ELCJHL News January - February 2009

Bishop welcomes his first granddaughter

Katharina Nazeeh Khoury was born on Friday, Feb. 20, 2009, at 8:25 am. She is the daughter of Anna Younan Khoury and Nazeeh Khoury and granddaughter of Suad and Bishop Munib Younan.

 

 

 

Dr. Charlie Haddad addresses teachers, visits Capitol Hill

ELCJHL Director of Education Dr. Charlie D. Haddad recently addressed the Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages at George Mason University of Fairfax, Virginia, U.S.A., on the topic of peace education.

In his Feb. 7 address, Haddad described the school’s efforts to integrate peace education and interfaith dialogue into the curriculum. Haddad explained the steps the ELCJHL is taking to respond to deteriorating socio-economic conditions, declining income and increasing fanaticism in the region. Haddad was encouraged by the response to his message.

“Many of the attendants who are TESOL teachers have already contacted me by e-mail since the conference expressing interest in doing twinning programs, exchanges and pen-pal correspondence with our schools,” Haddad said. Some expressed interest in volunteering in ELCJHL schools and TESOL president Dr. Shelly Wong invited Haddad to join the organization.

A day earlier, Haddad met with congressional aids in Washington, D.C. He said his message there was that “most Palestinians want real peace where Palestinians and Israelis can again live together as good neighbors,” but that measures by the Israeli government are “widening the gap between Israelis, Palestinians and also the West!” Haddad was accompanied by Pastor Russ Siler, who formerly served as pastor for the ELCJHL's English-speaking congregation in Jerusalem.

Church of Sweden and ELCJHL call for Sweden to help in pursuit of peace

Archbishop Anders Wejryd of the Church of Sweden and ELCJHL Bishop Munib Younan issued a joint statement calling on the Swedish government to take an active role in seeking peace in the Holy Land. They issued their statement after Swedish Foreign Minister Carl Bildt presented that country's Parliament a declaration stating that peace between Israel and Palestine will be a top agenda item for his government this year. The declaration came after a representative of the Church of Sweden visited Gaza in the wake of Israel's recent bombing campaign there. You can read the statement here.

EEC teaches water conservation in rural schools

by Kendra Kintzi

In a world filled with mounting concerns about the effects of our human actions on the environment, many of our most precious resources have taken on new dimensions of social and ecological significance. As a critical resource essential to the continuation of all forms of life, water holds a uniquely pivotal place in the spectrum of these debates over natural resources. Access to adequate, safe water is one of the most fundamental human rights necessary for the realization of basic human dignity. Yet for many Palestinians, the struggles of water shortage and daily water insecurity are an all too pressing reality.

The primary water source located under the West Bank, the Western (Mountain) Aquifer, is at risk of overuse and contamination as the construction of military barriers and water-intensive, environmentally-damaging Israeli settlements continues, according to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Human Affairs. Individuals and communities who are dependent on agrarian or ruminant lifestyles are particularly vulnerable to this infringement on natural water sources, as their entire social and economic livelihood is jeopardized. Given the strictures imposed by Israeli control over regional water sources, conservation education is the only tool by which Palestinians can take action and maintain access to this crucial resource and human right. /p>

Within this context, the Environmental Education Center has worked hard over the past months to bolster and expand its water conservation programs through educational outreach in public schools. In an effort to reach out to more remote communities beyond the Bethlehem vicinity, the EEC started up a new educational program in November and December with students from government schools in the villages of Janata and Rashaida. Within these rural villages, most families earn a significant part (if not all) of their income either from herding sheep or goats, or cultivating local crops.

Staff members visited these schools with interactive presentations to introduce concepts of responsible water management and sustainable water use, involving the students in hands-on activities to further explore the meaning and significance of this important resource in their lives. After these presentations, the students were taken on field trips to the EEC campus in Beit Jala, where they toured the botanical gardens and learned more about water recycling at our waste-water renewal and natural treatment facility. The students enjoyed a picnic amongst the native trees surrounding the outdoor classroom, and learned more about the importance of water for local bird biodiversity with demonstrations from the bird ringing station.

Teachers, principals and numerous parents also participated in a seminar concerning conservation strategies and simple steps that individuals can take to improve community health and protect precious natural resources at their disposal. Although these are only small steps toward restoring equitable water distribution and sustainable resource use, these activities provided a unique opportunity for students to engage with this pressing issue and begin to formulate innovative new strategies to benefit their communities.

Kendra Kintzi is a volunteer at the EEC through the ELCA’s “Young Adults in Global Mission” program. She is a member of Gloria Dei Lutheran Church in Santa Maria, Calif.

World Council of Churches issues statement on Gaza War

The World Council of Churches decried the loss of human life and called for greater church engagement in joint efforts for peace in its Feb. 20, 2009, statement on the Gaza war. You can read the statement in full here.

Bishops denied entry to Gaza to visit Christians, projects

Despite assurances from the Israeli government, ELCJHL Bishop Munib Younan (pictured, at right) and Anglican Bishop Rt. Rev. Suheil Dawani (at left) were denied entry to Gaza today. They were traveling with the heads of churches of Jerusalem to visit Christians in the region. The two are the only Palestinians in the group and the only ones to be denied entry. The group planned to visit churches, humanitarian projects of the Middle East Council of Churches and the Al Ahli Hospital.

Click here for the ELCJHL press release on the incident.

Lutheran filmmaker leads video workshops for students

Following an invitation from Peace Not Walls staff, on Jan. 5 Lutheran filmmaker Tim Frakes donated his time and expertise for two website and video production workshops for high school students at ELCJHL schools. Ten students, a teacher, a volunteer and a principal attended at no cost during their winter school break and in spite of the fighting in the nearby Gaza Strip.

Participants were instructed in basic camera technique, composition, and sound recording, and were also introduced to new video social networking sites, blogging, and Facebook. Students showed interest, and through Facebook some now have continued their conversation with Frakes. Frakes told the students, “I don't want to teach you how to make videos; I want you to change the world through your videos.”

The workshops were held at the Dar Al Kalima Lutheran School in Bethlehem and at the Evangelical Lutheran School of Beit Sahour and were organized by Sister Sylvia Countess, ELCJHL Director of Education Dr. Charlie Haddad.

(Reproduced with permission from elca.org)

Construction projects underway at ELCJHL schools

An addition at Dar al-Kalima School (left photo) will provide space for science labs and administrative offices. Overseeing the work is contractor Anwar Hilal. At Beit Sahour (right photo) a new third floor will be made into science labs. (S. Countess photos)

North American bishops visit ELCJHL

With the bombardment of Gaza providing a solemn backdrop, some 50 North American Lutheran bishops visited their Palestinian partners in the Holy Land this month. Their visit was “rich and fruitful in many ways,” said ELCJHL Bishop Munib A. Younan. The event allowed bishops to “meet, share our joys and sorrows, and know about our life, culture and difficulties facing the peoples of this troubled region,” Younan said.

The Bishops’ Academy is an annual event in which leaders from the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada engage in theological reflection and study. Under discussion for years, the trip was intended to allow bishops a deeper awareness of conditions in the Holy Land , demonstrate the North American church’s accompaniment of its Palestinian partner and strengthen efforts to advocate for just peace in the region.

Watch this space for further reports on the academy. You can also read news stories about the trip on the websites of our partner churches at:

http://blogs.elca.org/09cobacademy

http://www.elcic.ca

You can read a statement from the North American bishops about their trip here.