n Sunday, March 21, 2004, Pr. Kjell and Inger Jonasson were installed in their ELCJ positions during the Arabic-language service at the Lutheran Church of the Redeemer, Old City Jerusalem. Pr. Kjell Jonasson, from the Church of Sweden, is ELCJ Bishop Dr. Munib Younan’s Assistant for Ecumenical Affairs and International Relations. In addition, part of Pr. Jonasson’s time will be given to the Swedish Theological Institute in West Jerusalem. Inger Jonasson is the Coordinator of the Art Program at the International Center in Bethlehem, connected to the Christmas Lutheran Church and the ELCJ.
Bishop Younan and visiting Bishop Ole Christian Kvarme of the Diocese of Borg of the Lutheran Church of Norway, together with the Rev. Anders Bloomquist of the Swedish Theological Institute in Jerusalem and the Rev. Sani Ibrahim Azar, pastor of the Arabic congregation at Redeemer all participated in the installation service, using four different languages: Arabic, English, Swedish and Norwegian. Bishop Kvarme preached the sermon in English, highlighting and uplifting the ELCJ congregations, schools and community projects and encouraging the ELCJ to continue being a servant, as Jesus was servant to all. Pr. Kjell and Inger Jonasson shared a song with guitar accompaniment as part of the worship service.
In the 1980s Pr. Jonasson previously served as the Overseas Secretary on the staff of then ELCJ Bishop Daoud Haddad. He and Inger lived in Beit Sahour at that time, and are happy to return to Jerusalem and the ELCJ to meet old friends and make many new ones.