Lutherans Send Emergency Funds to the Middle East

CHICAGO (ELCA) -- In response to recent armed conflict in the Middle East, members of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) sent $10,000 to the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Jordan (Palestine) (ELCJ) for emergency relief.
According to the Rev. Munib Younan, bishop of the ELCJ, the current incursion into Palestinian cities and towns by the Israeli Defense Force has caused immense suffering among the general population.
"Our Palestinian people, including members of our Lutheran churches, have been sequestered in their homes since Thursday, March 29," Younan said. "People are running short of milk, water, medicine and other necessary items."
A four-hour period in which people could leave their homes took place April 2. "After five days in their homes, many people hurried to the downtown [area] to get food and medicine," Younan said.
The temporary cease fire was not honored by Israeli soldiers, he said. "A 13-year old boy named Kindi was shot in the leg while he and his father were buying fruit and chocolate. I know this child and his family. They belong to the Anglican Church. Kindi has been hospitalized," Younan said.
"The situation of the Israeli incursion and insurgence is unbearable," Younan added.
ELCA International Disaster Response funds sent to the ELCJ will help provide food, medicine, drinking water, emergency shelter and other materials and supplies. Coordinated through the ELCA Division for Global Mission, International Disaster Response funds are also used to rebuild communities and to repair structures destroyed by major disasters.
The cities of Ramallah and Bethlehem have been seriously damaged by Israeli attacks, said the Rev. Y. Franklin Ishida, director for international communication, Division for Global Mission. "Ramallah has been declared a war zone and civilian movement is severely restricted," he said.
In Bethlehem, Israeli tanks were positioned around the Old City from Manger Square to the Christmas Lutheran Church compound, Ishida said. The Rev. Mitri Raheb, pastor of Christmas Lutheran Church, reported tanks and soldiers have been stationed immediately outside the church and parsonage, Ishida said.
"Bethlehem is experiencing the worst invasion in decades if not centuries. The whole infrastructure is under attack," Raheb said.
"The beautiful stone-paved streets around Christmas Lutheran Church are devastated. The tanks were standing around our church and firing at the center of the Old Town. The entrance to our parsonage, car garage and staircase were destroyed," Raheb said.
"Our art and crafts workshops ... experienced great destruction. The offices of our architect and engineer also experienced much vandalism. The apartment of our volunteers as well. My office was hit, too," he said.
"Journalists are forbidden from entering the city to cover the cruelty of occupation. I wonder how long can the world watch Sharon destroy everything we try to build. This has nothing to do with fighting terrorism," he said. "We are here and will remain here. Nothing will be able to stop us witnessing to the Lord of Life," Raheb said.
The International Center in Bethlehem, which Raheb directs, was scheduled to host a special Lutheran World Relief study and solidarity visit to the Middle East. Staff of the center concluded April 2 that they could no longer host visiting trips, especially those scheduled to begin next week. Nine U.S. Lutherans were scheduled to participate on a study trip next week; it has been postponed until November. Lutheran World Relief is the overseas relief and development agency of the ELCA and Lutheran Church- Missouri Synod.
A delegation from the ELCA New England Synod has postponed its trip to the Middle East. Scheduled to leave April 2, the delegation of three pastors and one lay leader made the decision when "a phone call to Jerusalem from the airport confirmed that the reception of the delegation at this time would be more problematic than helpful," said the Rev. Margaret G. Payne, bishop of the New England Synod. The synod's central office is located in Worcester, Mass. It maintains a "companion synod" relationship with the ELCJ.

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