Page 1 elcjhl e-pistle News from the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land

Salaam and grace to you from , City of Peace July-August-September 2009 ELCJHL looks to future in training leaders Adult, youth programs begin Are good leaders born or made? The ELCJHL is Inside: training its future leaders instead of debating this • ELCJHL schools question. Leadership training was identifi ed as a top spread hope concern by the ELCJHL church council last Septem- • Adult, youth leader- ber. Two leadership training programs got under way ship programs com- this summer, one for adults and one for youth. mence Starting June 8, 18 potential leaders gathered at the • Churches fi n ish busy ELCJHL Lutheran School of Beit Sahour for a three- summer week workshop. The workshop is the fi rst compo- • Youth leaders denied nent of a three-year program that will include such permits face-to-face workshops as well as online distance • visits Canada, learning and individual coaching. Lebanon, more Leading the program is Dr. Nadyne Guzmán, an • Women meet in Ram- education professional from Colorado, U.S.A. Fund- allah ing for the program was provided by the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs through Norwegian Church Aid. For more on the program, see the re- lated article elsewhere in this newsletter. Calendar: Although program participants come from various • Aug. 21-Sept. 19: professions, most are teachers. ELCJHL director of Ramadan YOU’RE IT! Youth from various ELCJHL congre- schools Dr. Charlie Haddad organized the program, • Sept. 4: East-West gations get acquainted with a game of tag at a musical evening, with the help of Dr. Rod Schofi eld, who serves as recent leadership training retreat. education liaison from the ELCJHL’s U.S. partner, Redeemer, 8 p.m. the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. X Training program seeks to train • Sept. 12: Laudamus youth for church, society Te Choir concert, World takes note of evictions ELCJHL young people met July 30-Aug. 1 in Redeemer, 8 p.m. Bethlehem to begin their own leadership training • Sept. 19: Eid-ul-Fitr in Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood program. Leading the program, which is known as • Sept. 28: Yom Kippur The Aug. 2 eviction Such decisions make Sahiroun, or “Night Watchers,” are two International • Oct. 2-9: Sukkot of 53 people from their it diffi cult for Israelis Center of Bethlehem staff members, Susan Gharib • Nov. 7: Organ recital, homes in the Sheikh and to live and Mary Zreineh, as well as Ashraf Tannous, for- Redeemer, 8 p.m. Jarrah neighborhood of together peacefully, the mer vicar at the ELCJHL Lutheran Church of Hope • Nov. 25-29: Hajj East Jerusalem has gar- bishop said. “Coexis- in . According to Zreineh, the participants, • Nov. 30: Eid-ul-Adha nered world-wide atten- tence can only happen ages 14 to 16, will have monthly meetings as well • Dec. 19: Gala Christ- tion. by acceptance of the as a one-week workshop each year of the three-year mas concert, Redeem- ELCJHL Bishop Mu- other and by giving oth- program. In addition to Bible studies, youngsters er, 7 p.m. nib Younan said the ers their rights,” he said, will learn about communication skills and serving • Dec. 11-19: Chanu- eviction of the families calling the development others. kah will “create a chaotic “coercive coexistence, The program is apparently off to a good start, situation in East Jerusa- not just coexistence.” based on comments by Tannous when asked about lem.” The eviction came Three Israeli police the opening weekend. after the Israeli Supreme cars guarded settlers in- “The spirit of the kids was very nice,” he said. Court favored Jewish side the Hanoun house They were cooperative, very engaged in discussions claims to the land, cap- while he sat on the side- and readily connected to one another, he said. ping the evicted Pales- walk with the Hanoun Program leaders chose youth to participate in the tinian families’ 37-year family the week after program based on their leadership potential. They legal battle to retain must attend at least 85 percent of sessions in order to ownership. Sheikh Jarrah, Page 7 receive a certifi cate of participation, Tannous said.X Page 2 Investing in the future, fostering excellence Hope is part of the curriculum for ELCJHL schools by Sister Sylvia Countess • Recognizing that skills in peace and democracy The late Palestinian poet, Mahmoud Darwish, once are essential in this troubled region. ELCJHL so- said of his people, “We suffer from an incurable cial studies teachers participated in a three-day malady: hope.” The Evangelical Lutheran