ELCJHL Women Attend And So We Rise Summit

This weekend the ELCJHL Gender Justice Ministry participated in Churches for Middle East Peace’s And Still We Rise Summit, focused on elevating women leaders in the pursuit of peace in the region. 11 women from ELCJHL congregations traveled to Jericho for the three-day summit where they worked toward building community, growing in ecumenical faith, and taking action towards a more just world for women and our region. Gender Justice Ministry Director Ranan Issa, Pastor Sally Azar, Pastor Ashraf Tannous, and Judge Scarlet Bishara joined the group on the first day.

On Friday, Pastor Sally Azar of the ELCJHL gave a prayer and blessing for the assembly. Later that evening, Judge Scarlet Bishara, the first women judge on the Lutheran Ecclesiastical Court, spoke in a panel with Dr. Varsen Aghabekian, State Minister for Foreign Affairs and Expatriates of the State of Palestine, moderated by Rev. Dr. Mae Elise Cannon, the Executive Director of Churches for Middle East Peace about gender-based discrimination in family law and the need for women in leadership positions.