Wednesday, August 26, 2009

ELCA Middle East Network Newsletter - August 2009

Middle East Network Newsletter
August 26, 2009

In this issue:

+ Churchwide Assembly reaffirms commitments in ELCA Strategy for Engagement in Israel and Palestine
+ Talking with Jews and Muslims about Israel-Palestine in our local communities
+ Update on Holy Land youth mission
+ Churches for Middle East Peace: Church leaders send letter to Secretary Clinton on East Jerusalem home evictions
+ Latest reports from United Nations OCHA-OPT

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Churchwide Assembly reaffirms commitments in ELCA Strategy for Engagement in Israel and Palestine

On August 22 by a vote of 690-125, the 11th ELCA Churchwide Assembly reaffirmed the ELCA's commitment to eight tasks relative to the Churchwide Strategy for Engagement in Israel and Palestine. Specifically, the assembly voted "to reaffirm the commitment of this church to:

1. Continue its awareness-building, accompaniment, andadvocacy on behalf of a peaceful resolution of the conflict between Israel and Palestine;
2. Evaluate and refine its peace-making efforts to demonstrate as fully as possible the "balanced ... care for all parties" expressed in the Churchwide Strategy for Engagement in Israel and Palestine (2005; Sect. II.A), while continuing our unique relationship with and accompaniment of Palestinian Christians and the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land (ELCJHL);
3. Learn more about the experiences of both Israelis and Palestinians and their mutual fears, aspirations, and hopes;
4. Work to convey the concerns and perspectives of Palestinians and Israelis that dispel stereotypes and caricatures and promote better understanding;
5. Lift up the voices within both communities, especially those of victims of violence, that seek peace with justice through nonviolent responses to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict;
6. Continue to help alleviate the humanitarian needs of all of those affected by the conflict, especially in Gaza;
7. Support U.S. funding that promotes peace and cooperation for all parties to the conflict; and
8. Continue to pray for the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land and for the Israeli and Palestinian peoples."

The second task above was added by the Assembly to the report of the Memorials Committee which included the other seven tasks. The new task was moved by voting member Pr. Richard B. Geib of Lower Susquehanna Synod.

The second task quotes from Section II A of the Strategy, from a list of "assumptions" which "undergird the ELCA's commitment to intensify its work for peace with justice in Israel and Palestine." The sentence from the Strategy reads in full:
2. Balance. Effective ELCA action will be balanced in terms of its care for all parties in the conflict, but must address forthrightly imbalances of power as they play out in the lives of people in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories.

Peace Not Walls staff welcome comments about how the ELCA can best fulfill these tasks.

Earlier at the Churchwide Assembly, on Tuesday, August 18, a hearing was held on the Strategy. The meeting place was"standing room only," and initial comments were made by Bishops Bruce Burnside, Dean Nelson, Duane Pedersen and Margaret Payne.

Peace Not Walls staff responded to questions such as how we can interact with our Jewish neighbors when discussing theIsrael-Palestine conflict, what we can do if we can't travel to the Holy Land, how the church can speak more clearly than governments which are often constrained in what they can and cannot say, what the ELCA is doing to promote economic progressin the West Bank, and what resources are available to teach about peace in our congregations. Voting members also described personal experiences and offered opinions, such as having been a medical staff volunteer at Augusta Victoria Hospital, the value in meeting with the "Living Stones" in all three faith communities when visiting the area, the importance of being aware of the conflicting narratives and concerns of Israelis andPalestinians and the need to build trust and come to discussions and encounters with humility, the benefit of doing critical biblical and theological work about the conflict, and the dire need for the Mount of Olives Housing Project to provide shelter and a way for the Christian community to remain a significant part of the Palestinian population.

