Greetings from Bishop Younan and the pastors and members of the ELCJ. We were happy to observe the 2004 Week of Prayer for Christian Unity with our Christian brothers and sisters in Jerusalem. The first ecumenical service was held at the Lutheran Church of the Redeemer in the Old City on Sunday, January 25, and each evening of that week many Christians gathered in various churches to worship and pray together. The attendance at all the ecumenical services was outstanding, demonstrating once again how important it is for Christians in Jerusalem and in all this land to gather together to gain strength from God’s Word and from one another.

In this newsletter we will tell you about the visit of a delegation from the U.S., which included two ELCA bishops and a U.S. Congresswoman; about Bishop Younan’s visit to the U.S. for a special ordination and for a meeting with members of the U.S. Congress and congressional staff members; about a new ELCJ staff member from Sweden; about reports of earthquake damage to ELCJ church property and Lutheran World Federation (LWF) buildings; and a new feature in the ELCJ newsletters – special reports from the ELCJ schools.

1. U.S. Delegation of Bishops and a Congresswoman Visits the ELCJ
Many delegations from all over the world come to visit the ELCJ but for the first time we welcomed a delegation with two ELCA bishops and a U.S. member of Congress. From January 9-16, 2004, the ELCJ was honored to host U.S. Congresswoman Lois Capps (Democrat, representing the 23rd District in California), ELCA Bishop Dean Nelson of the Southwestern California Synod and ELCA Bishop Murray Finck of the Pacifica Synod, also in California. The Rev. Mark Brown of the Lutheran Office of Governmental Affairs (LOGA) organized the ELCA sponsored factfinding trip and accompanied the group to Israel and Palestine.

Pastor Brown of LOGA, with the approval and encouragement of the ELCA, worked to bring U.S. Representative Capps and the two ELCA bishops to visit not only Israel but also Palestine, with a focus on the ELCJ ministry and work and the LWF projects, especially Augusta Victoria Hospital. Rep. Capps belongs to an ELCA congregation in Santa Barbara, CA, and was willing to come on a factfinding trip which none of her colleagues in the U.S. Congress had ever made.

In their six days in Israel and Palestine, the delegation packed in numerous visits with both Israeli and Palestinian governmental officials; U.S. embassy and consulate officials; Christian Heads of Churches in Jerusalem; Jewish rabbis; and consuls general from Belgium, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, Spain, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Turkey and the USA, all of whom relate to the Palestinian Authority. The delegation visited Augusta Victoria Hospital; went to Jayyous to see the Separation Wall and to visit with Palestinian people affected by the wall; visited Al Am’ari Refugee Camp in Ramallah, particularly the Christian center for disabled children and young people; and the delegation visited two ELCJ schools and four ELCJ churches. There were many visits with individuals and small groups, in addition to a few visits to historic and religious sites.

On Sunday, January 11, a large worship service was held at the Lutheran Church of the Redeemer in the Old City of Jerusalem. Bishop Younan and Pastor Ibrahim Azar from the ELCJ conducted the service; Bishop Finck preached the sermon; Bishop Nelson con-celebrated the Eucharist with Bishop Younan; and Rep. Capps brought a greeting. Following the service, the delegation met with members of the congregation to hear the real pain and suffering they are experiencing due to the Separation Wall and the difficult and harmful Israeli measures taken in Jerusalem in regard to the repatriation of Palestinian spouses and children.

Later Rep. Capps wrote, “My six-day trip to the region was unforgettable. You can be sure that I have returned to Washington more determined than ever to help Palestinians and Israelis stop the violence and bloodshed and achieve a comprehensive, lasting peace agreement.”

Bishop Nelson and Bishop Finck have also written detailed reports about their experience as part of the delegation, and are sharing their impressions with their synods.

One example of Rep. Capps’ commitment to help stop the violence and bloodshed is described below. She and another U.S. House of Representatives member organized a congressional meeting to which ELCJ Bishop Younan and ELCA Presiding Bishop Mark Hanson were invited.

2. Bishop Younan in the U.S.: Ordination and Congressional Briefing
Bishop Younan preached the sermon in the ordination service for Mr. Roni Abed-El-Masih in Detroit, Michigan, on February 13. The newly-ordained Pastor Abed-El-Masih is from Jerusalem and now will serve an ELCA Arabic-speaking congregation in Detroit. Bishop Robert Rimbo of the ELCA Southeast Michigan Synod presided at the ordination. The service of ordination with participation from ELCA and ELCJ bishops was yet another manifestation of the partnership between the Southeast Michigan Synod and the ELCJ.

Bishop Younan said in his sermon, “As you, Roni, will be ordained today having received the call and with your strong and weak points in your personality, you follow the Lord and walk in the footsteps of all the clouds of witnesses who preached the gospel and served humanity. The church nowadays does not need masters or criticizers. The church needs people like you who are ready to serve in love, to preach with sincerity, to live in honesty and to care for everyone equally. Above all the church needs you to be among the people of your congregation in times of joy and sorrow, even if you feel you have nothing to share with them. The attitude of sacrificial love that is derived from the cross of Jesus is the only attitude that makes you a servant and asks you to be loyal to your call.”

