In a new letter released during Holy Week ahead of Easter, more than 140 Bishops and executive leaders from churches, denominations, and church-based organizations in the US and around the world call for a permanent ceasefire in Gaza, urge the US and other world powers to halt additional arms sales to Israel, and make clear that Israel, the US, and all countries must abide by Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide. The letters’ signers include a U.S. Catholic Bishop, a Catholic Cardinal, the presiding bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, the presiding bishop and primate of the Episcopal Church, an Anglican Dean, and many other notable figures from a wide range of churches, including Catholic, Lutheran, Mennonite, Quaker, and Evangelical leaders.
Several Mennonites signed the letter including leaders from Mennonite World Conference, MC USA, MennoPIN, Mennonite Central Committee and Friends of Sabeel North America.
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March 26, 2024
As Christians around the world prepare to commemorate the final suffering in the earthly life of Jesus Christ during Holy Week, we stand in solidarity with all in the Holy Land who suffer. During Passion Week, Catholics, Protestants, and Orthodox alike engage in prayer, reflection, and repentance. We repent of the ways we have not stood alongside our Palestinian siblings in faithful witness in the midst of their grief, agony, and sorrow. Christian witness and engagement with the world must be marked by faithfulness to God, love of neighbor, and mercy toward those who are suffering and in need. For the Holy Scriptures teach, “Uphold the cause of the poor and the oppressed.” (Psalm 82:3).
As the ongoing devastation, bombing, and ground invasion in Gaza continue into their sixth month, Palestinians, including our Palestinian Christian siblings, cry out to the world, asking, “Where are you?” World leaders have responded with empty rhetoric and political volleying about addressing the “humanitarian crisis” in Gaza while ignoring the direct causes of the catastrophe. Those causes are the daily bombing and ground invasion by the Israeli military, in addition to the shutting off of basic life-sustaining services to more than two million people who are suffering the consequences of crimes not their own.
As of March 25, 2024, at least 32,333 people in Gaza have been killed, and more than 74,694 have been injured, the vast majority of them women and children. Gaza has been declared one of the most dangerous places in the world to live, where “no place is safe” according to the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF). The World Health Organization (WHO) describes the situation as desperate, as children are dying from hunger and dehydration. The WHO reports that 15 percent of children under the age of two in northern Gaza show signs of wasting, suggesting a serious and rapid decline over just a few months, which is unprecedented globally. The horrific actions Hamas committed on October 7th in no way justify the massive deaths of tens of thousands of civilians in Gaza at the hands of the Israeli military.
The average number of people killed every day in Gaza is just under two hundred people a day, with roughly one person dying every eight minutes. The slaughter continues every day even as more and more men, women, and children are pulled out from underneath the rubble, and more than 1.8 million people remain displaced. As of late January, reports indicate more than half of Gaza’s buildings have been damaged or destroyed. All of this compounds the devastation that Palestinians have experienced during Israel’s 16+ year blockade of Gaza and the occupation of East Jerusalem, the West Bank, and Gaza since 1967.
Palestinians, South Africans, and experts around the world have said what is happening in Gaza is nothing less than a genocide. South Africa asserted that the Israeli government engaged in action with “genocidal intent” in its complaint at the International Court of Justice (ICJ). The ICJ’s preliminary ruling found it “plausible that Israel’s acts [in Gaza] could amount to genocide” and issued provisional measures to seek to prevent further deaths. By the end of February, human rights groups around the world asserted Israel had already violated the ICJ ruling by intentionally limiting humanitarian assistance to Gaza. The global church—and world—cannot be silent as people continue to die in Gaza by military assault, lack of adequate medical care, hunger, and disease.
The U.S., the U.K., Israel, and other countries must uphold their responsibility as signatories to the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide. The United States and other nations’ further militarization of the conflict makes no one safer and instead prolongs suffering and causes more death and destruction. We call on the United States, United Kingdom, Germany, Australia, and France to join the Netherlands, Belgium, Spain, Italy, and Japan to halt additional military support and arms to Israel and not be complicit in the ongoing military campaign that is having such devastating effects on civilians in Gaza.