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Talking with Jews and Muslims about Israel-Palestine in ourlocal communities

Voting members at the August 18 Churchwide Assembly hearing on the Strategy for Engagement in Israel and Palestine raised this iss ue and were referred to the following existing resources:

a. Jewish-Lutheran Talking Points - http://ga6.org/ct/gdLYbS51mja4/

b. Windows for Understanding: Jewish-Muslim-Lutheran Relations - http://ga6.org/ct/g1LYbS51mjaX/

c. Covenantal Conversations book, exploring the shared theological framework, special historical relationship, andpost-Holocaust developments and current trouble spots that situate the Jewish-Christian relationship today (accompanying video in production) - http://ga6.org/ct/5pLYbS51mja3/

d. ELCA Christian-Muslim resources - http://ga6.org/ct/g7LYbS51mjar/

e. National Interreligious Leadership Initiative for Peace inthe Middle East (NILI) statements that can be used in local relationships - http://ga6.org/ct/gpLYbS51mjaf/

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Update on Holy Land youth mission

Apply now for the Holy Land Youth mission trip scheduled for July 8-22, 2010, sponsored by ELCA Global Mission, theEvangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land, and the Southeast Michigan Synod. The trip will be a mix of a leadership, peace-building camp with Palestinian youth from theELCJHL and an opportunity to see ancient holy sites and meet people of all faiths who are working together to advocate for peace with justice.

Complete and return the application available online at http://ga6.org/ct/t7LYbS51mjac/.
Cost is expected to be $2000 in addition to airfare. Although the deadline is in December, spaces are filling and limited. It is expected the trip will include about 25 youth (from sophomore year in high school to age 22) and about 7 adults. Fundraising suggestions will soon be available online. Email peacenotwalls@elca.org or call Julie Rowe at 1-800 638 3522 Ext. 2720 with questions.

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Churches for Middle East Peace: Church leaders send letter to Secretary Clinton on East Jerusalem home evictions

Church leaders including ELCA presiding bishop, the Rev. Mark S.Hanson, sent a letter from Churches for Middle East Peace to Secretary of State Clinton this month in response to the eviction of Palestinian families from their homes in East Jerusalem. The letter thanks Clinton for her August 3 statement that "'eviction of families...in East Jerusalem is not in keeping with Israeli obligations.'" The letter notes that "this action took place in the sensitive Sheikh Jarrah section of East Jerusalem close to the 1949 Armistice Line or Green Line," and that the action "undercuts U.S. efforts to create an environment for starting talks for a comprehensive peace agreement and is therefore harmful to both the Palestinians and Israelis hopes for peace." It concludes by calling for "the immediate reversal of this ill-considered eviction" and "the restoration of these houses to their former residents."

Read the full text of the letter at http://ga6.org/ct/t1LYbS51mjae/.

Read the ELCA August 12 news release on the letter - http://ga6.org/ct/tpLYbS51mjaB/

For more, see the August 2009, Fact Sheet: "Sheikh Jarrah" at http://ga6.org/ct/b1LYbS51mjav/.

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Latest reports from United Nations OCHA-OPT

August 2009 Special Focus: The humanitarian impact of two years of blockade on the Gaza Strip - http://ga6.org/ct/bdLYbS51mja5/

West Bank and Gaza Closure Maps June 2009 - http://ga6.org/ct/b7LYbS51mjat/(also at http://ga6.org/ct/tdLYbS51mjad/ )

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Visit the web address below to tell your friends about this.
http://ga6.org/join-forward.html?domain=elca_advocacy&r=YdLYbS5q0gxN

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To receive regular bulletins from Ann Hafften, subscribe at the blog, A Texas Lutheran's Voice for Peace - http://voicesforpeace.blogspot.com/

Monday, August 24, 2009

ELCA's amended Peace Not Walls action

[second corrected version]

For the record, the action of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America in assembly regard to its strategy, “Peace Not Walls: Stand for Justice in the Holy Land” was adopted as amended.

The amendment added a new paragraph at #2, below.

