Tweet
World Council of Churches - Update
Contact: + 41 22 791 6153 +41 79 507 6363
[email protected]
For immediate release - 25/06/2007 04:47:06 PM
CHURCHES IN JERUSALEM WELCOME WCC'S NEW ADVOCACY INITIATIVE FOR PEACE IN
PALESTINE/ISRAEL
A free high resolution photo is available, see below
Heads of churches in Jerusalem have welcomed the Palestine Israel Ecumenical
Forum launched in Jordan last week. They voiced satisfaction with the new
advocacy initiative at meetings with World Council of Churches (WCC) general
secretary Rev. Dr Samuel Kobia during his 21-26 June visit to the Holy Land.
The need for mutual understanding between the peoples in the region was
highlighted by the Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem and All Palestine
Theophilos III on the first day of Kobia's visit.
Although primarily interested in religious issues, church leaders are also
concerned about political developments, Theophilos said. They aim to play a
positive role and contribute to the wellbeing of the peoples in the region.
He also stressed the crucial role of dialogue among Christians as well as
with people of other faiths, something particularly important in a city like
Jerusalem, which holds a particular significance for all three monotheistic
religions.
Theophilos voiced deep appreciation for the work and contribution of the
WCC. The Greek Orthodox Patriarchate, he said, is fully committed to the
Council's purpose of promoting not just a "rapprochement" between Christian
denominations, but full and complete unity.
Theophilos bestowed the title of Bearer of the Cross of the Order of
Orthodox Cross-Bearers of the Holy Sepulchre on the WCC general secretary,
and expressed appreciation for Kobia's understanding and support of the
Patriarchate.
The issue of inter-religious dialogue and collaboration was raised again at
a meeting with the Maronite Archbishop Paul Sayah. He pointed out that
inter-religious dialogue has to go down to the grassroots level and involve
young people. In Palestine/Israel, Sayah said, nine out of ten hours spent
on inter-religious dialogue and cooperation should be dedicated to young
people.
Armenian Apostolic Patriarch Torkom Manoogian said he had followed the
creation of the Palestine Israel Ecumenical Forum with great interest.
"Peace and justice are necessary," he said, "yet they are not the final
goal. If they prevail, there is hope for both Israelis and Palestinians to
live together side by side as children of God."
The lack of land and housing for Christians among the Palestinian people was
discussed at a meeting with the Syrian Orthodox Archbishop Swerios Malki
Murad. He and some members of the church gave a detailed account of the
current difficulties in these fields.
The Anglican Bishop Suheil Dawani affirmed the importance of building peace
from the bottom up. In particular, he highlighted the need to include
education for peace in schools for all the people in the region.
For Lutheran Bishop of Jordan and the Holy Land Dr Munib Younan, the
Palestine Israel Ecumenical Forum shows that churches worldwide are taking
seriously the issue of a just peace in the region. "We, as a suffering
church of Arab Christians, need churches of the world to help us to keep the
hope," he stated.
On Sunday, 24 June, the WCC general secretary preached at St George's
Anglican Cathedral in Jerusalem. Jerusalem and Palestine are in need of
transformation, he said. The desired change will be brought about not by the
powerful and the mighty but by ordinary people. It is the power of the
powerless that causes change to occur, Kobia affirmed.
A high-resolution version of a photo of Kobia with Greek Orthodox Patriarch
of Jerusalem Theophilos III is available on the WCC website at:
<http://www.oikoumene.org/fileadmin/images/wcc -main/news/summer2007/DSC_7449
.JPG>
http://www .oikoumene.org/fileadmin/images/wcc-main/news/summ er2007/DSC_7449.
JPG
See also WCC press update of 19 June 2007 on Amman conference on "Churches
together for Peace with Justice in the Middle East" at:
<http://www.oikoumene.org/en/news/news-managem ent/all-news-english/display-s
ingle-english-news/ article/1637/occupation-hurts-human-di.html>
ht tp://www.oikoumene.org/en/news/news-management/all -news-english/display-si
ngle-english-news/article /1637/occupation-hurts-human-di.html
Full text of "The Amman Call" at:
<http://www.oikoumene.org/index.php?id=3748>
http://www.oikoumene.org/index.php?id=3748
The text of Kobia's opening speech at the Amman conference at:
<http://www.oikoumene.org?id=3732> http://www.oikoumene.org?id=3732
More information on the WCC and Palestine/Israel at:
<http://wcc-coe.org/wcc/what/international/reg concerns-palestine-israel.html
>
http://wcc-coe .org/wcc/what/international/regconcerns-palestine- israel.html
This material may be reprinted freely.
Additional information: Juan Michel,+41 22 791 6153 +41 79 507 6363
<mailto:[email protected]> [email protected]
The World Council of Churches promotes Christian unity in faith, witness and
service for a just and peaceful world. An ecumenical fellowship of churches
founded in 1948, today the WCC brings together 347 Protestant, Orthodox,
Anglican and other churches representing more than 560 million Christians in
over 110 countries, and works cooperatively with the Roman Catholic Church.
The WCC general secretary is Rev. Dr Samuel Kobia, from the Methodist Church
in Kenya. Headquarters: Geneva, Switzerland.
