What do the Churches say about the War? Below is part of a July 2006 letter from the General Secretary of the World Council of Churches to all their member organizations. The letter calls us to bring public attention to the need for an “urgent end to the 39 year occupation [of the Palestinian territories] that is the vortex of the regions storms”. Just review the recommendations for action printed below. Your Church is probably a member of the WCC. Link to the List of Members and find out. Is your local church getting involved? Why not? How about you call your Congressperson and Senator and send them a copy of the entire letter? This would be a great start. Then send us a note and we’ll send you a note thanking you for Waging Peace.
Here is a portion of the letter:
Pastoral letter on the violence in the Middle East
21 July 2006
Dear Member Churches in the Middle East, Europe and North America,
Greetings to you as sisters and brothers in Christ and fellow disciples of the Prince of Peace.
In recent days we have all been stirred with compassion and beset with sadness at the shedding of innocent blood in the Middle East....
We commend such action to you and ask the churches to use policies that you have set through the WCC and similar policy-making bodies. Calls to bring to public attention include:
• immediate cease-fires; protection of civilians as prescribed by law including the Geneva Conventions;
• release of all those in detention, or trial under due process of law and according to international norms;
• multilateral implementation of long-delayed UN Security Council resolutions for peace in Lebanon, Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories, including an urgent end to the illegal 39-year occupation that is the vortex of the region’s violent storms.
The World Council of Churches has always held that justice among the states and peoples of the Middle East must be based on the international rule of law and on rigorous implementation of United Nations Security Council resolutions pertaining to the conflicts. May we continue to stand together, praying for peace with justice to embrace all concerned. As we pray, so may we believe. And so, too, be moved to action.
Yours in Christ,
Rev. Dr. Samuel Kobia
General Secretary
Cc: WCC Member Churches in all other regions
Regional Ecumenical Organizations
© 2005 World Council of Churches
