Kirkpatrick, others appeal to Bush to make Middle East peace process a priority for U.S.
By Craig M. Kibler, Staff Writer, January 29, 2007
Clifton Kirkpatrick and 38 other leaders of denominations and organizations in the United States are appealing to President George W. Bush to make the peace process in the Middle East a priority, saying that they “stand close together in our hopes and prayers for peace in the land we all call holy and for the reconciliation of the children of Abraham – Jews, Christians and Muslims.”
In addition to Kirkpatrick, the stated clerk of the Presbyterian Church (USA), others signing the Jan. 23 letter included the Rev. Katharine Jefferts Schori, the presiding bishop of the Episcopal Church in the USA; the Rev. Mark S. Hanson, presiding bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America; the Rev. Robert Edgar, general secretary of the National Council of Churches; Tony Campolo; the Rev. Michael E. Livingston, executive director of the International Council of Community Churches; Richard J. Mouw, president of Fuller Theological Seminary; the Rev. William G. Sinkford, president of the Unitarian Universalist Association of Congregations; and Jim Wallis, CEO of Sojourners.
The letter’s authors appealed to Bush on two points:
- “Make Israeli-Palestinian peacemaking, in the context of a comprehensive Arab-Israeli peace initiative, an urgent priority for your administration.”
- “Work with Israelis, Palestinians and the international community to guarantee access to Jerusalem’s Holy Places and religious liberty for all peoples. Resolving the status of Jerusalem is key to achieving a workable two-state solution.”
The points, the authors argued, “are central to our faith-motivated quest for peace with justice” in the region. “The United States and the world will become safer as confidence grows that the U.S. is willing to take leadership and work cooperatively with the United Nations and other nations to resolve this conflict,” the letter states.
The authors criticize Israel when expressing concern “for the welfare and future of the Palestinian Christian community. A small but vital part of the Palestinian society, Christians are rapidly emigrating to countries where they can gain the economic and physical security that is denied all Palestinians living under occupation.”
Israel is criticized again when the letter’s authors talk about Jerusalem, saying that because of a security wall constructed by Israel, “many of the faithful – both Christians and Muslims – are excluded from the Holy City, and Jerusalem is severed from Bethlehem.”
Churches for Middle East Peace
The letter was written under the auspices of Churches for Middle East Peace, an umbrella organization that describes itself as a “coalition of 21 public policy offices of national churches and agencies.” And, although it uses religious language in the letter, the organization itself has no theological mission statement. Instead, under the heading of “What We Believe,” it states 10 principles that have “guided” its work. It states that the organization “advocates positions that:”
1) Realize the vision of a region where two viable states, Israel and Palestine, live side-by-side within secure and recognized borders.
2) Promote the sharing of an undivided Jerusalem by the two peoples – Israelis and Palestinians – and by the three religious communities that call it sacred.
3) Encourage negotiated, just and peaceful resolutions to conflicts in the region.
4) Promote the right of people to live in peace and security, free of fears of harassment, oppression and violence.
5) Encourage the demilitarization of conflicts and help to establish the Middle East as a region free of nuclear, chemical and biological weapons.
6) Foster respect for human rights based on full observance of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, human rights covenants of the United Nations and the Geneva Conventions.
7) Encourage equitable development and humanitarian assistance to the region by the United States and other nations. 8) Promote the rights and meet the humanitarian needs of refugees and displaced persons in the region.
9) Support the United Nations in playing an important role in seeking a just resolution of problems and the maintenance of a region without conflict.
10) Recognize the religious importance of the region to Jews, Christians and Muslims and protect the religious freedom of all.
In a statement, the organization said that, in addition to Bush, the letter was delivered to all Senate and House offices. It also was scheduled to be published as an advertisement in the Jan. 30 edition of Roll Call.
The complete text of the letter is as follows:
January 23, 2007
The Honorable George W. Bush
The White House
Washington, DC
“Dear Mr. President,
“As leaders of churches and Christian institutions in the United States, we bring you greetings for the New Year and encouragement as you meet the challenges that face our nation and the global community. Even though we are from a wide range of Christian traditions – Orthodox, Catholic, mainstream and evangelical Protestants – we stand close together in our hopes and prayers for peace in the land we all call Holy and for the reconciliation of the children of Abraham – Jews, Christians and Muslims.
“We come to you with two interrelated appeals that are central to our faith-motivated quest for peace with justice. First, we ask that you make Israeli-Palestinian peacemaking, in the context of a comprehensive Arab-Israeli peace initiative, an urgent priority for your Administration. We recognize the great many difficulties and struggles that the people of the Middle East region must confront and the heavy responsibilities that fall upon you to help restore hope for a better future for them and for the citizens of the United States. We know that many view the Israeli-Palestinian situation as the most intractable in our troubled world, but we know that when it is resolved, the positive repercussions will go well beyond that small geographic area.