The amended action reads this way:
To reaffirm the commitment of this church to:
1. Continue its awareness-building, accompaniment,and advocacy on behalf of a peaceful resolution of the conflict between Israel and Palestine;
2. Evaluate and refine its peace-making efforts to demonstrate as fully as possible the "balanced ... care for all parties" expressed in the Churchwide Strategy for Engagement in Israel and Palestine (2005; Sect.II.A), while continuing our unique relationship with and accompaniment of Palestinian Christians and the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land (ELCJHL);
3. Learn more about the experiences of both Israelis and Palestinians and their mutual fears, aspirations, and hopes;
4. Work to convey the concerns and perspectives of Palestinians and Israelis that dispel stereotypes and caricatures and promote better understanding;
5. Lift up the voices within both communities, especially those of victims of violence, that seek peace with justice through nonviolent responses to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict;
6. Continue to help alleviate the humanitarian needs of all of those affected by the conflict, especially in Gaza;
7. Support U.S. funding that promotes peace and cooperation for all parties to the conflict; and8. Continue to pray for the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land and for the Israeli and Palestinian peoples.
8. Continue to pray for the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and>the Holy Land and for the Israeli and Palestinian peoples.

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To receive regular bulletins from Ann Hafften, subscribe at the blog: A Texas Lutheran's Voice for Peace - http://www.voicesforpeace.blogspot.com/

Wednesday, August 19, 2009

ELCA Churchwide Assembly underway in Minneapolis this week

The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) is meeting in assembly at Minneapolis this week. See all the business at this link: http://www.elca.org/Who-We-Are/Our-Three-Expressions/Churchwide-Organization/Office-of-the-Secretary/ELCA-Governance/Churchwide-Assembly.aspx

There is a recommendation scheduled for action which affirms the church's commitment to its Peace Not Walls campaign. Peace Not Walls: http://www.elca.org/Our-Faith-In-Action/Justice/Peace-Not-Walls.aspx

A number of synods put forth "memorials" that can be found at this link: http://www.elca.org/Who-We-Are/Our-Three-Expressions/Churchwide-Organization/Office-of-the-Secretary/ELCA-Governance/Churchwide-Assembly/Actions/Voting.aspx#Memorials


This is the Recommendation for Assembly Action:

To receive the memorials of the Eastern Washington-Idaho, Southwestern Texas, Indiana-Kentucky, New England, Northeastern Pennsylvania, Lower Susquehanna,and Metropolitan Washington, D.C., synods related to the ELCA strategy, “Peace Not Walls: Stand for Justice in the Holy Land”;

To reaffirm the commitment of this church to:

1. Continue its awareness-building, accompaniment,and advocacy on behalf of a peaceful resolution ofthe conflict between Israel and Palestine;

2. Learn more about the experiences of both Israelis and Palestinians and their mutual fears, aspirations, and hopes;

3. Work to convey the concerns and perspectives of Palestinians and Israelis that dispel stereotypes and caricatures and promote better understanding;

4. Lift up the voices within both communities, especially those of victims of violence, that seek peace with justice through nonviolent responses to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict;

5. Continue to help alleviate the humanitarian needs of all of those affected by the conflict, especially in Gaza;

6. Support U.S. funding that promotes peace and cooperation for all parties to the conflict; and

7. Continue to pray for the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land and for the Israeli and Palestinian peoples.

There may be substitute motions put forth from the floor, but I am not aware of their language or the timing of such an effort. I invite anyone who has more information that I do to post their comments here. Thanks.

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To receive regular bulletins from Ann Hafften, subscribe at the blog - A Texas Lutheran's Voice for Peace - http://voicesforpeace.blogspot.com/

Monday, August 17, 2009

US Campaign to End the Israeli Occupation - national organizers conference

I want to share this information from the US Campaign to End the Israeli Occupation.

From the US Campaign to End the Israeli Occupation
Coming up in Chicago 8th Annual National Organizers' Conference!
September 12-13, 2009

This is an exciting time for our movement to change U.S. policy toward Palestine/Israel to support human rights, international law, and equality. We have a new President who, for the first time in decades, is exerting pressure on Israel to end settlement activity. This past year we witnessed over $3.3 million of divestment from Caterpillar and the first U.S. college to divest from the occupation, and are gearing up to build on these successes with our fall organizing tour. Join us in Chicago Sept. 12-13 to help plan the future of the US Campaign to End the Israeli Occupation during these exciting times.

