A teacher and students at Dar al-Kalima Evangelical Lutheran School in Bethlehem, West Bank. Photo: ELCJHL/Elizabeth McHan
2014 Civis Mundi Award
(LWI) – Bishop Dr Munib A. Younan of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land (ELCJHL), says an award he received in Canada for dedication to building peace in the region is recognition and appreciation for the efforts of both the ELCJHL and the global Lutheran communion in bringing peace based on justice.
On 22 October, the ELCJHL bishop and President of The Lutheran World Federation (LWF) received the 2014 Civis Mundi Award in Waterloo, Canada. It was created by the Waterloo Lutheran Seminary (WLS) to recognize people who are role models for others especially for young people on their responsibilities as global neighbors and citizens.
“It [the award] tells us, ‘Don’t grow tired. Continue your good work to bring peace based on justice, to combat any types of extremism, and to continue to strengthen Christians in this county,”’ Younan said prior to the event.
Those working for peace in the Middle East, he noted, must ally themselves with moderate voices. “We cannot allow the extremist voices to overpower us. If we remain quiet and complacent, it will be the moderates who allow extremism to grow and take hold.”
Religion, Younan added, must be part of the solution to the problems of the Middle East. “Don’t use the Bible, the Torah or the Quran to transform a political disagreement into a religious conflict.”
The WLS is an educational institution of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada. National Bishop Susan C. Johnson said the recognition of Younan’s work is a sign of the ongoing partnership between the two churches and of their relationship as sister churches in the LWF communion.
“Advocating for peace and justice is part of our ongoing commitment both in our country and around the world,” said Johnson, who is also the LWF Vice-President for North America. As people of faith and Christ’s disciples, Christians must speak prophetic truth to power. “Where we can speak together with ecumenical or interfaith partners we can have a stronger voice,” she added.
The seminary’s Principal-Dean Rev. Dr David Pfrimmer noted that Younan’s perspective can help the Canadians “understand the constructive role Christians and people of faith can play in supporting” the Holy Land peace process.
After receiving the award, Younan addressed faculty and students of two local universities, the Lutheran community and the public on “Building Peace in the Holy Land – The Contributions of Christians and People of Faith.”
Live video stream of the award ceremony and of Bishop Younan's address.
