Who
We Are
Lutherans for Justice in the Holy Land is a local expression
of the ELCA initiative Peace Not Walls: Stand for Justice in the
Holy Land. We speak and work for justice for people of the Haly
Land in general and for the congregations, ministries, and institutions
of Holy Land Lutherans in particular. We undertake education and
advocacy for justice in the Holy Land through a variety of activities
and relationship building.
Central Lutheran Church is identified as a congregation which
values social justice. Embracing support for Holy Land Lutherans
in a formal way is consistent with the mission and ministries
of Central.
OUR GOALS
- Strengthen and expand our commitment to social justice and
to put faith into action
- Answer God¡¯s call to speak for the voiceless, the powerless
- Act in the public arena clearly identified as people of faith
- Use our activities to engage the unchurched
- Use our activities to network with other Christian congregations
- Encourage interfaith relationships with those who seek peace
with justice
- Serve as a resource congregation on this issue within the
Oregon Synod of the ELCA
OUR PLAN
- Provide speakers, panels, films, book studies, and discussion
for Central¡¯s adult education
- Host and cosponsor public events, speakers, films, panels,
and cultural programs
- Develop clear talking points to empower those new to the
issue
- Organize contacts with public officials through letters,
calls, and visits
- Use media, traditional and electronic, to spread our message
- Publish ELCA interactive action alerts
- Undertake activities to benefit specific Lutheran institutions
and projects in the Holy Land such as Augusta Victoria Hospital,
Lutheran schools, International Center of Bethlehem, and Mount
of Olives housing project
OUR RECENT ACTIVITIES
- Arranged three evening lectures on ¡°Palestine/Israel ? How
the Media and US Foreign Policy Perpetuate the Conflict¡± with
Alison Weir (If Americans Knew), Diane Adkin (Americans United
for Palestinian Human Rights), and Dr. Will Seaman (Jewish Voice
for Peace)
- Hosted public recital, ¡°Instruments of Peace,¡± with flutist
Kathy Preuss and remarks by Marlene Eid (Arab American Association)
and Rachel McCarthy (Jews for Global Justice)
- Cosponsored community lectures: ¡°Breaking the Silence¡± (Israeli
soldiers), ¡°The US, Israel, and Palestine: The Struggle for
a Just Peace¡± (Dr. Jeff Halper, Israeli Committee Against House
Demolition), Palestinian Awareness Concert (Linda Allen), and
¡°Targeting Iran¡± (David Barsamian, Open Media)
- Presented thirteen adult education classes at Central with
speakers and materials representing many organizations ? Sabeel,
SALT, National Lawyers¡¯ Guild, ELCJHL among them
- Organized letter-writing to public officials on critical
issues affecting the Holy Land
- Used print, broadcast, and electronic media to promote events,
recommend news and opinion pieces, provide press releases and
interview opportunities
- Submitted letters and opinion pieces to media
- Created an olive oil sales ministry which sells Lutheran
World Federation and Palestinian Fair Trade Association organic
oil, providing income and hope to Palestinian farmers, families,
and communities
- Conducted political advocacy through contacts with legislators
through office visits, town hall meetings, telephone calls,
letters, and petitions
- Cosponsored public demonstrations, ¡°No to War¡± and ¡°Stop
the Wars and Occupations¡± ? marched, distributed literature,
collected petition signatures
- Organized opposition to Convergence NW, an alliance between
Israel and rightwing Christians promoting an exclusively Jewish
state in all historic Palestine
- Provided a peace and justice presence outside the regional
American Israel Public Affairs Committee annual fund-raiser
- Provided speakers and educational materials to churches,
community groups, and schools
- Raised money for Augusta Victoria Hospital
- Developed relationships with Lutheran, ecumenical, interfaith,
and secular groups seeking peace with justice in the Holy Land
OUR LOCAL PARTNERS
- Friends of Sabeel North American (www.fosna.org),
supporters of Palestinian Christians and organizers of conferences
and trips to the Holy Land
- Americans United for Palestinian Human Rights (www.auphr.org),
Jews, Christian, Muslim, and secular activists involved in education
and advocacy
- Institute for Christian-Muslim Understanding, promoters of
interfaith dialogue through education and social events
CONTACT US
ELCA website, www.elca.org/middleeast,
for position statements, resources, news, advocacy opportunities,
Holy Land travel, and listserv sign-up
LJHL/Lutherans for Justice in the Holy Land, a Mission of Central
Lutheran Church office@centralportland.org
and/or 503 284-2331
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