On Wednesday, February 11, Bishop Younan was privileged to speak at a U.S. Congressional Meeting in Washington, DC. The meeting had been arranged by U.S. Representative Lois Capps who had recently visited the ELCJ (see above article) and U.S. Representative John Shimkus (Republican from Illinois, 19th District). Presiding Bishop Mark Hanson of the ELCA also spoke at the meeting which was attended by seven U.S. Representatives in Congress and thirty-five congressional staff people.

Bishop Younan was graciously received as a moderate “who is passionately and relentlessly working for peace,” Bishop Hanson stated. According to the ELCA News Release about the meeting, Bishop Younan is quoted as follows:
“The United States holds the power for a just peace in the Middle East. We, as Palestinians and Israelis, cannot agree among ourselves. Only the United States can implement peace if it remains an honest broker.”

In meeting with members of Congress, Bishop Younan offered three “points” for contemplation:

• “The Christian Church is prophetic and we should be a prophetic people,” defining prophetic as “condemning injustice, occupation and spiral violence.” The bishop stated, “Occupation is an injustice; it is a sin against God and humanity. It deprives a person of humanity and dignity, as well as demoralizing first the occupier and then the occupied. We need to liberate both peoples: the Israelis from the mentality of occupation and the Palestinians from the yoke of occupation.”
• The bishop has “a vision for peace and a vision for a two-state solution that involves the coexistence of people living side by side peacefully with equality, reconciliation and justice.” The bishop expressed hope for a “shared Jerusalem” for Muslims, Christians and Jews. “We should not allow extremists to kidnap the Middle East for political or religious scenarios and agendas. We should invest in moderation in the Middle East.”
• The bishop urged that attention be drawn to work for a new “Palestinian society. . . We want a Palestinian society, a democratic civil society that respects every human being regardless of religion or gender.”

While in Washington, Bishop Younan and Bishop Hanson also visited privately with Senator Tim Johnson of South Dakota.

On his U.S. visit Bishop Younan spoke at Valparaiso Lutheran University in Valparaiso, Indiana; at the weekly chapel service at the ELCA Lutheran Center in Chicago; and at several worship services and meetings in the Southeast Michigan Synod. Bishop Robert Rimbo and Pastor Jack Eggleston of the Southeast Michigan Synod arranged meetings with the chiefs of staff for both Michigan senators: Carl Levin and Debbie Stabenow. Bishop Younan stated that the visit to Southeast Michigan Synod has further consolidated the partnership and relationship with the ELCJ.

3. Welcome to the Rev. Kjell and Inger Jonasson from Sweden
The Jonasson family returned to Jerusalem the middle of January 2004. The Rev. Kjell Jonasson previously worked in Palestine from 1980-85 as the Overseas Secretary for the ELCJ, seconded from the Church of Sweden. Inger shared her art expertise with the students at the Lutheran School of Beit Sahour, and the Jonassons lived in Beit Sahour. Now Kjell and Inger have returned to work with various Lutheran groups. Inger is using her art expertise in volunteer work at the International Center of Bethlehem, connected with Christmas Lutheran Church. Kjell is now working with Bishop Younan as the Secretary for International and Ecumenical Affairs on the ELCJ staff, and he is also working with the Swedish Theological Institute in Jerusalem. We welcome Kjell and Inger back!

4.Earthquake Damage to Church Steeple at Christmas Lutheran, Bethlehem

On Wednesday morning, February 11, an earthquake measured at 5.3 on the Richter scale shook Palestine, Israel, Lebanon, Syria and Jordan. The epicenter was deep under the northeast corner of the Dead Sea, in the lowest place on earth. Many people were fearful and unnerved to feel the earth moving, and the nervousness and fear continue, according to some reports from ELCJ schools and churches.

A check on all the ELCJ churches, schools and buildings showed that little or no damage was sustained except for Christmas Lutheran Church in Bethlehem. There the 112 year old church steeple lost part of the massive stone surrounding the cross on top of the steeple. Miraculously, Pr. Mitri Raheb reported, the fallen 80 pound limestone did not harm anyone, just leaving a dent in the street. Civil defense authorities inspected the steeple from inside, detecting four cracks in the upper part, each being nine to twelve feet long. The authorities evacuated the neighboring shops, closed part of the street and warned that other large stones as well as the iron cross on top of the steeple might fall at any moment.

However, the cross and steeple, 180 feet high, continue to stand, and now the challenge is to get the steeple repaired. Pr. Raheb stated that the problem is in getting to the top of the steeple to fix the damage and prevent a real tragedy from happening. Special and costly scaffolding and cranes are needed for such a job, which probably are not available in Palestine. The equipment and expertise may need to come from Israel. Pr. Raheb has sent an urgent request for financial help from partner churches because the cost of repairing the steeple will be great.

