Home Events Church Organizations Resources Get Involved Contact Us	ELCA/Metropolitan Chicago Synod CONCERNING PALESTINIAN CHURCHES AND SCHOOLS WHEREAS, the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Jordan, Jerusalem and the Occupied Territories of Palestine (ELCJ) is deeply involved in working for peace between the peoples of Palestine and Israel; and, WHEREAS, the ELCJ schools are essential for keeping the Christian faith alive among the Palestinian people today and for teaching peace and reconciliation to future generations; and, WHEREAS, Resolution 02-02 CONCERNING THE MIDDLE EAST, adopted by the Metropolitan Chicago Synod at its assembly in 2002, and ongoing efforts of the Working Group on the Middle East have been instrumental in (a) bringing the concerns of Palestinian Christians to the attention of many congregations, (b) raising over $38,000 for the Palestinian Schools Scholarship Fund and (c) sending a delegation of fellowship and support to the Lutheran and Anglican churches and schools in the region; and, WHEREAS, we believe that people of faith are called by God to be advocates for justice, peace, and reconciliation among all people but too often have been silent and disengaged in the process of moral and political discourse. BE IT THEREFORE RESOLVED, that congregations, committees and staff of the Metropolitan Chicago Synod         1) Expand programs for educating members about the ongoing conflict in Palestine-Israel and the efforts of the ELCJ to work for reconciliation leading to a just and enduring peace; and,         2) Implement programs that foster communication exchanges and group visits with the churches and schools of the ELCJ; and,         3) Promote fund raising efforts to support the ELCJ congregations and schools through the designation of November each year as Palestinian Christian Solidarity Month; and,         4) Ask our Synod Bishop and congregational leaders to publicly urge members of Congress and the Federal Administration to take immediate actions helping Israel and the emerging Palestinian state to achieve security, protection of human rights, and the end of Israeli occupation of Palestinian territory; while providing for economic, social, and infrastructure development in areas of need; and,         5) Memorialize the 2003 ELCA Churchwide Assembly to call for similar action throughout the ELCA.	Augusta Victoria Hospital
		Leaders in the Lutheran World Federation (LWF)  fear the Israeli government is about to impose an employer's tax that could cause the closure of the only hospital offering modern treatment for certain illnesses to people living in the Palestinian territories.  Bishop Munib A. Younan of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan, which serves Israel, Jordan and Palestine, said the LWF-run Augusta Victoria Hospital in East Jerusalem was the only specialist cancer unit in the territories and the sole center for kidney dialysis. For more information see: WorldFaithNews Lutheran Office for Gov’t Affairs Lutheran World Federation
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