ELCA Resources
Worship Resources for the Crisis in the Holy Land
October 2023
This resource is provided to assist worshiping communities as they respond to the crisis in the Middle East.
Worship Resources: Anniversary of the Ongoing War in the Middle East - ELCA Worship » ELCA Worship - Evangelical Lutheran Church in America 10.03.24
View PDF 10.26.23
View DOC 10.26.23
Praying for Peace Amid Ongoing War in the Middle East | Presiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton 10.1.24
Bishop Eaton issues message on the war in Gaza 6.5.24
ELCA Conference of Bishops issues letter to President Biden calling for a permanent bilateral cease-fire in Gaza 3.3.24
Sumud: For Justice in Palestine and Israel
Sumud (formerly Peace Not Walls) is the ELCA’s new name for our church’s engagement in accompaniment, awareness building and advocacy for justice in Palestine and Israel. Learn more and get involved at ELCA.org/sumud.
NGOs urge President Biden to Restore UNRWA Funding 2.24.24
North American Church Leaders Call for Peace in Holy Land in Advent Prayer Resource 11.29.23
Lutheran Disaster Response
Situation Report #2: Crisis in the Holy Land 11.17.23
Middle East Crisis bulletin insert 11.13.23
Support Lutheran Disaster Response here.
Presiding Bishop Eaton's video addresses the hatred and violence toward Arab, Muslim, and Jewish people in the U.S., acknowledges the grief and trauma of Jews and Palestinians, and offers ways that we can support our Palestinian members and our neighbors. 11.1.23
Reflections on the Israel-Hamas Conflict: Scarcity, Abundance, and Imagination 10.31.23
A Statement from Bishop Eaton on the Conflict in the Holy Land 10.26.23
Peace Not Walls Action Alert 10.17.23
ELCA signed this joint call: Interfaith Leaders Join Call for Ceasefire in Israel and Occupied Palestinian Territory 10.16.23
Presiding Bishop Eaton's statement on the Israel-Hamas War 10.13.23
The Association of Lutherans of Arab and Middle Eastern Heritage: ALAMEH Statement 10.11.23
Presiding Bishop Eaton's letter to Bishop Azar 10.10.23
Young Adults in Global Mission Update 10.9.23
ELCA Social Statement: For Peace in God's World
ELCA Social Message: Human Rights
ELCA Inter-Religious Relations Resources:Ecumenical and Inter-Religious Relations - Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (elca.org)
ELCA Inter-Religious Relations Resources:Inter-Religious Relations - Declaration of the ELCA to the Jewish Community - Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (elca.org)
ELCA Inter-Religious Relations Resources:Inter-Religious Relations - Declaration of the ELCA to the Muslim Community - Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (elca.org)
ELCA Inter-Religious Policy Statement:Inter-Religious Policy Statement - Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (elca.org)
ELCA Guidelines for Ministry in a Multi-Religious World:Guidelines_for_Ministry_in_Multi_Religious_World.pdf (elca.org)
Global and Ecumenical Resources
Bishop Azar and ELCJHL
Statement by ELCJHL on the Airstrike Destruction of St. Porphyrios Greek Orthodox Church in Gaza 10.20.23
Update and Statement of Appreciation to our Partners for Prayers and Support 10.12.23
Statement from Bishop Azar and ELCJHL 10.7.23
The Patriarchs and Heads of the Churches in Jerusalem
Statement on the Celebration of Advent and Christmas in the Midst of the War 11.10.23
Mourning Civilian Victims of the Massacre in Gaza and Extending Solidarity to the Episcopal Diocese of Jerusalem 10.17.23
Statement on the Escalating Humanitarian Crisis in Gaza 10.13.23
The White House
Bishop Eaton joins more than 140 global Christian leaders in call for Gaza cease-fire 3.27.24
Allied Against Hate: A toolkit for Faith Communities 9.23
World Council of Churches: Church leaders in Holy Land call for de-escalation, respect for human rights | World Council of Churches (oikoumene.org) 10.12.23
Lutheran World Federation
LWF welcomes release of hostages and humanitarian pause between Israel and Hamas 11.22.23
LWF provides psychosocial support to patients from Gaza 11.17.23
AVH trying to get vital medical supplies into Gaza 11.9.23
Gaza is on the brink of disaster 11.6.23
Bishop Azar: Keeping hope alive in the Holy Land 11.2.23
Open Call for an Immediate Ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and Israel to Prevent a Humanitarian Catastrophe and Further Loss of Innocent Lives 10.18.23
Statement on al-Ahli Anglican Hospital 10.17.23
Dr Fadi Atrash, the head of the Augusta Victoria Hospital in East Jerusalem, “A catastrophe is imminent” 10.16.23
Israel and Palestine: Civilians must be protected, and hostages released 10.11.23
Middle East Eye
Archbishop of Canterbury calls for Gaza ceasefire in break from UK policy 10.22.23
Churches for Middle East Peace
Churches for Middle East Peace (CMEP) Denounces Yet Another US UN Veto for Ceasefire in Gaza 12.12.23
A Ceasefire Is the Only Way Forward to Prevent Mass Killing, Further Death, and Destruction 12.2.23
68 Global and Christian Leaders Call for a Ceasefire and Peace 11.29.23
Churches for Middle East Peace (CMEP) Welcomes News of Temporary Cessation in Violence and Release of Hostages; Renews Calls for a Permanent Ceasefire and an Enduring Peace 11.24.23
Prayer Vigil at Lafayette Square in Washington DC 11.20.23
Ceasefire Now! Biden Administration’s Response Inadequate to Catastrophe in Gaza 11.3.23
End the War Now: Churches for Middle East Peace (CMEP) Fears Catastrophic Deaths of Civilians in Gaza 10.26.23
CMEP Calls for a Ceasefire and Issues Desperate Plea: President Biden’s Humanitarian Relief is Not Getting to People in Gaza 10.19.23
Statement on Bombing of al-Ahli Hospital in Gaza 10.17.23
Call for a Ceasefire and Protection of Civilians 10.12.23
Call for Addressing Core Issues of Conflict 10.9.20
Lord Have Mercy: Prayers to End Violence 10.7.23
Church World Service: CWS Mourns Lives Lost in Horrific Attacks in Israel and Palestine, Calls for End to Violence and Protection of Vulnerable Families 10.12.23
Foreign Policy: More U.S. Officials Are Anonymously Calling for a Gaza Cease-Fire 11.3.23
International Committee of the Red Cross
ICRC demands protection of patients, healthcare workers, medical facilities in Gaza amid escalating attacks 11.10.23
United Nations
What is the Genocide Convention? 1.11.24
United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA)
The latest updates can be found here.
Joint statement by UNDP, UNFPA, UNICEF, WFP and WHO on humanitarian supplies crossing into Gaza [EN/AR] 10.21.23