We say, “Enough killing!” and together demand a comprehensive and permanent ceasefire.
On October 7th, Hamas attacked southern Israel and killed approximately 1,200 Israelis and internationals, and took more than 240 people hostage in Gaza. We have been clear in our condemnation of these actions of Hamas, which were an atrocious crime. It is believed 100 hostages or more could still be held captive in Gaza. We have consistently called for the remaining hostages to be returned home to their families.
We, as global Christian leaders, stand with our brothers and sisters in Christ in Palestine and around the world and say the killing must stop, and the violence must be brought to an end. We ask world leaders to exercise strong moral courage to bring an immediate end to the violence and to open a pathway toward peace and an end to the conflict. We call for a permanent and comprehensive ceasefire where all combatants lay down their weapons and Israeli hostages and Palestinian political prisoners held without the due process of law are released. Immediate and adequate humanitarian assistance must be provided for the more than two million Palestinian people in Gaza who have such desperate needs. We support efforts toward a negotiated settlement that addresses the core causes of the current crisis and brings an end to the decades-long violations of the rights of the Palestinian people in accordance with international law, such solutions must advance security and self-determination for Israelis and Palestinians. As we prepare for Holy Week, we lament and pray for comfort for all who have lost loved ones over the past months in Gaza, East Jerusalem, the West Bank, and Israel. We know that Jesus himself was among those who suffered, and he comforted the brokenhearted.
We say, “Enough atrocities in Gaza; enough violence, death, and destruction! May love triumph over hate.” We hold onto the hope that peace is possible even in the midst of this darkest hour.
Sister Rosemarie Abate
Secretary
Sisters, Home Visitors of Mary
Joyce Ajlouny
General Secretary
American Friends Service Committee (AFSC)
Christine Allen
Director
Catholic Agency for Overseas Development (CAFOD)
Rev. Dr. Alex Awad
Board Member
Palestinian Christian Alliance for Peace (PCAP)
Archbishop Vicken Aykazian
Ecumenical Director and Diocesan Legate Diocese
Armenian Church of America, Eastern
Marvin Barnes
Presiding Clerk
Friends General Conference
Rev. Dr. Bonnie Bates
Conference Minister, Penn Northeast Conference
United Church of Christ (UCC)
Bishop Thomas J. Bickerton
President of the Council of Bishops
The United Methodist Church
Sister Barbara Brigham
Medical Mission Sisters, Justice Office
Sr. Danielle Bonetti
Coordinator of Justice Ministries
Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet Albany
Rev. Bronwen Boswell
Acting Stated Clerk of the General Assembly
Presbyterian Church (USA)
Adwoa Burnley
Clerk of Britain Yearly Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers)
Rev. Laurie Larson Caesar
Bishop, Oregon Synod
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA)
Reverend LaMarco Cable
Co-Executive
Global Ministries of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and United Church of Christ (UCC)
Rev. Dr. Mae Elise Cannon
Executive Director
Churches for Middle East Peace (CMEP)
Bishop Christian Carlassare
Catholic Diocese of Rumbek
South Sudan
Rev. Dr. Iva E. Carruthers
General Secretary
Samuel DeWitt Proctor Conference
Sister Janice Cebula
President
