ELCA NEWS SERVICE

March 30, 2005

ELCA Board Plans For Engagement In Israel, Palestine
05-054-MRC

     CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The board of the Evangelical Lutheran
Church in America (ELCA) Division for Global Mission acknowledged
an "urgent" request from Lutheran "companions" in the Holy Land,
approved a strategy for engagement in Israel and Palestine, and
attended to other business when it met here March 18-20.
     The board called on the ELCA Church Council to "use all
available means" to make the church's 5 million members aware of
the "immediate threat" to the future of the Evangelical Lutheran
Church in Jordan and the Holy Land (ELCJHL) and hope for peace in
the Middle East posed by the construction of an Israeli
separation wall on Palestinian territories.
     According to the ELCJHL, the extension of the wall
"threatens the very continuation of the church and its
ministries."  Scheduled to be completed this year, the wall
separates many Palestinians from their usual sources of
education, health, social, commercial and religious services and
undermines the possibility of a secure Palestine, which is
necessary for a lasting "two state solution" with a secure
Israel.
     The global mission board also called on the council to be "a
bold and urgent voice" to the U.S. government, encouraging the
government to exercise its "substantial influence on the State of
Israel" to end construction and remove all existing sections of
the wall.  The board asked that the ELCA Division for Church in
Society intensify the church's advocacy efforts and urge the 65
synods of the ELCA, at their assemblies this year, to "take
appropriate action" on advocacy that calls for an end to
construction and removal of existing sections of the separation
wall.
     The council is the ELCA's board of directors and serves as
the legislative authority of the church between churchwide
assemblies.  It will meet here April 8-11.  Churchwide assemblies
are held every other year; the next is Aug. 8-14, in Orlando,
Fla.
     "There is a sense of urgency to move this resolution into
action," said S. Christine Mummert, Harrisburg, Pa., board chair,
in an interview.  "Although President Bush has committed [funds]
for Palestinians to rebuild their infrastructure, this [funding]
got stopped at the appropriations committee.  The urgency here is
that if people don't see change, they may be disillusioned" and
"the peace process would be undermined if that were to happen,"
she said.
     In a separate action, the board noted that the U.S. House of
Representatives passed legislation that would provide $200
million in supplemental assistance to Palestinians with "some
restrictions."  The board expressed hope that the U.S. Senate
will pass similar legislation without restrictions, and it
expressed appreciation for the advocacy efforts of the ELCA
through its Division for Church in Society, which is working to
support unrestricted aid to Palestinians.
     In another action, the board affirmed the "Churchwide
Strategy for ELCA Engagement in Israel and Palestine" and
recommended the council affirm and convey the plan to the 2005
ELCA Churchwide Assembly with a resolution to call on "all
expressions of the ELCA to participate in the emerging campaign
for peace with justice in Israel and Palestine."
     The strategy provides a history and lists assets the ELCA
brings to peace-building efforts in the Middle East, current ELCA
policy and practice, sets of desired outcomes and action steps to
achieve those outcomes.
     Last year the council asked the Division for Global Mission
and Division for Church in Society to develop a strategy that
would enable the ELCA, in relationship with its "ecumenical and
interfaith partners," to contribute to the wider movement for
peace with justice in the Middle East.  The strategy highlights a
campaign, "Peace not Walls:  Stand for Justice in the Holy Land,"
designed to "energize" members of the church to build
relationships with companions in the Middle East -- particularly
with the ELCJHL -- and help the ELCA live out its commitment and
call to be a "public church."
     In another resolution, the board conveyed to the council a
concept that illustrates how Lutherans will "actively accompany"
the Lutheran church in the Holy Land through worship, prayer and
advocacy.  The concept, still under development, is that each
synod of the ELCA will receive communion ware formed from "clay
of the Holy Land" and "fashioned" by the International Center of
Bethlehem, a ministry related to Christmas Lutheran Church,
Bethlehem.  The communion ware will be used during worship at the
2005 ELCA Churchwide Assembly, and it will "journey" from synod
to synod for use by congregations during worship.  Prayers,
education materials and suggestions for advocacy will accompany
the communion ware.
     "The [concept] is designed to raise awareness among all
synods of the ELCA that we are in communion with our brothers and
sisters in Palestine," said Mummert.

Global Mission Board Approves Strategic Plan, Receives Reports
     The global mission board approved a work plan for the
division in 2005-2006.  The work of the division will focus on
leadership development, peacemaking, sustainable development and
the church's companion synod program.
     This year the ELCA churchwide organization is restructuring
its ministries to align itself with a "Plan for Mission" adopted
by the 2003 Churchwide Assembly.  The strategic plan outlines the
reorganization of the church's governance and structure, which
includes replacing divisions with program units and using program
committees instead of boards.  Proposed changes to the ELCA
Constitution related to structure and governance will be
considered at the 2005 ELCA Churchwide Assembly.
     "Our board has worked very well and has exercised good
cooperation with staff of the division.  We've made contributions
to policy as well as policy monitoring.  As board chair, I've
worked to bring a willingness for experiential learning among
board members by visiting some of our missions.  In September,
some members of the board went to Palestine," Mummert said.
     The board received a report from the division's executive
director, the Rev. Rafael Malpica-Padilla.  He said the strategic
plan of the ELCA churchwide organization places the "Division for
Global Mission, in collaboration with its global companions and
strategic allies, in an opportune position to respond to the
challenges for global mission today.  Some of these challenges
arise from the ever changing global context, as well as shifts in
mission theory and practice."
     Malpica-Padilla said one key area of engagement for the
division is the "companion synod" program.  "What began as a
program to provide opportunities for mutual support in prayer and
visitation has become a means for ELCA synods and congregations
to actively participate in the global mission endeavors of this
church.  This is a much-welcomed development, but one we have not
been able to manage proactively.  Synods and congregations are
very involved in global mission efforts, from visits to funding
specific projects, from advocacy to sending people to serve with
their companions.  All these activities reflect the vitality and
interest global mission generates," he said.
     "The challenge for us is not only how to manage it" but "how
we rethink our role as stewards of this church's global
relationships and empower and enable synods, congregations,
institutions and strategic allies for participation," Malpica-
Padilla said.
     He cited some concerns "to keep in mind as we resource the
ELCA for global mission.  The companion-synod program is not a
substitute for the global mission unit of this church, and the
companion-synod program is not a reconfiguration of the
missionary societies of old."
     "One key function of the ELCA Division for Global Mission is
to redistribute the funds and human resources of this church," he
said.  "We cannot support global mission on interest alone.  We
need to build on sustainability," Malpica-Padilla told the board.
     In other business, the board received presentations by David
Jones, an ELCA missionary who serves as administrator for Phebe
Hospital, Liberia; Gustaf Odquist, policy advisor for the Middle
East, International Department, Church of Sweden; and Rubi
Esperazna Flores Alvarado, director for diaconia, Christian
Lutheran Church in Honduras.
_ _ _
     Information about the ELCA Division for Global Mission is
available at http://www.elca.org/globalmission on the Internet.

For information contact:
John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or [log in to unmask]
http://www.elca.org/news