Rev. Dr. Imad Haddad, Bishop-elect, Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land (ELCJHL), addressed delegates at the 2025 ELCIC National Convention, as he delivered the third Rejoicing in Hope thematic talk on Saturday afternoon.
Haddad provided a lens into the context on the reality in Palestine, accompanied by the sharing of personal lived experience. He discussed the traumas and challenges Palestinians face: the barrier that isolates approx. 9.4 percent of the West Bank territory, resident permits, identity cards, house demolitions, the restriction of movement, imprisonment, a lack of access to water, ecocide, the loss of education systems, houses of worship, heritage, culture.
“Our reality as well, in Palestine, is an ongoing genocide. People are dying. People are losing their homes. A loss of generations, a loss of human dignity, a loss of faith in humanity and human rights,” he shared.
“So, rejoicing in hope. What hope are we referencing? I will really cling to hope, but it is a hope that is not alienated from reality, a hope that understands the challenges. A hope that is great enough to choose life, a hope faithful enough to pose a question, ‘my Lord, why have you forsaken me?’, yet without losing faith in the justice of God. God is just. That is our hope.”
Haddad went on, sharing signs of hope that he rejoices in.
“Another part of our reality: we love life. We live it, hopefully, abundantly,” he said, giving testament to the prophetic voice of the ELCJHL.
“We care for our people, and because we care for our people, we speak and react. That’s part of our leading in society.”
Thanking Haddad for his presentation, Bishop Susan Johnson announced that an ELCJHL Appeal will be launched in the coming weeks. The ELCIC National Office and Eastern Synod will partner on the financial appeal with the hope of raising $50,000 to support our Global Mission and Companion Synod partner.
