ELCJHL News August 2007

ELCA Votes to Strengthen Peace Not Walls Strategy

August 12, 2007

The ELCA Assembly voted Saturday, August 11, to recommit to the Peace Not Walls Middle East strategy that advocates an end to the illegal Israeli occupation and settlement policy and a two-state solution along the 1967 green line, shared Jerusalem and a just resolution to the refugee problem. The measures passed urged:

"increased engagement with conservative Christians and a clearer and more forceful expression of Lutheran theology in the public debate . . .; and to call upon the ELCA, in all of its expressions, to recommit itself to the Churchwide Strategy for Engagement in Israel and Palestine through awareness-building, accompaniment, and advocacy activities, including pilgrimage visits, sustained financial support, and other forms of economic stewardship.

• To see the full unofficial text of the measures passed by the assembly, click here.
• To see the debate on the floor of the assembly about this, click here. It is 30 minutes into the clip.
• To see a video of Bishop Younan's greeting to the assembly, click here.  (Scroll down to choose his.)
• For the full text of his greeting, click here.