ELCA Bishops Call for End to Armed Conflict in Liberia

VANCOUVER, B.C. (ELCA) -- The Conference of Bishops of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) called on the U.S. government to help bring an end to armed conflict in the West African nation of Liberia. The conflict has resulted "in a dire humanitarian situation" because of the displacement of people in the country and others who have fled to nearby Sierra Leone, the resolution said.
The ELCA Conference of Bishops is an advisory body to the church. Its members are the church's 65 synod bishops, ELCA presiding bishop and ELCA secretary. The bishops met here March 7-12 at the invitation of the bishops of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada.
"This is an appeal to all of the bishops to request the United States play a lead role to bring the parties to the table and end the carnage in Liberia," said the Rev. A. Donald Main, who introduced the resolution. Main is bishop of the ELCA Upper Susquehanna Synod, Lewisburg, Pa.
The bishops' resolution said the Rev. Sumoward Harris, bishop of the Lutheran Church in Liberia, appealed to the ELCA to urge the U.S. government to bring the warring parties to the negotiating table. It noted that the leaders of Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea agreed to aid "displaced persons, repatriate refugees, enhance border security and promote economic development in their countries." The bishops also called attention to the allegations of "sexual exploitation of refugee children by humanitarian workers in the three countries."
The bishops resolved to:
+ commit themselves and call upon others of the ELCA to communicate to their elected officials the need for U.S. intervention
+ call upon the ELCA to "hold Liberia and countries of West Africa in their prayers for peace"
+ commend religious leaders in Liberia for their work to end the suffering of the Liberian people
+ call upon the leaders of Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea to "fully implement their recent agreement to bring peace" to the region
+ urge the international community to increase its assistance to displaced people in the region and meet the humanitarian needs of people affected by the conflict
+ call upon the United Nations to investigate fully and assist national efforts to bring to justice those responsible for sexual exploitation of refugee children in the region
The resolution was affirmed by the board of the ELCA Division for Global Mission, which met March 14-17 in Chicago. BISHOPS AGREE TO ADDRESS REFUGEE ISSUES
Members of the Conference of Bishops agreed to join with the Rev. Mark S. Hanson, ELCA presiding bishop, to sign two letters addressed to President George W. Bush regarding refugee issues.
One letter pointed out that the U.S. State Department has indicated it will likely admit no more than 50,000 refugees this year, down considerably from the Bush Administration's commitment to admit 70,000 refugees.
"This is like a lifeboat with 20,000 empty seats!" the letter said. "Dramatic measures are needed to restore our nation's commitment to refugees, which has declined drastically in recent years." Refugees are not terrorists, the bishops' letter said, pointing out that the United States has represented "a haven from persecution."
In addition, the bishops called a $705 million Bush Administration funding proposal for migration and refugee assistance "woefully inadequate." The ELCA bishops asked for at least $841 million for such programs.
"Ours (United States) is a tradition of welcoming neighbors and protecting the persecuted," the bishops' letter said. "It is part of our tradition of liberty, opportunity and the immigrant heritage that is our firm foundation. Their family values are strong. These are the people we want as neighbors."
A second letter signed by the ELCA bishops called on Bush to support and endorse the Unaccompanied Alien Child Protection Act.
"This legislation would provide significant protection to children who would otherwise have to face custody and removal proceedings with the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service," the letter said. "It provides every child in this situation a guardian and a court-appointed attorney to identify and defend his or her best interests."
Unaccompanied children are often jailed and treated as delinquents even though they may have committed no crime, the bishops said. Children in such a system may be deported despite their legal standing, the letter stated.

For information contact:
John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or NEWS@ELCA.ORG
http://listserv.elca.org/archives/elcanews.html