Church in workshop on democracy and voting practices to Jordan and the Holy Land would call this condition help them prepare young people to be respon- a Christian imperative and a national survival skill. sible leaders in their communities and country. “All we can do is hope; we have nothing else,” a • Several ELCJHL teachers attended a six-day Lutheran school administrator once told a group of special education workshop on topics such as “We suffer from an in- visitors. Living in the economic and political insta- dyslexia, pre-school skills diagnoses, teaching curable malady: hope.” bility of the Israeli occupation requires steadfastness and reading methods, cognitive problems and – Mahmoud Darwish, and determination. speech-hearing-sight impairments. Palestinian poet Planning for the future despite a troubled present These diverse programs share a commitment to is a commitment to hope. This past summer staff and developing leadership that will result in educational students benefi ted from some new programs related excellence and dispel the sense of hopelessness that to the strategic planning begun a few years ago by results from dwindling human and fi nancial resourc- Dr. Charlie Haddad, ELCJHL Director of Educa- es. tion. “Giving hope in a hopeless situation” is a key mot- Here is a sample of some of the many ways the to of ELCJHL Bishop Munib Younan. Through the ELCJHL is investing in Palestine’s future: help of friends, sponsors and volunteers, ELCJHL • Eighteen teachers and others from around the EL- schools and educational program staff and students CJHL began a leadership training program in June. strive to spread this concept throughout the area and The three-week workshop was the fi rst component invite you to participate in this venture through your of a three-year program that will include on-line prayers and support. X distance learning and individual coaching until next Sister Sylvia Countess served as the assistant to summer, when face-to-face contact and collabora- the ELCJHL director of education for four years, tion will resume. returning to the United States in April 2009 where • ELCJHL teachers of English as a Second Lan- she is now director of vocation and education for the guage participated in enrichment classes. ELCA/ELCIC deaconess community. • Nine ELCJHL math and science teachers will participate in an educational initiative that will Sabbatical, from p. 4 ______enable them to complete their master’s degree in tion with other Christian denominations in the Holy pedagogy and teaching methods. Land, and promoting understanding, inter-faith stud- • Two administrators and fi ve teachers from the ies and respect and peaceful co-existence between Lutheran School of Hope in Ramallah will par- the three Abrahamic faiths. It was a great honor for ticipate in a second year of training through the me to be part of the anniversary celebration in May, Model School Network project. commemorating 170 years of Lutheran witness in the Holy Land, 50 years of the ELCJHL and 30 years ‘Do not leave us alone in this of the Arab bishopric. struggle,’ bishop tells CEC Now that I have returned to the States, I feel com- ELCJHL Bishop Munib A. Younan’s words at pelled to tell the story of the occupation to as many the 13th assembly of the Conference of European people as possible. In my country, the reporting on Churches apparently have deeply resonated with the situation is overly biased in favor of the Israeli people around the world. The Ecumenical News government, while the plight of Palestinians is often International article on his address has been posted ignored. I believe also that my sabbatical will en- widely around the internet. hance the special relationship between the ELCJHL At the July 15-21 event in Lyon, France, Younan and the New England Synod of the ELCA. In the elcjhl e-pistle was encouraged to set aside prepared remarks and words of the sermon I preached at the Evangelical is a publication of the Evan- speak extemporaneously to the audience of some Lutheran Church of Hope in Ramallah, “I hope that gelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land. 800 people. Younan appealed to European churches when I return to Palestine I will fi nd her prosperous PO Box 14076 for their support for peace in the Middle East. “I and free. In shallah.” X Muristan Road ask you as our brothers and sisters in Christ, do not Bryan Leone is a pastor of the Evangelical Lutheran Jersalem 91140 leave us alone, do not leave us alone in the struggle,” via Church in America, one of the international partners Younan is quoted as saying in the ENI article, which