Members of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada’s (ELCIC) National Church Council and Canadian Lutheran World Relief’s (CLWR) Board of Directors approved a new Memorandum of Understanding at their respective meetings this March. The strengthened partnership will see the ELCIC and CLWR working together in new and exciting ways to enhance cooperation and effective programming between the two organizations.

“By integrating the work of the ELCIC’s Global Hunger and Development Appeal (GHDA) into the work of CLWR we will present one clear message to ELCIC members, avoiding the ongoing confusion between GHDA and CLWR,” says ELCIC National Bishop Susan C. Johnson. “Our resources will be better utilized and more focussed, with better results.”

In addition to the integration of the ELCIC’s Global Hunger and Development Appeal (GHDA) into the work of CLWR, the new partnership will see the establishment of a Joint Program Committee which will plan and implement activities related to leadership development and training, development education, advocacy, and international partner projects. The strengthened relationship will also allow for the creation of a shared approach to generating resources within the ELCIC in accordance with the ELCIC and CLWR principles of stewardship.
To advance their collective witness and service CLWR will act on behalf of the ELCIC in regards to the resettlement of refugees in Canada; responding to global emergencies; and gathering donated commodities such kits and quilts to be sent overseas. International development programming, including support for projects of ELCIC international partners will be undertaken by CLWR in consultation with National and Synodical bodies.

Both CLWR and the ELCIC are committed to raising awareness within the ELCIC membership on issues related to international development and the root causes of hunger and poverty and have agreed to adopt a shared approach to development education and advocacy. The sale of alternative trade products within ELCIC congregations and related organizations through Four Corners alternative trade will continue to be encouraged.

Robert Granke, CLWR Executive Director, notes “Both the ELCIC and CLWR bring unique areas of expertise and efficiency to this partnership and by working more closely together we will be better able to engage the members of the ELCIC in their call to serve those in need.”

The new memorandum of understanding was formally signed by ELCIC National Bishop Susan C. Johnson and CLWR President Rev. Mark Harris on March 13, 2009. The terms of the agreement will be implemented starting July 1, 2009.

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The Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada is Canada’s largest Lutheran denomination with 162,100 baptized members in 611 congregations. It is a member of the Lutheran World Federation, the Canadian Council of Churches and the World Council of Churches.

Material provided through ELCIC Information is intended for reproduction and redistribution by recipients in whatever manner they may find useful.

For more information, please contact:
Trina Gallop, Director of Communications
302-393 Portage Ave. Winnipeg MB R3B 3H6
204.984.9172
tgallop@elcic.ca

Subscribe or unsubscribe to ELCIC Information by emailing info@elcic.ca with a short message.

The Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada’s (ELCIC) National Church Council (NCC) met in Winnipeg from March 5-7, 2009. Council members conduct the business of the church between National Conventions and provide direction to the ELCIC’s National Bishop Susan C. Johnson on how the ELCIC can best live out its call to be a church In Mission for Others.

With committee meetings taking place on Thursday, the formal agenda for this first meeting of NCC in 2009 began on Friday morning with a service of Holy Communion. Rev. Claudine Carlson, Eastern ordained representative, and Edward (Teddy) Pope, Eastern lay representative, led the service. Rev. Carlson offered reflections on the beginning of the Lenten journey.

NCC members had a full agenda before them for this meeting. In her opening remarks, National Bishop Johnson reflected on the agenda saying it was the cumulation of a year and a half of work, since she was elected to the position of National Bishop, coming together for presentation to council for further action. Since her election, National Bishop Johnson has been focused on the strategic direction of the ELCIC and ensuring the long-term financial stability of the church.

Dwelling in the Word
National Bishop Johnson led the first of four "Dwelling in the Word" sessions on the agenda for this meeting. "Dwelling in the Word", where a member of council reflects on how a passage of scripture reading has impacted them in a personal way, is a new addition to the council meetings. During her time "Dwelling in the Word", the bishop shared how two pieces of scripture, Psalm 121 and Luke 2:29-32 had come to be a meaningful part of her life and the connection she had with these readings to a member of her family. Throughout the two days of meetings, NCC also heard reflections on scripture from: Heidi Hesselink, Saskatchewan lay representative; Edward (Teddy) Pope; and Rev. Mark Koenker (Manitoba/Northwestern Ontario ordained representative).