“We commend your vision of a viable, contiguous Palestinian state living as a peaceful neighbor alongside the state of Israel, with both nations secure and recognized by their neighbors. With your active engagement, this vision could reignite a passion for peace that can overcome the appeal of violence, vengeance and exclusivity. The United States and the world will become safer as confidence grows that the U.S. is willing to take leadership and work cooperatively with the United Nations and other nations to resolve this conflict.
“We bring to you our deepening concern for the welfare and future of the Palestinian Christian community. A small but vital part of the Palestinian society, Christians are rapidly emigrating to countries where they can gain the economic and physical security that is denied all Palestinians living under occupation. The future of the Palestinian Christians requires a solution to the conflict that will allow both peoples – Israelis and Palestinians – to live side-by-side in two states where all enjoy justice, peace and security.
“The Palestinian Christian leaders have asked us to bring to your attention the very grave situation of Jerusalem. They remind us that Jerusalem is the location of “not only historical memories and sacred places of pilgrimage, but also living communities of believers.” With the construction by Israel of the separation barrier, many of the faithful – both Christians and Muslims – are excluded from the Holy City, and Jerusalem is severed from Bethlehem. Our second appeal is for you to work with Israelis, Palestinians and the international community to guarantee access to Jerusalem’s Holy Places and religious liberty for all peoples. Resolving the status of Jerusalem is key to achieving a workable two-state solution.
“Mr. President, as this New Year begins, we encourage you to maintain the faith, the courage and the resolve to work with other world leaders toward negotiations that guarantee two viable and secure states, Israel and Palestine, living side-by-side and sharing Jerusalem. For guidance we look to the examples of the great prophets Isaiah and Jeremiah who declared that God calls all nations and all people to do justice to one another. We join in praying for peace in the Holy Land and at home.”
Sincerely,
The Most Rev. Archbishop Barsamian
Primate, Diocese of the
Armenian Church of America (Eastern)
Bishop Dimitrios of Xanthos
Ecumenical Officer
Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America
Bishop Thomas G. Wenski
Chairman, Committee on Int’l Policy
U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops
Rev. Mark S. Hanson
Presiding Bishop
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
Rev. Katharine Jefferts Schori
Presiding Bishop
Episcopal Church in the USA
Rev. Wayne Burkette
President, Provincial Elders’ Conference
Moravian Church in America, Southern Province
Simone Campbell, SSS
Executive Director
NETWORK
Tony Campolo
Founder
Evangelical Association for the Promotion of Education
Sister Mary Dacey, SSJ
President
Leadership Conference of Women Religious
Marie Dennis
Director
Maryknoll Office for Global Concerns
Rev. Robert Edgar
General Secretary
National Council of Churches
Rev. Wesley Granberg-Michaelson
General Secretary
Reformed Church in America
Ken Hackett
President
Catholic Relief Services
Rev. Dr. Stan Hastey
Executive Director
Alliance of Baptists
Bishop Janice Riggle Huie
President, Council of Bishops
United Methodist Church
Rev. Dominic Izzo, OP
President, Catholic Conference of Major Superiors of Men’s Institutes
Rev. Phillip L. Jones
Director, Washington Office
Church of the Brethren
Rev. Dr. Clifton Kirkpatrick
Stated Clerk of the General Assembly Presbyterian Church (USA)
Rev. Michael E. Livingston
Executive Director, International Council of Community Churches
President, National Council of Churches
Albert C. Lobe
Interim Executive Director
Mennonite Central Committee
E. Earl McCloud, Jr. Bishop
Office of Ecumenical & Urban Affairs
African Methodist Episcopal Church
Rev. John L. McCullough
Executive Director & CEO
Church World Service
Mary Ellen McNish
General Secretary
American Friends Service Committee
A. Roy Medley
General Secretary
American Baptist Churches U.S.A.
Richard J. Mouw
President
Fuller Seminary
David Neff
Editor and Vice-President
Christianity Today
Leonard Rodgers
Executive Director
Evangelicals for Middle East Understanding
Br. Mark Schroeder, OFM
President, Franciscan Friars (OFM)
English Speaking Conference JPIC Council
Metropolitan PHILIP (Saliba)
Primate
Antiochian Orthodox Archdiocese of North America
Ambassador Robert A. Seiple
Former Ambassador-at-Large for International Religious Freedom
Ronald J. Sider
President
Evangelicals for Social Action
Rev. William G. Sinkford
President
Unitarian Universalist Association of Congregations
Msgr. Robert L. Stern
Secretary General, CNEWA
President, Pontifical Mission for Palestine
Rev. John H. Thomas
General Minister and President United Church of Christ
Joe Volk
Executive Secretary
Friends Committee on National Legislation
Jim Wallis
CEO
Sojourners/Call to Renewal
Rev. Dr. Sharon E. Watkins
General Minister and President
Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
Corinne Whitlatch
Executive Director
Churches for Middle East Peace
Bishop Gabino Zavala
Bishop President
Pax Christi USA: National Catholic Peace Movement
Craig M. Kibler is the Director of Publications for the Presbyterian Lay Committee and Executive Editor of The Layman and The Layman Online. He can be reached at cmkibler@www.layman.org.