wfn.org | WCC LAUNCHES A WEEK OF CHURCH ACTION FOR MIDDLE EAST PEACE

[Worldwide Faith News <wfn@igc.org>]

In Jerusalem and around the world, the WCC launched a week of action for
peace in the Middle East for peace. Different churches around the world (4  ­
10 June) organized ecumenical services and praying for peace for ³a land
much in need of peace". Churches used a prayer from the Heads of Churches in
Jerusalem that asks for political leaders "courageous enough to sign a
treaty [?] that puts an end to the occupation imposed by one people on
another, granting freedom to Palestinians, giving security to Israelis and
freeing us all from fear."

According to WCC news, participants in the action week are urging national
leaders to play a more active role in promoting a just resolution of the
conflict. Churches are speaking to foreign ministries and parliamentarians
in places like Australia, Hungary, Scotland and South Africa. In Norway the
foreign minister and a Palestinian church leader will address a
multi-religious peace service.

Raising church and public awareness about the Israel-Palestine conflict is a
major aspect of the week. A mission society in Germany has invited 23
partner churches in ten countries to take part, reaching out as far as Ghana
and Japan. The Church of Ceylon is working to educate its parishes. Young
people in the Philippines will debate and sing peace songs at a youth café .
Church groups in the Netherlands are sponsoring intercultural concerts,
inter-religious seminars and international documentaries to air different
points of view about the need for peace.

The initiative is known as 'International Church Action for Peace in
Palestine and Israel, 4-10 June 2008'. The Jerusalem prayer and message have
been distributed to parishes and individuals in up to 100 countries. On this
occasion, the MECC General Secretary sent a prayer message to churches in
Palestine which was widely distributed.
For more information: www.wcc-coe.org <http://www.wcc-coe.org

> Middle East Council of Churches
> Office of International Ecumenical Relations
> P.O. Box 5376, Beirut, Lebanon

Guirgis Ibrahim Saleh, General Secretary

mecc@cyberia.net.lb or guirgissaleh@cyberia.net.lb

> +961-1-353-938
> http://www.mec-churches.org/