"I felt you were speaking directly to me," said an NCC member after one of the sessions on Thursday. Each "Dwelling in the Word" session is approximately five to ten minute and is in response to NCC’s new vision to foster a climate of Spirited Discipleship and share their own personal faith stories both with one another and in a more wider, intentional way.

ELCIC Group Services Inc. Continues Focus on Retirement Benefit Account
NCC members received an update from ELCIC Group Services Inc. (GSI) regarding the Retirement Benefit Account portion of the ELCIC Pension Plan. John Wolff, president of GSI, spoke about the recent steps taken to "immunize the investment risk" within the pension plan, wherein the assets previously held in a balanced fund, including equities, were transferred to a strictly bond and cash portfolio at the end of 2007. Had it not been for this change in investment policy, the current economic and equity market downturns would have significantly increased the solvency deficiency.

"First and foremost on our minds is the responsibility to our retirees," said Wolff, "as well as the financial burden on our congregations."

Wolff noted that the GSI board is continuously looking for new ways to make things better for both retirees and congregations and that the plan put in place to address the solvency deficiency is on track. Wolff is coming to the end of two consecutive terms in this position and was thanked for his excellent work during this time by National Bishop Johnson.

ELW Continues to Work Towards New Vision
Ruth Vince, executive director of Evangelical Lutheran Women Inc. (ELW), reported on the development of a plan for restructuring and visioning that will be presented to the ELW Board when they meet later in March. Vince spoke of changes to financial structuring and how the work of the ELW is focused.

Pam Radunsky, president of ELW who was present for the entire NCC meeting, added, "the ELW Board is very committed to engaging with the church and with other partners to continue to be relevant but [ELW] can’t do that in isolation."

ELCIC Strengthens Partnership with Canadian Lutheran World Relief
In recent months, leadership of the ELCIC and Canadian Lutheran World Relief (CLWR) has initiated conversations to explore new ways in which they may work together. At this meeting of NCC, members received a report from ELCIC and CLWR and heard from Robert Granke, executive director of CLWR, regarding a new vision which would more fully pursue a common ministry serving members of the ELCIC called to be In Mission for Others.

A new Memorandum of Understanding between our two bodies, "moves us in this new direction," noted Granke who went on to say that this enhanced effective partnership would help strengthen the work of the ELCIC and CLWR together and allow for a more shared approach to mission in this area.

NCC members approved the new terms of partnership which will see the integration of the ELCIC’s Global Hunger and Development Appeal (GHDA) into the work of CLWR, along with the establishment of a Joint Program Committee which will plan and implement activities related to leadership development and training, development education, advocacy, and international partner projects. In addition, the strengthened relationship will allow for the creation of a shared approach to generating resources within the ELCIC in accordance with the ELCIC and CLWR principles of stewardship. The new partnership will also be presented for approval to CLWR board members who will meet later in March.

Mission in the World Moves in a New Direction
NCC members ratified recommendations from ELCIC Mission in the World (MW) to move towards a new direction for the world mission program.

"There is much to be gained by moving in this direction," said National Bishop Johnson. "It is our commitment to the program that made us decide to take the steps that we have in this area."

NCC approved a stronger relationship with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) which will transition the MW program to a new model to be known as ELCIC Global Mission and further integrate program areas and functions with ELCA Global Mission.

The MW report to NCC notes that the ELCIC’s commitment, "to God’s mission in the world remains undiminished, and the National Bishop, along with MW staff, support fully that commitment." It further notes that the present financial realities have required a search for something different than what the church is currently doing in this area and due to the strong ties between the ELCIC and ELCA, even through predecessor bodies, this has offered up new possibilities, in addition to the very real ways in which the two churches have long been working together.

NCC Adopts New Strategic Plan
Members of NCC received and adopted a new strategic plan which will guide the focus of the National Office. The plan follows the mandate NCC put in place at the March 2008 meeting where it developed five pillars (Effective Partnerships, Compassionate Justice, Diverse Faces, Focused Framework and Spirited Discipleship) as the guiding principles towards carrying out the ELCIC’s call to be a church In Mission for Others. The strategic plan effectively provides concrete areas of focus for the National Office’s work in these five areas and defines the ELCIC’s strategic direction and goals for service.

