wfn.org | [ENS] Episcopal Church joins interfaith appeal for Middle East peace

["Matthew Davies" <mdavies@mail.epicom.org>]

Thursday, January 13, 2005

Episcopal Church joins interfaith appeal for Middle East peace

by Maureen Shea

ENS 011305-3

[ENS, Washington, D.C.] - The Rt. Rev. Allen Bartlett, representing
Presiding Bishop Frank Griswold, joined 34 of the nation's most
prominent
Jewish, Christian and Muslim religious leaders to announce a major
appeal to
President Bush citing their united support for renewed U.S. leadership
in
the Middle East peace process.

Bartlett, the retired bishop of Pennsylvania, noted: "The results of the
recent elections prove the Palestinian ability to function under very
difficult conditions and their desire for democracy and longing for an
end
to conflict. They face huge obstacles and hard choices. This gathering
of
religious leaders underscores this moment as a unique opportunity for
the
United States to step forward with strong and persistent leadership,
engaged
with both Israelis and the Palestinians, to bring a just and peaceful
resolution to the conflict." Bartlett has been involved in Middle East
issues for over 10 years, including spending a portion of his 1993
sabbatical at St. George's College in Jerusalem. Presently, Bartlett is
chairman of the Ecumenical Working Group for Middle East Peace in
Philadelphia.

Local Jewish, Christian and Muslim leaders in 15 major cities, including
Atlanta Seattle, Portland, San Francisco, Indianapolis, Chicago,
Detroit,
Minneapolis-St. Paul, Hartford-New Haven, Long Island, Baltimore,
Charlotte,
Durham and Washington, DC, publicly endorsed the Appeal to the President
and
are committing to meeting with their congressional representatives to
generate support from Congress.

The religious leaders meeting in Washington are members of an
unprecedented
collaboration among the three Abrahamic faiths known as the National
Interreligious Leadership Initiative for Peace in the Middle East and
formed
in December 2003. They view the election of new Palestinian leadership
and
Israeli plans to withdraw from Gaza as creating both an historic
opportunity
to accomplish a negotiated two-state solution and a moral imperative for
the
President to exercise determined leadership to help realize that
possibility. They see resolution of the Israeli/Palestinian conflict as
an
essential step in decreasing support for terrorism worldwide.

Christian leaders include two Roman Catholic Cardinals, Primates of the
Greek Orthodox and Armenian Apostolic Churches, heads of the Lutheran,
Presbyterian, Episcopal, United Methodist, United Church of Christ and
Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) Protestant denominations,
President
of the National Council of Churches, President of World Vision, three
other
prominent Christian evangelical leaders, and editors of the two largest
national Christian publications.

Jewish leaders include President and Executive Vice President of the
Central
Conference of American Rabbis, Executive Vice President of United
Synagogue
of Conservative Judaism, President of the Reconstructionist Rabbinical
Association, Chancellor of the University of Judaism and the Director of
the
Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism.

Muslim leaders include leaders of the largest national Muslim
organizations
- Secretary General of the Islamic Society of North America, General
Secretary of the Islamic Circle of North America -- as well as head of
The
Mosque Cares, former President of the Council of Mosques, and leaders of
United Muslims of America and American Sufi Muslim Association.

 The religious leaders are united in support of a viable, independent,
democratic Palestinian state alongside the existing state of Israel,
with
enduring peace and security for both peoples. For over a year they have
sought a meeting with President Bush to appeal for his leadership in the
peace process. They plan to work with Members of Congress to build
support
for a reinvigorated and concerted U.S. led effort for more rapid
progress on
the Road Map.

 In their Appeal, the religious leaders specifically call on President
Bush
** Appoint a Special Presidential Envoy with a full-time commitment to
the
region, in coordination with the European Union, Russian Federation and
U.N.
Secretary General;
** Negotiate a timetable for specific, simultaneous steps to be taken by
the
Palestinian Authority and the Israeli government;

** Take the lead, in light of Israeli plans to withdraw from Gaza, to
mobilize increased international economic aid (with effective controls
by a
credible institution such as the World Bank) to build-up the Palestinian
Authority's capacity to provide security, prevent violent attacks on
Israelis, deliver humanitarian aid, vital services, and development
assistance to the Palestinian people.

** Support benchmark principles for a mutually acceptable peace
agreement
drawn from earlier official negotiations and from Israeli-Palestinian
civil
society initiatives such as the People's Voice and the Geneva Accords.

 The religious leaders conclude their Appeal by declaring,

"MR. PRESIDENT, based on the deepest beliefs in our three Abrahamic
religious traditions and on past progress and current new opportunities,
we
believe peace in possible. And we believe determined U.S. leadership is
essential for achieving peace.

"We commit our prayers and active support for your efforts, and we will
work
to mobilize our communities' support nationwide."

--Maureen Shea is director of government relations for the Episcopal
Church.

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