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Canadian Lutheran World Relief Forum in Medicine Hat

by Garth Wehrfritz-Hanson

On Saturday, October 19, 2002, around 40 people met with Ruth Jensen, Executive Director of Canadian Lutheran World Relief (CLWR) at St Paul Lutheran Church, Medicine Hat. Contact was also made via teleconference with Bishop Munib A. Younan of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan (ELCJ); Rabbi Arik Ascherman of the organisation Rabbis for Human Rights; and Dennis Freddo of the Lutheran World Federation (LWF). The Rev. Roland Kubke, pastor of St Paul was the evening moderator.

The forum format consisted of pre-written questions from the Medicine Hat community, which were read by the moderator and then answered by the panel members. Most of the questions focussed on the present situation in Israel, terrorism, antisemitism, the need for reconciliation and a lasting, just peace.

According to Mr Freddo, the Lutheran World Federation has condemned violence and terrorism. On some issues, the LWF may speak in an advocacy role at the United Nations in New York. The LWF does not necessarily support all of the goals or share the same views of organisations they work with around the world. Ruth Jensen also said that CLWR has a similar “disclaimer” regarding its work with other organisations.

Bishop Younan said that he condemned the terrorist attacks on the U.S.A. last year. He also stated that we need to be cautious about media coverage – none of us should become victims of propaganda. We must ask what are the root causes of the present tragic situation in the Middle East. Palestinian Christians are asking for security and a just peace with the Israelis. He said there is a need for a just solution for Palestinian refugees, land occupation and proper access to water.

Rabbi Ascherman expressed his gratitude to Bishop Younan as they work together for a just peace between Israelis and Palestinians. He said the struggles and challenges are very complex, and they began even before Israel occupied Arab land in the 1967 war. He stated that even if we end the occupation, people in Israel are not under the false illusion that everyone will be “lovey-dovey” overnight. Rabbi Ascherman explained how he and his colleagues in Rabbis for Human Rights were instrumental in helping a Palestinian mother and child be admitted into a hospital, saving the child’s life. Within the context of occupation, nobody should stand idly by in violent situations. As an Israeli, a rabbi and a Zionist, violence is rejected, said Rabbi Ascherman. The rabbi also noted that interfaith work, humanitarian relief, and making official statements all have their place, violence of any type is not God’s will.

When Bishop Younan was asked about the problem of antisemitism, he said that his people have lived with the Jews for centuries. Antisemitism is at root racism, he stated. “We must fight every kind of racism.” He insisted that we must make the important distinction between being anti-Jewish and being critical of present-day Israeli policies. As Christians we are pro-peace, pro-justice, pro-reconciliation – we are equals in God’s eyes, we’re all God’s people, the bishop proclaimed.

In responding to the issue of antisemitism, Rabbi Ascherman declared that anybody, before they criticize Israel, must search themselves and their own motives for such critique before they are able to speak the truth. He said that human rights violations; the destroying of olive trees, homes, wells, all provoke hostility; both Israelis and Palestinians have contributed to the present situation.

Bishop Younan declared that he and the ELCJ have spoken about antisemitism and racism in their speeches and in church publications. He claimed that antisemitism is not a problem in Jerusalem; rather, it is a problem in Europe and North America. He believes that the fundamentalist Christians provoke antisemitism, with their apocalyptic worldview. As a Palestinian, he would not permit anyone to kill a Jew. We look at Christ, the bishop said, as a Lord of love, therefore suicide bombings are unacceptable. Lutheran schools of the ELCJ emphasise building a culture of peace and non-violence. It’s the duty of the church to resist violence and counter-violence; to give hope and life where there is little, if any.

Rabbi Ascherman observed that all people of faith are searching together for reconciliation. We will be more effective he said if we search together. Bishop Younan responded by saying that “reconciliation doesn’t only depend on hand shakes and politicians. We need to see the human being in the other, including our enemies. When that happens, Israel-Palestine will be a land of milk and honey.”

In reply to a question concerning the allegation that CLWR is a tool of other organisations and their agendas, which may lead to a conflict of interests; the bishop defended the record of the ELCJ. He said the ELCJ has a clear budget, is audited and is very transparent in the spending of their funds. He admonished the Medicine Hat audience to trust the work of the ELCJ; they are our brothers and sisters in the Middle East and hence are fulfilling the mission of the whole church there.

In his closing remarks, Bishop Younan issued a clarion call to the Medicine Hat audience. He told us that unemployment in the West Bank and Gaza is 70%. As affluent Christians here in Canada, we need to ask how we might help the Lutheran church in Jerusalem and the Holy Land to survive, he urged. The bishop appealed to us to sponsor a Palestinian child; build hope and understanding; keep families from immigrating out of Israel-Palestine; identify and support their mission so that their mission and ours become one; resist becoming victims of the mass-media propaganda machine by establishing direct contacts with the ELCJ and reading their newsletters; pray for both Palestinians and Israelis for a just peace and reconciliation. Ruth Jensen added that contributors to CLWR could support the work of the ELCJ by designating their giving to that purpose. She also encouraged those who use the Internet to visit the CLWR web site for news and information updates.