See below for information about this exciting gathering:

LOCATION: We will be holding our 8th Annual National Organizers' Conference at the UniversityCenter in beautiful downtown Chicago at 525 South State Street (the intersection of State Street and Congress Parkway). For more information on how to get there, please click here. (http://www.endtheoccupation.org/article.php?id=2065)

REGISTRATION: Now open. The registration fee is $75 and will include conference packets, breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks, and admission to the Saturday key-note speech. To register and pay, click here. (http://www.endtheoccupation.org/article.php?id=2003)

SPEAKERS: We are excited to announce that Omar Barghouti and Rashid Khalidi will be speaking at our conference. See below for the biographies of these two amazing advocates for justice. More details on conference agenda will be announced soon.

Omar Barghouti is a Palestinian political commentator and human rights activist currently studying at Tel Aviv University. He is a founding member of the Palestinian Campaign for the Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel (PACBI) and author of numerous articles and essays on the Israeli Occupation.

Rashid Khalidi is a Palestinian-American historian on Middle East affairs. He currently serves as the director of the Middle East Institute and profession of Modern Arab Studies at Columbia University, and has previously held positions at the University of Chicago, GeorgetownUniversity, and the American University of Beirut. He is a founding trustee of The Center for Palestine Research and Studies and author of six books on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. He also sits on the US Campaign's Advisory Board.

AGENDA: This year's annual conference will be extremely important; all member groups of the US Campaign should start making plans to send delegates today. We'll be discussing the political situation and its implications for our work in the United States, our ongoing political and legislative work challenging military aid to Israel, the functioning of the coalition, and next steps forward on our Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions campaigns. Details for proposal applications will be announced soon. We will be bringing back our Grassroots Training Institute. More details on conference agenda to be announced. (http://www.endtheoccupation.org/article.php?id=2004)

MEMBER ORGANIZATIONS IN GOOD-STANDING: Please note that while individuals and member groups of the US Campaign are encouraged to attend the conference, only delegates of member organizations in good-standing are allowed to submit proposals and vote at the conference. "In good standing" means that your group has paid its membership dues for 2009. Annual membership dues are set at between $100-$1,000 or more depending on the size and budget of the group. Groups that are unable to pay $100/year can contribute $50 or request a waiver of the membership fee from the Steering Committee. Please click here to check to see if your group is "in good standing."You can renew your dues by emailing the National Membership & Outreach Coordinator at office@endtheoccupation.org. (http://www.endtheoccupation.org/article.php?id=2055)

FAQs: We have anticipated some questions you might have and went ahead and offered answers. Click here to read the frequently asked questions. (http://www.endtheoccupation.org/article.php?id=1624)

GRASSROOTS TRAINING INSTITUTE: We are happy to announce the return of the Grassroots Training Institute (GTI) on Sunday, September 13. Please be sure to indicate in your registration form which 3 GTI workshops you are interested in attending.

US Campaign to End the Israeli Occupation
www.endtheoccupation.org

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To receive regular bulletins from Ann Hafften, go the the blog: A Texas Lutheran's Voice for Peace, www.blogspot.voicesforpeace.com

Saturday, August 1, 2009

ELCA Bishop Boerger to speak in Lynnwood, Wash.

Readers in the Seattle area -

The Rev. Chris Boerger, bishop of the ELCA's Northwest Washington Synod will share from the heart via word and photos from his recent journey to the Holy Land.

Bishop Boerger, along with 43 other bishops and spouses of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) and Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada (ELCIC), visited the Middle East in January 2009 to learn more about the reality of the conflict in the Holy Land. Come to see and hear his report on what he discovered as he journeyed among Jews, Muslims and Arab Christians.

Sunday evening, August 9, 7:00pm -9:00pm

Dessert will be served!

Trinity Lutheran Church
6215 196th St. St.
Lynnwood, WA 98036
(half a block west of Highway 99 on 196th, just west of Trader Joes/Albertsons/James Village)

Host: Middle East Peace Builders LifeGroup
For further information, contact:
John Berg JohnTBerg@msn.com / (425) 218-3682
Liz Gimmestad cgimmestad1@hotmail.com
Lenore Peterson lenpeterson185@comcast.net

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