The Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land (ELCJHL)

PO Box 14076, Muristan Road • Jerusalem, Israel 91140 • +972-2-626-6800

Media Kit

Photos: Ben Gray/ELCJHL

MEDIA CONTACT: Adrainne Gray, Communications

Coordinator agray@elcjhl.org

Phone: +972-2-626-6861

The Rev. Sani Ibrahim Charlie Azar Installed as Bishop of the ELCJHL

Bishop Sani Ibrahim Charlie “Barhoum” Azar. Photo Ben Gray/ELCJHL

Jerusalem, 12 January 2018 – Today the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land consecrated and installed The Rev. Sani Ibrahim Charlie “Barhoum” Azar as its fourth Bishop in the church’s history. Under the guidance of the Scripture, “You did not choose me, but I chose you,” John 15:16 Bishop Azar addressed the congregation and honored guests.

“It seems the Lord has called me today to follow in a new way, and to bear new fruit. Today, the six congregations of the ELCJHL are under my care. I am humbled and honored to take up this new responsibility, and promise to continue our relationship based on love companionship and respect,” Bishop Azar.

See Bishop Azar’s address to the church below

Included in this kit: 1. Biography of Bishop Azar 2. Curriculum Vitae of Bishop Azar 3. Bishop Younan’s sermon 4. Bishop Azar’s sermon (Arabic, English, German) 5. Q&A with Bishop Azar 6. Link to high resolution gallery of photos 7. History of the ELCJHL

Biography

Bishop-elect Sani Ibrahim “Charlie” Azar was born June 22, 1961 in Lebanon. Bishop-elect Azar is a product of The Evangelical Lutheran Schools in Palestine, graduating from The Evangelical Lutheran School of Bethlehem in 1979. Bishop-elect Azar earned his theology degree from Ludwig Maximillian University in Munich, Germany in 1987. His Master’s thesis was, “The History of the Evangelical Mission in the 19th and 20th Century.” He was ordained March 25, 1988 and elected to be the incoming bishop on January 2017. Bishop-elect served as pastor of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of the Redeemer in the Old City, Jerusalem for 30 years. The congregation meets every third Sunday at the Chapel of the Ascension on the Mount of Olives in Jerusalem.

Before becoming the pastor of Redeemer, Bishop-elect Azar served as youth pastor and president of the ELCJHL Synod. Presently, Bishop-elect serves on the board of The Near East School of Theology, the board of the Bethany Beyond the Jordan Baptismal Site, and as President of the Lutheran Ecclesiastical Court. He also serves on The Department of Services to Palestinian Refugees (DSPR) a division of the Middle East Council of Churches, and the Housing Committee of the Augusta Victoria Hospital Lutheran World Federation board. In his service to the church, Bishop-elect Azar has always been a member of the ELCJHL Church Council. He also is a board member of the Jerusalem Society of Berlin Missions, and the Vice President of the Evangelical Lutheran German School of Talitha Kumi in Beit Jala.

Bishop-elect Azar is the founder of the Day Care Center for the Elderly located next door to Redeemer.

Bishop-elect is married to Mrs. Nahla Elias Azar, born in Jordan, and has a BA in English Literature from the University of Jordan in Amman and currently she is an English teacher. They have three daughters, Jihan, Sally and Sama Azar. Miss. Jihan Azar is studying at the University Of Jordan in Amman, where she will be graduated in May, 2018 as a Doctor of Pharmacy. Miss. Sally Azar is completing her last year of seminary at the Near East School of Theology in Beirut and is a recipient of an ELCA scholarship. This summer, Miss. Sally Azar was elected as a youth representative for the Lutheran World Federation (LWF) Council. Miss. Sama Azar is the youngest daughter and she is still studying at Schmidt's Girls College in Jerusalem. Next year Sama will take the German exam (Abiture). Like her sisters before her, Sama is very much involved in the Church and is very active in the various church activities.

Appointments within the ELCJHL

Curriculum Vitae

2018-present Bishop (Consecrated March 25, 1988)

2013- present President Lutheran Ecclesiastical Court

2006- 2017 Board Evangelical Lutheran School Board, ELCJHL

2005 – 2010 President ELCJHL Synod

1988 – 2018 Pastor Lutheran Church of the Redeemer Jerusalem

1989 – 2004 Youth Pastor ELCJHL

2000- present ELCJHL Church Council

2014- present Vice President The Evangelical Lutheran German School of Talitha Kumi

2014- present Board ELCJHL Bethany Beyond the Jordan Baptismal Site

Education 1987 Master in Theology Dissertation: “The History of the Evangelical Mission in the 19th & 20th Centuries.” Ludwig Maximillian University, Munich, Germany

1979 Evangelical Lutheran School in Bethlehem

Family • Bishop Azar was born on 22 June 1961 in Lebanon to Mr. Charlie Azar originally from Jaffa and Mrs.

Jihan Azar, originally from Nazareth. • His father was a deacon with the Bethel order of German deacons. His father was the House Father at

the Schneller School in Lebanon and at the Boarding School of the Evangelical Lutheran School in Bethlehem and Beit Jala.

