Sweden’s Social Democratic Leader Mrs. Mona Sahlin is leading a delegation to Palestine/Israel this week to meet leaders, gather information and see the realities on the ground here. Monday Bishop Younan led them through the Via Dolorosa, the path that Jesus is believed to have walked on the way to his crucifixion. The Social Democratic … [Read more…]
August 27 – September 1, 2007 The International Center of Bethlehem held its 4th annual international conference this week as a follow-up to the conference two years ago on “Land, Peoples and Identity.” The more than 100 participants gathered from many different countries are experiencing a mix of culture, music, arts and presentation about the … [Read more…]
For two weeks in July they met, about 20 kids from Ramallah School of Hope, with facilitators from a peace group in the US, to learn and foster creativity, non-violence and peace-building skills. “Love thy Neighbor” is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing educational resources and programs about the plight of Palestinians in Palestine/Israel to … [Read more…]
Bishop Younan, Anna Liza and Andrea Younan are above right. Bishop and Suad Younan had the privilege of participating in the wedding of their daughter, Anna Liza, to Nazeeh Khoury on July 17. The service was at the Orthodox Church in Nazareth, as the custom in Palestine is to get married in the man’s home … [Read more…]
Families from the five ELCJHL churches gathered during the first days of July in Jericho for a retreat about “Christians in a Changing Society.” As usual, the Amman congregation could not join because of the stringent movement restrictions and permit system. About 60 people gathered for the event, a mix of Bible study, lectures, prayer, … [Read more…]
Heads of churches in Jerusalem have welcomed the Palestine Israel Ecumenical Forum launched in Jordan last week. They voiced satisfaction with the new advocacy initiative at meetings with World Council of Churches (WCC) general secretary Rev. Dr Samuel Kobia during his 21-26 June visit to the Holy Land. In addition to heads of local churches, … [Read more…]
A delegation of youth and adults from the Southeast Michigan Synod of the ELCA visited the ELCJHL and its youth in late June. The group spent three days with the youth of Bethlehem, Beit Jala and Beit Sahour, first working at the Beit Sahour school, painting lines for the soccer field and planting/cleaning the grounds. … [Read more…]
The Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land (ELCJHL) by Bishop Dr. Munib Younan June 15, 2007 We have been warning for some time now that the situation here in the Occupied Palestinian territories – especially Gaza – is untenable and explosive. I fear that unless we take drastic action, we will sink … [Read more…]
Bishop Younan joined religious and civil leaders at a gathering last Saturday to urge Palestinians to focus on the common goal of ending the Israeli occupation and achieving the two-state solution of two equal, viable states living side by side in peace and justice. “What joins us should be greater than what divides us: our … [Read more…]
Issued at the WCC International Peace Conference “Churches together for Peace and Justice in the Middle East” Amman, Jordan, 18-20 June 2007 Amman imperatives: 1. Almost sixty years have passed since the Christian churches first spoke with one voice about Arab-Israeli peace. For the last forty years the Christian churches have called for an end … [Read more…]