Action on Resolutions 07-11 through 07-15 by the 20th
Annual Assembly of the
07-11 RESOLUTION
ON WORKING TO STOP GENOCIDE IN
Whereas, the United States government has called the ongoing mass killing in Darfur by its rightful name, genocide, and the United Nations has called the situation in Darfur “the worst humanitarian crisis on the planet,” and
Whereas, in Darfur, hundreds of thousands of people have been killed, tens of thousands of women have been raped, 2.5 million people have been displaced from their homes, and 3.8 million people have been deprived of their livelihood and forced to rely on international humanitarian aid to survive, and
Whereas, the Sudanese government refuses to allow the deployment of a peacekeeping force that could guarantee the safety of the people of Darfur and continues to support the Janjaweed militias who kill, rape, and brutalize the people of Darfur, and
Whereas, the United States and other countries cold do a great deal more to pressure the Sudanese government to stop the genocide and allow peacekeepers into Darfur without resorting to military force, and
Whereas, the
Reverend Mark Hanson, the Presiding Bishop of the
Resolved, that this Synod in
Assembly encourage the congregations of the New England Synod to learn about
the situation in Darfur and to pray for the people of
Darfur, for the relief efforts, and for the peace
process; and be it further
Resolved, that this Synod in
Assembly request that our congregations and individual members consider sending
messages to their respective federal government leaders to take stronger
measures towards achieving peace in Darfur; and be it
further
Resolved, that this Synod in
Assembly direct the Bishop of the New England Synod to communicate with the members
of Congress representing congregations of the territory of this Synod and
request that they support resolutions encouraging China to work for an end to
the genocide in Darfur and support funding for
peacekeepers in Darfur; and be it further
Resolved, that this Synod in
Assembly request that the Presiding Bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church
in America make advocating for peace in Darfur a
priority and communicate the importance of advocating for peace in Darfur and supporting relief efforts in Darfur
to the members of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, to the members of
the Lutheran World Federation, and to the Heads of State and leaders of
government whom he often has the opportunity to meet.
07-12 memorial
on working to stop genocide in
Whereas, the United States government has called the ongoing mass killing in Darfur by its rightful name, genocide, and the United Nations has called the situation in Darfur “the worst humanitarian crisis on the planet,” and
Whereas, in Darfur, hundreds of thousands of people have been killed, tens of thousands of women have been raped, 2.5 million people have been displaced from their homes, and 3.8 million people have been deprived of their livelihood and forced to rely on international humanitarian aid to survive, and
Whereas, the Sudanese government refuses to allow the deployment of a peacekeeping force that could guarantee the safety of the people of Darfur and continues to support the janjaweed militias who kill, rape, and brutalize the people of Darfur, and
Whereas, the United States and other countries could do a great deal more to pressure the Sudanese government to stop the genocide and allow peacekeepers into Darfur without resorting to military force, and
Whereas, the Reverend Mark Hanson, the Presiding Bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and the President of the Lutheran World Federation, is in a unique position to encourage Lutherans in the United States and around the world to pray for and advocate for the people of Darfur, therefore be it
RESOLVED, that
this Synod in Assembly submit the following memorial for consideration by the
2007 ELCA Churchwide Assembly:
RESOLVED, that
the 2007 ELCA Churchwide Assembly encourage the congregations of the Evangelical
Lutheran Church in America to learn about the situation in Darfur
and to pray for the people of Darfur, for the relief
efforts, and for the peace process; and be it further
RESOLVED, that
the 2007 ELCA Churchwide Assembly request that the congregations and individual
members of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America consider sending messages
to their respective federal government leaders to take stronger measures
towards achieving peace in Darfur, including
supporting funding for peacekeepers, multilateral sanctions against the
perpetrators of genocide, and diplomatic efforts to encourage China, Eritrea,
and other countries with influence in the region to support the deployment of
peacekeepers and a comprehensive and just peace in Darfur;
and be it further
RESOLVED, that
the 2007 ELCA Churchwide Assembly request that the Presiding Bishop of the
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America make advocating for peace in Darfur a priority and communicate the importance of
advocating for peace in Darfur and supporting relief
efforts in Darfur to the members of the Evangelical
Lutheran Church in America, to the members of the Lutheran World Federation,
and to the Heads of State and leaders of government whom he often has the
opportunity to meet.
07-13 Resolution
on
WHEREAS the New England Synod strives to live out the call
of accompaniment and support in its companion synod relationship with the
Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land (ELCJHL), and
WHEREAS the signers of this resolution were deeply moved by
their recent spiritual pilgrimage throughout
WHEREAS we believe that we must increase our support for our
Palestinian brothers and sisters as they suffer continuing daily hardships,
loss of freedom and land, and deprivation as a result of years of occupation
and more recently as a result of the wall erected by the Israeli
Government, therefore be it
RESOLVED that we,
the New England Synod, remain vigilant in paying attention to events in the
RESOLVED that we continue to pray fervently and faithfully for a just and peaceful end to the conflict there, including a withdrawal by Israel from land that it has occupied through military means since 1967, and be it further
RESOLVED that we strongly advocate for a public policy that is committed to peace and justice; to the establishment of the state of Palestine to live in peace alongside the state of Israel; to the end of all settlements in the Occupied Territories; to the sharing of the city of Jerusalem by two peoples and three religions; to supporting a United Nations or multilateral sponsored peace agreement and, if required, a multi-national presence to secure that peace, and be it further
RESOLVED that we
continue to support our sisters and brothers by strongly urging and seeking
financial support for steady and informed pilgrimage visits by many members of
the ELCA to the
RESOLVED that we
provide regular and generous financial support for the ministries of the
ELCJHL, the Lutheran World Federation in
RESOLVED that we memorialize the Churchwide Assembly in August 2007 to take similar action.
07-14 resolution
to continue islamic dialogue (PASSED)
WHEREAS at least one of our sister synods in the ELCA has
voted to memorialize the 2007 Churchwide Assembly to curtail the participation
of our church in interfaith dialog with Muslims in the light of anti-Christian
violence and persecution in various parts of the world; and
WHEREAS our dialog partners, current and potential, in Islam
are no more in a position to control or restrain extremists or fanatics from
their own traditions than are we in regard to Christians of hateful or callous
convictions; and
WHEREAS it is not in the spirit of our church, nor of the
spirit of Christ, to refuse to speak with others, whether perceived as friends
or foes; and
WHEREAS witness to the possibility of human solidarity
across the divisions of religious identity has become all the more precious and
urgent in this age of heightened and more bitter divisions, therefore be it
RESOLVED that the New England Synod voice its support for and provide future funding for continuing dialog – local, national, and international – with representatives of Islam, and that we so memorialize the 2007 Churchwide Assembly to take similar action.
07-15 RESOLUTION OF THANKSGIVING (PASSED BY ACCLAMATION)
RESOLVED that this New England Synod in Assembly in June 7-9,
2007, hereby gives thanks to God for those who have served it in these days and
in the year past; and that such thanksgiving be expressed also as particular
gratitude to the Synod Staff, to Bishop