August 13, 2005

ORLANDO, Fla. – Voting members of the 2005 Churchwide Assembly of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) urged Lutherans Aug. 13 to participate in a campaign – "Peace Not Walls: Stand for Justice in the Holy Land" – designed to build awareness, and engage in accompaniment and advocacy activities for "peace with justice" between Israel and Palestine.

The churchwide assembly, the chief legislative authority of the ELCA, is meeting here Aug. 8-14 at the World Center Marriott and Convention Center. About 2,300 people are participating, including 1,018 ELCA voting members. The theme for the biennial assembly is "Marked with the Cross of Christ Forever."

With a 668 to 269 vote the assembly adopted the campaign – a primary component of the "ELCA Strategy for Engagement in Israel and Palestine" adopted by the ELCA Council this past April. The council is the church's board of directors and legislative authority between churchwide assemblies.

The campaign urges members of the ELCA and its related agencies and institutions to pray for peace with justice between Israel and Palestine and continued witness of the Christian church, including the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land (ELCJHL); build relationships with the ELCJHL and other partners; learn about the situation in the Holy Land; intensify advocacy for peace with justice; "stewarding" financial resources – both U.S. tax dollars and private funds – in support for a just peace in the Holy Land and the ministries of ELCA companions.

In a news conference the Rev. Rebecca S.V. Larson, executive director, ELCA Division for Church in Society, said the ELCA's strategy does not contain "a policy on divestment."

The assembly also called on the 10,657 congregations of the ELCA to become part of a "chain of action" to link the assembly with the church's 65 synod assemblies in 2006 through the use of communion ware made in Bethlehem.

An amendment to change the name of the campaign to "Stand for Justice in the Holy Land" – eliminating the words "Peace Not Walls" – was defeated with a 565 to 369 vote.

Speaking in favor of the amendment Don E. Lamprecht, voting member, ELCA Alaska Synod, said to eliminate the words "Peace Not Walls" as the first part of the campaign's title will keep the resolution "more neutral" and "less inflammatory." Speaking against the amendment Karen J. Zeile, voting member, ELCA Southeast Michigan Synod, told the assembly that "Israel has every right to protect itself from acts of terrorism," but the barrier "isolates and intimidates" the Palestinian people.

An amendment to include the word "may" in the ninth "whereas" statement of the resolution was adopted by a 571 to 335 vote. The amended whereas states: "In carrying out this mandate, the Church Council in April 2004 joined the Lutheran World Federation, the World Council of Churches, and others seeking peace in the region in calling for an end to the construction of the Israeli separation wall or barrier being built on Palestinian land, which may undermine efforts toward a credible two-state solution."

In a separate action voting members directed the ELCA Office of the Presiding Bishop to communicate the actions and concerns of the assembly to the U.S. Secretary of State in an attempt to "make this country aware of [the 2005 ELCA Churchwide Assembly] and its concern" for both Palestinians and Israelis, said the Rev. Don M. Carlson, voting member, ELCA Texas-Louisiana Gulf Coast Synod.

Bishop of the Lutheran Church in Jordan, Holy Land Addresses the Assembly

At the request of voting members the Rev. Munib Younan, bishop of the ELCJHL, addressed the assembly live from Jerusalem via telephone Aug. 13.

"It is my fervent prayer that my children and grandchildren will live one day side by side with their Israeli sisters and brothers in a just peace," Younan told the assembly. "Our history is littered with incidents which drive us apart and block our pathway to peace."

Younan said Lutherans in the Holy Land believe in justice, peace and reconciliation and condemn "every kind of brutality, spiral violence, suicide attacks and terrorism." The only way to move forward, according to Younan, is through peaceful and respectful negotiations between Palestinians and Israelis.

"We care about the security of Israel but believe that the security of Israel is dependent on freedom and justice for the Palestinians. And, freedom and justice for Palestinians is dependent on the security of Israel. This symbiotic relationship is the key to a just peace in this Holy Land," he said.

"The current route of the wall will make freedom for Palestinians impossible by cutting deeply into Palestinian land, separating people from work, church, family and their own land," Younan told the assembly. "Our church believes in bridges, not walls; trust, not fear; dialogue for justice and peace, not more reason for division," he said. "If Israel feels it has a need to build a wall, we would understand it" in association with the "1967 borders. But, we cannot understand their decision to build it within Palestinian land."

Younan asked voting members and visitors of the churchwide assembly to not "let extremists from any side or from any part of the world hold justice and peace hostage. It is the role of the church to be prophetic for the sake of humanity and justice," adding a plea to help keep "the Palestinian Christian church strong" and "that the future of our church is not in war and conflict but in healing and reconciliation that Israelis and Palestinians can enjoy together."

ELCA News Service