CHICAGO (ELCA) -- In response to June 24 remarks by U.S. President George W. Bush, the presiding bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), speaking on behalf of the ELCA, said the church affirms several of the points the president raised regarding the situation in the Middle East. The Rev. Mark S. Hanson, ELCA presiding bishop, made the comments in a June 27 statement to the church.
Hanson cited numerous examples in which the official church legislative bodies, such as the ELCA Churchwide Assembly and ELCA Church Council, have spoken for the church on topics related to the Middle East. The ELCA Conference of Bishops, a non-legislative body of the ELCA's 65 synod bishops, presiding bishop and ELCA secretary, has also spoken on Middle East topics, Hanson said.
"For too long, Palestinians and Israelis have been engaged in a destructive spiral of violence and war, with no end in sight," Hanson said in his statement. "It is clear that the governments representing Israelis and Palestinians cannot achieve peace on their own. The time has come for determined international leadership on this issue."
The ELCA welcomed the president's renewed call for an independent Palestinian state and his affirmation of Israel's right to exist, Hanson said.
The ELCA supports Bush's call on Israel "to remove military forces from Palestinian-controlled areas, to stop building settlements in the West Bank and Gaza, and to allow Palestinians freedom of movement," he said. For example, Hanson said the ELCA believes that all Israeli forces must withdraw from Palestinian territories to the borders that existed before the 1967 war, as stated in U.N. resolutions. The church also believes "there is a need for an international force to maintain peace between Israelis and Palestinians," he said.
Hanson did not comment on Bush's suggestion that the Palestinian people elect new leadership. During the recent wave of suicide attacks on Israeli citizens, Bush has criticized Yasser Arafat, chairman of the Palestinian Authority, suggesting that Arafat has not done enough to stop the attacks.
Commenting on the continuing violence in the region, Hanson said the ELCA "vigorously" condemns all attacks on civilians and private property "no matter the source."
"The deliberate targeting of innocent children, women and men is reprehensible and does not contribute to the goal of an independent Palestinian state or to the security of Israel," he said. "We express our condolences to all families who have lost loved ones."
Human rights must be "preserved and protected" for the people living in the occupied territories of the Middle East, Hanson said.
"We agree with the President that it is essential for the international community, especially the United States, to help the Palestinians improve their political and economic systems," he said. "We appeal to Congress to support the President in his efforts to provide assistance to the Palestinian people."
The ELCA presiding bishop pledged that a Prayer Vigil for Middle East Peace, initiated by the ELCA in December 2000, will continue in congregations until there is peace for all people in the Middle East.
"Our prayers are focused on the people of the Middle East who suffer in the midst of political, economic and social uncertainty and destruction," Hanson's statement said. "We pray also that the leaders of Israel, the Palestinian Authority and the United States may be bold, courageous and wise in taking immediate, specific steps and finding equitable solutions for all people in this deeply troubled region."
Hanson sent the same comments to Bush in a personal letter, said Myrna J. Sheie, executive assistant to the ELCA presiding bishop. The letter was a response to a White House request for comment on the president's June 24 speech, she said. -- -- --
The full text of the presiding bishop's public statement can be found at http://www.elca.org/bishop/middleeast.html on the ELCA Web site.
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
