{ ELCA } Bishop finds understanding in Mideast

Patriot-News (PA) ^ | 1/22/10 | JEREMY LONG

[SmithL]

The tensions in the Middle East date back centuries, are complicated and at times have turned violent.

In December, a group of nine bishops, including the Rev. B. Penrose Hoover, bishop of the Lower Susquehanna Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, traveled to Israel and the West Bank for 10 days to gain a better understanding of the conflict and to spend time with Lutherans there.

It was the second trip the ELCA planned. The first trip, dubbed the "Bishops' Academy I," took place last January as fighting between the Palestinians and Israelis raged in the Gaza strip. About 44 bishops attended that trip.

This time, during "Bishops' Academy II," the violence was toned down.

"What impressed me the most were the obvious tensions within the city," Hoover said. "There are very intense feelings -- both politically and religiously. And given the political tensions there's always a sense of unease. It was very clear that people were sizing up one another."

Before he left, Hoover said gaining an understanding of the conflict is essential.

"As a leader of the church, it's important for me to understand the Lutheran Christians in the Holy Land and how it impacts them in the Holy Land," he said.

[SmithL]

Thoughts?

[Charlemagne on the Fox]

This is a fairly sanitized version of the ELCA's pro-Palestinian, anti-Israel position. During the January, 09, trip Mark Hanson's merry band of Bishops laid a wreath at Arafat's grave. Interestingly, no photos of this event have ever surfaced on the ELCA website or anyplace on the web--I wonder why?

And I LOVE the name "B. Penrose Hoover"--talk about an Episcopal wanna-be. Sure enough, there is a google item which refers to him as "The Very Reverend B. Penrose Hoover." LOL.

[lightman]

Lutheran (EL C S*A) Ping!

* as of August 19, AD 2009, a liberal protestant SECT, not part of the holy, catholic and apostolic CHURCH.