Dr. Brian Neldner, the Interim Representative, LWF-Jerusalem, has reported that some cracks have been found in the Augusta Victoria Hospital main building. Most of these can simply be repaired although one area will require some structural strengthening. Dr. Neldner states that nothing dangerous has happened to the hospital due to the earthquake. The LWF Vocational Training School in Beit Hanina has also sustained some cracks in the walls.

5. A New Feature in the ELCJ Newsletter:

ELCJ Schools and Educational Programs
Written by Mr. Andy Willis
Assistant to the ELCJ Schools’ Director

Comments from Dr. Charlie Haddad, ELCJ Schools’ Director:
“At the core of our work in Jerusalem and Palestine is the wellbeing of this land’s children. In a place of great political turmoil and uncertainty today, we take a holistic approach to education, understanding our students as complex individuals composed of a variety of gifts, talents, interests and needs. We are constantly seeking new ways to implement this perspective in our schools, offering a variety of non-traditional courses and extra activities for our students, developing alternative evaluation procedures to gradually replace the traditional exam-based system, and encouraging our faculty and staff members to also be engaged in a lifetime of learning.”

The Ball is Rolling at the Martin Luther Community Development Center (MLCDC)
-- Andy Willis
Those strolling the time-worn streets of the Old City of Jerusalem will find something new this season. Next door to the Lutheran Church of the Redeemer, the Martin Luther Community Development Center (MLCDC) has just begun to open its doors to the public. This past November and December the MLCDC began its first educational course for the Old City community and hosted a Christmas Bazaar to share a little holiday spirit and invite the neighborhood to come inside and have a look.

“The Old City of Jerusalem needs a place like this,” said Ms. Diana Kattan, Director of the MLCDC. Ms. Kattan, a Palestinian Jerusalemite and recent Masters program graduate of Hebrew University, was hired by the ELCJ in August 2003 to oversee the start of programming at the MLCDC. “There are no other centers in the Old City in which offerings in education, vocation and recreation are all combined. I think the MLCDC will be a place where everyone here can belong and develop.”

Under the auspices of the ELCJ and the administration of the ELCJ Schools and Educational Programs Director, the MLCDC has plans to become a bright light with the Old City community. From 1998 until 2003, the building once functioning as the Martin Luther School remained unused. After conducting a needs assessment of the Old City community and undertaking a rigorous strategic planning process, the ELCJ began a major renovation of the building in the spring of 2003: old walls were torn down and new ones put up, ceilings were replaced; carpet was laid; and everything given a fresh glow.

The Center is now equipped with sparkling new facilities to be used for computer courses, language and secretarial classes, public lectures of general interest to the community, classes in vocational training tailored to the character and needs of the local market, and programs in physical education targeting the area’s youth. The work of the MLCDC is broadly aimed at bettering its community, “bringing new life and opportunity in the Jerusalem area and beyond,” as the Center’s promotional literature states.

On November 29-30, a chilly weekend in Jerusalem, the MLCDC hosted a Christmas Bazaar to help familiarize the community with the Center’s facilities and offerings. Students from four ELCJ schools were present to display arts and crafts from their schools and provide entertainment in the form of music and dance. Ms. Kattan estimates that over the two days 800-1000 people (residents of the Old City and visitors and tourists) came into the Center to have a look around, enjoy a cup of tea and browse the Christmas items for sale by the Bazaar’s vendors.

On December 2, the MLCDC welcomed its first group of students with a course in English proficiency for local teachers. The Center is pleased to have Ms. Biffy Hall, a language instructor from Scotland, teaching the first course. “It’s a delight to be here and a great adventure to be part of something new, “ Ms. Hall said. “We hope this place will grow and develop to bring people and the community together through learning.”

For Ms. Kattan, the past months have been exciting, finally seeing the Center’s newly-painted hallways bustling with people from the Old City. “In Arabic we have a saying,” she commented in December. “’Paradise without people is not a place to be entered.’ Our facilities are beautiful; but ultimately it’s the people here who will give this place its life and meaning.”

PLEASE KEEP IN YOUR PRAYERS:

• The first round of courses at the MLCDC;
• Expansion of social work programs at the Lutheran School of Hope, Ramallah;
• Installation of technology equipment for distance learning capabilities in all ELCJ schools;
• The 2004 projects at the Lutheran Environmental Education Center, Beit Jala.

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Now in the New Year of 2004, we thank you for your continued prayers and work on behalf of the ELCJ churches, schools and people. We encourage you to share the information about the ELCJ with your families, friends, co-workers and church members.

Noted by Rev. Dr. Mary E. Jensen
Communications Assistant to Bishop Dr. Munib A Younan, ELCJ

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