|
|
|
By John Smith
[Ed. note: This article is excerpted from one that appeared in the February 22, 2003, issue of the Reading Eagle and is used by permission.]
The Rev. John C. Richter of Atonement Lutheran Church, Wyomissing, returned from a visit to Palestine in January 2003 with feelings of both discouragement and encouragement.
“I came back with a feeling that there’s a burden on us outsiders to pray and try to foster peace in the Middle East,” he said. “Before I went, I believed that people of good will should be able to solve any problem. But the situation there is more intractable than I would have imagined.” On the other hand, he said he was heartened by encounters with Palestine young people he met at a school.
“I found them extremely articulate and knowledgeable about the world situation,” he said. “Their ability to articulate a vision where people can live in peace is hopeful.” Pr. Richter sees as the key the outsiders’ ability to embrace both sides.
“We have to understand the mind set of the Israelis, for whom security and their place in that part of the world is so important. And we have to understand the mind set of the Palestinians, who don’t have a country, and live in poverty and hopelessness.”
In line with this, Pr. Richter also came back with some challenged stereotypes. “We found that not every Palestinian is against Israel and not every Israeli is against Palestine. The more the stereotypes are challenged, the better is the chance for peace.” Pr. Richter was part of a communicators group from the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America led by the Rev. Eric C. Shafer, the Wyomissing native and son of Atonement who directs the ELCA Department of Communications in Chicago. Their mission was to visit Lutheran churches in the West Bank.
“We tend to forget that there is still a three percent minority of Christians there,” Pr. Richter said. “They are playing a role of increased importance between the Israelis and the Palestinians — a mitigating force.”
“But they are also trying to emigrate. In a generation there may be virtually no Christians in the Holy Land.”
Pr. Richter also returned with feelings of admiration for the Lutherans he met. When the group, accompanied by Bishop Munib Younan, who has almost diplomatic status, went to church in Beit Jala, near Bethlehem, Sunday morning, they wondered if anybody else would be there because the curfew made it technically illegal for the members to gather. “But the church was full,” Pr. Richter said. “It was pretty remarkable.”
“If God calls us, we’re coming,” one worshipper told Pr. Shafer. “We take the availability of worship for granted; they are so very, very grateful for the opportunity to worship,” Pr. Richter marveled. Bishop Younan preached on Jesus’ calming the storm, suggesting that God could quiet even the storm about them.
|
|
|
|
|
