Bishop Dr. Munib Younan of the ELCJHL (middle right) and Presiding Bishop Dr. Wolfgang Huber of the Evangelische Kirche Deutschlands (EKD) (right) signed an historic agreement at a festival worship service in April that clarified their partnership and working relationships. Bishop Munib Younan said the agreement has been in process for 2 years, and is a step forward in “the spirit of accompaniment.”
“Our relationship with the German church has always been good. We are the outcome of a German mission. This puts us on a road where the focus should be: working together for justice, reconciliation and the continuity of the local church,” said Bishop Younan.
From left to right, ELCJHL Pastor Ibrahim Azar, LWF General Secretary Rev. Dr. Ishmael Noko, ELCJHL Bishop Munib Younan and Presiding Bishop Dr. Wolfgang Huber of the EKD.
The festive occasion was held on the Mt. of Olives at the Augusta Victoria Ascension Church, which also celebrated the 100th Anniversary of the laying of the cornerstone, as well as the 60th Anniversary of the Lutheran World Federation. LWF General Secretary Rev. Dr. Ishmael Noko, ELCJHL Redeemer’s Pastor Ibrahim Azar and Propst Uwe Grabe were official witnesses. Picture at right, left to right: Mr. Wolfram Buchholz, Pastor Ibrahim Azar and Propst Uwe Grabe.
The EKD is a consortium of all 22 Protestant churches in Germany, representing 22 million people. A delegation of almost 50 people from the EKD church council arrived a week before the signing to visit partners and local officials in an attempt to see firsthand the realities on the ground here.
The council and ELCJHL leaders had a festive dinner at Abraham’s Herberge in Beit Jala.
Pictured here from left to right: ELCJHL Bishop Younan, Bishop Dr. Margot Kasemann of EKD Hanover; Bishop Johannes Friedrich, Bishop of Bavaria; Bishop Professor Dr. Wolfgang Huber, the Presiding Bishop of the EKD.