CHICAGO (ELCA) -- A group of nine soldiers with Israeli Defense Forces came to the home of the Rev. Ramez Ansara April 7, requesting him to accompany them as they searched Lutheran Church of Hope, Ramallah. Ansara is pastor of Lutheran Church of Hope, one of six congregations of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan (and Palestine) (ELCJ).
According to an April 8 news release issued by the ELCJ, Ansara went with the soldiers and unlocked the doors of the church for them. Ansara requested that the soldiers not bring their weapons into the church sanctuary; two soldiers left their weapons before they entered. The soldiers searched the altar, organ and pews. They searched several levels of the bell tower, including the bells themselves before moving to the church hall and kindergarten classrooms.
"Using Pastor Ansara as a human shield, the soldiers first pushed him into each room, them jumped into the room with weapons leveled," the release stated. "The search lasted about two and one- half hours. No gunmen, weapons or ammunition were found, as Pastor Ansara had told them at the beginning," it said. At one point, the soldiers asked Ansara if he had a weapon to defend himself. He said, "I don't need a weapon. God defends me."
The soldiers left the pastor to walk to his home alone, stated the release. "This was dangerous, since Israeli snipers are posted to shoot at people who are not in their houses. Pastor Ansara arrived safely at his home at about 3:15 p.m.," local time.
The city of Ramallah on the West Bank is in the 11th day of re- occupation by Israeli Defense Forces. "People are living under a 24- hour curfew and do not leave their homes," according to the release.
"We in the Lutheran church denounce the acts of invading and searching churches and church sanctuaries and demand that the international community and the State of Israel secure the protection and the sanctity of church sanctuaries, compounds and properties," stated the ELCJ release. ---
** The Rev. Mary E. Jensen is communication assistant for the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan (and Palestine).
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.
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Candice Hill Buchbinder
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Candice.HillBuchbinder@ELCA.org
