The Disciples and UCC address the crisis in the Middle East
As we continue to witness the tragic crisis in the Middle East that escalated on Oct. 7, but has roots that are decades long, the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and United Church of Christ have been active in a variety of ways, including through public witness statements issued together with ecumenical bodies of which our churches are members, advocacy action alerts, and appeals to support our partners in the region. The following is an index of those efforts.
A short background is available here. Updates, reports, statements from partners, action alerts, and other news pertaining to the crisis are available here. Please check regularly as content is added and updated frequently.
Statements and Pastoral Letters –
- A Joint Statement on the Current Crisis in Lebanon and the Middle East (Sept. 30)
- A pastoral letter for peace and justice from leaders of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) (Sept. 3)
- UCC Executive Leaders’ statement: “A Prophetic Call for Justice and Peace in Palestine” (July 24)
- The National Convocation of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) adopted this “Ceasefire Resolution” at its biennial meeting (July 13)
- UCC Officers issue statement amid ongoing unrest on college campuses; offer continued solidarity with partners and people in the Middle East (April 30)
- “Protest and Divestment: United Church Funds Reaffirms Commitment to Peace” (April 30)
- “A call for peace” – Amid Holy Week, United Church of Christ Officers pen pastoral letter on Palestine (March 26, 2024)
- “A pastoral letter for a time of crisis and suffering from leaders of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)” (March 20, 2024)
- The Common Global Ministries Board of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and United Church of Christ adopted this statement at its fall meeting which convened in Indianapolis, IN (Nov. 11-12, 2023)
- A joint statement was issued by the Joint Commission, composed of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Puerto Rico and the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in the United States and Canada following its meeting (Oct. 16-17)
The Disciples and UCC are members of Churches for Middle East Peace, the National Council of Churches of Christ in the USA, Church World Service, ACTAlliance, and Shoulder to Shoulder.
Churches for Middle East Peace
- CMEP Welcomes News of a Ceasefire Between Hezbollah and Israel (Nov. 27)
- CMEP urges the U.S. to Broker a Regional Ceasefire and Prevent Further Escalation in Lebanon and Beyond (Oct. 24)
- Churches for Middle East Peace Commemorates the one year anniversary of Oct. 7th (Oct. 7)
- CMEP joins leading Humanitarian Organizations in demanding ICRC access to Palestinian Detainees and Israeli Hostages (Sept. 11)
- CMEP Condemns the Killing of U.S. Peace Activist Aysenur Ezgi Eygi (Sept. 10)
- CMEP Mourns Death of Hostages and Massive Civilian Deaths in Gaza (Sept. 6)
- CMEP Condemns the Escalation of Settler Violence and Illegal Land Confiscation in the West Bank (Aug. 29)
- CMEP Stands with Patriarchs and Heads of Churches in Jerusalem on the Urgent Need to Conclude the Present War and Turn from the Pursuit of Death and Destruction toward the Promotion of Life and Peace (Aug. 26)
- CMEP joins Aid Agencies and Medical Professionals in Warning of Dangers of Mass Polio in Gaza (Aug. 20)
- CMEP Stands with the Diocese of Jerusalem in Expressing Dismay at the Closure of Al Ahli Arab Anglican Hospital in Gaza (July 8)
- CMEP joins joint Statement: NGOs demand UN Security Council enforce ICJ orders on Israel’s actions in Rafah (May 27)
- CMEP Calls on Biden Administration to Advance Efforts Toward Peace (May 17)
- CMEP Welcomes President Biden’s Assurances that U.S. Weapons Will Not Be Used in a Rafah Ground Invasion (May 10)
- CMEP Calls for Protection of Student Protestors (May 9)
- CMEP Calls for No Expansion of Violence in the Middle East (April 14)
- CMEP Condemns Death and Killing of World Central Kitchen Aid Workers and those Seeking Aid in Gaza (April 3)
- CMEP Joins in Condemning Yesterday’s Atrocious Events in Gaza (March 1)