• In 1992 Bishop Azar married Nahla Elias, who is from Amman, Jordan. • Bishop Azar and Nahla Azar have three children:

o Sally Azar (born 1996) who is completing her Master degree in theology at the Near East School of Theology in Beirut. Sally was elected youth representative for the Lutheran World Federation (LWF) council in May 2017.

o Sama Azar; born 2001 o Jihan Azar; born 1994

Initiatives 2002- present Founder The Day Care Center for the Elderly, Jerusalem

Other Appointments

2010- present Board member The Jerusalem Society of Berlin

2002- present Augusta Victoria Hospital Board The Lutheran World Federation Housing Committee The Lutheran World Federation (LWF)

1993-1998 Member Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) Department of Service to Palestinian Refugees (DSPR)

2010-present Committee Member Fellowship of the Middle East Evangelical Churches (FMEEC)

2017 Counselors for EAPPI volunteers Ecumenical Accompaniment Programme for Palestine and Israel (EAPPI)

2003- present Board member Near East School of Theology (NEST), Beirut

Bishop Younan’s Sermon

The grace of Our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all.

SERMON FROM BISHOP DR. MUNIB YOUNAN On the occasion of the consecration of

Sani Ibrahim Azar as bishop of the ELCJHL

12 January 2018 Jerusalem

“Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ.” (Philippians 1:27)

My dear brother Sani Ibrahim Azar, Dear sisters and brothers in Christ, Today we joyfully consecrate Pastor Sani Ibrahim Azar as a bishop in the church of Christ, according to Evangelical Lutheran tradition. Rev. Azar will be the 4th Arab Palestinian bishop in the ELCJHL. On this day, one servant of the Gospel hands the office to another servant of the Gospel, as it is written in 1 Corinthians 11:23: “For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you.” In the Lutheran church, the bishop is elected by a Synod which includes both pastors and lay people representing their own parishes. We do this in a democratic way, asking also for God’s help. But this democratic process does not mean that when a new bishop takes office, one party or faction takes over for another. We are one church, and therefore the bishop cares for all the people. The bishop ensures that the whole church continues to preach the Gospel of Christ and faithfully administer the sacraments. We believe that every bishop possesses God-given spiritual gifts, which are used to edify and build up the church, taking over where the last bishop’s work ended. For

this reason, each bishop of the ELCJHL has worked to preserve the continuity of the one, holy, apostolic church and of the Evangelical Christian witness in the Holy Land. When I was consecrated as bishop, I understood that I was building on the solid foundation of my dignified predecessors, Bishop Daoud Haddad and Bishop Naim Nasser. I promised to continue in their distinguished heritage, witnessing for truth, proclaiming salvation, and preaching freedom and liberation, for the sake of Our Lord Jesus Christ. As St. Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians: “What, after all, is Apollos? And what is Paul? Only servants, through whom you came to believe—as the Lord has assigned to each his task. I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow.” The Augsburg Confession of our church teaches that the authority of the bishop comes from God. It is by God’s authority that the bishop preaches, binds or looses sins, and administers the sacraments of Holy Baptism and Holy Eucharist. We believe that the ministry of an evangelical bishop is a continuation of pastoral ministry, although from a new office. Today, my brother Sani Ibrahim, when you take on the role of bishop, you will become pastor to the pastors of the ELCJHL. I pray God will give you strength to shepherd this flock! I pray that you will be encouraged, no matter what challenges may arise. And I would ask that you make time in your schedule for prayer and meditation, in order that Christ himself may shepherd you. In the midst of this noisy world, and in a complicated political situation, you will need the Lord’s guidance. It is no small job to preserve our evangelical heritage, to raise the voice of truth, to challenge religious extremism and political populism, and to be an advocate of peace based on justice. But remember the words of St. Paul in Philippians: “Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or only hear about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm in the one Spirit, striving together as one for the faith of the gospel.” (Philippians 1:27) Twenty years ago, at my own consecration, Bishop Naim Nasser preached that a bishop must be tri-lingual. He must be fluent in the language of love, the language of prayer, and the language of the Holy Spirit. He encouraged me to speak each of these languages. When I heard this message, I confess I did not understand exactly what he meant. But when I started to dive into the immense job of administering this church, with all its worries, problems, joys, and strengths, it started to become clear. As I came face to face with the unrealistic expectations of some of my flock, and the difficulty of making decisions for the common good over personal interest, I understood deeply a bishop’s need to speak many languages. And of course, I also understood that the bishop needs not only to speak, but to act. As it is written: “Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.” (1 John 3:18) As a bishop, I have tried to embrace all with the love of Christ—even those who did not want to be embraced. I have learned some hard lessons of love. But I have also seen that through Christ, the boundaries of a bishop’s love expand from the love of a pastor for his own parish, to the ends of the diocesan boundaries, and indeed to the ends of the earth. Following Bishop Nasser’s wise guidance, I have used the language of daily prayer to ask for the Lord’s help. I have often prayed that my love would expand to include those who opposed me or opposed the work of our church. For this reason, my brother Barhum, I also say to you: Let these be the languages you speak. Let these three be your weapons of the Spirit and the tools you use to build up God’s Kingdom: Love, Prayer, and the Holy Spirit. Here I want to be frank with you: You will have many successes as bishop of this church. And you will also face many challenges. But the ups and downs of your ministry have no bearing on the presence of God with you, or with the church. The hand of God is always with the church. The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit will never leave the Body of Christ abandoned. I firmly believe, and have experienced, that the hand of God is at work this very day in our church, in ways we cannot comprehend. This is the reason St. Paul says in 1 Thessalonians 5:19: “Do not quench the Spirit.” I was blessed to attend the service in Gethsemane when His Beatitude Michel Sabbah handed to Patriarch Fuad Twal the staff of the bishopric. When the service was over, Patriarch Fuad asked Patriarch Michel to bless the congregation. But Patriarch Michel said, “No, now it is your time to pastor this church. You will give the blessing.” This is the spirit of humility which we have received from Our Lord Jesus. This is the spirit of the Living Church. This is the spirit of Jerusalem! This is the spirit which allows the church to flourish. Dear Barhum, we the people of the ELCJHL have elected you to be pastor of the pastors, and I have no doubt that this is God’s will that you will shepherd this flock at this time, without fear. You have the joy, the privilege, and the great responsibility to contribute to the Arab Christian witness in the one Church of Christ—a witness which is an integral and original part of the fabric of Arab society. Therefore, with this word I want to bless you: I bless you, Sani Ibrahim Azar, on behalf of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land. My wife and myself congratulate you on your new position. I pray that Our Lord Jesus Christ will guide you in the demanding responsibilities you are about to undertake. I pray that the Lord will also bless our church, the ELCJHL, which I love with all my heart, and which I will continue to serve faithfully, in any way that I am asked. My dear brother Barhum, our new bishop, I give you all my support, for this is not our work that we do. This is the work of the Living God. For this reason, live according to the Gospel of Christ, the Good News of God’s love for all people. Pray diligently. Seek the Lord where He may be found. And you will be strengthened for His service.

