wfn.org | WCC NEWS: Palestine-Israel: churches in 40 countries advocate for peace

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World Council of Churches - News Release

Contact: +41 22 791 6153 +41 79 507 6363 media@wcc-coe.org

>For immediate release - 18/06/2008 10:39:37

IN PARISH AND PARLIAMENT, CHURCHES OF 40 COUNTRIES GIVE WITNESS FOR  MID-EAST PEACE

In Australia a broad spectrum of church leaders came together to address  national public opinion makers on the Israel-Palestine conflict and launch  a parish awareness kit. In Scotland a cross-party group in Parliament met  with Christian, Jewish and Muslim representatives. In Budapest, Hungary's  second largest church sent letters about peace for Israelis and Palestinian s to the national and foreign governments. In Norway the foreign minister  and a Palestinian bishop addressed a multi-religious peace service.

In these and some 40 countries ( http://www.oikoumene.org/en/events-section s/icappi-2008/action-week-events.html )last week, there were peace vigils,  seminars, concerts, festivals and public gatherings. The activities were  part of a joint advocacy initiative, "International Church Action for  Peace in Palestine and Israel, 4-10 June 2008", convened by the World  Council of Churches. Many used a special prayer for the week from church  leaders and a common message ( http://www.oikoumene.org/en/events-sections/ icappi-2008/action-week-message.html )saying "It's time for Palestinians  and Israelis to share a just peace".

"Knowing that churches all over the world are supporting a just peace  means a lot for Palestinians, Christian and Muslim, in this 60th anniversar y year," said Nora Carmi in Jerusalem, one of the week's planners and a  staff member at Sabeel, a church-related organization.

People as far afield as Jamaica and Vanuatu and as near as Lebanon and  Israel emailed prayers ( http://www.aeicenter.org/aei/sumud/human_clock/Pra yersForPeace.htm#MESSAGES )and wishes to Bethlehem to be shared in local  schools and churches. Some of the messages were read in Manger Square on  June 8, where locals and internationals with torches and drums formed a  "living clock ( http://www.youtube.com/user/aeiopenwindows )" to commemorat e six decades of living as refugees and 41 years under occupation.  Volunteers from the Ecumenical Accompaniment Programme in Palestine and  Israel took part there, in a blog on-line and in events in various  countries.

At a Canberra press conference, a statement signed by 57 leaders of  churches and specialized ministries called on the Australian government to  give a much higher priority to working for peace in Israel and the  Occupied Palestinian Territories. A Member of Parliament then put the  church recommendations on record.

At parliament in Edinburgh, 70 politicians and religious leaders addressed  the international silence over the blockade of Gaza and the international  complicity in not implementing United Nations resolutions on the conflict.  The head of the Scottish Episcopal Church urged people in Scotland who are  "free to denounce injustice" to support Palestinians and Israelis who  persist in working for peace with justice.

North American and European leaders of Pax Christi International held a  peace vigil in Antwerp, Belgium. World Vision International sent the  Jerusalem prayer to 30,000 staff members worldwide. In the Philippines  participants found ways to connect local struggles with the Israeli-Palesti nian conflict and every member church of the National Council of Churches  received the action week message and prayer.

In Sri Lanka, the Church of Ceylon's reconciliation office took on the  task of educating parishes about Israel and Palestine. National church  organizations in the US held an ecumenical service in New York City using  the Jerusalem prayer and an accompanying liturgy.

International Church Action for Peace in Palestine and Israel:
http://www.oikoumene.org/?id=3627

>WCC member churches in Israel/Palestine:
>http://www.oikoumene.org/?id=4746

>Video of the Bethlehem event:
>http://www.youtube.com/user/aeiopenwindows

Additional information:Juan Michel,+41 22 791 6153 +41 79 507 6363media@wcc -coe.org

The World Council of Churches promotes Christian unity in faith, witness  and service for a just and peaceful world. An ecumenical fellowship of  churches founded in 1948, today the WCC brings together 349 Protestant,  Orthodox, Anglican and other churches representing more than 560 million  Christians in over 110 countries, and works cooperatively with the Roman  Catholic Church. The WCC general secretary is Rev. Dr Samuel Kobia, from  the Methodist Church in Kenya. Headquarters: Geneva, Switzerland.