Bishop Hanson's April 4, 2002 Middle East Statement 

The statement which follows has been e-mailed to all synod offices, asking them to distribute it electronically to their congregations so that it might be read at or distributed during every ELCA congregation's worship service this coming Sunday, April 7, 2002:

When a Passover meal becomes a bloody massacre, when the site of Jesus' birth is turned into a place of violence, when religious sanctuaries become battlegrounds for war, people of faith cannot remain silent.

The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) is deeply concerned about current events in the occupied territories of the West Bank. The violence that we all have witnessed through the media is unacceptable, no matter who may be at fault. It is time for Israelis and Palestinians to end this violent conflict, to stop killing each other, to stop the destruction of property -- including church buildings -- to lay down their arms and to engage in a process that leads to peace. I have called on President Bush and Secretary Powell to use their great influence to halt this dreadful and violent situation
(see April 2 letter to President Bush at www.elca.org/ob/lettertopresident.html).

While we are concerned for the welfare of all people, I am especially concerned for our brothers and sisters of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan (and Palestine) (ELCJ). Their safety has been jeopardized. Basic needs such as food, water and medicine have been cut off. Christmas Lutheran Church in Bethlehem has been damaged, was occupied by Israeli soldiers and its pastor held hostage for a few hours before the soldiers left. Actions such as these are totally unacceptable.

The ELCA has responded to this crisis by providing a $20,000 gift to the ELCJ through International Disaster Response to be used for food, water and medicine. Another $100,000 has been provided for relief services to the Lutheran World Federation's Augusta Victoria Hospital in Jerusalem, the Middle East Council of Churches and the Near East Council of Churches Committee for Refugee Work in Gaza.

In this difficult time in the Holy Land, I call upon the members of the ELCA to:

• pray fervently for peace for all people in the region.
• pray for US leaders, that they may be filled with the wisdom to find a peaceful solution to the violence.
• write to senators and representatives (see www.congress.gov for addresses) and President Bush (www.whitehouse.gov/contact), urging them to use their offices to seek an immediate cease-fire and provide for an international presence to provide for and maintain a lasting peace.

The Rev. Mark S. Hanson
Presiding Bishop
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
April 4, 2002

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