And may the peace of God which passes all understanding keep your heart and mind in Christ Jesus. Amen.

Bishop Azar’s Sermon

(English, German, Arabic)

“You did not choose me, but I chose you.” (John 15:16) Sermon on the occasion

of the consecration of

Bishop Sani Ibrahim Azar 12 January

2018

Church of the Redeemer, Jerusalem

***

Grace and Peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen. Your Excellencies,

Archbishops, Bishops, all Clergy and respected guests,

Dear Sisters & Brothers in Christ,

My sermon for this distinguished day in my life, and in the life of the church, is taken from the Book of John where Jesus says: “You did not choose me, but I chose you.”

To begin, I’d like to thank the Lord Jesus Christ, who has accompanied me in my life until this day. I have witnessed the Lord’s overwhelming grace in many aspects of my life and in different life experiences. His words “Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine” are still valid words that live with me, and which I have experienced many times in my life.

I have chosen the same verse for my consecration as for my ordination: “You did not choose me, but I chose you” (John 15:16). This is my conviction, my belief and our faith: Although we are still sinners, through Jesus’ birth, crucifixion, and resurrection we have become children of God. There is nothing we do to earn this gift. God’s love chose us.

However, since my ordination as a pastor, I have come to learn that living as one of God’s children comes with many responsibilities. God chooses us and calls us for a reason: to accomplish God’s mission. Jesus has asked us to join him in giving comfort to the grieving, and strength to the weary. God asks us to go out into the world, and not to stand still in our comfort zones. Therefore,

we go to all people, empowered by the grace and the commission of the Almighty and Living God.

Jesus also said to the chosen, “Go and bear fruit.” We have been sent to accomplish many great things in the world. But we must remember that Jesus has said, “I am the vine, you are the branches. If you remain in m and I in you, you will bear much fruit.”

This is a reminder that in order to bear fruit, we must be attached to the vine. We must remain committed to the One who gives and sustains life: Our Lord Jesus Christ. Only when we remain in Him will we be able to bear fruit for the kingdom. This is true for every disciple, including pastors and bishops.

On this day, I am grateful for so many who have raised me in the faith, and who have ensured I was connected to the source of life, who is Jesus.

I was raised in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land, which was established in 1959, two years before I was born. Throughout my upbringing, I was influenced by the evangelical movement and the missionary work in this country. I was born at Schneller School in Lebanon, where my father worked. This school has raised many generations, to this day. I was connected to the Deaconesses of Talitha Kumi School through the aunt of my mother, Deaconess Najlah Sayegh. This school has given Palestinian and other Middle Eastern women a pioneering and independent role in society.

I studied at the Lutheran school in Bethlehem and lived my childhood until the age of 18 in the boarding school in Bethlehem and Beit Jala where my father worked. Receiving education in Schneller schools, Talitha Kumi School and the Lutheran schools has had a great impact on me, and has made me part of a wonderful community. Those who have shared such an education have been raised to love each other, and to look for what unifies us rather than what separates us. We learned that neither politics, nor money, nor religion, can be a unifying power. It is only the life we share, in all its sweetness and bitterness, that unites us. For this reason, in the boarding school there was no difference between a Christian or a Muslim. We were all brothers and sisters, each bearing the responsibility of his or her work.

This sense of unity is what I wish for us today, in our homes, in our churches, and in our country. I pray that we will seek what brings us together, rather than notice what divides us.

After my Lutheran education in Palestine, I studied Theology in Germany. There I learned about the whole theological spectrum, from extreme left to extreme right. During this time, I felt deeply the prayers of so many, who encouraged me and accompanied me on the path to study theology.

