ELCJHL

Bishop Doctor Sani Ibrahim Azar

The fourth and current Palestinian bishop to the ELCJHL, Bishop Azar leads the ELCJHL with a spirit of justice and dedication to the church and God.

Overview

We are the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land. Our congregations are located in Jerusalem, Bethlehem, Beit Jala, Beit Sahour, Ramallah, and in Amman, Jordan. Our Palestinian Christian population has Lutheran roots dating back to the late 1800s, and Christian roots dating back to the first Pentecost. Click to learn more...

Our Congregations

All six of our congregations were founded in response to a need from local Palestinian-Christians. We worship on Sundays, and our churches hold various other Bible study groups, social gatherings, and cultural events throughout the week. Most of our parishes also hold youth and women’s programming as well. Click here to learn more about each of our parishes.

Visit Us!

The Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land (ELCJHL) is known for its warmth and hospitality in welcoming visitors and pilgrims from around the world. Interested in visiting the Holy Land and learning about the local Lutheran Church and our ministry? Click here to learn about church locations, worship times, and more!

Welcome

Church of Life in Bethlehem

What is the Church of Life? The Church of Life is a new chapel located next to the Lutheran Cemetery in Bethlehem. This holy space is intended to be for sanctuary, reflection, and comfort. Opened and consecrated in May 2024, this is the newest of the ELCJHL churches. Its proximity to the Lu...

Church of the Good Shepherd- Amman

The Evangelical Lutheran Church of the Good ShepherdThe Church of the Good Shepherd is located in the Um al-Summaq neighborhood of West Amman. With a sanctuary, parsonage, parish hall, and community center, there is plenty of room to host worship, Christian education classes, and social activities.J...

Bethany Beyond the Jordan Baptismal Site

What is Bethany Beyond the Jordan? The journey of Christian life begins with baptism. Under the leadership and stewardship of the ELCJHL, the Bethany Beyond the Jordan (BBJ) Baptismal Site exists as a church and pilgrim center ministering to the local, regional, and global community of Christians. ...

Environmental Education Center

The Environmental Education Center (EEC) The Environmental Education Center of the ELCJHL is located in Beit Jala right next to Talitha Kumi. Though the ministry of the center began in 1986 with a broad educational project, this project formally became an educational ministry of the ELCJHL in 199...

Youth Ministry of the ELCJHL

The Youth Ministry of the ELCJHL Finding programs that allow young adults to connect with other youth in this walk of life is very important. Our youth are the next generation of leaders in the church, and supporting their faith journeys is one of the most important things we can do as a church com...

Ecclesiastical Court

Ecclesiastical Court of First Instance President: Rev. Ashraf Tannous Member Judges: Rev. Dr. Munther Isaac Adv. Scarlet Bishara Adv. Yasmine Awad Secretary: Sami Abu Ghazaleh Ecclesiastical Court of Appeals President: Bishop Sani Ibrahim Azar Member Judges: Rev. Fu...

The School of Hope in Ramallah

The School of Hope The Evangelical Lutheran School of Hope draws its name from 1 Corinthians 13:13 (“And now abideth faith, hope, and love…”) and strives to provide an excellent education to the students of Ramallah. The School of Hope is located near the bustling center of the W...

Talitha Kumi School

Talitha Kumi School The German Evangelical Lutheran School Talitha Kumi draws its inspiration from the story of Jesus resurrecting Jairus’ daughter from the dead: “And taking the child by the hand he said to her, “Talitha Kumi!” which means, “Little girl, I tell you to...

Al Mahaba Nursery and Preschool on the Mount of Olives

The Al Mahaba Nursery and Preschool on the Mount of Olives Mahaba Nursery and Preschool (MNAP), or “Kindergarten of Love,” located on the Lutheran World Federation campus is a ministry of the ELCJHL with over 40 years of service to children in Jerusalem. With its bright and well-equippe...