Global Ministries

The World Council of Churches is inviting its global fellowship and all people of good will to participate in the World Week of Peace in Palestine and Israel on September 16-23.

This year’s theme is “Youth and Children: Raising Hope and Making Change”.

Held the third week of September each year, the World Week of Peace unites Christian witnesses in peaceful actions around the world to promote a just peace in Palestine and Israel.

US to Announce Closure of PLO Office in Washington The Times of Israel

The Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO) office "acts as the de facto embassy in the US," so its closing is a significant step by the Trump Administration. This closure is most likely over Palestinian resistance to U.S. led peace negotiations because of the U.S. Embassy move and recent funding cuts; and recent PLO campaigning to have Israel tried by the International Criminal Court.

The Link, published on a bi-monthly basis, is Americans for Middle East Understanding (AMEU)'s primary education and information tool. More than 175 issues of The Link have followed since the first issue written by Humphrey Walz appeared in 1968. For the first two decades of its existence, The Link was virtually the only national periodical published for a diverse audience by an American non-profit organization that persistently challenged the prevailing myths and stereotypes about Arabs, Muslims and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

The National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA joins with the ecumenical community worldwide in calling upon the United States Government to reverse its decision to end funding for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) for Palestinian Refugees. We join with the World Council of Churches in naming this action “immoral and unjust, driving Palestinian refugees to more hopelessness, despair, and desperation.” While the United States is not the only funder of UNRWA, the Trump Administration’s decision leaves a $200 million deficit, one that will leave some of the most vulnerable people in the world without resources needed for a healthy society.

The Israeli Supreme Court turned down an appeal against the demolition of the Bedouin village of Al Khan al-Ahmar, which lies between two illegal Jewish settlements. This demolition if carried out, besides being a grave violation of human rights, will obstruct the establishment of a contiguous and viable Palestinian state.

O Lord, we weep at the injustice being carried out against the people of Al Khan al-Ahmar. Grant them the strength to resist the Israeli military occupation and to continue to make their plight clear to the world. We pray that the Israeli judiciary will see the error of its ways in the light of international pressure and allow the people of Al Khan al-Ahmar to ‘live in peaceful dwelling places, in secure homes, in undisturbed places of rest’, (Isaiah 32:18). Lord, in your mercy…Hear our prayer

[The following statement was issued on Sunday, Sept. 10 by the Lutheran World Federation.]

The Lutheran World Federation regrets the decision by the US administration, reported by several news agencies, to cut its funding for the six East Jerusalem Hospitals. According to a budget approved by the US Congress, the hospitals in East Jerusalem, including the Lutheran World Federation’s Augusta Victoria Hospital (AVH), were budgeted to receive USD 25 million in funding during financial year 2017 to cover costs for patients referred by the Palestinian Ministry of Health. Today’s news reports come following a policy review by the US administration that resulted in several funding cuts affecting people in the West Bank and Gaza.

This afternoon, Global Ministries Co-Executives, the Rev. Julia Brown Karimu and the Rev. Dr. James Moos, with the Director of Global Mission for the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, the Rev. Dr. Rafael Malpica-Padilla, sent a letter to all Congressional offices urging representatives to prevent the demolition of Khan al-Ahmar, a Palestinian Bedouin community in the West Bank. The letter was prompted by the Israeli High Court decision earlier this week to allow the Israeli government to proceed with the community's demolition.  Global Ministries and the ELCA were among 16 churches and organizations to sign an international ecumenical statement on the issue in mid-August, and have been active in raising awareness and promoting advocacy on the issue.

The full text of the letter is below:

The World Council of Churches (WCC) has expressed deep regret over the decision by the government of the USA to withdraw all funding for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) for Palestinian Refugees.

“This is effectively a decision to abandon the Palestinian refugee population and to block them from the realization of their inalienable human rights and legitimate aspirations for the future – including a viable two-state solution,” said WCC general secretary Rev. Dr Olav Fykse Tveit. “As such, we consider the decision immoral and unjust, driving Palestinian refugees to more hopelessness, despair and desperation.”

The ‘Great March of Return’ continues into its sixth month. Peaceful protesters continue to be threatened by live fire from the Israeli military. Ibrahim Talalqa, a medic working at the fence takes his leave of his family every Friday before going away, anxious that he may not return home.

God of the peacemakers, we ask that you stand with those who continue to protest by non-violent means to achieve their rightful aims. Stand with those who risk life and limb to bring medical care to the injured and dignity to the dead in this dangerous place. Lord in your mercy…

The ‘Great March of Return’ continues into its fourth month. On Friday the 24th of August, approximately 5000 people attended the demonstration and the Israeli army fired live ammunition and tear gas at the protestors. More than 189 people were wounded and at least fifty of those who were wounded, were hit by live ammunition.

We pray for the safety of the protestors in Gaza as they continue to use non-violent means to achieve their rightful aims. Lord, in your mercy…