The Council on Interchurch Relations of the ELCD expresses support for Lutheran Christians in Palestine

The chairman of the Council on Interchurch Relations of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Denmark, Professor Dr. Theol. Peter Lodberg, and Bishop Marianne Christiansen of Haderslev Diocese, have just returned from a solidarity visit with Bishop Azar of the Lutheran Church in Jordan and Palestine.

The purpose of the visit was to show solidarity with all civilian victims of the ongoing war. At the same time, the Council wanted to show its support for the church's work in assisting the victims and for the church's efforts for peace and reconciliation.

The visit took place on Tuesday the 13th and Wednesday the 14th of February 2024.

Peter Lodberg and Marianne Christiansen handed a letter to Bishop Azar, condemning the violence and highlighting the churches' common call to peacebuilding and protection of the vulnerable. An important part of the interchurch task is to support and maintain contact with churches in difficult conflict situations.

"It was moving to experience how much Bishop Azar and the Lutheran Church valued our visit," says Peter Lodberg. "The church is in a very difficult situation because the occupation of the West Bank and the war in Gaza create almost impossible conditions for the church's work."

"The meeting with the Palestinian Christians made a strong impression," says Bishop Marianne Christiansen. "On the one hand, they feel forgotten by the world and affected by the terrible situation in Gaza and the West Bank. On the other hand, they are determined in their mission as bridge-builders and in their efforts to rebuild a society that lies in ruins."

The two-day visit included a series of meetings with leaders from other church communities, visits to schools, and Augusta Victoria Hospital, which is a lifeline for Palestinian patients. 

Attached are:

• Program for the visit
• The original letter in English
• Danish translation of the letter
• Letter of endorsement Danish Bishops