Israeli-Palestinian Relations
ELCA Churchwide Assembly Action CA01.05.19
Passed by the 2001 Churchwide Assembly in Indianapolis, Indiana.
ResolvedTo affirm the concern raised in the Alaska Synod memorial over continued U.S. aid to Israel;
To request the presiding bishop to send a letter to the President of the United States, Vice President, Secretary of State, the U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, and all members of Congress: (1) asking that they urge and work with both the Israelis and the Palestinians to end the cycle of violence and seek a just and lasting peace; (2) urging the conversion of funds presently budgeted or allocated for military assistance for nations of the Middle East to support humanitarian assistance and economic aid; (3) discouraging the private, direct or indirect, sale of military weaponry to Middle Eastern nations; (4) urging the immediate international protection of Palestinian populations under occupation; and (5) to urge the cessation of human sacrifice by suicide bombings from Palestinian military factions;
To request that the presiding bishop send a letter to the U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations urging that diplomatic pressure continue to be placed on those countries which aid groups operating in the Middle East and have as their primary purpose to oppose the peace process, destabilize further the region, or promote violence;
To encourage ELCA members to participate in the ecumenical prayer vigil for peace in the Middle East, to support through prayer and material assistance the people in the region affected by civil strife, to acknowledge the pain, suffering, and loss of life on all sides of this ongoing and terrible conflict, and to pray for the ELCA missionary staff in the region;
To affirm the work of the Division for Global Mission and the Division for Church in Society in their efforts to organize an ecumenical response to the crisis in Palestine and Israel that includes accompanying Palestinians and Israelis in nonviolent efforts to end the occupation; mobilizing grass-roots activists in the U.S. for prayer and advocacy; developing and distributing congregational resources; and engaging the public media concerning U.S. policy toward the Middle East; and
To commend the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and Palestine, Bishop Munib Younan, its congregations and schools for steadfastness in faith and courage in witness throughout this time of crisis; for their ministries of reconciliation and peacemaking; for their tireless assistance and service including ministries with traumatized children, students, and congregation members.