The Presbyterian Church in Canada joins in prayer for the people of Palestine and Israel as they face war, danger and uncertainty.
Amidst the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, Palestinian farmers residing in the West Bank are gearing up for their olive tree planting season. The fields have been prepared for the orchards since before October of this year. The Joint Advocacy Initiative (initiated by our local partners, the East Jerusalem YWCA/YMCA), which oversees the campaign, has confirmed that the planting will proceed despite security concerns. However, the number of trees planted will be reduced to 15,000. The farmers will handle the planting themselves. The Presbyterian Church in Canada has sponsored the planting of 261 trees in Bethlehem and Hebron between 2022 and 2023. The PCC is accepting donations for the Olive Tree Campaign and you can contribute to this campaign, which will help Palestinian farmers to replant their destroyed olive orchards.
Presbyterian World Service & Development (PWS&D) is planning humanitarian assistance that will be provided through members of the ACT Alliance. PWS&D’s humanitarian response will assist with shelter, food, livelihoods, emergency health, psychosocial and mental health support, as well as cash assistance to allow people to purchase the goods they require.
The Presbyterian Church in Canada asks that people pray for all who are affected and threatened and for an end to violence and a just peace in the land of Christ’s birth.
God of truth, mercy and peace,
God of life and of reconciliation,
we mourn the suffering and murder of your people
and we pray for a just peace
and reconciliation for the people of Palestine and Israel
who have endured the burden of violence and conflict for so long.
Console those who grieve,
heal the injured,
comfort those who are alone and afraid,
protect those who are held hostage, and
restrain those who would cause more violence
or act cynically for political gain and power.
Let wisdom settle on your churches
and on the governments and leaders of this world
so that justice is sought,
reconciliation found,
peace established and
security provided for all.
In the name of Jesus, we pray.
Amen.
STATEMENTS AND LETTERS SIGNED BY THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN CANADA
The letter from the Moderator of the Presbyterian Church in Canada urges the Prime Minister of Canada to call for a ceasefire, the safe release of all hostages, a safe corridor for humanitarian aid, de-escalation of violence and an end to the blockade in the ongoing violence between Hamas and Israel.
View or download the letter:KAIROS Canada and its member churches and agencies condemn the current violence against Israeli and Palestinian civilians in Israel, Gaza, the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem and call on Canada to do everything in its power to support an immediate ceasefire and a negotiated solution.
In response to the spiralling violence, they have issued an ecumenical statement, A Cry to End the Violence and to uphold the rights of all civilians to life and freedom from violence and discrimination. In it, they write:
“We join the voices of those in the region and others in Canada and internationally in urging the Canadian Government to support a ceasefire and a negotiated resolution to this violence. The pain and tragedy of the growing numbers of civilian lives, Israeli and Palestinian, lost in the violence to date are evidence of the need for an immediate ceasefire, not an escalation of violence.”
View or download the full statement:PREVIOUS GENERAL ASSEMBLY ACTIONS AND ENDORSEMENTS
This page chronicles principles the General Assembly has endorsed or actions it has taken related to Israel and Palestine:
https://presbyterian.ca/justice/social-action/human-rights/human-rights-in-the-middle-east/
ECUMENICAL CHURCH STATEMENTS
The World Council of Churches (WCC) executive committee, meeting in Abuja, Nigeria, on 8-14 November, released a statement that demands an immediate ceasefire and the opening of humanitarian corridors in Palestine and Israel. https://www.oikoumene.org/news/wcc-demands-immediate-ceasefire-humanitarian-corridors-in-palestine-and-israel
In an earlier statement, church leaders in the Holy Land raised their united voices and called for the cessation of all violent and military activities that bring harm to both Palestinian and Israeli civilians and respect for human rights. https://www.oikoumene.org/news/church-leaders-in-holy-land-call-for-de-escalation-respect-for-human-rights (published October 12, 2023).
The World Council of Churches (WCC), of which the PCC is a member, also issued an urgent appeal for an immediate ceasefire in Israel and Palestine, condemning any acts that target civilians, regardless of nationality, ethnicity or faith.
https://www.oikoumene.org/news/wcc-urgently-appeals-for-immediate-ceasefire-in-israel-and-palestine (published October 7, 2023).
The statement from the Patriarch and Heads of the Churches in Jerusalem on the current devastating situation in Gaza can be read here: https://www.lpj.org/posts/hoc-statement-on-peace-and-justice-amidst-unfolding-violence.html?s_cat=1102 (published October 8, 2023).
PARENTS CIRCLE FAMILY FORUM (PCFF)
This year’s recipient of the PCC’s Cutting Edge of Mission Award, Parents Circle Family Forum, wrote in the earliest days of the violence that the “relentless cycle of conflict has inflicted immeasurable pain and suffering on innocent lives. It is a time of great sorrow, knowing that countless families now bear the burden of emptiness in their hearts and the heavy weight of grief due to the tragic loss of their loved ones.” The Forum is made up of parents, both Israeli and Palestinian, who have lost children due to the ongoing conflict. You can watch the videos of the presentation during the 2023 General Assembly and the two recipients of the award on behalf of PCFF, Laila AlSheIkh and Robi Damelin , here.
In the earliest hours of the unfolding conflict, the PCC received a statement from Parents Circle Family Forum (PCFF) on behalf of its co-directors, saying:
“The toll of violence is not just counted in numbers; it is measured in the shattered dreams, the untapped potential, and the irreplaceable bonds severed by these horrifying actions. The victims, both seen and unseen, deserve our unwavering support and empathy as they grapple with the profound trauma inflicted upon them.”
“It is an undeniable truth that the time has come to change the situation. This region has endured too much pain, too much bloodshed, and too many tears. It is a moment for all parties involved to reflect on the senselessness of this continued conflict and to recognize the shared humanity that binds us all.”
“Let us remember that violence begets violence, and the only way forward is through peaceful dialogue, diplomacy, and a commitment to finding common ground. It is a call to action for leaders, communities, and individuals alike to seek solutions that prioritize reconciliation, justice, and lasting peace.”