In my formation as a pastor, I am grateful for the fruitful and quality time spent with my three predecessors. I learned from Bishop Dauod Haddad to make the connection between theology and real life. From his sermons and his writings, I learned that a Christian should keep an open mind if they are to be logical and convincing.

From Bishop Naim Nassar I learned to be strong, as he was always persistent in the face of challenges. No matter what harsh circumstances he faced, he found strength through Jesus Christ.

And from Bishop Munib Younan I have learned, and am still learning, that the basis for successful interfaith relations is to be unashamed of your faith in Jesus Christ and your identity as a Christian.

For these last 30 years, I have lived and served as pastor among the members of Church of the Redeemer in Jerusalem. I thank you because you have always overwhelmed me with love, support and trust. I learned a lot from you, from the time when I was a young pastor until today. Whether I was working with children and youth, or teaching Bible studies and leading conferences, or simply sitting with you and hearing your stories, I knew I was one of you, and I was loved. I love you all.

I’d also like to extend my gratitude to the Synod of ELCJHL and to our COCOP partners, and especially my friends who came all this way to be with us today. This is an indication of your love and support not only of me, but of the Church.

Of course, I am so grateful for the hard work of the staff in our offices of the ELCJHL. Putting together an international event like this is not easy, and they have all been working on this diligently for almost a year.

Finally, I’d like to thank my family, particularly my wife Nahla, my daughters Jihan, Sally and Sama, and my mother for standing with me all this time. Sometimes I wondered how they could love me despite my bad mood and stubbornness. But they, too, have been strengthened through their faith in Jesus Christ!

It seems the Lord has called me today to follow in a new way, and to bear new fruit. Today, the six congregations of the ELCJHL are under my care. I am humbled and honored to take up this new responsibility, and promise to continue our relationship based on love companionship and respect.

To all who are here today: I ask that you would accompany me in this new role through your prayers. Pray that God will fill me with a spirit of wisdom and righteousness.

Pray for the pastors and congregations of the ELCJHL, that we would bear good fruit.

And may the peace of God which passes all understanding keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Amen.

„Nicht ihr habt mich erwählt, sondern ich habe euch erwählt.“ (Joh 15,16) Predigt anlässlich der Einsegnung von

Bishof Sani Ibrahim Azar 12. Januar 2018

Erlöserkirche, Jerusalem

Gnade sei mit euch und Frieden von Gott, unserem Vater und dem Herrn Jesus Christus. Amen

Sehr geehrte Erzbischöfe und Bischöfe, sehr geehrte Geistliche, verehrte Gäste, Liebe Schwestern und Brüder

in Christus,

mein Predigttext für diesen bedeutenden Tag in meinem Leben und im Leben der Kirche, stammt aus dem Johannesevangelium. Dort sagt Jesus: „Nicht ihr habt mich erwählt, sondern ich habe euch erwählt.“

Als erstes möchte ich dem Herrn Jesus Christus danken, dass er mich in meinem Leben begleitet hat bis zum heutigen Tag. Ich habe die unermessliche Gnade des Herrn in vielen Aspekten meines Lebens und in unterschiedlichen Lebenssituationen erfahren. Seine Worte: „Fürchte dich nicht, denn ich habe dich erlöst, ich habe dich bei deinem Namen gerufen, du bist mein.“ sind Worte, die für mein Leben immer noch gültig sind und die ich viele Male in meinem Leben erfahren habe.

Ich habe den selben Vers für meine Einsegnung gewählt, den ich auch für meine Ordination wählte: „Nicht ihr habt mich erwählt, sondern ich habe euch erwählt“ (Joh 15,16) Das ist meine Überzeugung, mein Glaube und unser Vertrauen: Obwohl wir noch immer Sünder sind, durch Jesu Geburt, Kreuzigung und Auferstehung sind wir Kinder Gottes geworden. Da gibt es nichts, was wir tun, um dieses Geschenk zu verdienen. Gottes Liebe erwählt uns.

Allerdings, seit meiner Ordination als Pfarrer, habe ich gelernt, dass das Leben als ein Kind Gottes mit viel Verantwortung einhergeht. Gott erwählt uns und ruft uns aus einem Grund: Auszuführen Gottes Mission.

Jesus hat uns eingeladen, dem Betrübten Trost zu geben und Stärke dem Müden , so wie er es tut. Gott fordert uns auf, in die Welt hinauszugehen und nicht in unserem bequemen Leben zu bleiben. Darum gehen wir zu allen Menschen, gestärkt durch die Gnade und die Beauftragung des allmächtigen und lebendigen Gottes.

Jesus sagt auch zu den Erwählten: „Geht und bringt Frucht.“

Wir wurden gesandt um viele großartige Dinge in der Welt zu vollbringen. Aber wir müssen uns (auch) daran erinnern, was Jesus gesagt hat: „Ich bin der Weinstock, ihr seid die Reben. Wenn ihr in mir bleibt und ich in euch, werdet ihr viel Frucht bringen.“

Dies ist eine Erinnerung: Um den Auftrag, Frucht zu bringen, zu erfüllen, müssen wir mit dem Weinstock verbunden sein. Wir müssen dem Einen verpflichtet bleiben, der Leben gibt und erhält: Unserem Herrn Jesus Christus. Nur, wenn wir in Ihm bleiben, werden wir fähig sein, Frucht zu bringen für das Königreich. Das gilt für jeden Jünger, auch für Pastoren und Bischöfe.