Your comments, critiques of the ELCJHL. His congregation belongs to the EL- and questions are welcome can be found at http://www.eni.ch/featured/article. CA’s New England Synod, which is one of 65 ELCA at: [email protected]. php?id=3186. synods, and is a close partner of the ELCJHL. He X For more on the conference, see the CEC website recently spent part of his sabbatical leave from his at http://assembly.ceceurope.org/. X church to volunteer and study in Israel-Palestine. Page 3 ELCJHL looks to future in training tomorrow’s leaders Are good leaders born or made? The ELCJHL is Leading the program is Dr. Nadyne Guzmán, an training its future leaders instead of debating this education professional from Colorado, U.S.A. Fund- question. Leadership training was identifi ed as a top ing for the program was provided by the Norwegian concern by the ELCJHL church council last Septem- Ministry of Foreign Affairs through Norwegian ber. Two leadership training programs got under way Church Aid. For more on the program, see the re- this summer, one for adults and one for youth. lated article below. Starting June 8, 18 potential leaders gathered at the Although program participants come from various ELCJHL Lutheran School of Beit Sahour for a three- professions, most are teachers. ELCJHL director of week workshop. The workshop is the fi rst compo- schools Dr. Charlie Haddad organized the program, nent of a three-year program that will include such with the help of Dr. Rod Schofi eld, who serves as face-to-face workshops as well as online distance education liaison from the ELCJHL’s U.S. partner, learning and individual coaching. the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. X Future ELCJHL leaders apply their skills to life, to larger society The smiles and laugh- ter didn’t mean they weren’t working hard. The 18 adults gathered in the sun-fi lled, chair- strewn room at the Beit Sahour school in late June were thinking deeply and exchang- ing ideas as they com- pleted an assignment for their leadership training workshop. Everyone ap- plauded after someone from each small group read aloud the group’s sample school goal state- ment. Led by American educator Dr. Nadyne Guzmán, the session was one in a three-week workshop held at the ELCJHL school in June. The workshop is the fi rst FUTURE ELCJHL leaders created sample school mission statements as part of their participation in a component of a three- three-week workshop in June, the fi rst part of their three-year leadership training program. The lead year program that will trainer for the program is Dr. Nadyne Guzmán, below right, a long-time U.S. educator. include such face-to- face workshops as well as online distance learning the program will help him in the classroom. and individual coaching. The program is part of the While not limited to educators, most of the pro- ELCJHL’s commitment to train its future leaders. gram participants are teachers, many in ELCJHL “It’s a very good program,” said Jane Ishaq, who schools. ELCJHL Director of Education Dr. Charlie is a secretary at the school. She said it is a very spe- Haddad led planning efforts. cial opportunity to participate in the program. Iman The goal of the program, according to Guzmán, is Omer agreed. It “makes you listen more and respect to develop participants’ ability to lead others through all the opinions,” said Omer, a member of the EL- building relationships and sharing vision. Toward CJHL Lutheran Church of the in Beit this end, participants have been asked to examine Jala and an Arabic teacher at the Latin Patriarchate themselves – a process that is foundational to leader- school. ship and, she said, strange in a culture that values “I am proud to be here, to be chosen for this lead- family above all. ership course,” Ahmad Midani said. “I think it’s a “It’s been very intense,” she said. Participants have good chance for me to improve my skills.” Midani been asked to question their vocations, their beliefs. teaches chemistry and science at the ELCJHL School “It’s been really wonderful.” Guzmán is currently a of Hope in Ramallah. He said the skills he learns in Please see Leadership, p. 7 Page 4 A sabbatical in the Holy Land: by Rev. Bryan A. Leone the offi cial Israeli side. This I feel is the duty of all When I arrived in Jerusalem on April 20 to meet of us who have had the privilege and opportunity to with Bishop Younan and Dr. Charles Haddad, the su- walk with the Palestinians. perintendent of ELCJHL schools in the Holy Land, I I had visited -Wahaat al Salaam the had no idea what lay in store for me. I already knew previous year and had been given