Get Involved

Here are six ways you can participate in the ELCA’s efforts to help build peace with justice in Palestine and Israel through the Sumud campaign.

Connect

Sumud has an active network of individuals and working groups across the United States that you are invited to join. To find out if there is a Sumud working group in your area or for more information, email.

Accompany

Walk with our companions in the Holy Land, ELCA missionaries and Ecumenical Accompaniers working for peace with justice in the region by following their blogs and websites (look under the "Accompany" tab on the resources page). There are many ways to accompany our companions:

Become an “Ecumenical Accompanier” with the Ecumenical Accompaniment Programme in Palestine and Israel and live in the Holy Land for three months on a peacebuilding team.
If you are between the ages of 19-29, join the Young Adult in Global Mission program and live in the Holy Land for a year.
Sponsor an ELCA missionary living and working in the Holy Land.
Travel to the Holy Land with an existing group or plan your own trip.

Advocate

To receive the latest updates and action alerts from Sumud, sign up for the Middle East Network Newsletter. Sumud encourages you to become familiar with and contact your members of Congress to advocate for peace and justice in Palestine and Israel. Check out the "Advocate" tab on the resources page.

Host an event

Thinking about holding an event to raise awareness? Looking for resources on how to do this? We have resources to help: background on some of the major issues of the conflict, suggestions for the best videos, books, websites and study resources, and other printed resources. You can find these materials under the "Learn more" tab on the resources page.

Purchase selectively

The Strategy for Engagement with Palestine and Israel and subsequent actions by churchwide assemblies encourage the purchasing of Palestinian products and the use of selective purchasing to avoid buying products made in illegal Israeli settlements built on Palestinian land. Various resources are available, including the ELCA stance on boycott, divestment, and sanctions; and guidance on identifying products made in Israeli settlements under the "Advocate" tab on the resource page.

Participate in Upcoming Events

Check back later or subscribe to our newsletter to be notified of future events.

View Past Events

Reflections from the Holy Land

"We continue to call for a ceasefire, for the release of hostages and those being detained, for access to humanitarian aid, for rejecting violence as a means of solving the ongoing destruction of the Holy Land, and for recommitments to dialogue, reconciliation and humanization. Above all, we pray for God’s peace and justice to prevail for all people."

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Making a Difference: How to Elevate our Voices

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.

Taking It Local 2

On Saturday, March 16th Sumud (formerly Peace Not Walls) with ELCA Witness in Society presented the Sumud Series: Taking It Local. We learned some next steps to raise awareness, build advocacy, and accompany justice in Palestine and Israel. We broke into small groups to discuss writing memorials and resolutions for Synod Assemblies, What people are doing in their particular areas, and next steps for advocacy. Watch and see how we can support you in your area!

There are two additional webinars in this series: Saturday February 24, 2024 ( Update from the Ground and Advocacy Effort... ) Saturday April 13th ( Go and Tell | Sumud webinar | April 13, 2024 )

Sumud is the ELCA’s new name for our church’s engagement in accompaniment, awareness-building and advocacy for justice in Palestine and Israel. Sign up for updates about Sumud and upcoming events at:b https://www.bit.ly/SumudSubscribeYou can also learn more athttps://www.ELCA.org/sumud

Go and Tell

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. He shared honestly about what the situation is like in Ramallah and the West Bank.Rev. Dr. Meghan Aelabouni presented our focus topic "Go and Tell". She presented on ways to share with others about justice for Palestine and Israel. Rev. Dr. Aelabouni also covered frequently asked questions and an overview of Sumud. Lastly, we heard from participants what they have experienced when sharing and what was helpful, and successful.

The are two additional webinars in this series: Saturday February 24, 2024 ( Update from the Ground and Advocacy Effort... ) Saturday March 16, 2024 ( Taking It Local | Sumud webinar | March 16... )

‍You can also learn more at https://www.ELCA.org/sumud

Update from the Ground and Advocacy Efforts

On Saturday, Feb. 24, 2024, Sumud (formerly Peace Not Walls) with ELCA Witness in Society presented Sumud Series: Updates From the Ground and Advocacy Efforts. This was the first of a three-part webinar series. Rev. Dr. Munther Isaac, Rev. Gabi and Rev. Dr. Meghan Aelabouni gave us an update from the ground. And Susannah Cunningham from Witness in Society provided action steps to take to raise awareness, build advocacy, and accompany justice in Palestine and Israel.

There are two other webinars in the series: Saturday March 16th ( Taking It Local | Sumud webinar | March 16... ) Saturday April 13th (Go and Tell | Sumud webinar | April 13, 2024 )

You can also learn more athttps://www.ELCA.org/sumud

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).