An diesem Tag bin ich dankbar für die vielen, die mich im Glauben gestärkt/ in mir den Glauben geweckt und mir versichert haben, dass ich verbunden bin mit der Quelle des Lebens, welche ist Jesus.

Ich bin aufgewachsen in der ELCJHL, die 1959 gegründet wurde, zwei Jahre bevor ich geboren wurde. Während meiner gesamten Erziehung war ich beeinflusst von der evangelischen Bewegung und der missionarischen Arbeit in diesem Land. Ich wurde bei der Schneller-Schule im Libanon geboren, wo mein Vater arbeitete. Diese Schule hat viele Generationen erzogen, bis zum heutigen Tag. Ich was verbunden mit den Diakonissen von Talitha Kumi durch die Tante meiner Mutter, Diakonisse Najlah Sayegh. Diese Schule hat Palästinenserinnen und anderen Frauen des Mittleren Ostens bahnbrechende und unabhängige Aufgabe in der Gesellschaft gegeben.

Ich studierte an der Lutherischen Schule in Bethlehem und verbrachte meine Kindheit bis ich 18 Jahre alt war an der Internatsschule in Bethlehem, und Beit Jala, wo mein Vater arbeitete.

Die Ausbildung, die ich an der Schneller-Schule, Talitha Kumi und der Lutherischen Schule erhalten habe, hatte eine enorme Auswirkung auf mich und hat mich zu einem Teil einer wunderbaren Gemeinschaft gemacht. Diejenigen, die so eine Ausbildung erhielten, sind zu gegenseitiger Liebe erzogen worden und dazu, darauf zu achten, was uns vereint anstatt auf das, was uns trennt. Wir haben gelernt, das weder Politik, noch Geld, noch Religion eine vereinende Macht haben kann. Nur das Leben, das wir teilen – in seiner Süße und seiner Bitterkeit – vereint uns. Darum gab es in der Internatsschule keinen Unterschied zwischen Christen und Muslimen. Wir waren alle Brüder und Schwestern und jeder von uns trug die Verantwortung für seine oder ihre Arbeit (selbst).

Dieser Gemeinschaftssinn ist es, den ich mir für uns heute wünsche: In unseren Häusern, in unseren Kirchen und in unserem Land. Ich bete dafür, dass wir suchen werden, was und verbindet mehr als wahrzunehmen, was und trennt.

Nach meiner lutherischen Ausbildung in Palästina, studierte ich Theologie in Deutschland. Dort habe ich das gesamte theologische Spektrum kennengelernt – die ganze Spanne von extrem links bis extrem rechts. Während dieser Zeit habe ich die Gebete so vieler tief gespürt, die mich ermutigten und mich auf dem Weg durch das Theologiestudium begleiteten.

Während meiner Ausbildung zum Pastor verbrachte ich eine fruchtbare und sehr gute Zeit mit meinen drei Vorgängern. Dafür bin ich sehr dankbar. Von Bischof Dauod Haddad habe ich gelernt, wie man Theologie und Leben miteinander verbindet (aufeinander bezieht). Aus seinen Predigten und Schriften habe ich gelernt, dass ein Christ aufgeschlossen bleiben sollte.

Von Bischof Naim Nassar lernte ich stark zu sein, denn er war immer beharrlich angesichts von Herausforderungen. Egal welchen schwierigen Umständen er sich gegenüber sah, er fand Kraft in Jesus Christus.

Und von Bischof Munib Younan habe ich gelernt – und ich lerne immer noch – dass es die Grundlage erfolgreicher interreligiöser Beziehungen ist, offen mit eurem Glauben an Jesus Christus und eurer Identität als Christen aufzutreten.

Die letzten 30 Jahre habe ich unter den Mitgliedern der Erlöserkirche in Jerusalem als Pastor gelebt und gedient. Ich danke euch dafür, denn ihr habt mir immer viel Liebe, Unterstützung und Vertrauen entgegengebracht. Ich habe viel von euch gelernt, von der Zeit an als ich ein junger Pfarrer war bis heute. Ob ich mit Kindern und Jugendlichen gearbeitet habe, Bibelunterricht gegeben, Konferenzen geleitet oder einfach mit euch zusammengesessen und euren Geschichten zugehört habe, ich wusste, dass ich einer von euch bin und dass ich geliebt wurde. Ich liebe euch alle.

Ich möchte in meinen Dank auch die Synode der ELCJHL und unsere Kooperationspartner einschließen, und besonders auch meine Freunde, die den Weg auf sich genommen haben um heute hier bei uns zu sein. Euer Kommen ist ein Zeichen eurer Liebe und eurer Unterstützung – die nicht nur mir, sondern der Kirche gilt.

Schließlich möchte ich meiner Familie danken, besonders meiner Frau Nahla, meinen Töchtern Jihan, Sally und Sama und meiner Mutter dafür danken, dass ihr immer zu mit gehalten habt. Manchmal frage ich mich, wie sie mich lieben können trotz meiner schlechten Laune und meiner Eigensinnigkeit. Aber auch sie wurden gestärkt durch ihren Glauben an Jesus Christus!