Sisters of St. Francis, Clinton, Iowa USA
Raymond Chang
President
Asian American Christian Collaborative
The Right Reverend Christopher Chessun
Bishop of Southwark
Church of England
Shane Claiborne
Co-founder
Red Letter Christians (RLC)
Rev. Tyler Connoley
Conference Minister
Central Pacific Conference of the United Church of Christ (UCC)
The Most Rev. Michael B. Curry
Presiding Bishop and Primate
The Episcopal Church (TEC)
Rev. Edward Davis
Conference Minister, Southern Conference
United Church of Christ (UCC)
Todd Deatherage
Executive Director and Co-Founder
Telos
Marie Dennis
Co-President (Emeritus)
Pax Christi International
Sister Ricca Dimalibot, MD
Assistant Congregational Leader and General Councilor
Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word, Houston
Sister Joan DiProspere
Provincial Councilor
School Sisters of Notre Dame, Central Pacific Province
Bishop Vuyo Dlamini
Methodist Church of Southern Africa
Honorable Assistant Bishop Michael Doe
Anglican Diocese of Southwark
The Rev. Emmett L. Dunn
Executive Secretary-Treasurer/CEO
Lott Carey Foreign Baptist Mission Convention
Alister Dutton
Secretary General
Caritas Internationalis
The Rev. Elizabeth A. Eaton
Presiding Bishop
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA)
Rev. Paul D. Erickson
Bishop, Greater Milwaukee Synod
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA)
Ann Farr
Chair
Pax Christi – England and Wales
Bishop Gilbert Filter
Cape Church
Evangelical Lutheran Church in Southern Africa
Sister Margaret Fitzpatrick
Congregational Leader
Sisters of Charity, Halifax
Cesar Garcia
General Secretary
Mennonite World Conference
Susan Gunn
Director
Maryknoll Office for Global Concerns
Minister Glen A. Guyton
Executive Director
Mennonite Church USA
Lisa Sharon Harper
President and Founder
Freedom Road
Linda Haydock, SNJM
Congregation President
Sisters of the Holy Names of Jesus and Mary
Fr. Lawrence Hayes, OFM
Provincial Minister
Province of Our Lady of Guadalupe
Bishop Martin Hayes
Bishop
Catholic Diocese of Kilmore
Bruce Henry
Presiding Clerk
Quakers Australia
Rev. Dr. Tessa Henry-Robinson
Moderator of General Assembly
United Reformed Church
Ann Graber Hershberger
Executive Director
Mennonite Central Committee U.S.
Sister Teresa Hougnon, MM
President
Maryknoll Sisters of Saint Dominic
Sister Judy Illig
U.S. Leadership Team
Institute of the Blessed Virgin Mary
The Right Reverend Dr. John Inge
Lord Bishop of Worcester
Church of England
Lisa Jernigan
President
Amplify Peace
Kelly Kellum
General Secretary
Friends United Meeting (FUM)
Bishop Donald P. Kreiss
Southeast Michigan Synod
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA)
Jonathan Kuttab
Executive Director
Friends of Sabeel, North America (FOSNA)
Rt. Rev. Michael Langrish
Bishop Emeritus of Exeter
Church of England
Anselmo Lee
Co-President
Pax Christi Korea
Bishop Dr. Sox Leleki
Methodist Church of Southern Africa
Tim Livesey
CEO
Embrace the Middle East
Rev. Dr. David Long-Higgins
Conference Minister, Heartland Conference
United Church of Christ (UCC)
John MacMurray
Founder/Director
NW School of Theology and The Open Table Conferences
Sister LaDonna Manternach
President
Sisters of Charity of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Charlotte Marshall
Director
Sabeel-Kairos UK
Archbishop MJ Matebane
Bethel Worship House
Episcopal College of Pentecostal Bishops and Apostles (ECOPBA)
Jarrod McKenna
Pastor and Founding CEO of CommonGrace.org.au
Steeple Church
Very Rev. Andrew McLellan, C.B.E.