Contact: + 41 22 791 6153 +41 79 507 6363
[email protected]
For immediate release - 25/06/2007 04:47:06 PM
CHURCHES IN JERUSALEM WELCOME WCC'S NEW ADVOCACY INITIATIVE FOR PEACE IN
PALESTINE/ISRAEL
A free high resolution photo is available, see below
Heads of churches in Jerusalem have welcomed the Palestine Israel Ecumenical
Forum launched in Jordan last week. They voiced satisfaction with the new
advocacy initiative at meetings with World Council of Churches (WCC) general
secretary Rev. Dr Samuel Kobia during his 21-26 June visit to the Holy Land.
The need for mutual understanding between the peoples in the region was
highlighted by the Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem and All Palestine
Theophilos III on the first day of Kobia's visit.
Although primarily interested in religious issues, church leaders are also
concerned about political developments, Theophilos said. They aim to play a
positive role and contribute to the wellbeing of the peoples in the region.
He also stressed the crucial role of dialogue among Christians as well as
with people of other faiths, something particularly important in a city like
Jerusalem, which holds a particular significance for all three monotheistic
religions.
Theophilos voiced deep appreciation for the work and contribution of the
WCC. The Greek Orthodox Patriarchate, he said, is fully committed to the
Council's purpose of promoting not just a "rapprochement" between Christian
denominations, but full and complete unity.
Theophilos bestowed the title of Bearer of the Cross of the Order of
Orthodox Cross-Bearers of the Holy Sepulchre on the WCC general secretary,
and expressed appreciation for Kobia's understanding and support of the
Patriarchate.
The issue of inter-religious dialogue and collaboration was raised again at
a meeting with the Maronite Archbishop Paul Sayah. He pointed out that
inter-religious dialogue has to go down to the grassroots level and involve
young people. In Palestine/Israel, Sayah said, nine out of ten hours spent
on inter-religious dialogue and cooperation should be dedicated to young
people.
Armenian Apostolic Patriarch Torkom Manoogian said he had followed the
creation of the Palestine Israel Ecumenical Forum with great interest.
"Peace and justice are necessary," he said, "yet they are not the final
goal. If they prevail, there is hope for both Israelis and Palestinians to
live together side by side as children of God."
The lack of land and housing for Christians among the Palestinian people was
discussed at a meeting with the Syrian Orthodox Archbishop Swerios Malki
Murad. He and some members of the church gave a detailed account of the
current difficulties in these fields.
The Anglican Bishop Suheil Dawani affirmed the importance of building peace
from the bottom up. In particular, he highlighted the need to include
education for peace in schools for all the people in the region.
For Lutheran Bishop of Jordan and the Holy Land Dr Munib Younan, the
Palestine Israel Ecumenical Forum shows that churches worldwide are taking
seriously the issue of a just peace in the region. "We, as a suffering
church of Arab Christians, need churches of the world to help us to keep the
hope," he stated.
On Sunday, 24 June, the WCC general secretary preached at St George's
Anglican Cathedral in Jerusalem. Jerusalem and Palestine are in need of
transformation, he said. The desired change will be brought about not by the
powerful and the mighty but by ordinary people. It is the power of the
powerless that causes change to occur, Kobia affirmed.
A high-resolution version of a photo of Kobia with Greek Orthodox Patriarch
of Jerusalem Theophilos III is available on the WCC website at:
<http://www.oikoumene.org/fileadmin/images/wcc -main/news/summer2007/DSC_7449
.JPG>
http://www .oikoumene.org/fileadmin/images/wcc-main/news/summ er2007/DSC_7449.
JPG
See also WCC press update of 19 June 2007 on Amman conference on "Churches
together for Peace with Justice in the Middle East" at:
<http://www.oikoumene.org/en/news/news-managem ent/all-news-english/display-s
ingle-english-news/ article/1637/occupation-hurts-human-di.html>
ht tp://www.oikoumene.org/en/news/news-management/all -news-english/display-si
ngle-english-news/article /1637/occupation-hurts-human-di.html
Full text of "The Amman Call" at:
<http://www.oikoumene.org/index.php?id=3748>
http://www.oikoumene.org/index.php?id=3748
The text of Kobia's opening speech at the Amman conference at:
<http://www.oikoumene.org?id=3732> http://www.oikoumene.org?id=3732
More information on the WCC and Palestine/Israel at:
<http://wcc-coe.org/wcc/what/international/reg concerns-palestine-israel.html
>
http://wcc-coe .org/wcc/what/international/regconcerns-palestine- israel.html
This material may be reprinted freely.
Additional information: Juan Michel,+41 22 791 6153 +41 79 507 6363
<mailto:[email protected]> [email protected]
The World Council of Churches promotes Christian unity in faith, witness and
service for a just and peaceful world. An ecumenical fellowship of churches
founded in 1948, today the WCC brings together 347 Protestant, Orthodox,
Anglican and other churches representing more than 560 million Christians in
over 110 countries, and works cooperatively with the Roman Catholic Church.
The WCC general secretary is Rev. Dr Samuel Kobia, from the Methodist Church
in Kenya. Headquarters: Geneva, Switzerland.