Es scheint, dass der Herr mich heute gerufen hat, ihm auf eine neue Weise zu folgen und neue Frucht zu bringen. Die sechs Gemeinden der ELCJHL stehen unter meiner Fürsorge. Demütig und geehrt nehme ich diese neue Verantwortung entgegen und verspreche unsere Beziehung auf der Basis von Liebe, Partnerschaftlichkeit und Respekt weiterzuführen.

An alle, die ihr heute hier seid: Ich frage euch: Würdet ihr mich in dieser neuen Rolle durch eure Gebete begleiten? // Ich bitte euch, mich in dieser neuen Rolle durch eure Gebete zu begleiten. Betet, dass Gott mich mit einem Geist der Weisheit und der Rechtschaffenheit erfüllen wird.

Betet für die Pfarrer und Gemeinden der ELCJHL, auf dass wir gute Frucht bringen.

Der Friede Gottes, der höher ist als all unsere Vernunft, bewahre eure Herzen und Sinne in Christus Jesus. Amen.

ن ◌َ ◌لأ ◌ْ ◌ ◌ ◌َ ا ت ◌ْ ◌خا ◌ ◌َ ر تك ◌ْ ◌ " ◌ْ ◌م ◌ُ ◌( يوانح :15 )16

ن ◌َ ◌سأ ◌َ ◌ ت ◌ْ ◌ ◌ ُ◌ ◌ ُ◌ م ◌◌ُ مون◌◌ِ ي ◌◌َ بخا◌◌ْ ت◌◌َ ر◌◌ْ ت◌◌ُ

ي " ◌ ْ◌ لَ

عازر عظة تكريس

املطران ينس ابرايهم شاريل

وكلذ يوم اجةلمع 12 اكنون نااثلي 2018 في يكنسة افالدي

الإلجنيية اةثريلول- ادقلس

ةنعم كمل وسلام من للاه ابينا ونصلمخا يسوع املسي،ح نيام . نيةاف سلااةاقف املطاونرة الكلي الاحترام، الباآء ولاقساةسو الاجلاء فيوضال املكرا.

ايها االخوة واالخوات االعزاء،

ن ◌َ ◌لأ ◌ْ ◌ ◌ ◌َ ا ت ◌ْ ◌خا ◌ ◌َ ر ت ◌ْ ◌ " ◌ْ ◌م ◌ُ ◌ك ◌ُ ◌( يوحنا :15 )16

ن ◌َ ◌سأ ◌َ ◌ ت ◌ْ ◌ ◌ ُ◌ ◌ ُ◌ م ◌◌ُ مون◌◌ِ ي ◌◌َ بخا◌◌ْ ت◌◌َ ر◌◌ْ ت◌◌ُ

" لَ ْ◌ ي ◌

موضعو لاوعظ لذاي اهخرتت هالذ يالوم املميز في حتايي خأموذ من جنايل يوانح ثيح يقول

يسوع:

لمتس منتا اختونمتري بل ناا خاتتركم..... اهيا لخوةاا

واالخوات االعزاء

في الةيداب اود نا شاكر الرب يسعو يحاسمل لاذي رافقين في حتايي حتى هذا يالوم. لقد ختاربت نعمهت افلياةض في قفاوم

عدة عشهات. كهتمال اةئلالق لا تفخ لنأي فتكيد دعوتك

كسبام انت لي تنكا وما تلاز كلمات حقيقية اعيشها حتى يالوم.

دقو خارتت لرتكيسي اناطرم سفن اةآلي ليتا خارهاتت لرسيتما قسيسا. لمتس امتن خارتونمتي بل

ناا خاتتركم " يوانح 15:16"

علىومبوتهبوالدتهالرباختارناخطاهبعدوحننانناعقيدتنا،هيوهذهاميانيهوهذا

الصليب واوالدهتالميذهمنلنكون.

نذم رسيتما قسيسا وحتى الان تعلتم وختاربت نا راختيا الرب لإلننسا لهو مةسؤولي وعمل.

مدعنا اريتخ لارب انسانا فانه يهعطي ضياا مهمة فلتنياذه.

يسعو طلبي من الختامرين نا يابوهذ ىلا احلزانى ليعوهمز نا يابوهذ ىلا اعفضالء هيقوولم

اماكنهميفواقفنييبقواانوليساالخريناىليذهبواانخمتاريهمنالربمطلبهوهذا.

كل اذيلن يذبهون ىلا لخريناآ همنفا يبذهون بتكيلو من يحاسمل احلي الكلي لقادرة.

يقول يسعو اضيا ابذهوا لتأاتو بثمر. هذه لكالمات تذانكر بثلم لاكرمة واكرلام ثيح يقول

يسوع ناا المكرة وانتم االغناص. لاذي يثتب في أيتي بثرم كثير.

هذه لكالامت وةحضا نناا لا نتطيعس عمل لاثرما اذ نا على لثارما نا تنمو وهذا حلصي عمدنا يبقى لفارع تممااكس عم الذعج . لاثرما

. تنمو هايا لخااوة اولاخوات اندمع نكنو حنن تممسكني

صلباأل بيسوع اميحسل متمسنيك ابكتلاب المقدس

عندها ستنمو راثم حية للايحة ااةيدبل.

