Jan 13 - Academy Ends

Today was the last day of the Bishop's Academy, the annual "continuing education event" for the bishops. Many of us are continuing on a two day extension into Galilee, including Anita and me, before returning home. This evening a closing service was held at Reformation Lutheran Church in Beit Jala, a community adjacent to Bethlehem. I cannot overemphasize the hospitality of the Palestinian Christians throughout this trip. They have been so very thankful for our visit, especially in these days of conflict and sorrow. So we rejoice that we have shared in their journey, and more importantly in the fellowship of faith, in the breaking of bread and prayer. Christ has been with us and we have all been strengthened in faith, hope, and love.

Both today and yesterday we visited the schools of the ELCJHL, in Ramallah, Beit Jala, Beit Sehour, and Bethlehem. These 4 Lutheran schools have a wholistic approach to education and are beacons of life, energy and hope in a culture of death. With an enrollment of nearly 1800 between them, these schools provide educational ministries of excellence as 90% of all students go on to college and university study. They are also some of the very few co-educational schools in Palestine. One of the goals of the ELCJHL and their educational system is to address women's issues. The schools have the look of quality in their facilities, in the faculty, students and programs.

Religiously, they are 6% Lutheran, 44% Orthodox Christian, 40% Muslim, and 10% other affiliation. And as we talk to these young people, they are all brothers and sisters. In the United States, we often are suspicious of those of different religions, not knowing them nor how we ought to relate to them. In the Middle East, with a long history of Christianity as a minority in Muslim dominated populations, people have learned to respect one another's beliefs and to rejoice in their life together. As a young adult said in the bus this afternoon, I believe in Jesus Christ as my Savior, my Hope, but all these students are my brothers and sisters. They have learned to live together in peace and and friendship with understanding, much the way we have learned to overcome denominational or ethnic differences.

The picture above is of the Al Raja Dance Troupe from Hope Evangelical Lutheran Church in Ramallah. Their performance for bishops and spouses was filled with energy, life and enthusiasm like only young people can do. When we visited with small groups of them afterwards, we heard their honest conversation about their fears, hopes, anger, frustration as young people living in a land controlled by others, when they and their parents are not free to travel and experience and participate in society as others. None of these young people in Ramallah have contact with Israeli youth, and, nor do the Israelis know them. A young Palestinian has no opportunity to get to know an Israeli youth, nor an Israeli youth a Palestinian!

Pastor Mitri Raheb of Christmas Lutheran Church says the possibility of a two state solution may have passed already, and it may be time to begin talking about apartheid in an Israeli dominated land, naming what is in actuality going on. The Israelis control everything, from where they travel, to what water they may have, to the revenue used in their municipality, to building permits and settlements, to the borders, the air and the minerals. The Separating Wall, as I learned today, is not about security but control, who goes where and who has control. The Wall is not finished and one can still walk from Bethlehem to Jerusalem, though in a very long, round about way.

The young adult was quick to say he loves all people-Jews, Christians, and Muslims. His quarrel is not with those of Jewish faith, but with Israelis who control his life and prohibit him from travel, who keep him and his people from jobs and housing and sound government and healthy democracy.

Today we were taken on a tour of East Jerusalem by a representative of the Israeli Committee Against Housing Demolition (ICAHD). Little by little I began to understand why a map of where Palestinians live looks like Swiss cheese, how control is exerted over housing issues and building permits, and the way to peace becomes more and more complex. We toured the illegal Jewish settlement in East Jerusalem and saw homes and shopping malls and irrigated lawns that rival the finest of our suburban areas back home. Across the valley in Palestinian areas, there are no sewer systems, water only a few days a week, and the ongoing threat of home demolition.

It is early morning here on the Wednesday, Jan 14. We are leaving Bethlehem and traveling to Tiberias on the southern edge of the Sea of Galilee. It is the land where Jesus walked with disciples, performed miracles, proclaimed the Kingdom of God, and gave oppressed people hope. We have heard Jesus' Word of hope in this trip, often hidden in the suffering of the Palestinian Christians. We have seen the despair on their faces, the stories of suffering and courage; we have shared hope in prayer and song, bread and wine. We pray God to sustain us all in hope and grant freedom and justice in the everyday lives of these people, and grant peace to all.

Bp Jerry