a tour by a Pales- that Bish- tinian, an Israeli Arab. I was able to see and docu- op Younan ment fi rst-hand the apartheid system of the occupa- wanted me tion which separates, encapsulates and harasses a to teach people in hopes that they will leave their homes and body- emigrate elsewhere with no hope of ever returning. building at One of my favorite parts of the sabbatical was the Mar- working with the children at the Lutheran School of tin Luther Hope in Ramallah. Once a week I would go there Commu- and play soccer with the children and assist the ath- nity De- letic director in conducting physical fi tness classes. velopment The student body is 70 percent Muslim and 30 per- Center, cent Christian. It was a wonderful experience to see and also Muslim and Christian children learning and playing assist in together in an atmosphere of mutual respect. physical One week I decided that I would wear their school fitness T-shirt, which I had purchased when their dance classes at group, the Al Raja Dance Troupe, toured the U.S. the Lu- many years ago. Of course, they were delighted to theran see it. But I forgot that on the front of the shirt was School of the slogan, “Peace Not Walls” with an olive branch. Hope in When I went through the Qalandia checkpoint on Ramal- my way back to Jerusalem from the West Bank, I lah. But I was put through the mill and harassed by the guards. hadn’t a For 45 minutes they detained me, asking ridiculous clue about questions and setting off the metal detectors, which the experi- is par for the course. The reason I can say that they ences that set off the metal detectors is because I was wearing Rev. Bryan Leone had would offer me a rare look into the complex reli- the same belt, the same watch and the same cross to convince students gious, social and political situation that grips the Is- around my neck that I had worn the previous Sunday. at the ELCJHL School rael and the Palestinian territories. The only difference was that before I was wearing a of Hope, Ramallah, Many of my “students” at the Community Devel- clerical collar and I breezed right through security. that he was on their opment Center were shop owners in the Old City, There were six Ecumenical Accompaniment Pro- side. Once he gained who invited me to visit their shops for coffee and gramme in Palestine and Israel (EAPPI) volunteers the students’ trust, his visits to the school be- conversation. The conversation always centered on living with me at the LWF guest house. Through came a favorite part of the occupation of the Palestinian territories by the conversations with them, I learned many things his stay in Palestine. Israeli government, as well as religion and politics. about the injustices of the current occupation. It was Through them I came to understand that the situation through them that I was able to visit the “Tent of Na- is much more complex than I ever dreamed. Some tions” in the West Bank, near . This was the believe the occupation will continue for many years most impressive visit of the whole sabbatical. I was to come; others believe that only a major war will awestruck by the courage and determination of the end it. Some believe that if there is a war, the Pal- Nasser family, a Palestinian Christian family who estinians will be the ones to suffer. Some refuse to is non-violently resisting the pressures, harassment leave their homes, while others cannot wait to im- and violence perpetrated by Israeli settlers living all migrate to other countries. Among the Palestinians around them. The Nassers’ refusal to see the settlers there is no one clear policy – and that is one of the as their “enemy” is awe-inspiring and powerful, as problems. But what unites all Palestinians is their is their determination to stay on the land their family hatred and distrust of the Israeli governments over has held for generations. the years. I was pleasantly surprised to learn that al- Equally inspiring is the witness and ministry of the though Palestinians have trusted very few American ELCJHL. Headed by Bishop Munib Younan, with administrations since 1948 (the Nixon and Carter a loyal and dedicated staff, the ELCJHL is making administrations are the exceptions), they neverthe- positive inroads in working for peace, reconciliation less have a love and respect for the American people, and justice for Jews and Palestinians. The ELCJHL and are eager that their story be heard in the United continues to be instrumental in ecumenical coopera- States and given the same respect and audience as See sabbatical, p. 2 Page 5 ELCJHL youth conference denied permission to visit Nazareth Imagine