As part of their responsibility to provide strategic direction, NCC also reviewed a Resource Generation Discussion Paper that was first presented at the National/Synodical Consultation in February 2009. The discussion paper details the patterns of financial support in the church over the past two decades, makes predictions for future trends regarding giving and the allocation of funds at all levels in the church, and identifies opportunities for increased financial support. NCC affirmed in principle the report of the task force and called for the development of an implementation strategy.

On Saturday, NCC approved a proposal to appoint a task force to begin considering restructuring proposals for the ELCIC. The task force will look at developing a structure for the church that considers how to best equip the ELCIC to be a church In Mission for Others while identifying function, form and size of national and synodical levels of the church, as well as national convention. The task force will be asked to review the proposal based on segments of the church’s constituency and how those areas could be improved or impacted. Interim reports from the task force will be prepared for future NCC meetings with a detailed proposal brought forward for the 2011 National Convention.

NCC also took time to consider the development of a proposed policy on the ELCIC’s position regarding conflict in the Middle East. ELCIC bishops participated in a week-long series of meetings with religious, political and community leaders in Israel and the West Bank from January 6-13, 2009. The trip, part of the 2009 Bishops’ Academy, was planned as a witness to God’s will for a just peace for all people and as an expression of accompaniment with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land (ELCJHL) and ministries of the Lutheran World Federation.

Closing Worship and Next Meeting
NCC concluded with Closing Worship on Saturday afternoon. NCC members will meet next on June 24, 2009, the day prior to the ELCIC’s National Convention. For further information on NCC, visit their web pages at: https://elcic.ca/National-Church-Council/default.cfm

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The Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada is Canada’s largest Lutheran denomination with 162,100 baptized members in 611 congregations. It is a member of the Lutheran World Federation, the Canadian Council of Churches and the World Council of Churches.

Material provided through ELCIC Information is intended for reproduction and redistribution by recipients in whatever manner they may find useful.

For more information, please contact:
Trina Gallop, Director of Communications
302-393 Portage Ave. Winnipeg MB R3B 3H6
204.984.9172
tgallop@elcic.ca

Subscribe or unsubscribe to ELCIC Information by emailing info@elcic.ca with a short message.

From February 6-8, the officers of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada (ELCIC) and its five synods, along with an observer from the Evangelical Lutheran Women, met in Winnipeg for a facilitated consultation. Officers examined current resource trends affecting the ELCIC, explored the impact of current and future financial challenges, and discussed the necessity to consider structural change to administration and programs.

While work in preparation for the meeting had begun months ago in order to provide a broad understanding of the current realities facing the church, the consultation is considered to be starting point for future dialogue that is critical at all levels within the ELCIC.

"There is a broad consensus in the leadership across our church that we need to work together to address the financial challenges facing our church," says National Bishop Susan C. Johnson. "We agree we need some form of smaller administrative structure to allow us to focus on being a church In Mission for Others."

The agenda for the meeting, which both commenced and concluded with a service of Holy Communion, involved participants in both large group and small group settings.

In response to a draft discussion paper prepared by a Resource Generation Task Force appointed by the National Bishop in May 2008, which details the patterns of financial support in the church over the past two decades, makes predictions for the future and identifies opportunities for increased financial support, the consultation participants expressed strong encouragement for the task force to continue its work. The officers identified an urgent need for conversation on structural change to continue and expressed a willingness to "keep everything on the table" as discussions proceed.

Officers also expressed a need for increased attention in the areas of evangelism, outreach and stewardship as the ELCIC seeks to live out the call to be a church In Mission for Others.

Outcomes and recommendations from the National/Synodical consultation will be forwarded on to the ELCIC’s National Church Council which meets in Winnipeg from March 5-7, 2009.

—————————————————————–
The Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada is Canada’s largest Lutheran denomination with 162,000 baptized members in 613 congregations. It is a member of the Lutheran World Federation, the Canadian Council of Churches and the World Council of Churches.

Material provided through ELCIC Information is intended for reproduction and redistribution by recipients in whatever manner they may find useful.

