First female Palestinian pastor ordained in the Holy Land

Sally Azar will head the English-speaking congregation on the Church of the Redeemer in Jerusalem.

Sally Azar, centre, a Palestinian Christian and member of the Lutheran World Federation earlier than the procession for her ordination as the primary feminine pastor within the Holy Land, within the Previous Metropolis of Jerusalem [Maya Alleruzzo/AP]

Sally Azar has grow to be the primary feminine Palestinian pastor within the Holy Land after she was ordained in a Lutheran Church ceremony in Jerusalem.

Azar will head the English-speaking congregation on the Church of the Redeemer, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land (ELCJHL) mentioned.

Her ordination on Sunday was held earlier than a packed crowd contained in the church in occupied east Jerusalem’s Previous Metropolis.

“The ceremony of ordination is an honour. The possibility to be ordained as a lady in my church is an added honour. I'm blissful to be part of historical past and gender fairness in my church. It's thrilling, however there may be some uncertainty, as properly. I don't anticipate this to be a straightforward highway,” Azar instructed The Lutheran World Federation final week forward of her ordination.

In 2018, Azar graduated from the Close to East College of Theology in Lebanon earlier than heading to Germany the place she studied Intercultural Theology on the College of Gottingen.

“I can be assigned to the ELCJHL English-speaking congregation in Jerusalem. I may also be answerable for bridging the Arabic-speaking congregation with the English-speaking congregation and dealing with the youth, which is vital to me,” she added.

Azar can also be a council member of the Lutheran World Federation.

 

LWF Congratulates Rev. Sally Azar and the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land.#GenderJustice@ELCJHL

Pictures: LWF/@albinhillertpic.twitter.com/eI4jDYEakZ

— The Lutheran World Federation (@lutheranworld) January 22, 2023

The occupied West Financial institution and the Gaza Strip had been house to about 47,000 Christians as of 2017, in accordance with the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics. Most Palestinian Christians belong to denominations that don't enable feminine clergy.

A really small minority belong to Protestant congregations which have girls as ministers.

The Evangelical Lutheran Church says it has roughly 3,000 adherents in Jerusalem, the West Financial institution and Jordan.

Azar can be considered one of 5 ordained girls within the Center East, becoming a member of one in Syria and three in Lebanon, in accordance with the Center East Council of Church buildings.

Sally Azar, centre, is applauded by clergy after her ordination as the primary feminine pastor within the Holy Land, within the Previous Metropolis of Jerusalem [Maya Alleruzzo/AP]