CHICAGO (ELCA) -- About 100 Arab and Middle Eastern missionaries and ministers of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) and the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod came together to discuss outreach within the Muslim community in the United States. "Time of Crisis, Time of Opportunity" was a conference the churches hosted Oct. 22-23 in Detroit.
In a series of presentations and Bible studies, participants explored the "value" of Lutheran outreach and the "ministry challenges" many Arab and Middle Eastern ministers and missionaries face following Sept. 11, when terrorists destroyed the World Trade Center in New York City and damaged the Pentagon near Washington, D.C. Participants also focused on training missionaries to work with media and news organizations.
The American people face both social and economic crises, said the Rev. Richard A. Magnus, executive director, ELCA Division for Outreach. "Real and perceived threats have resulted in an environment of fear and mistrust which has manifested itself in many ways," he said.
"As Christians, it is our duty to reach out and provide help, friendship and shelter to our Muslim neighbors. To accomplish this, we must first identify the crisis that Muslims in America face. Only then can we recommend the various ways and means of reaching out to this community and use this as a 'Time of Crisis, Time of Opportunity,'" Magnus said.
"The average American believes that all Middle Eastern people are Muslims," said the Rev. Bassam J. Abdallah, First United Lutheran Church, Hammond, Ind. Abdallah, consultant for Arab and Middle Eastern ministries, ELCA Commission for Multicultural Ministries, delivered a presentation on fears faced by ethnic-specific churches after Sept. 11.
"We have not educated our congregations correctly about Islam. In order to teach, we must understand Islam first. We must understand the tradition and know where the gaps of faith are. What is lacking in Islam is the true understanding of Jesus Christ," Abdallah said in an interview.
The "average American" has "forgotten that Christianity was born in the Middle East, although the number of Christians there are minimal. We make up less than eight percent of the 280 million people in the Middle East. Nevertheless, we are still strong in the faith," Abdallah said.
"There are many reasons why people from the Middle East migrate to other places in the world. [Reasons] include economic, political and religious persecution," Abdallah said. "When they arrive on these shores, they bring with them their faith. It is incumbent upon churches, all churches -- ELCA in particular -- to welcome [Middle Eastern] immigrants, to make them feel at home in the church."
Funding for the conference was provided by Aid Association for Lutherans, a fraternal benefits society based in Appleton, Wis., Lutheran Brotherhood, a fraternal benefits society based in Minneapolis, ELCA Commission for Multicultural Ministries and ELCA Division for Outreach.
For information contact:
John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or NEWS@ELCA.ORG
http://listserv.elca.org/archives/elcanews.html
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About the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America:
The ELCA is one of the largest Christian denominations in the United States, with 2.8 million members in more than 8,500 worshiping communities across the 50 states and in the Caribbean region. Known as the church of "God's work. Our hands.," the ELCA emphasizes the saving grace of God through faith in Jesus Christ, unity among Christians and service in the world. The ELCA's roots are in the writings of the German church reformer Martin Luther.
For information contact:
Candice Hill Buchbinder
Public Relations Manager
Candice.HillBuchbinder@ELCA.org
