Sumud

Sumud logo featuring an olive tree and the words "for Justice in Palestine and Israel" on a black and white background of an olive grove

We are church for the sake of the world. Sumud is the ELCA Churches response to occupation and injustice in Palestine and Israel.

In Jesus Christ all of life — every act of service, in every daily calling, in every corner of life — flows freely from a living, daring confidence in God’s grace.

Freed by the transformative life of Christ, the ELCA is committed to accompaniment, advocacy and awareness-raising with our partners in the Holy Land and in the United States. For the past two decades that work was organized through the ELCA Peace Not Walls campaign. In October 2023 the ELCA announced that, following an in-depth review by ELCA staff and leadership from the Palestinian Lutheran church, Peace Not Walls would be renamed and reconfigured as a new initiative, Sumud: For Justice in Palestine and Israel.

Sumud is an Arabic word meaning “steadfastness.” The term is widely used by Palestinian theologians and others to signify Palestinian resistance to the Israeli occupation of Palestinian lands and people. That resistance takes the form of nonviolent advocacy for political change as well as “resistance through existence,” embodied in education, social work, the arts and one’s relationships with the land and community.

LEARN MORE

Welcome to Sumud: for justice in Palestine and Israel
Have you heard of Sumud (formerly Peace Not Walls)? Share about this new initiative from the ELCA for justice in Palestine and Israel. Stay connected by LIKING and FOLLOWING us on Facebook (ELCA Sumud) and Instagram (@ELCASumud).
This is: SUMUD
The ELCA’s primary companion church in the Holy Land is the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land (ELCJHL). Learn more in this Living Lutheran story.
Read more
Welcome to Sumud Introduction
Watch our new video introducing the work of Sumud, the ELCA's program supporting a peaceful future in Palestine. Video is available for download as well on our Resources page below.
Watch
Prayerful Solidarity Webinar
Watch a conversation with ELCA Presiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton, Bishop Ibrahim Azar, ELCIC Presiding Bishop Susan Johnson, and Sumud Program Director Maddi Froiland.
Watch
Making a Difference: How to Elevate our Voices
Watch a conversation with ELCA Program Directors Maddi Froiland (Sumud), Sasha Ghosh-Siminoff (MENA Policy), and Alison Richard (Companion Engagement).
Watch
Lenten Series for Sumud
View each week of the Lenten Series and the Guide. Each file is available in PDF format and can be downloaded.
View Lenten Series Guide
Go and Tell - Sumud webinar
We had the honor of hearing from Rev. Rodny Said an update from the ground. Rev. Said is the pastor of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Hope in Ramallah.
Watch
Sumud Brochure
‍‍
Our recent brochure includes a description of the purpose and actions of Sumud (formerly Peace Not Walls).  
See the brochure
Advocacy Alerts
Sign up to receive action alerts about the Middle East
Sign up now
Sumud Resources
Access videos, documents, past webinars, brochures, and more by visiting our Resources.
View more resources here

For more information about Sumud (formerly Peace Not Walls) please contact us at sumud@elca.org.

Contact us