Global Ministries

The Italian Protestant churches against bombing in Syria

Rome, April 20, 2018 (NEVCS20) – “Peace, peace, they say, when there is no peace” (Jeremiah, 6:14). As in the time of the prophet Jeremiah, in the face of the new Syrian scenario, governments and international organizations invoke peace, while actually they act with war. 

The Conference of European Churches has expressed solidarity with the Syrian churches affected by the kidnapping of the two bishops of Aleppo – who went missing five years ago.

According to media reports, Metropolitan Yohanna Ibrahim of the Syriac Orthodox Church and Metropolitan Boulos Yazigi of the Greek Orthodox Church were kidnapped on 22 April 2013.

The General Secretary of the National Evangelical [Presbyterian] Synod of Syria and Lebanon (NESSL), the Rev. Joseph Kassab, issued a statement on behalf of the denomination, condemning the air campaign, appealing to church partners in the West to advocate on their behalf, and praying for the future of Syria.  The statement can be read here.

In a 16 April statement, the World Council of Churches (WCC) urged the international community to find a way to break the cycle of violence in Syria. The statement comes two days after the USA, France and the UK carried out missile strikes following a suspected Syrian government chemical weapons attack.

Leadership of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and United Church of Christ stated their opposition to the US-led air campaign against Syria, and instead called for "an end to the violence and suffering, so that the Syrian people can begin to rebuild their lives."  The Rev. Teresa Hord Owens and the Rev. Dr. John Dorhauer, respective General Ministers and Presidents of the two churches, the Rev. Julia Brown Karimu, President of the Disciples' Division of Overseas Ministries and Co-Executive of Global Ministries, and the Rev. Dr. James Moos, Executive Minister of the UCC's Global Engagement and Operations, and Co-Executive of Global Ministries, issued the following statement this weekend following President Trump's announcement of the US-led airstrikes in Syria:

The Federation of Protestant Churches in Italy starts a programme to support and cooperate with search and rescue Agenzia NEV

The Council of the FCEI (Federation of Protestant Churches in Italy) has today resolved to initiate a new strand of activity within the framework of “Mediterranean Hope (MH) – the FCEI’s Refugee and Migrant Programme”, by supporting organisations undertaking this humanitarian work and by participating in search and rescue missions in the Mediterranean Sea. Read more...

On 20 March the unique program aiming to empower Syrian-Armenian youth who escaped the ongoing conflict in Syria and settled in Armenia was launched in Yerevan. Through training, capacity building and joint activities, the project aims to deepen the relations between Syrian and local Armenian youth.

Leaders of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), the United Church of Christ, and Global Ministries were among 15 ecumenical Christian leaders signing a letter to members of Congress expressing concern about US military sales and military aid to countries in the Middle East.  The Rev. Teresa Hord Owens and the Rev. Dr. John Dorhauer, General Ministers and Presidents of the Disciples and UCC (respectively), and the Rev. Julia Brown Karimu and the Rev. Dr. James Moos, Co-Executives of Global Ministries, signed the letter, dated March 14, which stated, "We firmly believe that stability and long-term security in the Middle East will only come about when the United States and other countries move away from a militarized approach and the profits that come from perpetual conflict."

The darkness in Syria continues. Hundreds of thousands are dead, millions are displaced and refugees continue to seek safety from a land that once was their home.

Lord, we pray for your spirit to move us as we have become apathetic to Syria. The storms of evil continue to blow in Syria leaving only ashes and smoke. Brothers turned against each other, the people are broken and the cities and villages are burned to the ground. Dear God, we long for the moment the words of your prophet Isaiah become a reality “They will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks (Isaiah 2:4)”. Lord in your mercy…

"The Ecumenical Agenda on Migration" presented in Milan, by NEV

The agenda consists of seven proposals that involve the following topics: a law on citizenship (ius soli), the definition of precise standards to legally entering Italy for both migrants and asylum seekers, the regularization on an individual basis of rooted foreigners, the repeal of the crime of clandestinity - provided for in the Bossi-Fini Law, the extension of the Asylum and Refugee Protection Service (SPRAR), the enhancement and dissemination of good reception and integration practices as well as the promotion of the participation of immigrants who are now stabilized in this democratic life through providing active and passive electorate.  Read more...