Letter from UCC and Disciples leadership following Annapolis conference

To our Palestinian and Middle East partners, Greetings and peace to you as we enter into the season of Advent, eagerly anticipating the celebration of Christ’s birth and the message of hope that it brings. We write in the immediate aftermath of the Annapolis Conference here in the US, recognizing that the promise of negotiations with a goal of a Palestinian state by the end of 2008 raises hopes for you and for us. In its mere happening, the gathering in one room of delegates from so many countries of the region with Arab-Israeli-Palestinian peacemaking as the agenda causes us to stand up and take notice. We have been urging the US government to play a more active role in this effort for some time, and now share your hope that it will push forward persistently and fairly in the diplomatic arena to bring a true and just peace in the region to fruition. Know that we will continue to advocate for strong United States involvement marked by commitment to the vision of peace with justice that we have shared with you for many years. We also recognize that even as the Annapolis Conference raises expectations for a lasting peace, particularly between Israelis and Palestinians, it has already exacerbated tensions within Palestinian society, particularly over issues of representation and legitimacy. We offer you our support and prayers in this context in which members of the Palestinian community determine their positions and act those out. It is our yearning that a just peace can be achieved, one that will alleviate the suffering of so many, and we remain steadfast in our efforts to stand with you toward that end. In this season of the coming of the Prince of Peace, we fervently pray that on earth, peace among peoples becomes manifest in new ways. In Christ, Rev. John H. Thomas General Minister and President United Church of Christ Rev. Cally Rogers-Witte Executive Minister, Wider Church Ministries, UCC Co-Executive, Common Global Ministries Board Rev. Dr. Sharon Watkins General Minister and President Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) Rev. David Vargas President, Division of Overseas Ministries, Disciples Co-Executive, Common Global Ministries Board DisciplesWorld article about the Annapolis conference letter

 

To our Palestinian and Middle East partners, 

Greetings and peace to you as we enter into the season of Advent, eagerly anticipating the celebration of Christ’s birth and the message of hope that it brings.

We write in the immediate aftermath of the Annapolis Conference here in the US, recognizing that the promise of negotiations with a goal of a Palestinian state by the end of 2008 raises hopes for you and for us.  In its mere happening, the gathering in one room of delegates from so many countries of the region with Arab-Israeli-Palestinian peacemaking as the agenda causes us to stand up and take notice.  We have been urging the US government to play a more active role in this effort for some time, and now share your hope that it will push forward persistently and fairly in the diplomatic arena to bring a true and just peace in the region to fruition.  Know that we will continue to advocate for strong United States involvement marked by commitment to the vision of peace with justice that we have shared with you for many years.

We also recognize that even as the Annapolis Conference raises expectations for a lasting peace, particularly between Israelis and Palestinians, it has already exacerbated tensions within Palestinian society, particularly over issues of representation and legitimacy.  We offer you our support and prayers in this context in which members of the Palestinian community determine their positions and act those out.

It is our yearning that a just peace can be achieved, one that will alleviate the suffering of so many, and we remain steadfast in our efforts to stand with you toward that end.  In this season of the coming of the Prince of Peace, we fervently pray that on earth, peace among peoples becomes manifest in new ways.

In Christ,

Rev. John H. Thomas General Minister and President United Church of Christ Rev. Cally Rogers-Witte Executive Minister, Wider Church Ministries, UCC          Co-Executive, Common Global Ministries Board

Rev. Dr. Sharon Watkins General Minister and President Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) Rev. David Vargas President, Division of Overseas Ministries, Disciples Co-Executive, Common Global Ministries Board

  DisciplesWorld article about the Annapolis conference letter