WASHINGTON - 26 January 2007 - 1,200 words
US Christian leaders appeal to Bush for peace in Holy Land
Christian leaders of American churches and Christian institutions from a range of traditions Orthodox, Catholic, mainstream and evangelical Protestants have appealed to President Bush for peace in the Holy Land. The January 23rd letter, signed by 39 church leaders, encourages President Bush to make Israeli-Palestinian peacemaking, in the context of a comprehensive Arab-Israeli peace initiative, an urgent priority for his Administration. The letter states a deepening concern for the welfare and future of the Palestinian Christian community. It also calls attention to the very grave situation of Jerusalem.
The church leaders' letter to President Bush was delivered yesterday to all Senate and House offices. It is also the basis of an ad in the January 30th edition of Roll Call , a widely read publication on Capitol Hill. CMEP encourages advocates to contact their Congressional offices to raise up the main points of the letter. In the new political climate on Capitol Hill, this is a good opportunity to urge bi- partisan work towards a resolution to the Israeli- Palestinian conflict that, as stated by President Bush in his 2007 State of the Union address, results in two states, Israel and Palestine, living side-by-side in peace and security.
The full text follows:
Dear Mr President,
As leaders of churches and Christian institutions in the United
States, we bring you greetings for the New Year and encouragement
as you meet the challenges that face our nation and the global
community. Even though we are from a wide range of Christian traditions
Orthodox, Catholic, mainstream and evangelical Protestants
we stand close together in our hopes and prayers for peace
in the land we all call Holy and for the reconciliation of the
children of Abraham Jews, Christians and Muslims.
We come to you with two interrelated appeals that are central
to our faith-motivated quest for peace with justice. First, we
ask that you make Israeli- Palestinian peacemaking, in the context
of a comprehensive Arab-Israeli peace initiative, an urgent priority
for your Administration. We recognize the great many difficulties
and struggles that the people of the Middle East region must confront
and the heavy responsibilities that fall upon you to help restore
hope for a better future for them and for the citizens of the
United States. We know that many view the Israeli-Palestinian
situation as the most intractable in our troubled world, but we
know that when it is resolved, the positive repercussions will
go well beyond that small geographic area.
We commend your vision of a viable, contiguous Palestinian state
living as a peaceful neighbour alongside the state of Israel,
with both nations secure and recognized by their neighbours. With
your active engagement, this vision could reignite a passion for
peace that can overcome the appeal of violence, vengeance and
exclusivity. The United States and the world will become safer
as confidence grows that the U.S. is willing to take leadership
and work cooperatively with the United Nations and other nations
to resolve this conflict.
We bring to you our deepening concern for the welfare and future of the Palestinian Christian community. A small but vital part of the Palestinian society, Christians are rapidly emigrating to countries where they can gain the economic and physical security that is denied all Palestinians living under occupation. The future of the Palestinian Christians requires a solution to the conflict that will allow both peoples Israelis and Palestinians - to live side-by- side in two states where all enjoy justice, peace and security.
The Palestinian Christian leaders have asked us to bring to your attention the very grave situation of Jerusalem. They remind us that Jerusalem is the location of "not only historical memories and sacred places of pilgrimage, but also living communities of believers." With the construction by Israel of the separation barrier, many of the faithful both Christians and Muslims are excluded from the Holy City, and Jerusalem is severed from Bethlehem. Our second appeal is for you to work with Israelis, Palestinians and the international community to guarantee access to Jerusalem's Holy Places and religious liberty for all peoples. Resolving the status of Jerusalem is key to achieving a workable two- state solution.
Mr President, as this New Year begins, we encourage you to maintain the faith, the courage and the resolve to work with other world leaders toward negotiations that guarantee two viable and secure states, Israel and Palestine, living side-by- side and sharing Jerusalem. For guidance we look to the examples of the great prophets Isaiah and Jeremiah who declared that God calls all nations and all people to do justice to one another. We join in praying for peace in the Holy Land and at home.
Sincerely,
The Most Rev. Archbishop
Barsamian
Primate, Diocese of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern)
+Bishop Dimitrios of Xanthos
Ecumenical Officer
Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America
Bishop Thomas G. Wenski
Chairman, Committee on International Policy
U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops
The Rev. Mark S. Hanson
Presiding Bishop
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
The Most Rev. Katharine Jefferts Schori
Presiding Bishop
The Episcopal Church
Are joined by:
The Rt. Rev. Wayne Burkette
President, Provincial Elders' Conference
Moravian Church in America, Southern Province
Simone Campbell, SSS
Executive Director
NETWORK
Tony Campolo
Founder
Evangelical Association for the Promotion of Education
Sister Mary Dacey, SSJ
President
Leadership Conference of Women Religious
Marie Dennis
Director
Maryknoll Office for Global Concerns
Rev. Robert Edgar
General Secretary
National Council of Churches
Rev. Wesley Granberg-Michaelson
General Secretary
Reformed Church in America
Ken Hackett
President
Catholic Relief Services
Rev. Dr. Stan Hastey
Executive Director
Alliance of Baptists
Bishop Janice Riggle Huie
President, Council of Bishops
The United Methodist Church
Very Rev. Dominic Izzo, OP
President
Catholic Conference of Major Superiors of Men's Institutes
Rev. Phillip L. Jones
Director, Washington Office
Church of the Brethren
Rev. Dr. Clifton Kirkpatrick
Stated Clerk of the General Assembly
Presbyterian Church (USA)
Rev. Michael E. Livingston
Executive Director, International Council of Community Churches
President, National Council of Churches
Albert C. Lobe
Interim Executive Director
Mennonite Central Committee
E. Earl McCloud, Jr. Bishop
Office of Ecumenical & Urban Affairs
African Methodist Episcopal Church
Rev. John L. McCullough
Executive Director & CEO
Church World Service
Mary Ellen McNish
General Secretary
American Friends Service Committee
A. Roy Medley
General Secretary
American Baptist Churches U.S.A.
Richard J. Mouw
President
Fuller Seminary
David Neff
Editor and Vice-President
Christianity Today
Leonard Rodgers
Executive Director
Evangelicals for Middle East Understanding
Br. Mark Schroeder, OFM
President, Franciscan Friars (OFM)
English Speaking Conference
JPIC Council
Metropolitan PHILIP (Saliba)
Primate
Antiochian Orthodox Archdiocese of North America
Ambassador Robert A. Seiple
Former Ambassador-at-Large for International
Religious Freedom
Ronald J. Sider
President
Evangelicals for Social Action
Rev. William G. Sinkford
President
Unitarian Universalist Association of Congregations
Msgr. Robert L. Stern
Secretary General, CNEWA
President, Pontifical Mission for Palestine
The Rev. John H. Thomas
General Minister and President
United Church of Christ
Joe Volk
Executive Secretary
Friends Committee on National Legislation
Jim Wallis
CEO
Sojourners/Call to Renewal
The Rev. Dr. Sharon E. Watkins
General Minister and President
Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
Corinne Whitlatch
Executive Director
Churches for Middle East Peace
Bishop Gabino Zavala
Bishop President
Pax Christi USA: National Catholic Peace Movement
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