FINLAND & PALESTINE Proceedings of a Joint Workshop

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_~____ Hartt! Tunk.men
Munib A. Younan. After completion of a language and diaconal
program, he continued with theology in Helsinki University,
and was ordained 1976. 11
In October 1974, a meeting of Arab Lutheran pastors and FELM
assistant director, and ME secretary was held at the Shalhevetyah
Center, Jerusalem. Discussion was mainly about cooperation
and joint projects between ELCJ and FELM.
Summer 1975 a youth group, led by Rev. Nairn Nassar, visited
Finland. They were invited by Arch Bishop Simojoki, with the
hope that relationship between the Churches would strengthen.
FELM organized their program.
Then, an important development took place, when the Cooperation
Council for Oversees Partners for ELCJ (COCOP) was
established in 1977. First, an agreement was signed in Finland
by Rev. Haddad, representatives of FELM and Berlin Mission
Association (BMA). The following year, the Church of Sweden
Mission (CSM) and the United Evangelical Lutheran Church of
Germany (UELCG) joined COCOP. The same year, bishop of
Helsinki, professor Nikolainen, and FELM representatives, participated
in COCOP meeting in Jerusalem. 12
Very quickly, after East Jerusalem was occupied, Finns found
Christian sisters and brothers there, and church officials had a
natural address for visit. This led to a clear, but slow turn, in
direction of Finnish church activities. Contacts to the Arab
Christians brought better, and more balanced, understanding
of the situation in the Middle East. However, the fact that, until
2003, the ELCJ cooperation was reported in FELM annuals,
under the title of "Israel," shows the difficulty in changing of
attitudes and practices.
11 Munib Younan: Witnessing for Peace, 2001
12 FElM year book 1979
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