ELCJHL Welcomes ELCA and ELCIC Solidarity Visit

Last week, Bishop Dr. Sani Ibrahim Azar and the ELCJHL welcomed a solidarity visit from our siblings in Christ of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada, including ELCA Presiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton and ELCIC National Bishop Susan Johnson.

 

The two presiding bishops were joined in the visit by Bishop Carla Blakley, Bishop of the ELCIC Eastern Synod; Rev. Paul Gehrs, Assistant to the Bishop, Justice and Leadership for the ELCIC; Rev. Khader El-Yateem, ELCA Executive Director for Service and Justice; Rev. Gabi Aelabouni, ELCA MENA Desk Director; Kathryn Lohre, Assistant to the Presiding Bishop of the ELCA and
Executive for Ecumenical and Inter-Religious Relations and Theological Discernment; and Shadin Nassar, ELCA MENA Regional Associate.

 

During their visit, the delegation met with Bishop Azar, ELCJHL pastors and ministry directors, local Heads of Churches, and interfaith and ecumenical partners of the ELCJHL, ELCA, and ELCIC. The group also visited the Lutheran schools to hear the stories of students, principals, and social workers, toured Dar al Kalima Univeristy, and visited Augusta Victoria Hospital to learn about their healing mission. Bishop Johnson and Bishop Eaton joined Bishop Azar on Saturday evening for a webinar hosted by ELCA Sumud about the current experiences of Palestinians, including Palestinian Christians, and what the two visiting bishops witnessed during their trip.

 

We are thankful for the solidarity and support of our partners from the ELCA and the ELCIC. In this dark time for the Holy Land, it is critical that our siblings in Christ around the world witness the current reality for Palestinian Christians. We invite all our partners to come and see, then go and tell the world what they have witnessed.