ايها االعزاء،واالخواتاالخوة ان

كنيستنا االجنيلية اللوثرية يف االردن واالراضي املقدسة تأسست عام 1959 اي قبل والدتي

بسنتني.

أتثرت نذم نشتأي باعملل التبشريي في االبلد. فإنين دلوت في مةسدر شنلر في لبنان ثيح عمل

لوادي . هذه ملادةسر ليتا عتلم امو زتلا تعمل في تةربي الاولاد. اتربطت عم شمااست

مدةسر طلايتا قومي نع طريق عمة وادتلي الشماةس لانج يغاص. هذه املدةسر ليتا أعتط

للمرأة فاللسةطيني والشقر اةطيسو دورا يراايد مستقال في لتامجمع. تعلمت في املدرةس ثاوللرية

في يتب حلم وعشت طفيتلو حتى سن ثالةامن عشر في لابتي الادخلي في يتب حلم بويت

جالا ثيح كان يعمل واالدي.

دقل نتكا للربيةت في مداسر شنلر دومرةس ايتطال قموي اوملدسرا اللوثرية اثر كبري في خلق جياال متعلمة تبح بعضها البعض وال

تظرن ىلا افلتااتوت بل ىلا لموراأ ليتا تبرط االوحد لخاأبر. تعلانم بان ليتس لاسياةس ولا ملاال لوا لاعديقة مه ينذلا يبطرنو

الااسنن لخرباأ بل

احلياة ملاشتركة تقوامس حلوها امرهو . ففي البيت

االوحد لا يودج كانه فرق نيب مسيحي وا مسلم بل مجلاعي خاوة واخوأت تحيمل

واحدكل عملهمسؤوليةمنهم. هذا ما دوا ايضا نا خنتبره لا◌◌ْ ي◌◌َ و◌◌ْ م◌◌َ في الباند فو◌◌ِ ي كنأام ساننا.ك لنبحث امع جياعنم ولسي ما

يفرقنا.

درتس لاالهوت في أاملنيا وعتفتر على الاجتهاات لاالهوتةي المتعددة نم قاسى لاينيم اىل

يالسار. وكنت المع نا صلوات كثنيير نتكا تفراقين ألدج طريقي في هذه دلاسراة. انين ايضا ديسع بنينأ قضتي قأواتا

ثممرة عم راطمنة الكنيةس ثالالث الذني سبقوني. دقل تعلمت نم ملطراان ووداد دحاد الربط ما بني الالهوت احيوة لاامعل. من عظاته

وكتاهتاب تعلمت بان ملاسيحي عهلي نا لا قفي دنع ركف عمني بل ان يكنو انفتحم لقبول رافكأ اخرى نا تنكا قنعمة . وعلتتم من

طاملنرا نعيم ارصن رصااره الدمئا للوقوف ثنيةا بقوة احسيلم ايدتحم ارظلوف تليا رتم عهيل. نوم املطنرا نيبم ما زلان نتعلم واهم

شيء تعلمهت منك الربط ما نيب اهلالوت قعالووا لاذي شعين فهي تعلتم منك نا الثبات في مةفرع الإمينا لامسحي هو ساسلاأ يف

حجنا

احلوار مع الديانات االخرى.

دقل عتش عم السنوات الثنيثال ااملةضي نيب أعضاء كنيةس افالدي في لاقدس. نينا كشأركم

ا◌ ملنكأ عطيأتونمي اثلكري من ابلح ملاودناسة واةثقل. تعلمت نكمم لكاثير نا نكا في

لاشباب عم الأفطال اولادحاث وأ نكا في جاماتعات اكتلاب املدقس وا في امتملؤرات

يام

اورحلاتل وا في لانطاشات الاخىر. دقل كنت وااحد نكمم دقو أحببتكم ااضي.

ودقل دعناي لارب لا◌◌ْ ي◌◌َ و◌◌ْ م◌◌َ لتسلم مةسؤولي دجيدة في حهقل لاوعاس. اكنئسنا لاسةت هي يكنسيت

اهو اتبارط تنيم مبين على لبامحة اولاحترام. لا◌◌ْ ي◌◌َ و◌◌ْ م◌◌َ . طارتباي عم كل كنائسن

على امك اود نا تقأدم ابلشكر ىلا جممع كنيناتس اإلجةيلني اةثريلول في لاا◌◌ْ رند لاأوضراي ملاقسدة ىلوا ثلممي لاكسئنا اماشلكةر

لوجودهم ال◌◌ْ ي◌◌َ و◌◌ْ م◌◌َ اعنم نوا دل هذا على شيء افنه يدل

محمتكب ودعمكم للعمل لاذي تقوم به اكنلةيس. كرش اخص تقادم

هب اىل ةوخالا تاوخالوا يوظفم مكتب ةاردلاا يف لقدسا تعبهمل يف

التحضري هلذا االحتفال.

ان واود اخراي◌◌ً نا شاكر عائليت لاسيما زوجيت نةهل تونابي نايهج والسي ومسا واودتلي هاجين على مقوفكو عمي في السنوات

ياضلامة. دقل كنت تعاجب حياانا كيف نكا باكإمنمك

نوحتبي ملرغبا من نينا تنك صعب ملازاج ولاتفكير.

