September 2, 2008

One challenge for churches addressing the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is the fact that it takes place in a land that different religions consider holy. A conference in Bern will discuss the concept of the "Promised Land" and related theological issues with a view to help more churches become advocates for a just peace.

The international theological conference will take place in Bern, Switzerland, from 10 to 14 September 2008. Some 65 theologians from World Council of Churches (WCC) member churches in different regions of the world will participate (names below).

Convened by the WCC, the meeting is hosted by the Federation of Swiss Protestant Churches and the Reformed Churches in Bern-Jura-Solothurn. The event is part of the international inter-church advocacy initiative Palestine Israel Ecumenical Forum of the WCC.

"One of the main goals we hope to achieve is to deepen church understanding of biblical promises concerning the land and its peoples. This will require a holistic approach to the biblical message, promoting common understanding of how theological issues may be related to the conflict," says Michel Nseir, programme executive for the WCC special focus on Middle East. "Different approaches to biblical and theological issues should not prevent common action for a just peace."

The conference will start a process of developing a handbook for congregations and parishes, aimed at facilitating their reflection on issues like the Promised Land, the Church and Israel, justice and peace. The material would invite Christians to become more active as advocates of peace with justice for both peoples in the conflict.

Participants will include:
Rev. Dr Jean-Claude Basset, University of Lausanne, Switzerland
Archbishop Elias Chacour, Melkite Catholic Archbishopric, Haifa, Israel
Prof. Dr Harvey Cox, Harvard University, USA
Prof. Dr Othmar Keel, University of Fribourg, Switzerland
Patriarch Michel Sabbah, Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, Jerusalem
Rev. Dr Samuel Kobia, World Council of Churches, General Secretary
Rev. Thomas Wipf, President of the Council of the Federation of Swiss Protestant Churches, Switzerland.

WCC Programme "Churches in the Middle East: solidarity and witness for peace": http://www.oikoumene.org/?id=3113.

Federation of Swiss Protestant Churches: http://www.sek-feps.ch/.

Bern House of Religions (in German) http://www.haus-der-religionen.ch/.

World Council of Churches