A Lutheran church in Jerusalem ordained the first woman Palestinian pastor in the Holy Land.
Sally Azar presides over Holy Communion at the conclusion of her ordination service at the Lutheran Church of the Redeemer in the Jerusalem Old City. Photo: LWF/Albin Hillert
Sally Azar made history when she was ordained in a ceremony on Sunday Jan. 22.
Bishop Sani Ibrahim “Barhoum” Azar of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land places his hand on the head of Sally Azar as she is ordained pastor as the first Palestinian woman ever. Photo: LWF/Albin Hillert
Her duties will include leading services, bible studies and all English-speaking congregations at the Church of the Redeemer, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land (ELCJHL), according to AP.
Sally Azar sheds a tear as she delivers her first sermon as an ordained pastor. Photo: LWF/Albin Hillert
She is one of the five women who have been ordained in the Middle East, with the other three from Lebanon and one from Syria, according to the Middle East Council of Churches, The Times of Israel reported.
Hundreds of people, including international guests from around the world, gathered at the Lutheran Church of the Redeemer in the Jerusalem Old City to celebrate the ordination of Sally Azar, as the first Palestinian woman to become ordained for service in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land. Photo: LWF/Albin Hillert
Women hold only a small minority of church leadership, especially in Palestinian churches because most of the churches belong to denominations that don’t allow women clergy.
Held at the Lutheran Church of the Redeemer in Jerusalem, the service sees the ordination of Sally Azar as the first Palestinian woman to become ordained for service in Palestine. Photo: LWF/Albin Hillert
Ordained and inspired by her father, Azar studied theology and has always wanted to become a pastor.
Sally Azar, ordained minutes earlier as pastor in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land, presides over Holy Communion at the conclusion of her ordination service. Photo: LWF/Albin Hillert
She said she is very excited that her dream came true and that the ordination was “indescribable”.
Sally Azar presides over Holy Communion at the conclusion of her ordination service at the Lutheran Church of the Redeemer in the Jerusalem Old City. Photo: LWF/Albin Hillert
“The rite of ordination is an honor. The chance to be ordained as a woman in my church is an added honor. I am happy to be a part of history and gender equity in my church,” Azar told The Lutheran World Federation last week before her ordination, Al Jazeera reported.
Sally Azar is to be ordained a pastor in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land. Photo: LWF/Albin Hillert
“I hope that many girls and women will know this is possible and that other women in other churches will join us. I know it will take a long time, but I think it could be exciting if this changes in Palestine,” she said, according to the BBC.
Anne Heikkinen from Finland congratulates Sally Azar during a reception held at the conclusion of the latter’s ordination service. Photo: LWF/Albin Hillert