لكلذ طالب نكمم نا تفقوونين في هذه ملاسرية بلصوتكما للنمايي الرب بروح احلكمة

واحلق.

بال لوم في مةفرع ابنر يسوع

السوم اهلل الذي يفوق لك عقل حيفظ قلوبكم ونفسكم وأفكاركم

املسيح أمني.

Q&A with Bishop Azar

1. What is the most important mission or goal for the ELCJHL in 2018? To connect with the people, to strengthen the congregations and to make a strategic plan for the coming five years.

2. Do you plan to add to your staff, clergy? What growth do you anticipate?

After making the strategic plan we will see where it is important to make changes and new positions.

3. What diaconal programs do you plan to incorporate into the services the church already has established? One of our future goals for the future is diaconal work. In our past, we have worked with young people in the boarding school, which is no longer open but we would like to reestablish this type of work. For me, as one who was in the boarding section, it is important that we look for ways to make diaconal work with children and society an aim of our church not only schools, but other ways within our community. The most important thing for me is humanity. Despite a person’s religion or family status. This is something that I learned in the boarding school, we never asked if you are a Christian or a Muslim, we asked if you are my friend

4. Will your personal focus of the church be international, regional or local?

The message of Christ was for the world. To go out and proclaim the Gospel.

5. Your daughter, Sally Azar is in seminary now, will you ordain her? How do you feel about her being the first woman ordained ELCJHL history? Yes, when she finishes this year and completes an internship, and perhaps a higher degree. She will be the first woman that our church will have ordained. It is not usual in our churches that women are ordained, but it will be a challenge for the church to claim our theology. However, it is good for Sally that she has been under the wings of the two first women ordained in the Middle East just last year Rola Sleiman and Najla Kassab there in Lebanon. It is important to note, that although Sally is the first to be officially ordained, she is not the first in our family to take the role of female leadership. My aunt was a deaconess responsible for Talita Kumi Schools. She was a female leader at that time in the church and was well respected in her work and her theology. Both Sally and I understand that she will be the first pastor but not the first woman working in the church. The role of women in the church has been respected for many years.

6. What have you learned from Bishop Younan?

Munib has long given us interreligious dialogue and through this he created many friendships and connections that will continue and benefit the church.

High Resolution Photo Gallery

https://www.dropbox.com/sh/3bbfxx4kcdz0q6e/AABT lmyFFL_dSmfhbCWbiwa?dl=0 Photos from the consecration can be found and downloaded for publication at http://www.elcjhl.org/links/photos/

Photo credit: Ben Gray/ELCJHL for all images

History of the ELCJHL

The ELCJHL traces its origin to the middle of the 19th century when German and English Evangelical Christians came to Palestine to support the Christian minority in the area through diaconal and mission work. Their activities were many and were channeled through a variety of organizations and institutions.

The initial phase of the Lutheran mission efforts began in 1841 when a joint British Anglican and Prussian Evangelical bishopric was established in Jerusalem. In 1851 Theodor Fliedner, of Kaiserswerth, was invited to bring four deaconesses to the Holy Land to begin a hospital. Four years later, a school for girls, Talitha Kumi, was begun. This was the first school to offer girls a proper education.

In 1860 Johann Ludwig Schneller founded the Syrian Orphanage in Jerusalem. His work among homeless boys had its origin in a civil war in Syria, at that time a province of the Turkish regime. Some 30,000 Christians lost their lives in that war and many children became orphans. (Eventually that work was moved to the Bekka Valley of Lebanon and was administered by the Lutheran World Federation.)

The Anglicans and Lutherans worked together as one body until 1886 when the Prussian Lutherans went their own way, partly due to political and theological differences in Europe between Prussia and England. The German Lutherans focused their efforts on social work and education at a time when the British Anglicans were emphasizing conversion. Today the ELCJHL continues this call to witness through education and health care for Palestinians regardless of faith and provides for the spiritual needs of the Arab Lutheran community.

The original aim of these Protestant mission efforts in the Holy Land was not to create a new church in the area, but to serve the poor and provide a proper education for Christians. Only later the former pupils of the Lutheran Schools helped to establish the Evangelical Lutheran Church. Many of these members became refugees at the time the State of Israel was created.

Until 1947 the Lutheran Church was a mission church under the spiritual leadership of a Propst appointed by the Evangelical Church in Germany. On 7 May 1959, at a time when what is now the West Bank was part of Jordan, the ELCJHL was officially recognized as an autonomous religious community with a royal decree from King Hussein. Thus it was officially called the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan though in practice it is known simply as the Evangelical Lutheran Church (ELCJ). The ELCJ Synod met on Jan. 14, 2005, and unanimously decided to add “and the Holy Land” to the name, so that the name more accurately reflects the full scope of the ministry of the Lutheran church that is serving in Jordan, Palestine and Israel.

During the 1970s the ELCJHL began to make its way toward independence as Lutherans world wide focused on “church to church” relationships rather than “church to mission field” relationships. In 1979 the German Propst transferred spiritual leadership to the first Palestinian Bishop, the Rev. Dr. Daoud Haddad, who had been vicar of the Jerusalem congregation for more than 30 years. The Synod of the ELCJHL had elected him as the first Arab Lutheran bishop in the whole of the Middle East.