- advocacy for political
solutions that address the rights to security and peace with
justice for both Palestinians and Israelis;
- working to strengthen the
political will of leaders in this country and in Israel and
Palestine to implement the ‘Road Map’ for peace,
specifically the cessation of terrorism and violence, an end
to the Israeli occupation, and the goal of a viable,
contiguous, independent Palestinian state living
side-by-side with a secure Israel;
- encouraging both Israelis
and Palestinians to not only avoid taking actions that
threaten the fragile hope for peace (attacks on civilians
and confiscation of land), but also to take positive steps
that will lead to peace; and
- strengthening relationships
with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy
Land (ELCJHL) and supporting the humanitarian work done by
that church and The Lutheran World Federation (e.g., through
Augusta Victoria Hospital).
While affirming the security
interests of the State of Israel, the assembly acknowledged the
hardship caused by construction of the Israeli separation
wall/barrier on Palestinian land (e.g., for Palestinians
getting to jobs, schools, and places of worship) and the threat it
poses to our companion church’s life and work. Noting that the
ELCA, through earlier Church Council action, had joined the
Lutheran World Federation and World Council of Churches in calling
for an end to the construction of the Israeli separation wall or
barrier being built on Palestinian Land, the assembly urged all
parts of the ELCA to participate in a churchwide campaign,
Peace Not Walls: Stand
for Justice in the Holy Land. The elements of this
campaign include prayer, deepening understanding of the situation
in the region, building relationships and working for peace with
the ELCJHL and with Christian and interfaith partners, building
bridges with Christian churches throughout the Middle East,
intensifying advocacy for a just peace in the region, stewarding
financial resources in ways that support the quest for a just
peace in the Holy Land, and giving to support the church and
humanitarian work in the region.
In adopting this resolution, the
assembly has begun living out the Strategy, which in many
ways consolidates and clarifies our existing ELCA policy and
practice. This Strategy benefited throughout its development from
the input of those who have strong and ongoing relationships with
all parties in the conflict (including members of the Consultative
Panel on Lutheran-Jewish Relations, those engaged in conversations
with Muslims, academics, activists, and a range of others who
brought diverse views and experiences to the task). Key for us in
the process of developing this strategy has been the ELCA’s
relationship with our companion church, the Evangelical Lutheran
Church in Jordan and the Holy Land, and the Middle East Council of
Churches.
The question that has been asked
repeatedly by the press is, “Did the assembly vote to divest from
Israel?” The answer is no. The action taken by the assembly was to
affirm the “stewarding of financial resources – both U.S. tax
dollars and private funds – in ways that support the quest for a
just peace in the Middle East.” I would draw your attention to the
Strategy (Section IV, p. 77) that lists the variety of ways
our church can encourage this be done: giving by members to
support ministries in the Holy Land; promoting positive economic
development in the region; urging US foreign aid be directed to
economic and humanitarian needs; making consumer decisions that
support those in greatest need; and managing collective or
personal investments with concern for their impact on the lives of
all Holy Land peoples.
And finally, I would call your
attention to a section of the Churchwide Strategy for
Engagement in Israel and Palestine (Section V, p. 50 ff) that
makes explicit the way we will continue to work in this area. You
may want to read that whole section, but I would like to
underscore the following: listening and learning from companions
and both those with whom they agree and disagree; drawing insights
from dialogues with Jews and Muslims; working for balance in terms
of care to all parties in the conflict, but addressing imbalances
of power; and building relationships with all who seek peace in
the region. You may also be interested in the Strategy’s explicit
commitment to deepen interfaith relationships, found on p. 54.
Rabbi Eric Yoffie, President of the
Union for Reform Judaism,
addressed our ELCA
Churchwide Assembly
last week. We agree with him that, even as we continue to engage
in frank discussion about issues relating to Israel and Palestine,
we will continue to work shoulder to shoulder to address issues of
poverty and injustice both at home and throughout the world. In
the light of that commitment, I look forward to continuing
conversation relating to actions that can best build peace in
Israel and Palestine.
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