Former Moderator of the General Assembly
Church of Scotland
Rev. Dr. Leepo Modise
Uniting Reformed Church in Southern Africa
Bridget Moix
General Secretary
Friends Committee on National Legislation (FCNL)
Rev. Mzwandile Molo
General Secretary (Acting)
South African Council of Churches
The Methodist Church of Southern Africa
Rev. Shadrack Moloi
Bishop/Moderator
African Presbyterian Bafolisi Church (APBC)
Bishop Yvette Moses
Cape of Good Hope District
The Methodist Church of Southern Africa
Father Claude Mostowik, MSC
President
Pax Christi – Australia
Rev. Bishop Mamoalusi Vallerie Mothupi
Methodist Church of Southern Africa
Rev. Dr. Lungile Mpetsheni
General Secretary
The Uniting Presbyterian Church in Southern Africa
Bishop Malusi Mpumlwana
General Secretary, South African Council of Churches
Ethiopian Episcopal Church, South Africa
Rev. Gill Newton
President Methodist Conference
Methodist Church in Britain
Archbishop Thami Ngcana
General Secretary
Council of African Independent Churches
Rev. Bishop Sondlile Nkwanyana
The Methodist Church of Southern Africa
Most Reverend William Nolan
Archbishop
Archdiocese of Glasgow
Rev. Moss Ntlha
General Secretary
The Evangelical Alliance of South Africa
Rev. Pumla Nzimande
Presiding Bishop
The Methodist Church of Southern Africa
Father John Oesterle
Board of Directors
Association of Pittsburgh Priests
Sister Marilyn Omiecyznski
Unit Leader
Presentation Sisters Union, USA Unit
Rev. Teresa Hord Owens
General Minister and President
Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in the US and Canada
Rev. Freeman L. Palmer
Conference Minister, Central Atlantic Conference
United Church of Christ (UCC)
Sister Carolina Pardo
Councilor
Sisters of Saint Francis – Rochester, Minnesota
Anne Peacey
Chair
National Justice and Peace Network – England and Wales
Mark Pilgram
Chairman
Pax Christi – Munich
Rev. Dr. Tyrone S. Pitts
General Secretary (Emeritus)
Ecumenical Officer
Progressive National Baptist Convention Inc.
Rev. David K. Popham
Conference Minister, Hawai‘i Conference
United Church of Christ (UCC)
Reverend Shari Prestemon
Acting Associate General Minister & Co-Executive for Global Ministries
United Church of Christ (UCC)
Jennifer Preston
General Secretary
Canadian Friends Service Committee (Quakers)
Cardinal Alvaro Ramazzini
Bishop of Huehuetenango, Guatemala (Catholic)
Mary Susan Remsgar, OSB
Prioress
Benedictine Sisters of Chicago
Rev. Franz Rigert
Conference Minister, Wisconsin Conference
United Church of Christ (UCC)
Sister Ceil Roeger
Promoter of Justice, Peace, and Care of Creation
Dominican Sisters of Houston
Martha Inés Romero
Secretary General
Pax Christi International
Rev. Chris Rose
Director
Amos Trust
Will Rutt
Executive Director
Intercommunity Peace & Justice Center
Richard L. Santos
President & CEO
Church World Service (CWS)
Deacon Kerry Scarlett
Vice-President of Conference
Methodist Church in Britain
Sister Debra Sciano
Provincial Leader
School Sisters of Notre Dame
Sister Maureen Shaughnessy, SC
General Superior
Sisters of Charity of Saint Elizabeth
Rev. Grace Shim
Executive Minister
Serve Globally – Evangelical Covenant Church (ECC)
Bishop Dr. Sidwell Mokgothu
Methodist Church of Southern Africa
Andrea Smith
Co-Founder and Board Member
Evangelicals for Justice (E4J)
Rev. David Steele
General Secretary
Church of the Brethren
Bishop John Stowe, OFM Conv.