a bus full of 14-to-16-year-olds ready to Fifty-four youth from ELCJHL churches were go on a three-day excursion. Now imagine the mood scheduled to attend the Aug. 16-18 conference. in that bus when a military decision makes it impos- Their destination was the St. Margaret guest house sible for them to go. in Nazareth. Plans included visiting Tiberius and The young people had begun to gather at the Beth- Capernaum, as well as celebrating communion at lehem departure point on Sunday, Aug. 16, when the Church of the Beatitudes overlooking the Sea of word came that local Israeli offi cials had decided not Galilee. Planned lectures included Pastor Ibrahim to issue permits for the four adult chaperones to stay Azar speaking on the need for Christ in this time and in Nazareth. (Youth 16 and under are exempt from Rishmawi speaking on the two natures of Christ. this requirement.) The decision came minutes before Rishmawi is currently seeking a new venue for the the group was scheduled to depart. conference inside the West Bank. “They were disappointed and many cried,” said ELCJHL Bishop Munib Younan said the incident Pastor Saliba Rishmawi, the ELCJHL pastor who is worrying. had organized and was to lead the trip. The children “This is part of our freedom of religion, that our asked him, “Why us and why now?” he said, himself children go to these retreats and get revived in the asking why the offi cial did not communicate his de- Spirit in order that the occupation will not break cision a week before. “So you see the situation, how their morale,” he said. Further, it hinders clergy from we suffer,” he said. “We are feeling now that we are doing their jobs, which requires freedom of move- in prison,” he said. He spent the next few hours on ment at all hours, he said. Younan said that, contrary the phone, cancelling the bus and the guest house to rationale given for the denial, organizers applied and informing people of the change. well in advance for the permits. X Women meet in Ramallah for encouragement, validation and fellowship “I brought evil to the world!” said one woman attending the ELCJHL women’s workshop. While it’s impossible to know exactly what she meant by this, it’s no mystery that for millennia, women have struggled to overcome the legacy of Eve as the gateway of evil. The ELCJHL is working to bring a counter message to Palestinian women. Seeing themselves as valuable in church and society was the theme of an Aug. 14 workshop in Ramallah. Bassima Jara- iseh, ELCJHL women’s desk facilitator, said the workshop was designed to invite women to look at how they are viewed in church and society. “The aim was, what do I see in myself,” she said. Speaker Dr. Hanadi Younan opened the session by displaying an illustration of Eve and the serpent. After sharing their reactions tance of outside work and sharing of household du- PROMINENT WOMEN to it, Jaraiseh said the women were encouraged to ties than women married to Arab husbands. of the Bible provided tell themselves, “I am not Eve that was seduced by About 43 women and 20 children from the EL- the inspiration for EL- the serpent. I am Eve who overcame troubles,” she CJHL, as well as the Greek Catholic, Episcopal, CJHL women to see said. Greek Orthodox and Latin churches, participated. themselves as a valu- Younan asked participants to think about promi- “They asked many challenging questions,” Jara- able part of society. Here women take a nent women of the Bible –Mary the mother of Jesus, iseh said. They also voiced appreciation for being break from lectures to Mary Magdalene, Susanna and the like – and then able to bring their children, she said. The women ac- enjoy a meal together. think about their own God-given gifts and how they tively participated in the workshop, she said. “They (Maha Saeed photo) use them in their congregations, their homes and in all shared. No one just sat and looked.” society. She invited them to challenge society’s ideas The next ELCJHL women’s conference, “Women about women, which often limit them to the roles of as Peacebuilders,” is planned for late September mother, teacher and housewife. during Eid al-Fitr, the Muslim festival that ends Participants agreed, “we should bring our daugh- Ramadan. The three-day conference will be held in ters up to be strong and self confi dent” in ways that Nazareth. Jaraiseh said women from other Christian are sensitive to our context, Jaraiseh said. She said churches, as well as Muslim women, will be invited women married to foreigners reported better accep- to participate. X Page 6 Pastor represents ELCJHL at conferences in Indonesia, Turkey