For more information, please contact:
Trina Gallop, Director of Communications
302-393 Portage Ave. Winnipeg MB R3B 3H6
204.984.9172
tgallop@elcic.ca

Subscribe or unsubscribe to ELCIC Information by emailing info@elcic.ca with a short message.

GHDA and CLWR have once again produced resources which may be used to guide your Lenten discipline of prayer and reflection. They are easy to download and print for use in your home or congregation. To access these resources, click on "What We Do" and scroll to Global Hunger and Development Appeal.

Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada (ELCIC) National Bishop Susan C. Johnson and Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) Presiding Bishop Mark S. Hanson released a report today reflecting on their recent visit to the Holy Land and sharing stories of both the darkness and light they experienced as part of the journey. The trip allowed the bishops to witness first-hand, "the daily and increasing limitations of human rights in the region," which they felt would be impossible to do without travelling to the Middle East and, "talking with people about their experiences and hopes and fears."

The North American leaders, 42 synod bishops, as well as spouses and staff members, participated in a weeklong series of meetings with religious, political and community leaders in Israel and the West Bank from January 6-13. The trip, part of the 2009 Bishops’ Academy, had been in the works for over two years and was planned, "as a witness to God’s will for a just peace for all people and as an expression of accompaniment with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land (ELCJHL) and ministries of the Lutheran World Federation (LWF)," says the report.

Just weeks prior to the start of the trip violence broke out in Gaza raising concerns about the safety of academy attendees. After prayerful consideration and communication with people who live and work in Jerusalem and Bethlehem, the trip continued as planned. Reflecting on the decision to proceed, the leaders say the situation in Gaza provided a dramatic backdrop to the travels and for their conversations with people from different faiths and viewpoints who endure fear and bear oppression in ways the bishops have never known.

With scripture and worship framing the daily agenda, the bishops say they felt God’s Word coming alive in startling and powerful ways which further shaped their days and learning. At many points along the way, the Bishop’s worshipped with members of the ELCJHL including at Jesus’ baptismal site in Jordan, on the Mount of Olives, at the Separation Wall, and in the Church of Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem where, "Lutherans were invited to celebrate the Eucharist for the first time ever in a small stone chapel marked with stations of the cross."

Bishop Johnson and Hanson say they commend Bishop Munib Younan, leader of the ELCJHL, for his tireless work for peace in the Middle East and feel that the trip provided an opportunity for awareness and, "fuller knowledge of the ‘facts on the ground’ – the cruel details of the burden of occupation for the Palestinian people that go unreported in our countries and a deeper understanding of Israeli reactions to hateful rhetoric and killing rockets." From this understanding, the bishops hope advocacy will emerge, including a call to advocate for justice and peace that is central to Christian discipleship.

In addition to the darkness, "the strangulation of occupation, the diminishing Christian population, the remembrance of the Holocaust, the fear of war," the bishops say they saw light, "the contagious joy of Palestinian children at the School of Hope, the shared witness of an Israeli and a Palestinian who both lost loved ones and now work together to end the killing cycle of revenge, sharing Shabbat worship in synagogues where congregations prayed for peace in both Hebrew and Arabic, the powerful healing ministry of Augusta Victoria Hospital, and the determined presence in Bethlehem and Jerusalem of Lutheran ministries that transform lives and keep hope alive."

As an affirmation of the difficult decision to continue with the trip as planned, the bishops heard many variations of the words, "You came at just the right time to uphold our spirit."

Just as the 2009 Bishops’ Academy concluded, prayers for a cease-fire in the region were answered. The bishops say they, "pray that negotiation can continue so that the attacks can be halted from both sides and humanitarian aid can be provided for those who are in need of food, medical attention, and housing."

A full version of the "Report and Reflections from the Bishops’ Academy Visit to the Holy Land" is online: https://www.elcic.ca/Documents/academyreportJan09FINAL.pdf

Highlights, pictures and news releases from the 2009 Bishops’ Academy can be viewed online: https://elcic.ca/From-the-Bishop/default.cfm

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The Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada is Canada’s largest Lutheran denomination with 162,000 baptized members in 613 congregations. It is a member of the Lutheran World Federation, the Canadian Council of Churches and the World Council of Churches.