Bishop of Lexington
Catholic Diocese of Lexington
Pax Christi USA
Jean Stokan
Coordinator
Sisters of Mercy of the Americas – Justice Team
Dr. Jer Swigart
Executive Director
Global Immersion
Rev. Adam Russell Taylor
President
Sojourners
Rev. Dr. Karen Georgia Thompson
General Minister and President
United Church of Christ (UCC)
Dawn Tomaszewski, SP
General Superior
Sisters of Providence of Saint Mary-of-the-Woods, Indiana
Nikki Toyama-Szeto
Executive Director
Christians for Social Action (CSA)
The Right Reverend Rachel Treweek
Lord Bishop of Gloucester and Anglican Bishop for HM Prisons
Church of England
Stephen M. Veazey
President
Community of Christ
Sister Joetta Venneman
Western Province Leadership
Sisters of Charity of Nazareth
Rev. John Vertigan
Conference Minister, Florida Conference
United Church of Christ (UCC)
Sister Genevieve-Marie Vigil
Provincial Superior
Sisters of St. Joseph of Cluny
Jim Wallis
Chair and Director
Center on Faith and Justice at Georgetown University
Colin P. Watson, Sr.
Executive Director (Emeritus)
Christian Reformed Church of North America (CRCNA)
Julie Watson
Congregational Leader
Union of Sisters of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Sister Kathy Wiesneski
Councilor, USA Province
Holy Cross Sisters
Sister Rita A. Wigginton
Councilor
Ursuline Sisters of Louisville, KY
Terry Wildman
Chief Director/President
Rain Ministries Inc.
Bishop Louis Williams
Methodist Church of Southern Africa
The Very Reverend John Witcombe
Dean of Coventry
Church of England
Very Rev. Thomas Zain
Vicar General
Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America
Mary T. Yelenick
Main Representative to the United Nations
Pax Christi International
Alfonso Zardi
Délégué Général of Pax Christi France
Rev. Dr. Elijah R. Zehyoue
Co-Director
Alliance of Baptists
Johnny Zokovitch
Executive Director
Pax Christi USA
Additional Signatories
Katie Metres Akbar
CMEP Board Representative
Alliance of Baptist
Mercy Aiken
NEME Manager
Network of Evangelicals for the Middle East
Rev. Dr. John Anderson
Israel/Palestine Mission Network (IPMN), PCUSA – Bay Area
Robert Atchison
Chair
Menno – Palestine/Israel Network (PIN)
Rev. Harry J. Bury
Professor Emeritus
Twin Cities Nonviolent
Rev. Dr. Rob Dalrymple
Executive Director
Determinetruth
Dr. Andrew DeCort
Founding Director
Institute of Faith and Flourishing
George Devendorf
CMEP Board Representative
Senior Director, External Relations
Church World Service (CWS)
Eduardo Dueri
Christian Life Community
Columbia
Hassan El-Tayyab
CMEP Board Representative
Legislative Director for Middle East Policy
Friends Committee on National Legislation (FCNL)
Rev. Dr. Nathan Hosler
CMEP Board Representative
Director, Office of Peacebuilding and Policy
Church of the Brethren
Sister Helen J. Jaeb
School Sisters of Notre Dame
Grace Keane, OSF
Director Parish Social Ministry
St. Mary of the Hills Catholic Church
Bishop Steven Kellogg
CMEP Board Representative
Community of Christ
Dr. Peter Makari
CMEP Board Representative
Global Relations Minister for the Middle East and Europe
Global Ministries of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and
United Church of Christ (UCC)
Rev. Joe Roos
Friends of Sabeel, North America (FOSNA)
Carolina Sanchez
Christian Life Community
Columbia
Michael J. Sloboda MM
Asst. Pastor, Rosary Church, Kowloon
Catholic Foreign Mission Society of America
Dr. Rob Trawick
Co-Moderator
Israel/Palestine Mission Network of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)
Rev. Susan P. Wilder
Co-Moderator
Israel/Palestine Mission Network of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)
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The Churches for Middle East Peace (CMEP) member communions wrote this joint international letter that will be sent to President Biden, and they will be requesting a follow-up meeting with the Biden Administration in the United States to present the letter and discuss the specific asks – specifically the call for a comprehensive ceasefire and the other requests. Read more about this in a Religion News article here.