NT-NL Giving Public Witness to Peace and Justice: 2011

Thursday, April 21, 2011

Support the rights of Holy Land Christians to worship during Holy Week

The Palestine-Israel Ecumenical Forum (PIEF) of the World Council of Churches has issued an alert regarding the rights of Christians to worship during Holy Week.

Israeli restrictions prevent Palestinian Christians from attending Holy Week services in Jerusalem. Israel allows only 8000 pilgrims and few hundreds of locals to enter the city where the Holy Sepulchre Church, and its surroundings become off limits for Christians through a complex network of walls, checkpoints, and security apparatuses.

For Easter, Palestinian Christians living outside of Jerusalem in the West Bank and Gaza are required to apply for permits to access their holy sites in occupied East Jerusalem, and it is estimated that only 2000–3000 Palestinian Christians receive permits. (Muslims too have difficulties in accessing their holy sites, but Jews do not have to apply for permits.) The heavy presence of Israeli police and military forces in and around the Old City preventing Christians from accessing the Holy Sepulcher Church neighborhood disturbs the spiritual atmosphere and joy of celebrating Easter.

We call on all our leaders, friends, brothers and sisters around the world to take the following practical steps:
* Write to your political representatives informing them of the situation and asking them to put pressure on Israel to end its restrictions on religious rights, to end its military occupation on this land, and to respect international law;
* Write directly to the Israeli Ambassador to register you compaint against Israels actions, against military occupation on this land, and asking for respect for international law and human rights. [Embassy address: 3514 International Drive, NW, Washington, D.C. 20008]

See this link to read more from the Kairos community.

Friday, March 25, 2011

Coming up in April: NT-NL's second immigration reform seminar

NEW - Event info in Spanish

Coming up: NT-NL's second immigration reform seminar
April 9, 2011, at Christ Lutheran Church, 3001 Lovers Lane, Dallas
8:00 A.M. to 4:00 P.M.
Registration - $20 at the door, includes lunch.

Who Is My Neighbor? Immigration, Justice, and Congregational Ministry is a one-day seminar that seeks to equip participants to respond from a faith perspective to current immigration concerns, and to continue in our synod a faithful discussion of immigration reform.

To register online send an email to Franz Schemmel, Click here

To download a flyer and registration form to print, click here

Goals:

To look at the biblical question, “Who is my neighbor?” and the theological implications for justice and ministry.
To learn about U.S. immigration law and the economic realities that drive immigration.
To learn about problems with current immigration law and how to be effective advocates for immigration reform in Texas and nationally.
To gain understanding of the needs of immigrants and the challenges of congregations serving them.
To build bridges of love and understanding among all people of our synod.

Speakers:

The Rev. Kevin Kanouse, Bishop
Northern Texas-Northern Louisiana Mission Area, ELCA
Pastors and lay members of NT-NL congregations with immigrant members
Eric Sigmon, Director for Advocacy
Lutheran Immigration and Refuge Service, Washington, D.C.
Dr. Pia M. Orrenius, Economist. Federal Reserve Bank, Dallas
Bee Moorhead, Executive Director, Texas Impact, Austin
Javier (Jay) Alanis, Director
Lutheran Seminary Program of the Southwest, Austin

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Scholarships are available.
Contact Gabriela Dowson
818-400-3754
gabrieladowson@aol.com
For information about this seminar contact:
Rev. Franz Schemmel
817-925-1318
franzschemmel@gmail.com
Chuck Hubbard
214-395-6978
chuck.hubbard@yahoo.com

Friday, February 18, 2011

Who Is My Neighbor? Immigration, Justice, and Congregational Ministry

Coming up: NT-NL's second immigration reform seminar
April 9, 2011, at Christ Lutheran Church, 3001 Lovers Lane, Dallas
8:00 A.M. to 4:00 P.M.
Registration - $20 at the door, includes lunch.

To register online send an email to Franz Schemmel, Click here

To download a flyer and registration form to print, click here

Goals:

To look at the biblical question, “Who is my neighbor?” and the theological implications for justice and ministry.
To learn about U.S. immigration law and the economic realities that drive immigration.
To learn about problems with current immigration law and how to be effective advocates for immigration reform in Texas and nationally.
To gain understanding of the needs of immigrants and the challenges of congregations serving them.
To build bridges of love and understanding among all people of our synod.

Speakers:

The Rev. Kevin Kanouse, Bishop
Northern Texas-Northern Louisiana Mission Area, ELCA
Pastors and lay members of NT-NL congregations with immigrant members
Eric Sigmon, Director for Advocacy
Lutheran Immigration and Refuge Service, Washington, D.C.
Dr. Pia M. Orrenius, Economist. Federal Reserve Bank, Dallas
Bee Moorhead, Executive Director, Texas Impact, Austin
Javier (Jay) Alanis, Director
Lutheran Seminary Program of the Southwest, Austin

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Friday, February 11, 2011

Plans are underway for April 9 immigration seminar

The Public Witness Team met Saturday, Feb. 12, at Shepherd of Life Lutheran Church in Arlington. Top of the agenda, planning for the upcoming Immigration Reform Seminar. Chairperson Chuck Hubbard welcomed Texas House of Representatives Member Lon Burnam who joined us for the last half hour of our meeting.
The immigration seminar is now on the NT-NL calendar:

April 9, 2011 (all day)
Immigration Reform Seminar
Christ Lutheran Church
3001 Lovers Lane, Dallas
More details coming soon!