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Bishop Younan Assures Egyptian Copts of LWF Communion Prayer – LWF

JERUSALEM/GENEVA, 17 February 2015 (LWI) – Bishop Dr Munib A. Younan of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land (ELCJHL) has assured the Coptic Orthodox Church in Egypt of prayers and solidarity from the Lutheran communion following the recent killings of Coptic Christians by extremists affiliated to the militant group IS.

In a letter to Pope Tawadros II, Younan, also LWF President, said the killing of 21 Coptic Christians in Libya was not only an attack on humanity and on followers of Jesus Christ, but also “against people of every religion who stand for peace justice and freedom.”

“Your struggle is our struggle; your grief is our grief,” the LWF president wrote to the Coptic church leader, assuring him of prayers from the LWF communion.

A video released on 15 February depicts the killings of the Christians in Libya, believed to be kidnapped Egyptians.

To read this article in its original form, you can visit the Lutheran World Federation’s website.
To view the letter Bishop Younan wrote to Pope Tawadros II, you can view it here. (PDF)

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Condolences to The People of Denmark After The Violent Attacks in Copenhagen

Her Excellency the Prime Minister of Denmark, Helle Thorning-Schmidt
His Excellency the Speaker of the Parliament, Mogens Lykketoft
Copenhagen, Denmark

Psalm 46:1 – God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in times of trouble.

 

Dear Prime Minister Thorning-Schmidt and Speaker Lykketoft,

SaIaam and grace to you from Jerusalem.

I am writing to express my condolences to you and to the people of Denmark after the violent attacks in Copenhagen on Saturday. The perpetrator’s targets, a freedom of speech event and a synagogue, were clearly chosen to strike at the values held dear by the people of Denmark. We stand with you in strong opposition to all such acts of terror, extremism, and violence, wherever they occur in the world and whoever is the perpetrator. I hope that these incidents will only strengthen the people of Denmark to stand firm with the values of pluralism and freedom for all people.

Please know that the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land is praying for the wounded and the grieving, and for you as a leader in this difficult time. Your struggle is our struggle; your grief is our grief.

May the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Amen.

 

Bishop Dr. Munib Younan

Bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land

Our sincerest thanks to His Excellency, the Speaker of the Parliament, for his response:

Dear Honorable Bishop Dr. Munib A. Younan,

Thank you for your very strong and kind words to me and the people of Denmark.  I hope and believe that the terrible events will lead us to standing even closer together across different religions and political affiliations to Denmark the basic values of Danish democracy.

Sincerely yours,
Mogens Lykketoft
Speaker of the Parliament of Denmark