ELCJHL Pastor Saliba Rishmawi attended two cussion. “We were able to argue, dialogue and speak conferences recently. The fi r st, “Freedom & Respon- everything we thought of and both sides were very sibility: Joint Theological Explorations by Chris- open-minded,” he said. Even during breaks, Chris- tians and Muslims,” was organized by the Lutheran tians and Muslims intermingled and conversed, World Federation in Yogyakarta, Indonesia, in co- helping one another understand the other’s beliefs operation with the Center for Religious and Cross- better, he said. Participants continued the discussion Cultural Studies and the Indonesian Consortium for about freedom with Buddhists at a local temple. “We Religious Studies at the University Gadjah Mada in agreed that freedom isn’t our thought – it’s in the Yogyakarta. The June 15-22 consultation brought to- Holy Scriptures.” You can read more about the con- gether 23 Christian and Muslim scholars to discuss, ference at http://tiny.cc/LFZxB according to the LWF website, “perspectives on the Rishmawi then traveled to Antalya, Turkey, for a understanding of freedom and responsibility for the- conference organized by the Center for Confl ict Res- ology, faith identity and mutual relations for com- olution and Reconciliation (also known as Wifaq) of mon good in society.” Bethlehem. The July 12-16 meeting, held in con- Pastor Saliba Rish- Rishmawi said he was impressed by female Is- junction with , convened mawi recently traveled lamic scholars such as Dr. Amina Wadud. She and Muslims, Jews and Christians to discuss issues such to Indonesia and Tur- the other female Muslims there “wanted to show an- as indigenous people and administration of the holy key for interfaith con- other face of the Qur’an,” he said. places. ferences. Another high point was the openness of the dis- See Rishmawi, p. 8 Beit Sahour summer camp educates, entertains many children “Summer” and “camp” go together like “hum- Arabic) presented by the Al-Hara Theater, which mus” and “pita.” It’s hard to imagine one without told a story about childrens’ right to play. One more the other. academic activity was penmanship classes, which In June, thanks to an army of volunteers, some 70 Rula said were not very popular but necessary given children enjoyed this hot-weather tradition on the cam- a general decline of penmanship among Palestinian pus of the ELCJHL Beit Sahour church and school. youth. Heading up the volunteers was Rula Haddad, wife Among volunteers were 10 Beit Sahour teen-agers of the church’s who led sports, pastor, Imad dancing and Haddad. chess activities. “We just tried Rula said they to do something were “really to have a secure good teachers” place [for kids] and thought it to do some- was a positive thing outside experience for their house,” them. said Rula, who Also volun- “We just tried to do also leads the teering were something to have a se- congregation’s ELCA mission- cure place [for kids] to ladies group. aries Martin and do something outside She and 10 or Suzanne Shoff- their house.” so other women ner, as well as Rula Haddad began planning the six ELCA months ago for Young Adults the four-week in Global Mis- FACE PAINTING was just one of the many activities at a summer camp. Starting camp sponsored by the Lutheran Church of Beit Sahour. sion volunteers June 8, the team they supervise. offered children ages 7 to 12 played sports, practiced Both Christian and Muslim children from the dabka dance or listened to Bible stories. Other days neighborhood attended the camp. “We accepted ev- they learned how to play chess, sang songs or played ery body,” Rula said. But organizers were forced to a game with cards decorated with Palestinian birds. turn some children away after they reached maxi- The fun was also educational at times, like when the mum enrollment. children made recycled paper and recycled glass ob- Each child paid 100 shekels to participate. Addi- jects. tional funding came from congregational and com- On a few occasions, camp hours extended into the munity donations, Rula said. She hopes there will be afternoon to allow for fi eld trips to go swimming funding and personnel for a camp again next sum- or see a play, such as “Haj Saman” (“old man” in mer. X Page 7 ELCJHL strengthens ties with Canadian Lutheran partners Canadians resolve to advocate for peace in the Holy Land Delegates attending the 2009 National Convention of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada (EL- CIC) passed a multi-point resolution to support peace in the Holy Land. The resolution, which inspired much discussion on the convention fl oor, recognized