Ecumenical News

The highest ranking bishop in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) has given his support to church leaders in Syria, who are calling for peace amidst one of the bloodiest conflicts in the nation’s history.

"In these difficult days, I will continue to pray and encourage members of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America to pray for you and your efforts to sustain the courage and faith of your communities," wrote the Rev. Mark Hanson, presiding bishop for the ELCA.

 "We who are at 'the ends of the earth' cannot forget the importance of Syria for the growth of our faith or the communities of disciples keeping the faith in the land of Christianity's birth," he continued. "We affirm, with you, that the Christian communities in Syria are an essential component to the fabric of Syrian culture and history.”

Nearly 5,000 Syrians have been killed in the last 10 months in violent clashes between government forces and those seeking to overthrow President Bashar al-Assad’s regime.

The United Nations Security Council has been debating whether to pass a resolution calling for al-Assad to step down but have yet to reach an agreement.

 The Arab league, backed by Western nations, has drafted a resolution that would have al-Assad step down and the violence stopped, but Russia has threatened to veto any measure that does not allow military force to be used to solve the situation

Hanson’s letters were hand-delivered to three Christians leaders in the region – His Holiness Ignatius Zakka I Iwas, Patriarch of Antioch and All the East and Supreme Head of the Syrian Orthodox Church in All the World; His Beatitude Ignatius IV Hazim, Patriarch of Antioch and All the East of the Greek Orthodox Church; and His Beatitude Gregory III Laham, Patriarch of Antioch and All the East of Alexandria and Jerusalem of the Melkite Greek Catholic Church.

 At the conclusion of his letter, Hanson said he will pray for the efforts of Syrian church leaders in strengthening their relationships with Muslim neighbors, and he asked how the ELCA might be of assistance.

"We know that well-meaning actions can sometimes result in unintended negative consequences, thus we seek your guidance,” he wrote. “In this critical time, we hope to do all we can to strengthen your callings to be ministers of reconciliation in your land.”

Meanwhile, despite the stalemate, U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon on Wednesday called for an immediate cease to the bloodshed.

"We cannot wait any longer until the political process is finished while many people are being killed," Ban said while in Jerusalem. "While I fully support the political solution of this issue that is quite advisable. But first and foremost we have to take necessary action so that we will not lose any more human lives."

Ban made his remarks while on a two day visit to Israel and Palestine to moved forward peace negotiations in the region.