ORLANDO, Fla. (ELCA) -- The 2005 Churchwide Assembly of the
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) adopted an Arab and
Middle Eastern ministry strategy Aug. 11 by a vote of 858 to 6.
The strategy's recommendations support Lutheran Christians of
Arab and Middle Eastern ancestry in congregations, develop
ministry with this ethnic community, and educate the general
membership in appreciation of Arab and Middle Eastern heritage.
The churchwide assembly, the chief legislative authority of
the ELCA, is meeting here Aug. 8-14 at the World Center Marriott
and Convention Center. About 2,300 people are participating,
including 1,018 ELCA voting members. The theme for the biennial
assembly is "Marked with the Cross of Christ Forever."
Members of the Arab and Middle Eastern community and ELCA
staff members together developed the strategy beginning with a
consultation in 1992. The Rev. Frederick Rajan, executive
director, Commission for Multicultural Ministries, said there are
now 4 million people of Arab and Middle Eastern heritage in the
United States. "This ministry opportunity abounds," he said.
The ELCA has Arab language congregations in Brooklyn, N.Y.,
Chicago, Ill., and Dearborn, Mich. The strategy recommends the
start-up of at least five new Arab and Middle Eastern
congregations by 2015. Discussion in hearings named growing
population concentrations in the Las Vegas and San Francisco
areas.
The strategy recommends specific actions to "identify,
equip, and nurture a new generation of clergy and lay leaders for
Arab and Middle Eastern ministries." Financial support is also
recommended for this ethnic-specific ministry. Rajan said, "Most
Arab and Middle Eastern congregations simply cannot self-
support," noting financial struggles of new immigrant
populations.
Lutherans of Arab and Middle Eastern heritage embrace a role
as bridge builders in the strategy. It recommends, "In order to
neutralize mistrust and negative attitudes toward Middle Eastern
people in particular, the ELCA Arab ministries and congregations
can provide safe haven and function as community service
centers."
The Metropolitan New York area has experienced this bridge
building soon after the events of Sept. 11, 2001 and today.
"I hope the assembly understands the gifts we're receiving
by doing this," said the Rev. Stephen P. Bouman, bishop of the
ELCA Metropolitan New York Synod. The Salam Arabic Lutheran
Church, Brooklyn, "is one of the only places in the world where
Christians and Jews and Muslims were talking together on the
grass roots level," he said. The congregation maintains
relationships with social service agencies, the FBI, the police
force and others according to their pastor, the Rev. Khader El-
Yateem, and offers language courses, youth programming and more
for its community.
The Rev. Bassam J. Abdallah, consultant for Arab and Middle
Eastern ministries, ELCA Multicultural Ministries, said, "[Arab
and Middle Eastern Christians] have a very deep root in the
history of the church. Lutheranism is foreign to the grand
majority of people." He urged, "Please open your congregations
and arms for them. They are your family in Jesus Christ."
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Information about the ELCA Churchwide Assembly is at http://www.elca.org/assembly/05 on the Web.
For more information contact:
John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or news@elca.org
http://www.elca.org/news
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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
