Global Day of Action and Prayer for Syria

This day of advocacy and awareness-raising was September 21, 2016, the International Day of Peace. At the New York press conference on the day of action, 28 co-sponsoring organizations presented an interfaith “Call for an End to the War in Syria.” The call stated “It is long past time for war and violence to stop and to advance the hard work of finding a new way forward, toward a future where all Syrians can live together in peace and justice. We must use a just peace approach: scaling-up trauma healing, restorative justice, unarmed civilian protection, and transformative dialogue with all stakeholders involved in the conflict to build a sustainable just peace.” We hope you participated and will continue to remember the people of Syria, using the available resources to advocate for “the things that make for peace.”

Syria Update and Options for Just Peacemaking: A Follow-up Webinar to the Global Day of Action and Prayer for Syria

You are invited to watch the recording of “Syria Update and options for Just Peacemaking: A Follow-up Webinar to the Global Day of Action and Prayer for Syria,” which was held October 25, 2016. The webinar starts with an update on regional perspectives on events in Syria and current international responses to the conflict, presented by Peter Makari, PhD, Executive for the Middle East and Europe Office of Global Ministries of the United Church of Christ and Christian Church (Disciples of Christ).

Following the update is a panel of presentations on peacemaking alternatives by experts who contributed perspectives for GDAPS on the elements of a just peace approach to the conflict. The panel includes:

Eli S. McCarthy, PhD, Director of Justice and Peace for Conference of Major Superiors of Men
Ethan Vesely-Flad, Director of National Organizing, Fellowship of Reconciliation
Mel Duncan, Founding Director and Director of Advocacy & Outreach for Nonviolent Peaceforce
Susan Smith, Community Liaison for the Muslim Peace Fellowship and Community of Living Traditions

Study resources exploring the peacemaking alternatives highlighted by the panelists can be reviewed below. We hope the webinar encourages you continue to advocate for the people of Syria and to shift the global approach to ending the Syrian conflict from arming combatants to providing strategic support for peaceful interventions.

How Can You Continue to advance the Global Day of Action and Prayer for Syria?

Watch the GDAPS Webinar , held on October 25, 2016
Take Action! Send a Letter to Congress calling for an end to the war in Syria!
Use the Toolkit of resources below to plan a prayer service or other activity in your community.
Study the resource Holy Discontentment: Advocacy and Action for Syria
Get your congregation, organization or community to endorse the interfaith Call for an End to the War in Syria, which was issued at a press conference on September 21, 2016.
Like and follow GDAPS us on social media at Facebook.com/GlobalDayForSyria or using #GlobalDayForSyria, #pray4syria, and #peace4syria.
Watch the Videos of the National Interfaith Prayer Service, held September 21, 2016 at Community Church of New York

Video 1 | Video 2 | Video 3 | Video 4 | Video 5

About the Global Day of Action and Prayer for Syria

Five plus years of war has taken a heavy toll on our Syrian brothers and sisters. It is time for the violence and war to stop and to begin the hard work of moving forward, toward a future where all Syrians can live together in peace and security.

Together we must speak out and call for an immediate cessation of all bombing campaigns and military actions that perpetuate this terrible war. As a global community, we must respond with compassion and immediacy to the pressing needs of millions of refugees and internally displaced people. And, we must stand in solidarity with our Muslim and Arab neighbors who are being targeted in hateful ways. Together we have issued A Call for an End to the War in Syria.

Co-sponsors

Global Day of Action and Prayer for Syria TOOLKIT

Advocacy Resources

Send a Letter on September 21: Global Day of Action and Prayer for Syria
*New* Advocacy Resource Holy Discontentment: Advocacy and Action for Syria
Endorse and promote A Call for an End to the War in Syria
Tips for How to Do Advocacy

Study Resources

GDAPS Study No. 1:
Shifting to a Just Peace Approach By Eli S. McCarthy PhD, Director of Justice and Peace for Conference of Major Superiors of Men

GDAPS Study No. 2:
Nonviolent Resistance in Syria By Ethan Vesely-Flad, Director of National Organizing, Fellowship of Reconciliation

GDAPS Study No. 3:
Unarmed Civilian Protection in Syria By Eli S. McCarthy PhD, Director of Justice and Peace for Conference of Major Superiors of Men

GDAPS Study No. 4:
Syria’s Acute and Intergenerational Trauma By Susan Smith, Community Liaison for the Muslim Peace Fellowship and Community of Living Traditions

GDAPS Study No. 5:
Islamophobia, the United States, and Refugees By Susan Smith, Community Liaison for the Muslim Peace Fellowship and Community of Living Traditions

Interfaith Prayer Resources

A Compilation of Resources for Prayer on Peace & Syria
A Prayer for the People of Syria, US Conference of Catholic Bishops
The Lord is my light: A prayer service for Syria, Mennonite Central Committee
Other Worship Resources from Mennonite Central Committee

Promotion Resources

A Call for an End to the War in Syria
GDAPS Save the Date Flyer
GDAPS Graphic (small)