U.S. Christian Faith Leaders Show Support for Christian Community in Jerusalem After Attack at Church of Gethsemane in East Jerusalem
Leaders of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and United Church of Christ were among 29 Christian faith leaders in a statement in support of the Christian community in the Holy Land. The statement comes after an attack at the Church of Gethsemane in East Jerusalem, on Sunday, March 19th, perpetrated by two Israeli radicals.
In the letter, copied below, the leaders write, “the International community, including the U.S. government, must do everything in their power to ensure Jerusalem is a city in which freedom of religion and free access to worship for all are strengthened and respected.”
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March 29, 2023
As church-based leaders in the United States, we stand in solidarity with our siblings in Christ in Israel/Palestine. We condemn the attack at the Church of Gethsemane in East Jerusalem, on Sunday, March 19th, which occurred during the service. The perpetrators, two Israeli radicals, must be held accountable for their actions. It is not insignificant to note the attack came during one of the holiest times for Christians— the season of Lent—when we seek repentance and prepare to celebrate Christ’s resurrection.
We affirm the statement released by the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate in Jerusalem, which notes, “attacks on Christian holy sites, properties, heritage, and identity constitute a violation of international law, which explicitly calls for the protection of religious sites in Jerusalem and emphasizes the need to respect this basic human right to worship freely.” Jerusalem is a sacred city to Jews, Christians, and Muslims. Over the past few years there has been a steady rise of attacks against Christian clergy, churches, and church-owned properties. The International community, including the U.S. government, must do everything in their power to ensure Jerusalem is a city in which freedom of religion and free access to worship for all are strengthened and respected.
We offer our prayers and support to the members of the Church of Gethsemane, and the entire Christian community in the Holy Land.
Rev. Eddy Alemán
General Secretary
Reformed Church in America
Joyce Ajlouny
General Secretary
American Friends Service Committee
Archbishop Vicken Aykazian
Ecumenical Director and Diocesan Legate
Diocese of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern)
Bishop Thomas Bickerton
President of the Council of Bishops
The United Methodist Church
Rev. Marco Cable
President, Division of Overseas Ministries, Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
Co-Executive, Global Ministries of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and United Church of Christ
Rev. Dr. Mae Elise Cannon
Executive Director
Churches for Middle East Peace
Carole Collins
Co-Director
Alliance of Baptists
The Most Rev. Michael B. Curry
Presiding Bishop and Primate
The Episcopal Church
Rev. Dr. John Dorhauer
General Minister and President
United Church of Christ
Reverend Emmett Lafayette Dunn
Executive Secretary/CEO
Lott Carey Foreign Mission Convention
Rev. Elizabeth A. Eaton
Presiding Bishop
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros of America
Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America
The Very Reverend James Gannon, ofm;
Provincial Minister of the Province of Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Susan Gunn
Director
Maryknoll Office for Global Concerns
Rev. Dr. Zachary King
General Secretary
Christian Reformed Church in North America
Bishop Vashti Murphy McKenzie
Interim President and General Secretary
National Council of Churches
The Rev. Dr. Betsy Miller
President, Provincial Elders’ Conference
Moravian Church Northern Province
Bridget Moix
General Secretary
Friends Committee on National Legislation
Rev. Dr. J. Herbert Nelson
Stated Clerk of the General Assembly
Presbyterian Church (USA)
Rev. Teresa Hord Owens
General Minister and President
Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
Rev. Dr. Neil Routh
President, Provincial Elders’ Conference,
Moravian Church in America, Southern Province
Richard Santos
President & CEO
Church World Service
Dr. Andrea Smith
Founder and Board Member
Evangelicals 4 Justice
Rev. Dr. Karen Georgia Thompson
Associate General Minister Wider Church Ministries, United Church of Christ
Co-Executive, Global Ministries of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and United Church of Christ
Nikki Toyama-Szeto
Executive Director
Christians for Social Action
Stephen M. Veazey
President
Community of Christ
Dr. C. Jeff Woods
General Secretary
American Baptist Churches USA
Archpriest Thomas Zain
Vicar-General
Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America
Rev. Elijah R. Zehyoue
Co-Director
Alliance of Baptists