wfn.org | UCC, Disciples leaders call U.S. to be balanced peace broker in

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Palestinian-Israeli conflict
>From nobody@wfn.org  Fri Oct 20 00:00:00 2000
Disciples News Service
Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
Contact: Clifford L. Willis
Date: October 20, 2000
on the Web: http://www.disciples.org
E-mail: CWillis@oc.disciples.org

00b-54

Joint Release:
	Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)	Contact: Cliff Willis
	(317) 713-2494

	United Church of Christ
	Contact: Ron Buford
	(216) 736-2180	
	CLEVELAND -- The leaders of two Protestant mainline churches, Oct. 18,
released a joint statement calling on the U.S. administration to take a
balanced stance and demonstrate leadership in its continuing role as a
peace broker in the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.

	The Rev. John H. Thomas, UCC General Minister and President, Dale Bishop,
Executive Minister for the UCC's Wider Church Ministries, the Rev. Richard
Hamm, Disciples' General Minister and President, and the Rev. Patricia
Tucker Spier, President of the Disciples' Division of Overseas Ministries,
released the statement in the wake of the emergency summit, held Oct. 17 in
Sharm al-Shaikh, Egypt. The statement condemns the escalating violence and
calls for a renewed commitment to resume negotiations.

	Bishop, Spier, and Peter Makari, Executive for the Middle East and Europe
of the UCC/Disciples Common Global Ministries Board, recently returned from
Jerusalem, Ramallah, Bethlehem and Beit Sahour, where they witnessed the
devastation caused by the latest outbreak of violence.

	The United Church of Christ, with national offices in Cleveland, and the
Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), with general offices in
Indianapolis, have been ecumenical partners in full communion since 1989. 
The UCC's Wider Church Ministries and the Disciples' Division of Overseas
Ministries work together in a joint Common Global Ministries Board.

                                                     -- end --

{Editors: Following is the complete text of the statement released Oct. 18
by the Rev. John Thomas, General Minister and President (UCC), Dale Bishop,
Executive Minister for Wider Church Ministries (UCC), the Rev. Richard
Hamm, General Minister and President (Disciples) and the Rev. Patricia
Tucker Spier, President, Division of Overseas Ministries (Disciples).}

UCC/Disciples statement on Palestinian-Israeli conflict

	"‘What does the Lord require of you?  To seek justice, to love kindness,
and to walk humbly with your God' (Micah 6:8).

	"On October 4 in Jerusalem, the Common Global Ministries Board (CGMB) of
the United Church of Christ and Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
co-executives, Dr. Dale Bishop and the Rev. Patricia Tucker Spier,
presented the CGMB's 1999 Award of Affirmation to the Rev. Dr. Naim Ateek,
a Palestinian Christian.  As the founder and director of the Sabeel
Ecumenical Liberation Theology Center in Jerusalem, the Rev. Ateek has
consistently and persistently called for ‘justice, and only justice' in
resolution of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.  This call is as
appropriate, and urgent,  now as it has ever been.

	"Tension and violence has escalated over the past two weeks to the extent
that an emergency summit is taking place today in Sharm al-Shaikh, Egypt. 
Levels of crisis have reached heights unseen in several years, provoked by
Likud leader Ariel Sharon's visit to the Al-Aqsa mosque area on September
28.  Palestinian reaction to the visit, called intifada of Al-Aqsa, has
been one of anger and frustration, a marked contrast to the 1987 intifada
which was full of hope that the Israeli occupation would finally be ‘thrown
off.'  This time, events could more accurately be described as a war
between two unequal forces: a powerful and sophisticated Israeli military,
and the largely unarmed Palestinian populace.  Even so, the tragedy of the
last two weeks is that, while more than 90 of the 100 people killed so far
are Palestinian, each death represents the ultimate loss for a family and a
community.

	"As President Arafat and Prime Minister Barak meet with Presidents Mubarak
and Clinton, with King Abdullah II, and with UN Secretary General Kofi
Annan, tensions remain high and hopes are low.  Demonstrations and clashes
continue in opposition to the summit meeting.  While the U.S. has taken a
lead role in convening the summit, it has done little so far to pressure
the Israeli government to acknowledge responsibility for the continuation
and perpetration of unjustified control over the Palestinian people and
occupation of Palestinian lands.

	"While international attention is focused upon these negotiations, a
deeper concern is for the children who live in such a violent situation:
children who are unable to go to school because schools are closed for
security reasons; children who feel the stress from which their parents
attempt to shield them; children who begin to sense that their parents may
not be able to offer them the security that only parents can offer;
children caught in the violent daily exchanges between adversaries.

	"In the midst of crisis, it is the Church's responsibility and vocation to
advocate on behalf of the voiceless. Thus, we as leaders of the United
Church of Christ and the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ):

           *	condemn the acts of violence and aggression committed during
the current crisis, recognizing that Israel has at its disposal, and has
employed, a preponderance of military capability;

            *	call upon the Palestinian and Israeli leadership to be bold
in assuming responsibility for the escalation of violence, and to do all in
their power to end it;

            *	cautiously commend the result of the Sharm al-Shaikh summit
meeting, but call upon all parties involved to join in a renewed commitment
to resume negotiations aiming for a just and lasting peace with resolution
of the outstanding issues of Jerusalem's final status, the establishment of
a sovereign Palestinian state, and the rights of Palestinians for
self-determination and of both peoples for security;

            *	affirm the right of the Palestinians and the Israelis to live
within secure and recognized borders, according to UN resolutions and
international law.

            *	urge the U.S. administration to strive to embody a more
balanced stance so that it may demonstrate true leadership in the role it
aspires to play.

"The two churches also commit to offer prayers for

            *	Palestinian Christian sisters and brothers, especially CGMB
partners, who are often forgotten when events are portrayed in terms of the
conflict between Judaism and Islam;

            *	the people of the two nations (Israel and Palestine) and the
three faiths (Judaism, Christianity, and Islam) who live in uncertainty
every day, but who continue to maintain a hope for a day when there is a
just resolution; and for their leaders that they may be guided in wisdom to
seek that just resolution; and

            *	missionaries serving in Israel/Palestine, especially UCC and
Disciples appointees Marla Schrader and Dale and Betty Schwicker.
	
	"As Rev. Ateek closes his book, Justice and Only Justice, so we are
reminded of our responsibility: ‘The challenge to Palestinian Christians,
and indeed to all Palestinians and to all people in this conflict in
Israel-Palestine, is: do not destroy yourself with hate; maintain your
inner freedom; insist on justice, work for it, and it shall be yours.'"

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