Support for Lutheran Ministries in Palestine

ELCA Churchwide Assembly Action CA03.04.09

Resolved
To thank the Metropolitan Chicago Synod, the New England Synod, and the Southeast Michigan Synod as companion synods of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and Palestine, other synods, congregations, and individual members for their support for the ministries of the ELCJ and their continuing advocacy for peace in the Arab-Israeli-Palestinian conflict;

To reaffirm the ELCA’s commitment to accompany the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and Palestine and its ecumenical and interfaith partners, to carry out public policy and human rights advocacy on their behalf, and to offer humanitarian relief and development assistance;

To affirm the continuing ELCA Prayer Vigil for Peace in the Middle East, asking that the members of this church in public and private prayer hold all people of the Middle East in their prayers;

To request that the Division for Global Mission and the Division for Church in Society develop and implement programs that will

1. further educate ELCA members about the ministries of the ELCJ;
2. provide information about the ongoing conflict between Palestinians and Israelis; and
3. foster better communication between members of our church bodies, including possible speaking tours and ELCA group visits to the ELCJ;

To urge ELCA members to raise funds for the ELCJ by supporting the World Hunger Appeal and the ELCA initiative managed by the Division for Global Mission in order to

1. assure the future of Palestinian Lutheran schools;
2. meet the emergency need for scholarships; and
3. support the overall ministries of the ELCJ, including its ecumenical and interfaith efforts for peace, justice, and reconciliation in the Arab-Israeli-Palestinian conflict;

To request that the ELCA churchwide organization continue to participate in advocacy efforts related to the State of Israel’s tax case against the Lutheran World Federation, including the Augusta Victoria Hospital; and

To decline to designate November of each year as Palestinian Christian Solidarity Month.