Skip to main content

The Upload

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ:

I pray you had a blessed week.

I am deeply saddened by the latest conflicts in Israel and Gaza. In the very lands that our Lord and Savior walked and brought the Good News of Peace, conflict, violence, hatred and killing persists. So what caused this latest conflict? Why do both sides keep bombing and killing? Well, that depends on which side you want to listen to.

Basically there are two broad perspectives. The first, presented by Israel and its allies, is that rocket-fire from the Gaza Strip by Hamas and other militants is an intolerable threat to the country, and that Israel is simply responding in self-defense. The second, presented by Hamas and its allies, is that the economic blockade of Gaza, the arrest of hundreds of Hamas members over the past month, and the heavy ordnance that has pounded the tiny enclave is intolerable, and they're responding in self-defense.

To be perfectly frank, I would have to say, both sides are right and both sides are wrong. They are right in that they are pursuing their interests with the tools that they've decided are best suited to the purpose, rockets and bombs and both sides would like the attacks from the other side to stop. But they're wrong if they think they're going to achieve their objectives, or if the latest burst of fighting will do anything beyond reinforcing an ugly status quo.

This fighting is killing more and more people everyday. The killing includes Muslims, Jews, and Christians and my heart aches over not only this current conflict, but for the ongoing conflict that has been going on for centuries. As people of faith, all of us have been created by God and he called us to live differently, and to love each other as he loves us.

I do not have an answer for this conflict, but I am praying for peace constantly and I hope you are too!

Last week, The Presiding Bishop of the ELCA, Elizabeth Eaton, sent a letter to the Presiding Bishop of The Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land, The Rev. Dr. Munib Younan. I have included in this mailing a copy of that letter, which I read to the congregation in worship last Sunday.

In her letter (see letter below), Bishop Eaton said that the people of the ELCA stand in solidarity with our brothers and sisters in the ELCJHL congregations, and that we join them in prayers for peace.

Please join me in praying for peace.

Have a blessed week!

Shalom,

Pastor Dave



July 17, 2014

Dear Bishop Younan,

On behalf of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, I am writing to express profound concern for

you, our sisters and brothers in Christ. Our hearts are heavy as we read about and see images of the

violence being inflicted on both Israelis and Palestinians. This suffering and loss of life are inexcusable

before God. As followers with you of the Prince of Peace, and as children of God, the Creator and

Sustainer of all life, we long for peace and a just resolution to the escalating conflict between the State of

Israel and the Palestinian people. I want to respond directly to your call to us earlier this week to

participate in interventions and actions “to create hope in a hopeless situation”.

The steadfastness of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land (ELCJHL) is a

reminder of this hope we have in Christ Jesus. The church’s strong witness for coexistence grounded in

peace with justice permeates every level of congregational, educational, and diaconal service. Our faith is

strengthened by knowing how, even in the midst of great difficulties, the Body of Christ is working in

Palestine and Jordan for the good of all communities.

Along with the witness of your pastors and lay leaders, your witness, Bishop Younan, has strengthened

our confidence that peace can indeed be achieved among the two peoples and three religions that share

the Holy Land. Your statements, speeches, and sermons have been a model for promoting both political

and interreligious coexistence, along with your strong support of the Council of Religious Institutions of

the Holy Land, which you helped found.

We are grateful for your continued uplifting of the voices of moderation and against extremism and

support to you in these efforts. We appreciate the long-standing work of the ELCJHL schools in

demonstrating the importance of education though a curriculum based on peace, nonviolence, peaceful

co-existence and the strengthening of civil society for the benefit of all communities. We understand that

this present crisis has further hurt the financial wellbeing of the ELCJHL schools, as many parents are

now unable to pay tuition. We encourage ELCA members and congregations to assist the ELCJHL by

making contributions through the ELCA.

At this time of great uncertainty, we join you in your call for a cessation of all hostilities between Israel

and Hamas and a return to direct peace talks to achieve a comprehensive and sustainable peace based

upon a two-state solution and adherence to international human rights and humanitarian law. We wish to

convey our solidarity with you and the members of ELCJHL congregations, joining with you in prayers

for peace. I encourage all ELCA congregations to participate in a minute of silence as we together pray

for peace in the Holy Land.

While I lament that my plan to be present with you and with the leaders and members of the ELCJHL

later this month has been postponed, I look forward to our time together in Jordan and the Holy Land. We

deeply regret that the most recent round of negotiations have not reached a successful outcome that will

lead to peace and security for Palestinians and Israelis alike. We reaffirm our pledge to work diligently

with you and all people of good will to urge political leaders in the United States and around the world

contribute to ending this conflict by addressing its root causes so a sustainable peace is possible.

May God be with you, your church and all the people of the Holy Land.

Sincerely,

Elizabeth A. Eaton

Presiding Bishop

Tags: Weekly Word