Material provided through ELCIC Information is intended for reproduction and redistribution by recipients in whatever manner they may find useful.

For more information, please contact:
Trina Gallop, Director of Communications
302-393 Portage Ave. Winnipeg MB R3B 3H6
204.984.9172
tgallop@elcic.ca

Subscribe or unsubscribe to ELCIC Information by emailing info@elcic.ca with a short message.

Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada (ELCIC) National Bishop Susan C. Johnson says the ELCIC joins in solidarity with Africans and others around the world in praying for a return to peace to Zimbabwe and, "calls on all ELCIC congregations to pray for our Zimbabwean sisters and brothers," on Sunday, January 25.

At the 9th General Assembly of the All Africa Conference of Churches (AACC), the Assembly declared January 25 as African Day of Prayer and Fasting for Zimbabwe.

The call for prayer comes at a time of increasing need for the people of Zimbabwe. In a letter sent by Lutheran World Federation (LWF) General Secretary Rev. Dr Ishmael Noko on December 16 to LWF member churches in the Southern African Development Community (SADC), Noko urged advocacy to the region’s governments and leaders, "to act in the most responsible – but determined and unwavering – manner to relieve Zimbabweans of the burden they have already carried for far too long."

The economic, political and social decline in Zimbabwe has taken a disastrous toll on the country’s food supply and medical institutions: the BBC reports that 5 million people, almost half the entire population, are in need of food; a cholera epidemic has spread to over 37,000 people and killed 2,200; the Zimbabwe dollar has inflated at such an alarming rate that it has been rendered usless to the point where most people must use foreign currency to pay for basic necessities.

Congregations may wish to use the following prayer on Sunday, January 25:

O God of hope, sovereign of the nations, today, with the All Africa Conference of Churches, we pray for all Zimbabweans and their wounded nation, also remembering before you our sisters and brothers in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Zimbabwe. Help the people of Zimbabwe, with the support of others, to find a process for building peace in which all national actors, regional organizations and the international community are engaged. Give us courage, in whatever ways we can, to support the people of Zimbabwe in rebuilding their nation with peace and justice for all. We pray this in the name of our Saviour and Lord, Jesus Christ. Amen.

The full statement from LWF General Secretary Rev. Dr. Ishmael Noko is at: http://www.lutheranworld.org/News/LWI/EN/2311.EN.html
The LWF Council Public Statement on Zimbabwe is at: http://www.lutheranworld.org/News/LWI/EN/2230.EN.html

—————————————————————–
The Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada is Canada’s largest Lutheran denomination with 162,000 baptized members in 613 congregations. It is a member of the Lutheran World Federation, the Canadian Council of Churches and the World Council of Churches.

Material provided through ELCIC Information is intended for reproduction and redistribution by recipients in whatever manner they may find useful.

For more information, please contact:
Trina Gallop, Director of Communications
302-393 Portage Ave. Winnipeg MB R3B 3H6
204.984.9172
tgallop@elcic.ca

Subscribe or unsubscribe to ELCIC Information by emailing info@elcic.ca with a short message.

North American Lutheran bishops visited this small Palestinian village in the West Bank, northwest of Jerusalem, an area where the Israeli separation barrier cuts through Palestinian agricultural lands, making way for Israeli settlements to be constructed. Many of the bishops helped plant olive trees near the barrier as signs of peace.

Forty-four bishops representing the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) and Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada (ELCIC) are participating in a weeklong series of meetings with religious, political and community leaders in Israel and the West Bank, and visiting religious sites. Their visit, concluding Jan. 13, also focuses on support and encouragement for the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land (ELCJHL), which is timely because of the war in Gaza.

Some 500 trees are to be planted here eventually. Before they left, the bishops visited a local Palestinian man’s home, now surrounded on three sides by a tall metal barrier. Newly constructed Israeli settlements surround his home on the other side of the fence on land that was once his, he said. The bishops prayed at the barrier before leaving.

In remarks here, Adnan Husseini, governor of Jerusalem, Palestinian Authority, said life in the area was difficult for residents because of the barrier. "We need permission to move in and out of the wall," he said. "If we want to build a Palestinian state, we have to move in this state."