the ongoing divisions between Muslims, Jews and Christians in Israel and the Palestinian Territories. It lamented violence and oppression in that area, and directed the ELCIC to support a secure Israeli state and a viable state for Palestinians. (Source: Lutheran Bishop offers ‘Signs of Hope’ World Information) Lutherans in Canada were moved to hear about Read more at: http://tiny.cc/LMqb8 and http:// hopeful developments in Israel-Palestine amid the www.elcic.ca/news.cfm?article=180 dire political situation. The audience at the national You can read the resolution at //tiny.cc/HqHjL convention of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Leadership, from p. 3 ______Canada responded to Bishop Munib A. Younan’s leadership consultant through her business, Infi nite speech with a standing ovation. Excellence, Inc., and was professor of leadership Younan cited the ecclesiastical and educational at the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs, work of the ELCJHL, as well as its work forging U.S.A. relationships with other Christian churches and other After the day’s session was over, Guzmán shared faith traditions. The church’s ministry of reconcili- her impressions of the program and her experience ation is “the very essence of the ministry … Jesus leading it. gave us.” (You can read Younan’s address at www. “These are incredible people,” she said. Despite elcjhl.org/XX) living with the diffi culties of the Israeli occupation, More than 400 people attended “In Mission for they are “some of the most hopeful people I’ve ever Others – Signs of Hope,” the June 25-28 ELCIC known.” convention in Vancouver, British Columbia. Guzmán is an American of Mexican origin and so Read the ELCIC’s story about his speech here. found she had much in common with Palestinians, (http://www.elcic.ca/In-Convention/2009-Vancou- such as sharing a home with extended family. ver/June26.cfm) “I’ve just had a ball. I’ve had fun every day,” she You can read more about the convention here said. She enjoyed the hospitality of many people (http://elcic.ca/In-Convention/2009-Vancouver/de- during her three weeks in the West Bank. “It’s been X fault.cfm) lovely,” she said. Bishop meets with friends, But the seriousness of the work is not lost amid the pleasure of experiencing a new culture. As she partners in Lebanon worked with program participants, she saw them ap- ELCJHL Bishop Munib Younan traveled to Leba- plying their new-found skills to the larger society. “I non Aug. 21-24 to meet with partner organizations. fi n d that’s very heartening,” she said. X Among those he met with were: • leaders of the National Evangelical Synod of Sheikh Jarrah, from p. 1 ______Syria and Lebanon to discuss its relationship their eviction, Younan has continued living near with the ELCJHL and common witness in the said, predicting more the property since then Middle East. trouble for the neighbor- in a series of tents that • members of Union of the Armenian Evangelical hood. supporters erect almost Churches in the Near East. While the eviction of as quickly as Israeli au- • Rev. Dr. Riad Jarjour, president of the Forum the Hanoun and Ghawi thorities tear down. for Development, Culture and Dialogue and the families has aroused in- Whether or not these Arab Group for Muslim Christian Dialogue. ternational outrage, they evictions stand has enor- • Dr. Tariq Mitri, the Minister of Information for are hardly the fi rst in mous ramifi cations for Lebanon. the neighborhood. Last other Palestinians liv- • Fellowship of Middle East Evangelical Churches November, Mohammad ing in East Jerusalem. A (FMEEC) General Secretary Rosangela Jarjour, and Fawzi al-Kurd were website by the Hanoun in preparation for FMEEC’s general assembly, evicted from their Sheikh family explaining the scheduled for January 2010. Younan asks for Jarrah home. Two weeks situation in detail can be prayer and support for the work of the fellow- later, the ailing Moham- found at http://standup- ship. X mad died. Mrs. Al-Kurd forjerusalem.org/. X Page 8 Church of the Good Shepherd enjoys busy, fruitful summer It’s been anything but a lazy summer at the EL- Among Good Shepherd’s other projects this sum- CJHL Church of the Good Shepherd in Amman, mer were: Jordan. • a “makeover” for the main hall of Al Khei-me- Good Shepherd young people studied the Bible, h (The Tent), the ecumenical community center “Young people want to sang, camped and splashed during their church’s that is a ministry of the church. The hall got new taste Christ in a different youth camp in June. Second Tim. 3:16-17 (“All fl ooring, among other improvements that were