- CMEP Calls on US Government to Hold Israel Accountable to US Laws and for the Deaths of American Citizens (Feb. 23, 2024)
- CMEP affirms the statement by The Episcopal Church in response to the Israeli military’s closure of the al-Ahli Arab Hospital in Gaza (Dec. 23)
- CMEP Denounces Yet Another US UN Veto for Ceasefire in Gaza (Dec. 12)
- A Ceasefire Is the Only Way Forward to Prevent Mass Killing, Further Death, and Destruction (Dec. 2)
- CMEP Welcomes News of Temporary Cessation in Violence and Release of Hostages; Renews Calls for a Permanent Ceasefire and an Enduring Peace (Nov. 24)
- CMEP Fears Devastating Impact of Violence on Christians in Jerusalem, West Bank, and Gaza (Nov. 17)
- Ceasefire Now! Biden Administration’s Response Inadequate to Catastrophe in Gaza (Nov. 3)
- End the War Now: CMEP Fears Catastrophic Deaths of Civilians in Gaza (Oct. 27)
- Churches for Middle East Peace (CMEP) Condemns Attack Against St. Porphyrius Greek Orthodox Church in Gaza (Oct. 21)
- Churches for Middle East Peace (CMEP) Calls for a Ceasefire and Issues Desperate Plea: President Biden’s Humanitarian Relief is Not Getting to People in Gaza (Oct. 19)
- Churches for Middle East Peace (CMEP) Expresses Sadness and Outrage at Bombing of al-Ahli Hospital in Gaza (Oct. 17)
- Churches for Middle East Peace (CMEP) Joins United Nations in Call Not to Ignore Gazans “Dying at the World’s Watch” (Oct. 13)
- Churches for Middle East Peace (CMEP) Implores Restraint, De-escalation of Conflict, Humanitarian Access, and Addressing Core Issues of Conflict (Oct. 10)
- CMEP Condemns All Acts of Violence, Calls for Prayer, and Implores Global Leaders to Address Core Issues of the War between Hamas and Israel (Oct. 7)
National Council of Churches of Christ in the USA
- NCC Responds to the ICJ Case Ruling in South Africa v. Israel (Feb. 2, 2024)
- NCC Statement on Israel and Palestine, and the Current Hostilities (Oct. 16)
Church World Service
- On October 7 CWS Renews Calls for Peace in Israel and Palestine (Oct. 7, 2024)
- CWS Decries US Veto of Resolution Calling for Ceasefire in Gaza, Demands Immediate Action To Protect Civilians (Dec. 13, 2023)
- CWS Calls for Immediate Creation of Humanitarian Corridors in Gaza, Ceasefire to Protect the Innocent (Oct. 18, 2023)
- CWS Mourns Lives Lost in Horrific Attacks in Israel and Palestine, Calls for End to Violence and Protection of Vulnerable Families (Oct. 15, 2023)
ACTAlliance - ACTAlliance Governing Board on the dire situation in Gaza (May 15)
Shoulder to Shoulder
- Shoulder to Shoulder: Muslim, Jewish, Christian Leaders Commit to Countering Anti-Jewish, Anti-Muslim Bigotry (Dec. 19)
- Shoulder to Shoulder: In Wadea Al-Fayoume’s Memory – a Call to Counter Dehumanizing Narratives (Oct. 18)
Letters to elected officials– The Disciples and UCC have sent and co-signed letters to elected US officials during the course of this crisis.
- 200+ Global Bishops and Christian Leaders Call World Leaders to Institute a Permanent Gaza Ceasefire, Halt of Arms Sales to Israel, and Prevent Broader Regional War (July 23)
- 140+ Global Christian Leaders Call for Permanent Gaza Ceasefire, Halt of Arms Sales to Israel (March 26)
- Disciples and UCC leaders join in a letter to Pres. Biden urging a cease fire and demilitarization of the crisis in the Middle East (Feb. 13)
- Global Ministries supports continuing funding to UNRWA in letter to Pres. Biden (Feb. 14, 2024)
- The Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), the United Church of Christ, and United Church of Canada leaders sent a joint leadership letter to Pres. Biden (Dec. 18)
- 68 Global and Christian Leaders Call for a Ceasefire and Peace (Nov. 29)
- Letter from 30 Christian Leaders, including Disciples and UCC General Ministers and Presidents to President Biden to support an immediate ceasefire, de-escalation, and restraint by all involved (Nov. 9, 2023)
- Disciples and UCC join ecumenical community in letter to Congress on crisis in Israel/Palestine (Oct. 12)
Action Alerts – In addition to a public witness of statements, advocacy by citizens is essential to end the crisis. Our members are encouraged to use these action alerts to communicate directly with your elected leaders.