The bishops visited this area to do two things, said the Rev. Mark S. Hanson, ELCA presiding bishop. "We will cry out songs of lament for all people, and we will plant olive trees here as a sign of commitment for the generations to come … to see olive trees, not walls."

The Rev. Susan C. Johnson, ELCIC national bishop, promised to remember the people.

"We promise we will return home and continue to accompany you," she said. "We will speak to our governments, and we will work for a just peace for all in this land."

Earlier in the day, the bishops visited the Evangelical Lutheran School of Hope in Ramallah, a coeducational school. The school is one of four schools and four educational programs operated through the ELCJHL. The bishops and spouses were entertained by the school’s Al Raja Dance Troupe, and conversed with several students.

Majdi Habash, an 11th grader, and Mohammad Omar, a 10th grader, said they don’t know whether they will leave the West Bank once they complete school. They said their parents worry that they won’t return.

Omar said he hopes "the U.S. will look at us and Israelis as equals" under the new Obama administration. He said he wants the administration to help Palestinians and not give more weapons to Israel.

People in the United States do not have a clear picture about Palestinians, said Deema Beides, an 11th grader. "Please tell the truth about us," she told the bishops. "We’re not fighting for something that is not ours (land). The conflict is not about religion."

"Please let (others) know the truth," said Rana Burqan, a 10th grader. "Let them know that children in Gaza have a right to live. There’s no difference between Muslims and Christians. We’re all Palestinians."

The bishops concluded their day with dinner at the International Center of Bethlehem. Several local church representatives attended.

(Files from ELCA News.)

Further details on the 2009 Bishops’ Academy Trip to the Middle East can be viewed online: http://2009bishopsacademy.wordpress.com/

Information about the Evangelical Lutheran School of Hope is at http://www.elcjhl.org/ed/schools/hope/hope.asp on the Web.

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The Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada is Canada’s largest Lutheran denomination with 162,000 baptized members in 613 congregations. It is a member of the Lutheran World Federation, the Canadian Council of Churches and the World Council of Churches.

Material provided through ELCIC Information is intended for reproduction and redistribution by recipients in whatever manner they may find useful.

For more information, please contact:
Trina Gallop, Director of Communications
302-393 Portage Ave. Winnipeg MB R3B 3H6
204.984.9172
tgallop@elcic.ca

Subscribe or unsubscribe to ELCIC Information by emailing info@elcic.ca with a short message.

Bishops of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) and the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada (ELCIC) attended and preached at worship services Jan. 11 at five Lutheran congregations in Jerusalem and throughout the West Bank.

Forty-four bishops representing both churches are participating in a series of meetings Jan. 6-13 with religious, political and community leaders in Israel and the West Bank, and visiting religious sites. Their visit also focuses on support and encouragement for the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land (ELCJHL).

ELCJHL congregations and bishops who preached were:
+ Evangelical Lutheran Church of Beit Sahour, Beit Sahour: The Rev. Bruce H. Burnside, ELCA South-Central Synod of Wisconsin (based in Madison)
+ Evangelical Lutheran Church of the Redeemer, Jerusalem: The Rev. Mark S. Hanson, ELCA presiding bishop (Chicago)
+ Evangelical Lutheran Church of Hope, Ramallah: The Rev. Susan C. Johnson, ELCIC national bishop (Winnipeg, Manitoba)
+ Evangelical Lutheran Church of the Reformation, Beit Jala: The Rev. Margaret G. Payne, ELCA New England Synod (Worcester, Mass.)
+ Evangelical Lutheran Christmas Church, Bethlehem: The Rev. Floyd M. Schoenhals, ELCA Arkansas-Oklahoma Synod (Tulsa, Okla.)

The Jerusalem congregation celebrated worship in Arabic and English, led by the Rev. Ibrahim Azar, pastor of the Arabic- speaking congregation, and the Rev. Mark Holman, pastor of the English-speaking congregation. The worship theme was Jesus’ Baptism.

In his sermon, Hanson told the congregation that God’s word of promise for all is that "the heavens are still opened and the Spirit of God is still descending."

"In Baptism God commissions us and promises us the strength of the Holy Spirit for the struggle for peace with justice. How good it is that, even in the midst of occupation and war and violence, we have something to say, and that is that Jesus the Christ, crucified and risen, continues to accompany us," the ELCA presiding bishop said.

