"Over 60 participants in a Lutheran World Federation (LWF) consultation in Dobogokö near Budapest, Hungary on the theme "Anti-Semitism and Anti-Judaism Today" have strongly condemned the devastating September 11 terrorist attacks on the United States of America.

In a September 12 statement, the Lutheran and Jewish participants drawn from 15 countries worldwide expressed "deep abhorrence at the enormous atrocity in the USA" and condemned "all terrorist activities."

"We see this attack as a crime against humanity," and pray in this dark hour that God will guide leaders to "make wise decisions and lead the peoples of the world towards justice and peace." They mourned the loss of victims and expressed sympathy to the families affected and to the US people.

Participants in the September 9-13 consultation, who included representatives of LWF member churches and their dialogue/relationship partners from amongst the Jewish communities and ecumenical participants, came together to assess the status of dialogue in these churches and explore the directions in which responses to anti-Semitism and anti-Judaism could move.

Rev. Dr. Wolfgang Greive, study secretary for theology and the church in the LWF Department for Theology and Studies, who together with others initiated this project, said "the uniqueness of this meeting is that the Jewish and Lutheran participants came from 15 countries representing a global dimension-Australia, South Africa, Latin America, North America, West and Eastern Europe and Jerusalem." The conference "was marked by a spirit of mutual respect" and contributed toward mutual enrichment, he said. A Jewish participant likened the meeting to "a family experience."

Reports discussed at the meeting brought reality to the understanding of the Jewish-Christian dialogue/relationship and acted as an eye opener. There was neither idealistic nor polemic understanding. The insight is that the door is open for a shift in Jewish and Christian relations, "but it is still a long way for some churches to enter in this new relationship," participants said.

The meeting was a forum aimed at focusing on re-emerging and new forms of anti-Semitism and anti-Judaism in many different countries. Also discussed was the proliferation of anti-Semitic hate sites on the Internet, desecration of Jewish cemeteries, neo-Nazism, and increasing expressions of anti-Semitic attitudes. Facing this situation, it is of great importance that the churches have a very clear stand-point and self-understanding of the church's relationship to Israel. It was underlined that Christians have not replaced Jews. Participants encouraged LWF member churches to produce more materials that counter anti-Judaism in the church's theology and liturgy.

Participants expressed deep concern about the ongoing conflict in the Middle East and the sufferings of the Israelis and Palestinians, including members of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan. They urged the State of Israel and the Palestinian leadership to seek all possible ways to end the violence and to resume negotiations seeking agreement between the two peoples.

The results of the LWF consultation in Dobogokö will be published in the LWF Documentation series.

The conference participants' statement on the USA attacks follows:

We, Lutherans and Jews of many countries gathered in Dobogokö near Budapest, Hungary for an LWF Consultation on Anti-Semitism and Anti-Judaism Today, express our deep abhorrence at the enormous atrocity that was perpetrated in the USA on Tuesday, 11th September 2001.

We totally condemn all terrorist activities.

We mourn the loss of the victims and express our sympathies to the families of the victims and to the people of the USA.

We see this attack as a crime against humanity.

In this dark hour we pray that God will guide the leaders to make wise decisions and to lead the peoples of the world towards justice and peace.

ADUNKA, Dr. Evelyn, Vienna, Austria; BANKI, Ms Judith H., Director, Special Programs, Tanenbaum Center for Interreligious Understanding, New York, USA; BAUER, Rev. Heinrich, Dachau, Germany; BRANDT, Rev. Newton, Lutheran Theological Seminary, Umphumulo, Mapumulo, Kwa-Zulu Natal, Rep. South Africa; FISHER, Dr. Eugene, National Conference of Catholic Bishops, Secretariat for Ecumenical and Interreligious Affairs, Washington, D. C. , USA; FRISHMAN, Prof. Dr. J., Amsterdam, The Netherlands; GOEHRING, Pfr.i.R. Othmar, Graz, Austria; GROSSKOPF-DA COSTA, Ms. Carla, Chemnitz, Germany; HACKEL, Very Rev. Sergei, Lewes, E. Sussex , United Kingdom; HALPERIN, Prof. Jean, World Jewish Congress, Switzerland; HAUSMANN, Prof. Dr. Jutta, General Secretary, Lutheran European Commission for Church and Judaism, Budapest, Hungary; KATSELNIK, Dr. Vadim, St. Petersburg, Russia; KLEEMANN, Rev. Jürg, Fiesole, Italy; KLENICKI, Rabbi Leon, Consultant for Interfaith Relations, Anti-Defamation League, New York, USA; KRAUS, Prof. Dr. Wolfgang, Institut für Evangelische Theologie, Universität Koblenz-Landau, Rheinau, Koblenz, Germany; LAATO, Dr. theol. Anni Maria, Turku, Finland; LANG, Mr. Thomas, Nove Zamky, Slovak Republic; LEVI, Rabbi John, Executive Council of Australian Jewry, Armadale, Australia; LICHTMANN, Prof. Dr. Tamàs, Budapest, Hungary; MENN, Dr. Esther, The Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago, Chicago, USA; MESKIN, Ms Paddy, Chairperson WCRP Durban, South Africa; METZGER, Rev. Willy F., Amsterdam, The Netherlands; NARROWE, Morton, Chief Rabbi Emeritus of Stockholm, Sweden; NELSON, Rev. Glen, 104 Kimbark Blvd, Toronto, Canada; PASTOR, Dr. Alexander, President of the General Synod of ELCROS, St. Petersburg, Russia; PASZTA, Mr. Zbigniew, Warsaw, Poland; PETTIT, Dr. Peter A., Director, Institute for Jewish-Christian Understanding, Muhlenberg College, Allentown, USA; PIETRANTONIO, Rev. Dr. Ricardo, Instituto Superior Evangélico de Estudios Teológicos - Isedet, Buenos Aires, Argentina; PIEPER, Rev. Friedhelm, International Council of Christians and Jews, Heppenheim, Germany; PITUM, Dr. Abi, Innstrasse 2a, D-81679 Munich, Germany; RAUPACH-RUDNICK, Rev. Wolfgang, Amt für Gemeindedienst, Hanover, Germany; SCHÜNEMANN, Pastor Sinodal Dr . Rolf, São Paulo, Brazil; SENDER, Ms Anne, Oslo, Norway; SHERMAN, Rev. Dr. Franklin, Associate for Interfaith Relations, ELCA, Allentown, USA; SKORKA, Rabbi Dr. Abraham, Rector Seminario Rabinico, Latinoamericano, Buenos Aires, Argentina; STOLZ, Dr. David, BOX HILL, Australia; STRØMMEN, Rev. Cecilie Jørgensen, Oslo, Norway; SVARTVIK, Ph.D., V.D.M. Jesper, Lund, Sweden; SZEBIK, Bishop Imre, Evangelical Lutheran Church in Hungary, Budapest, Hungary; WEISSMAN, Dr. Deborah, Jerusalem, Israel; WERNER, Rev. Matthias, Arnsdorf, Germany; WETTBERG Ms. Ingrid, Liberal Jewish Community Hannover, Garbsen, Germany"

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