justice, pro-humanity, pro-reconciliation and pro-peace. If they are honest brokers of these, that will help us.” (300 words)
(Edited from a report by the ELCA News Service.)
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