- CMEP: Call on Members of Congress to suspend arms sales to Israel (Nov. 2024)
- 3rd Thursday Middle East Action Alert: Call on the US Congress to Block Sales of Military Aid to Israel; Ask candidates for elected office about how they will approach the war in the Middle East (Oct. 17)
- 3rd Thursday Action Alert: Call on Congress and the Biden Administration to End Military Aid and Shipments to Israel (Sept. 18)
- 3rd Thursday Action Alert: Urge U.S. officials to institute guardrails for U.S. arms transfers and sales (Aug. 15)
- 3rd Thursday Action Alert and UCC JPANet Action Alert: Urge President Biden to withhold military aid to Israel, increase humanitarian assistance to Gaza, and push for a permanent cease fire (July 18)
- 3rd Thursday Action Alert: Call on your congressional representative and U.S. senators to oppose continued U.S. military aid to Israel (June 20)
- UCC JPANet Action Alert: Urge the U.S. Senate to reject initiatives curbing free speech and advocacy for Palestinian rights (May 16)
- Disciples Center for Public Witness: Urge Congress and the Senate to call for a ceasefire in Gaza, oppose military aid to Israel, and support humanitarian aid to the Palestinian people (May 14)
- 3rd Thursday Alert: Urge the U.S. Senate to reject initiatives to curb free speech and advocacy for Palestinians rights (May 7)
- 3rd Thursday Action Alert: Urge Congress to press for a ceasefire, oppose military aid, and support humanitarian aid (April 18)
- 3rd Thursday Action Alert: Urge Congress to Halt Arms to Israel & Push for Immediate Ceasefire (March 22)
- 3rd Thursday Action Alert – Urge Congress to prevent genocide by rejecting military aid to Israel and supporting UNRWA (Feb. 12)
- 3rd Thursday Action Alert – Urge a ceasefire; abide by international law; release hostages & prisoners; protect civilians; and support humanitarian aid & access to Gaza (Jan. 19, 2024)
- 3rd Thursday Action Alert – Urge Senators to hold all recipients of U.S. assistance (including Israel) accountable to human rights standards (Dec. 19)
- UCC JPANet Action Alert: Tell Congress and the Biden Administration: Ceasefire Now! (Dec. 14)
- 3rd Thursday Action Alert: Call for a cease-fire and de-escalation of the conflict, the flow of humanitarian aid, respect for safe spaces for Gazan noncombatants, and all parties to respect international humanitarian law (Nov. 15)
- 3rd Thursday Action Alert: Call for a ceasefire; end the Gaza blockade and provide safe spaces for Gazan non-combatants; release and do not harm hostages; oppose further militarization (Oct. 13)
- Global Ministries (UCC & Disciples): Call for an End to the Violence in Israel and Gaza (Oct. 12)
- CMEP Action Alert: Encourage Your Representative to support the Ceasefire Now Resolution! (Oct. 25)
- CMEP Action Alert: Call on Members of Congress to support ceasefire, restraint, de-escalation of violence and protection of civilian life in Israel/Palestine (Oct. 11)
Appeals – Disciples and UCC partners are responding to the needs of the people who have suffered the most. You are encouraged to support our partners through the appeals issued by our churches.
- UCC: An urgent appeal: Help UCC give humanitarian aid to people amid war in Gaza, Palestine and Israel (Oct. 20)
- Disciples: Middle East Crisis (Oct. 18)
- “That We Might Have Life” (Week of Compassion, May 7, 2024)
Prayers – The following are prayers offered by the leaders of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and United Church of Christ.
- Rev. Dr. Karen Georgia Thompson, General Minister and President, United Church of Christ – “Commemorating Christmas” (Dec. 2023) [and related UCNews article]
- Churches for Middle East Peace held a Prayer Vigil for a Cease Fire in Washington, DC (Nov. 20). A video of the event can be viewed here.
- Rev. Teresa “Terri” Hord Owens, General Minister and President, Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) (recorded on Oct. 17, 2023)
- Rev. Dr. Karen Georgia Thompson, General Minister and President, United Church of Christ (recorded on Oct. 17, 2023)
News stories and other resources
- Dr. Peter Makari, Global Ministries’ Global Relations Minister for the Middle East and Europe, was invited to be the civil society speaker at the United Nations on the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People (Nov. 29). His intervention is reported on here.
- “Palestine: The Double Imperative, and A Call for God’s Justice,” by Peter Makari (March 14, 2024)
- “Why they walked: Hear from UCC members why they joined week-long ‘Pilgrimage for Peace’ for Gaza” (Feb. 27, 2024)
- “Symbolizing children killed in Gaza, hundreds of hearts from Bethlehem delivered to Congress by UCC volunteers” (Feb. 20)
- “UCC leaders and pastors will discuss interfaith relationships amid continued violence in Gaza” (April 2) and “‘Brave Conversations’: Webinar speakers navigate interfaith relations in time of deep polarization” report of webinar (April 15).
- “Gaza Today: Perspectives from Palestinian Christian Partners” – a webinar in the UCC/Global Ministries Wednesdays with the World series (May 29)