Over 450 persons representing 15 states and five foreign countries were transfixed by messages of hope and need at HCEF’s 6th International Conference on October 22-24, 2004 in Washington, D.C. Conference attendees were able to hear the experiences of many Christians who live and work in the midst of the Holy Land facing the hardships of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. This rare occasion was also marked by the unity expressed by four of Jerusalem’s major religious leaders: Rt. Rev. Riah Abu El-Assal, Bishop of the Episcopal Church of Jerusalem, H.B. Michel Sabbah, Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, Rt. Rev. Munib Younan, Bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jerusalem, H.B. Irineos I, Greek Orthodox Patriarch represented by Archimandrite Innokentios Exarchos.
Over 450 persons representing 15 states and five foreign countries were transfixed by messages of hope and need at HCEF’s 6th International Conference on October 22-24, 2004 in Washington, D.C. Conference attendees were able to hear the experiences of many Christians who live and work in the midst of the Holy Land facing the hardships of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. This rare occasion was also marked by the unity expressed by four of Jerusalem’s major religious leaders: Rt. Rev. Riah Abu El-Assal, Bishop of the Episcopal Church of Jerusalem, H.B. Michel Sabbah, Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, Rt. Rev. Munib Younan, Bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jerusalem, H.B. Irineos I, Greek Orthodox Patriarch represented by Archimandrite Innokentios Exarchos.
The 6th International Conference, titled Holy Land Christians: Rooted in Bonds of Peace, began with a press briefing with the four Christian religious leaders of Jerusalem. The event was a milestone for HCEF, publicly announcing the unity of four major Christian churches. The bishops had an opportunity to address the press about the current situation of the Christians in the Holy Land. In turn, members of the press were able to ask questions about the plight of the Christians. It was a hopeful exchange of information, but it was also difficult to hear of the suffering that Holy Land Christians endure.
The Metropolitan Memorial United Methodist Church, HCEF partner-host for the conference, offered a beautiful, spiritual setting for the many sessions, featuring education, cultural sharing, emotional connection, and sober consideration of the challenges facing Holy Land Christians. The Conference theme was reflected in a riveting testimony from speakers, including: internationally recognized spiritual leaders, scholars, authors, and ambassadors. Speakers described the increasingly difficult life of Palestinian Christians including the devastating effects of the Separation Wall, the fruits that have emerged in the Palestinian Christian community as a result of the crisis, the social ecumenism that has resulted from the isolation of Holy Land Christians, and the obstacles that stand in the way of a peaceful future.
Three women from Jerusalem shared their vision of the Occupation in the Holy Land. Hidaya Said Najmi, a Muslim Palestinian, Gila Svirsky, a Jewish Israeli, and Marianne Albina, a Palestinian Christian, expressed their hope for peace in the Holy Land. It was inspiring for all conference attendees to see this microcosm of peace among the women on the stage together.
While Holy Land Christians represent less than 2% of the population of the Holy Land, they represent a much greater percentage of the promise of the future of the Holy Land. The essential elements of the Christian faithful qualify and encourage them to act uniquely as peacemakers and to serve as a bridge between parties in conflict. The Jerusalem Heads of Churches were emphatic about the need for all Christians around the world to unite and assist the people of the Holy Land in building peace.
Sir Rateb Rabie, President and Chairman of HCEF, declared, “The situation today is more critical and desperate than ever before, but with the joint commitment of Arab and Western Christians, we are stronger than ever, and our faith in the impact of these lasting bonds is greater than ever before.”
His Eminence Theodore Cardinal McCarrick, Archbishop of Washington, was the keynote speaker at the HCEF Awards Banquet on October 22, 2004. HCEF and all the banquet attendees celebrated the impressive works of the award recipients. Cardinal McCarrick expressed his concern for the state of the Holy Land and stated his support for the efforts of HCEF and its works to build peace and solidarity in the Holy Land.
A Palestinian Cultural Night celebrated the rich Palestinian culture with the DC area through traditional Arabic food, crafts, fashion, dancing, music, and poetry on Saturday, October 23. All of the guests were treated to a Folkloric performance by the DC-Dabkeh Troupe and a to a Fashion Show of traditional Palestinian attire from Circa 1930. Traditional Palestinian music accompanied the entertainment, and Palestinian handicrafts and embroideries were on display and available for purchase.
The conference brought together children from the Holy Land and the United States. The children embraced each other’s life experiences at the Youth Summit when the panel of Holy Land children dialoged with conference attendees. The children united together to create an artistic performance for the closing of the conference. They sang “Miracle” in unison to expression their vision of life in the Holy Land being peaceful and free from occupation. It was an emotionally moving presentation showing the true desire for solidarity among the children of the Holy Land.
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*The Holy Land Christian Ecumenical Foundation is a tax-exempt, non-profit 501(c)3 organization, committed to improving the lives of Christians in the Holy Land through building bonds of solidarity with between Christians in the United States and Christians in the Holy Land. We have two goals: inform Americans about the Christians in the Holy Land and provide humanitarian assistance for the needy in the land where Jesus Christ was born, preached, died and rose again. www.hcef.org
