ELCA Synod Bishops
Urge Two-State Solution to Israeli-Palestinian Conflict
MAY 9, 2007
 |
| From left: The Rev. Dean Nelson, bishop
of the ELCA Southwestern California Synod, Glendale; The
Rev. John H. K. Schreiber, bishop of the ELCA Southeastern
Michigan, Detroit; and the Rev. Duane Danielson, bishop of
the ELCA Western North Dakota Synod, Bismarck. |
Three bishops of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
(ELCA) met in Washington, D.C. May 6-8 to urge their
members of Congress to support a solution to the
Israeli-Palestinian conflict that ends the Israeli occupation of
East Jerusalem and the West Bank, guarantees Israels right to
exist, establishes a Palestinian state, and allows Jerusalem to
be shared by Israelis and Palestinians.
The bishops, representing southeastern Michigan, western
North Dakota and southwestern California, are part of a group of
eight ELCA bishops who identified issues related to the Middle
East as a critical priority, and are working together to
advocate for peace in the region.
"I've traveled to Israel and Palestine and seen, firsthand,
the effects of violence and effects of the occupation," said the
Rev. Dean Nelson, bishop of the ELCA Southwestern California
Synod, Glendale. "So I'm a strong advocate for a two-state
solution to end the violence and end the suffering."
The bishops met with their legislators and key policy staff
May 8 following a conference by Churches for Middle East Peace (CMEP).
The conference featured plenary sessions with Robert M. Danin,
deputy assistant secretary for Near Eastern affairs, U.S.
Department of State, and Lincoln Chafee, former U.S. Senator
from Rhode Island. The 150 participants spent the final day of
the conference meeting with their legislators on Capitol Hill to
advocate for a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian
conflict and for Jerusalem to be shared by both Israelis and
Palestinians.
"The people we met with, including Senator (Kent) Conrad (D-N.D.),
were very well-informed," said the Rev. Duane Danielson, bishop
of the ELCA Western North Dakota Synod, Bismarck. "They seemed
to be very supportive and open to hearing the voices of others,
especially those that represent interdenominational coalitions
or conferences that are striving for peace," he said.
Nelson, whose synod includes Los Angeles, met with U.S. Rep.
Lois Capps from California's 23rd district. "Los Angeles is home
to probably the most diverse population in the world, and issues
that affect the global community affect us in Los Angeles," said
Nelson.
The Rev. John H. K. Schreiber, bishop of the ELCA
Southeastern Michigan, Detroit, met with Michigan U.S. Sen.
Debbie Stabenow during the lobby day. His synod has a companion
synod relationship with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in
Jordan and the Holy Land.
"I think the roadmap to peace in the Middle East sits with a
just, two-state solution between Israel and Palestine," said
Schreiber. "I want my government to be more invested than it is"
(in the peace process), he said.
|
