Our Mission:

“Led by the Holy Spirit, the Working Group on the Middle East (WGME) of the Metropolitan Chicago Synod, ELCA, will educate and urge the Metropolitan Chicago Synod to advocate actively for justice for Palestine and Israel, which will lead to peace in the Middle East to ensure free access to the holy sites for Jews, Christians and Muslims.”

Younan Videos Available Online

The synod's Working Group on the Middle East has videos of the Right Rev. Dr. Munib A. Younan, Bishop of the The Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan & the Holy Land (ELCJHL), available online for viewing. You can view the videos on YouTube.

Peace Not Walls
A special ELCA campaign calling for efforts toward a viable, contiguous Palestinian state; a secure Israeli state at peace with its Arab neighbors; and a shared Jerusalem with equal access and rights for Jews, Christians, and Muslims. Learn more at Peace Not Walls at ELCA.org.

The members of our synod's Working Group on the Middle East include:

Name	Congregation
June Albert	Martha and Mary, Mt. Prospect
Fern Anders	Martha and Mary, Mt. Prospect
Klaus Bloecks	Grace, LaGrange
Greg Brownfield	Living Lord, Bartlett
Joan Ehrenberg	Unity, Chicago
Tim Fries	Our Saviors, Naperville
Dave Ioder	Bethlehem, St. Charles
Gus Khoury	St. Elias, Chicago
Kholoud Khoury	St. Elias, Chicago
Nick & Shirley Khoury	Good Shepherd, Palos Heights
Amy Knickrehm	Immanuel, Edgewater in Chicago
Gloria Nelson	Martha and Mary, Mt. Prospect
Pam Sall	Ebenezer, Chicago
Dieter Schulte	Luther Memorial, Chicago (Interim Chair)
Ed Thompson	Gloria Dei, Northbrook
Leewyn Trevor	Martha and Mary, Mt. Prospect

Working Group on the Middle East (WGME)

Praying and Acting for Peace

Forms & Documents

Contact The Synod

WGME Events

Learn More on ELCA.org