"The liberating gift of Christ through faith by God’s grace is that Christ continues to accompany us as we accompany you, Palestinian Christians, in your struggle for justice and peace," he said.

Some of the visitors for worship at the Church of the Redeemer represented four ELCA seminaries: the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago; the Lutheran Theological Seminary at Philadelphia; the Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary, Columbia, S.C.; and Trinity Lutheran Seminary, Columbus, Ohio. Students and faculty from the seminaries were in the Middle East as part of their "J-term" programs in which the Lutherans tour and study in different regions of the world each January.

Following worship the North American bishops, spouses and staff were hosted by member families for lunch throughout Jerusalem and the West Bank.

Information about the 2009 Bishops’ Academy is at: http://2009bishopsacademy.wordpress.com/

(Files from ELCA News)
—————————————————————–
The Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada is Canada’s largest Lutheran denomination with 162,000 baptized members in 613 congregations. It is a member of the Lutheran World Federation, the Canadian Council of Churches and the World Council of Churches.

Material provided through ELCIC Information is intended for reproduction and redistribution by recipients in whatever manner they may find useful.

For more information, please contact:
Trina Gallop, Director of Communications
302-393 Portage Ave. Winnipeg MB R3B 3H6
204.984.9172
tgallop@elcic.ca

Subscribe or unsubscribe to ELCIC Information by emailing info@elcic.ca with a short message.

About 60 people, including about 10 bishops of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) and the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada (ELCIC), worshipped at the site of Jesus’ Baptism on the banks of the Jordan River on the Feast of the Epiphany, Jan. 6. Joining the bishops were members of Good Shepherd Evangelical Lutheran Church, Amman, a congregation of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land (ELCJHL).

Epiphany is a Christian commemoration of the visit by the three wise men or magi to the infant Jesus.

His Majesty King Abdullah II of Jordan gave land at the site to the ELCJHL, which plans to build a chapel and retreat center, said the Rev. Munib A. Younan, ELCJHL bishop.

The Rev. Mark S. Hanson, ELCA presiding bishop and president of the Lutheran World Federation, said the baptismal site "will be a site of renewal of our Christian faith and our baptismal vocation to establish peace with justice first here in the Holy Land." He said the site reminds Christians to be peacemakers, especially while the conflict in Gaza continues.

Worshipping at the historic site on Epiphany is a reminder "of the gifts of forgiveness and salvation we receive through our Baptisms," said the Rev. Susan C. Johnson, ELCIC national bishop. "We thank our Lord and Savior for the gift of peace that we are asked to share, especially during time of conflict in Gaza. May this site and the remembrance of our Lord’s Baptism continue to help strengthen us to be peacemakers in our world."

In remarks to media before the service, Younan thanked the king for the gift. "We are a church that wants to serve justice," Younan said. "We want all violence in Gaza to end. We want the occupation to end. We want to live in peace and justice in a two-state solution." Jerusalem should be a shared city for all people, he said.

Hanson, Johnson and Younan also shared a 20-minute private audience in Amman with His Majesty King Abdullah II. They discussed the future of Jerusalem as a shared city with universal access to Holy sites; the king’s commitment to the continued presence of Arab Christians in the Middle East; improved relationships between Christians and Muslims; and the urgent need to end the conflict in Gaza and respond to the humanitarian crisis, Hanson said. The king suggested continuing the conversation when he visits the United States in February to meet the new U.S. president, Barack Obama, the ELCA presiding bishop added.

The North American Lutheran bishops, spouses and staff left Jordan and traveled into Israel to Jerusalem, where they joined several other bishops from both churches. Forty-five bishops are in Israel Jan. 6-13 for their annual academy, a time for theological study and reflection. The bishops have planned a series of meetings with religious, political and community leaders in Israel and the West Bank. Some ELCA bishops canceled plans to join the academy because of the fighting in Gaza.

In opening remarks Jan. 6, the Rev. Dean Nelson, bishop, ELCA Southwest California Synod, Glendale, said the bishops’ visit has three purposes: to support and encourage the ELCJHL, to learn what living in the region is like for Israelis and Palestinians, and to advocate for peace for all people. Later the same evening, some bishops, spouses and staff attended an Orthodox Christmas celebration in Bethlehem.

