CHICAGO (ELCA) -- An English-speaking Lutheran congregation in Jerusalem joined with most other Christian churches there and closed its doors Nov. 22-23, in protest of the Israeli government's decision to allow construction of a mosque on a half-acre plot of land outside the Basilica of the Annunciation in Nazareth. The Basilica is built where some Christians say the Angel Gabriel told Mary she would give birth to Jesus.
The Christian churches' protest resulted from Israel's decision to allow construction of the mosque on a portion of land where the municipality had planned a plaza in expectation of a number of pilgrims during the millennial year.
Despite the protest, the cornerstone for the mosque was laid this week. Construction will not commence until after the millenial year.
Israel's decision to allow construction of the mosque came despite "numerous and repeated interventions" by different religious and secular groups, said a Nov. 4 letter signed by several Christian patriarchs in Jerusalem. The patriarchs also said they view the decision "with grave concern" and see it "as a clear discrimination against the Christian community in Galilee." The letter was signed by Theodorus I, Greek Orthodox patriarch; Michel Sabbah, Latin patriarch; Giovanni Battistelli,= =20 custos of the Holy Land; and Torkem Manoogian, Armenian patriarch.
The English-speaking congregation of The Lutheran Church of the Redeemer, Jerusalem, was not eager to close its church, but decided to do so when the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan (ELCJ) decided to close its six congregations, said the Rev. Michael P. Thomas. Thomas and his wife, the Rev. Susan P. Thomas, are pastors of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), who serve the congregation through the ELCA Division for Global Mission. The congregation discussed the matter at its annual meeting Nov. 21 and at a special church council meeting Nov. 22. Redeemer's English- speaking congregation consists of about 80 members, and they are often joined by groups of Christians visiting the Holy Land from the United States. "For us it was really a question of being in solidarity with Palestinian Lutherans," Michael Thomas said. "The Christian quarter of the Old City (of Jerusalem) was virtually empty of tourists Nov. 22 and 23." The Lutheran Church of the Redeemer is also home to three other Lutheran congregations. They are Arabic-speaking (ELCJ), German-speaking (EKD) and Danish-speaking (Danish Mission of the Danish Lutheran Church) congregations. They, too, decided to close, Michael Thomas said. The Thomases posted a letter on the doors to the Redeemer sanctuary, explaining the congregation's action. "This action is taken with our companion congregations in this building to express our heavy hearts over the process by which the Israeli government decided to allow the building of a mosque to commence on the plaza adjacent to the Church of the Annunciation in Nazareth," they said. "We regret deeply that an opportunity for interfaith understanding has become a point of tension," the letter continued. "Our joining with local Christian churches in closing our church on these days is not to be interpreted as an anti-Muslim action, but of solidarity with our Palestinian Lutheran sisters and brothers." "We pray for God's reconciling presence in this unhappy situation," the letter concluded. Almost all churches were closed, including Orthodox and Roman Catholic churches, Michael Thomas said. Among the Christian shrines closed were the Church of the Nativity, Bethlehem, known as the birthplace of Jesus; Church of the Holy Sepulcher, Jerusalem, said to be the tomb of Jesus and the Church of the Annunication. The Christian leaders in the region emphasized their displeasure was not with Muslims, but with the government of Israel's decision, news reports said. Christian leaders closed their churches despite a plea from the Palestinian Authority that churches in the West Bank remain open.
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