wfn.org | CHURCHES OF 40 COUNTRIES GIVE WITNESS FOR MID-EAST PEACE

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

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 Palestinians 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 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 saying "It's time for Palestinians
and Israelis to share a just peace".
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-Palestinian 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.

Quoted from WCC resources: 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/