The North American Lutheran bishops’ visit has gained greater visibility because of fighting in Gaza between Israel and Hamas, compounded by rapidly declining living conditions for local residents. Since the fighting began right after Christmas, nearly 600 people have died, many of whom are Palestinian civilians.

(Files from ELCA News)

Further information about the Bishops’ trip is available online at: https://elcic.ca/From-the-Bishop/default.cfm

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The Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada is Canada’s largest Lutheran denomination with 162,000 baptized members in 613 congregations. It is a member of the Lutheran World Federation, the Canadian Council of Churches and the World Council of Churches.

Material provided through ELCIC Information is intended for reproduction and redistribution by recipients in whatever manner they may find useful.

For more information, please contact:
Trina Gallop, Director of Communications
302-393 Portage Ave. Winnipeg MB R3B 3H6
204.984.9172
tgallop@elcic.ca

Subscribe or unsubscribe to ELCIC Information by emailing info@elcic.ca with a short message.

The Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada’s (ELCIC) Global Hunger and Development Appeal (GHDA), Canadian Lutheran World Relief (CLWR) and their partners in the region have taken action to address the humanitarian needs of the many Palestinians who are unable to escape the escalating violence in the Gaza Strip. A joint appeal has been issued to support immediate relief efforts.

Through CLWR, the ELCIC is cooperating with other members of Action by Churches Together (ACT) International, including the Lutheran World Federation (LWF), to respond to emergency needs as the situation develops. Priority relief measures in the coming days and weeks include the provision of food items like rice, flour and high protein biscuits; cooking fuel; blankets; medical supplies; as well as psychosocial counselling.

Aid workers report desperate circumstances. Food is in extremely short supply. Fuel is running low. Mobile medical clinics have been destroyed by Israeli air strikes. Hospitals continue to receive a steady stream of patients; many of them civilians who were struck by shrapnel or falling debris while sitting in their homes.

“No one goes out on the streets except if they really have to,” said Omar Almajdalawi from Jabalia in Gaza, an aid worker with ACT International member DanChurchAid. He tells that most people now live with open windows, despite the cold, so that the glass does not break into a hundred pieces from the impact of missiles exploding in the area.

At the Al Ahli Arab Hospital in Gaza City, a ministry of the Episcopal Diocese of Jerusalem, supported by ACT International members, staff have been working around the clock to cope with casualties and are exhausted. Director Dr. Suhaila Tarazi reports “the hospital is in urgent need of medicine and supplies. There is no electricity in all of Gaza and so we are currently running off of generator power. We have very little supplies left — enough to last for another week. If this crisis continues, we will be in a very dire situation.”

CLWR has a long history of humanitarian work in the region through the LWF, of which the ELCIC is a member church, including support for the Augusta Victoria Hospital (AVH) in East Jerusalem. AVH offers specialized medical services like cancer treatment and dialysis to Palestinians. The hospital does treat some cancer patients from Gaza and will need additional funds to cover the costs of housing, food, transportation, and other support for these patients and accompanying family members who are unable to return to Gaza.

To support relief efforts in Gaza, donations can be made to GHDA – Gaza Appeal as follows:
– Via the ELCIC Website: www.elcic.ca (click on the Donate Now link)
– By mail: GHDA, 302-393 Portage Avenue, Winnipeg, MB R3B 3H6 (please indicate "GHDA – Gaza Appeal" in the memo portion of the cheque)
– Through all ELCIC Congregations

Further information about the work of ELCIC’s Global Hunger and Development Appeal can be viewed online at www.elcic.ca/ghda

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The Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada is Canada’s largest Lutheran denomination with 162,000 baptized members in 613 congregations. It is a member of the Lutheran World Federation, the Canadian Council of Churches and the World Council of Churches.

Material provided through ELCIC Information is intended for reproduction and redistribution by recipients in whatever manner they may find useful.

For more information, please contact:
Trina Gallop, Director of Communications
302-393 Portage Ave. Winnipeg MB R3B 3H6
204.984.9172
tgallop@elcic.ca

Subscribe or unsubscribe to ELCIC Information by emailing info@elcic.ca with a short message.