way.” Scripture is inspired by God ... ”) provided the camp funded by NMZ. The 100-person hall is used for Pastor Samer Azar theme, “The Bible and My Christian Faith.” Leading congregation gatherings, youth activities, cultur- the 23 youth, ages 12 to 18, were Good Shepherd al events and other social occasions. Pastor Samer Azar and Mirvat Shatara. “We are so blessed to have such a space In addition to daily lectures and devotions, the for our ministry,” Pastor Azar said. “This center youth took a trip to the “Seilgarten” at the Schneller serves the society at large.” The growing number School, where they learned about cooperation, care of senior citizens has motivated the church to de- for others and leadership skills. They spent a night velop a ministry to this group two days a week. at Schneller singing and barbecuing around a camp • a visit by Pope Benedict XVI in May. Among fi r e. They played games at Gilead Camp and went on the pontiff’s many activities in Jordan, he vis- a hike to the King Talal dam. They had an excursion ited Jesus’s baptism site and blessed foundation to the Amman Waves water park. stones for the Roman and Greek Catholic church The camp concluded with “Youth Sunday,” dur- centers that will be built there. King Abdullah of ing which the young participants provided readings, Jordan also gave a plot of land to the ELCJHL, prayers, songs and refl ections about the camp. which hopes to develop a retreat center there. “Young people want to taste Christ in a different • celebrating the 22nd anniversary of its church way,” Pastor Azar said. “They would like to be ad- center. The church, parsonage, parish hall and dressed in their own language and their own imagi- community center were dedicated Aug. 23, 1987. nation. They like to live the gospel message in the • commemorating Jordan’s Independence Day on 21st century; an issue that requires a continuous dia- May 25. logue with the young people in a bid to understand • celebrating the 10th anniversary of King Abdul- their needs and interests.” Azar said the aim was to lah’s coronation, as well as the Great Arab Re- stress the “sola scriptura” of the Reformation to im- volt and Army Day. press on the young people the authority of the Bible • held a joint worship with its German-speaking in the life of the believer. congregation on June 7. Preaching was Propst Azar expressed gratitude to the Finnish Evangeli- Uwe Gräbe of Jerusalem. The liturgy was a mix cal Lutheran Mission for the fi nancial support that of Arabic and German. A reception followed the made the camp possible. service. X Environmental Education Center Rishmawi, from p. 6 ______launches new, improved website In one session, participants gathered in their faith groups and discussed “what is land.” In presentations, The ELCJHL Environmental Education Center has Christians defi ned land as “Holy Land,” Muslims as recently relaunched its website in a new, colorful, Palestine or “waqif” and Jews as “Promised Land.” easy-to-navigate format. Be sure to watch the beau- This provided a basis for discussing land issues, juris tiful slide show on the home page! Their new web prudence and treatment of the “other” in scripture. page can be found at www.eecp.org. X The conference, held in cooperation with the Ger- man Development Service Palestine, a partner of the Beit Jala march focuses attention CCRR, is the fi rst in a series in the next two years on illegal separation wall designed to help religious leaders promote peace and Scores of people marched through Beit Jala to justice among citizens and government offi cials. X commemorate the fi fth anniversary of the Interna- tional Court of Justice’s opinion that construction Confl ict is political, not religious of the wall is “contrary to international law.” Orga- The political – not religious – nature of the Is- nized and led by the ELCJHL Lutheran Church of raeli-Palestinian confl ict was the central theme of the Reformation, the July 9 march capped a week ELCJHL Bishop Munib A. Younan’s July 15 address of workshops, demonstrations and soccer matches to in Pori, . Younan delivered his speech, “Rec- the hardships created by Israel’s construction of the onciliation in the Middle East,” to a conference of separation wall. the UN Association of Finland and the Finnish Red Some attendees reported that military police pre- Cross, in cooperation with the Tampere Peace Re- vented participants from accessing Palestinian search Institute. land. You can read an account of this at http://tiny. The full text of Younan’s address is available at cc/8nViw. X www.elcjhl.org/Finland speech July 2009 fi nal.doc.X