ELCA NEWS SERVICE

August 8, 2006  

Lutheran World Leader Joins in Call to End Middle East Violence
06-119-JB

     CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The leaders of three global church
organizations -- including the Rev. Mark S. Hanson, president of
the Lutheran World Federation, Geneva -- have called for an end
to the fighting in Lebanon and Israel and conflict in Gaza.  The
church leaders issued a joint public statement Aug. 8, saying
they were "shocked" by the violence, death and destruction
occurring in Gaza, Israel and Lebanon.
     Hanson, who also serves as presiding bishop of the
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), based here, joined
in the statement with the Rev. Clifton Kirkpatrick, president of
the World Alliance of Reformed Churches, Geneva, and stated clerk
of the General Assembly, Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.),
Louisville, Ky.; and the Rev. Samuel Kobia, general secretary,
World Council of Churches, Geneva.
     "As followers of Jesus Christ, the Prince of Peace, and as
leaders of the World Council of Churches and the worldwide
fellowships of Lutheran and Reformed churches, we are shocked by
the relentless violence, death and devastation occurring in
Lebanon, Israel and Palestine," the church leaders wrote.
     "We mourn the loss of life.  We abhor the untold human costs
of this conflict, especially its impact on innocent people.  We
deplore the destruction of infrastructure and property.  In the
face of tragedy of such magnitude, we affirm that God calls us to
do justice, reconcile with our enemies and live together in
peace," they wrote.
     The church leaders called on Hezbollah and Israel to end the
fighting in Israel and Lebanon, and called for the United States,
European Union and Arab States "to exercise their influence
toward this end."  They also called on Israel, the Palestinian
Authority and Hamas to end the conflict in Gaza.
     To date, the church leaders said the number of Lebanese
deaths is approaching 1,000 people, one-third of them reportedly
children under 12.  The number of Israeli deaths is near 100.
     "Whatever the reality of the alleged provocations by both
sides of the conflict, this spiral of violence serves no end but
the devastation of Lebanon and the inflicting of wounds of terror
in Israel," the church leaders wrote.  "Neither the terror of
Katyusha rockets nor the destruction of Lebanese homes, schools
and villages can contribute to a lasting peace in the region.
Such acts will lead to even deeper hatred between the parties
than that which has fueled the current violence."
     The church leaders noted that the Israelis have said they
will continue military operations in Lebanon until there is a
"peacekeeping force"on the ground.  Hezbollah has said it will
not stop fighting until Israel's military presence has left
Lebanon.
     "It is time for this intransigence by both parties to end.
Israel must withdraw speedily from all the Lebanese territory,
and Hezbollah, at the same time, must cease its actions against
the Israeli people," the church leaders wrote.
     About 175 Palestinians, many civilians, have been killed
since Israel began military operations in the Gaza Strip, the
church leaders said.  The destruction in Gaza "brings added
hardship to people who already have nothing.  The people of
Israel know the terror of random rockets launched day and night,"
they wrote.
     "While it is true that terms for a lasting peace cannot be
reached in a brief time frame, the world cannot wait for signs of
'a new Middle East' to stop the killing.  It is time for the
leaders of the nations, working through the United Nations, to
bring to bear the full force of their influence.  A cease-fire is
an imperative first step to end the violence.  As people of
faith, we implore all parties, in God's name, to agree to this,
lest violence spread further through a region already stained
with the blood of innocents," the church leaders said.
     When a cease-fire is achieved, the church leaders said
political leaders and other parties should "begin the work for a
compassionate order that will lead to a lasting peace.  Our
organizations and our churches are eager to share in that
endeavor."
     "The task is great and the way is hard, for fear must be
overcome with faith, hate with trust, enmity with reconciliation
and injustice with justice.  But it is a task worthy of our
efforts and it is the way that leads to life," the church leaders
concluded.
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     The full text of the joint statement is at
http://www.ELCA.org/bishop/m_endviolence.html 
on the ELCA Web site.

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