Dear church,
Recently, the Patriarchs and Heads of the Churches in Jerusalem issued an urgent plea to the global church, “A Humanitarian Plea From the Churches of Jerusalem: Defending the Dignity and Presence of the People of Gaza.” I write to uplift the timely and crucial words of these beloved siblings in Christ in Jerusalem and to call on our church to respond in prayer, action and solidarity.
This humanitarian plea from ecumenical church leaders in Jerusalem, including our partner church, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land, comes in the wake of comments from the president of the United States that outline a plan to forcibly and permanently displace roughly 2 million Gazans, with the stated goal of clearing Gaza for future real estate development.
The words of our brothers in Christ are clear:
“Amid this anguish, we are compelled to speak against the grave threat of mass displacement, an injustice that strikes at the very heart of human dignity. The people of Gaza, families who have lived for generations in the land of their ancestors, must not be forced into exile. … As Christians, we cannot be indifferent to such suffering, for the Gospel commands us to uphold the dignity of every human being. The words of our Lord remind us: ‘Woe to those who make unjust laws, to those who issue oppressive decrees, to deprive the poor of their rights and withhold justice from the oppressed’ (Isaiah 10:1-2).”
Today our siblings in Gaza need our voices, our prayers and our actions more than ever.
Let us join in:
A Call to Prayer for recovery and restoration in Gaza, for the safe return of all its inhabitants, for those in power to recognize the humanity of Palestinians in their decision-making, for an end to the Israeli occupation and for a path, paved by justice, toward lasting peace in Palestine and Israel.
A Call to Action in voicing our opposition to mass displacement in the Gaza strip as outlined in President Trump’s proposal and in urging our elected representatives to adhere to international law, which prioritizes humanitarian aid and the return of all hostages.
A Call to Learning in which we, as U.S. Christians using our privilege and our faith, stand against oppression and injustice in the Holy Land and provoke tough conversations in our communities, furthering awareness and lifting up the voices of our Palestinian siblings.
A Call to Public Witness, using the resources of ELCA Sumud, the ELCA Middle East and North Africa Desk and ELCA Witness in Society, and joining with our ecumenical partners, as we offer faithful, direct witness to foreign policy.
As communion partners of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land, and as Lutherans concerned with the human rights, dignity and future of all the peoples of Palestine and Israel, we must use our voices, our resources and our power of prayer at this crucial time.
In Christ,
The Rev. Elizabeth A. Eaton
Presiding Bishop
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
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About the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America:
The ELCA is one of the largest Christian denominations in the United States, with 2.8 million members in more than 8,500 worshiping communities across the 50 states and in the Caribbean region. Known as the church of "God's work. Our hands.," the ELCA emphasizes the saving grace of God through faith in Jesus Christ, unity among Christians and service in the world. The ELCA's roots are in the writings of the German church reformer Martin Luther.
For information contact:
Candice Hill Buchbinder
Public Relations Manager
Candice.HillBuchbinder@ELCA.org
