Phone: 972-2-626-6800 FAX: 972-2-628.5764 ADDRESS: Muristan Rd. P.O. Box 14076 Jerusalem 91140 via Israel
ELCJHL pastors gathered with their families in Aqaba, Jordan, for a retreat to begin the New Year. It was a rare opportunity to be together in fellowship, prayer and study. They focused on:
No one shall be able to stand against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will not fail you or forsake you. Be strong and courageous! Joshua 1:5-6a
They reflected on the meaning of our baptism into the Body of Christ and the tension it calls us into. Our belief that God comes to us in a small baby in a manger, the mystery of the Incarnation, illustrates how the Christian journey asks us to live in contradiction to ordinary values. In our globalized, militarized world, God calls us to find our strength in weakness and true power in vulnerability and compassion.
From the east and from the west around the Holy Land, they gathered in Amman in January of 2006 for an historical occasion. Evangelicals from Palestine, Jordan, Lebanon, Egypt, Syria, Kuwait, Iran, Algeria and Tunisia signed together "The Amman Declaration Agreement of Full Mutual Recognition of Lutheran and Reformed Churches in the Middle East and North Africa." What does it mean to be an Evangelical in the Arab world today? These churches are working together to explore the unique challenges and opportunities they face as they seek to carry out God's mission in their regions. The churches have mutually recognized one another's ministries and agreed upon a declaration of faith including beliefs in the Trinitarian God, justification by faith, the sacraments and the preaching of the gospel. They have agreed to mutual participation in one another's worship, con-celebration of the Sacraments, common prophetic witness for justice and peace and other joint activities that will promote ecumenical and interfaith witness and service to God's people in our lands. Recognizing that "the divisions between us are contrary to God's will that we be one," these partners have achieved an extraordinary ecumenical expression of unity through a deliberate process of dialogue and study begun in 1991 through the Fellowship of Middle East Evangelical Churches (FMEEC). FMEEC which was established in 1974 as a result of long history of cooperation between Arab evangelicals working together on the diverse and unique challenges presented to evangelicals in the Arab world.
Please keep these churches in your thoughts and prayers.
Some are calling it the second political earthquake to hit the Holy Land in a year. In early results, it looks as if more than 70% of Palestinians have chosen Hamas in the first general election in 10 years. Prime Minister Qurei and the cabinet have resigned to make way for the new government. It was a festive mood Wednesday as throngs surrounded the Post Office on Salahadin street, one of the six post offices used for the East Jerusalemites to vote. "It's a party! It's the first time we've gotten to vote in 10 years!" said one older man. The overriding theme was a vote for change. It looks like they got their wish, but only time will tell exactly what that change will look like.
Christians of all brands and flavors gathered at one another's churches in Jerusalem to pray for the unity of the Christian church. In a city that has one of the most diverse Christian populations in the world, Jerusalem Christians illustrated that true unity can be strengthened through diversity when common mission is the priority. Prayer, scripture and music of all traditions and languages echoed throughout various Christian churches sprinkled all around the city as Christians vowed to follow together in Jesus' path of compassion, justice, peace and healing.
Congratulations to our New Synod President - Rev. Sani Ibrahim Azar - and to All Newly Elected Leaders!
Here are the complete results of the ELCJHL Synod elections held Jan. 20th for the 11th legislative period:
Please keep them in your thoughts and prayers!
Every five years, each congregation elects new council members who then meet to elect the synod of 37 members and a president, deputy president and secretary. For the first time, the leaders elected a woman to one of the top positions of secretary. In addition, 4 other women were elected.
Mrs.Muna Tannous, newly elected to the new Ramallah council pictured at left, is excited to take on new challenges. She said they will examine and explore all the various ministries of the church before deciding priorities and activities.
The new Coadjutor Bishop of the Anglican Episcopal Diocese of Jerusalem was consecrated on the Feast of the Epiphany on January 6th at St. George's Cathedral. Bishop Riah Abu El Assal presided at the consecration service for the new bishop, the Rt. Rev. Suheil Salman Dawani. They will lead the church together until Bishop Riah retires and Bishop Dawani continues leadership alone.
The usual exchange of Christmas greetings took place this year with visits to the three Patriarchates by heads of churches and their delegations. The visit of the Latin Patriarch always takes place first in December. The Greek Orthodox Christmas is next, as it comes on the Western churches' Feast of Epiphany. The Armenian Christmas occurs the latest of the three. Pictured here from left to right are His Beatitude Theophilis III, HB Michel Sabbah, the Latin Patriarch, the Syrian Orthodox Archbishop, the Ethiopian Archbishop and Bishop Younan.