Page 1 - Presbyterian Connection

Connection
PRESBYTERIAN
The Presbyterian Church in Canada • presbyterian.ca ISSUE 31, FALL 2024
Gaza Ceasefire Pilgrimage in Ottawa
On May 22, 2024, Presbyterians joined representatives and mem- bers from Anglican, Armenian, Lutheran, Mennonite, Quakers, Roman Catholic, United and other churches for the culmination of the KAIROS Gaza Ceasefire Pil- grimage in Ottawa. The groups gathered in a local park for prayer and to acknowledge the tradi- tional territory before walking to- gether to Parliament Hill, where a vigil was held between the Centre Block and Centennial Flame.
The Rev. Dr. Dorcas Gordon, Principal Emerita at Knox College, representing the International Af- fairs Committee, and the Rev. Ian Ross-McDonald, General Secretary of the Life and Mission Agency, were asked to speak dur- ing the vigil.
The Gaza Ceasefire Pilgrimage
is a global network of churches and autonomous Christian groups engaged in a prayerful show of solidarity with Palestinians seek- ing a just peace for people living in Israel and Palestine. People
worldwide were invited to walk a portion or all of 41 kms, which is the length of the Gaza Strip, during Lent. Since Lent, the population of Gaza has trekked the length of that region seven or more times to
escape from one dangerous place and situation to another. The global invitation was issued for anyone who wanted to join—church lead- ers, people of faith, companions who yearn for peace—to walk or
roll as a way to offer solidarity for the people of Palestine and Israel.
Learn more about the event and how you can get involved at kairoscanada.org/gaza-ceasefire- pilgrimage.
Gaza Ceasefire Pilgrimage and Calls to Action
The following Calls to Action were brought to politicians in Ottawa as part of the Gaza Ceasefire Pilgrimage. They can be found online at kairoscanada.org/gaza-ceasefire-pilgrimage/calls-for-action.
Across Canada, church leaders, congregations and faith groups or- ganized events for the Gaza Ceasefire Pilgrimage: Canadian Church- es for Just Peace. The initiative—organized by KAIROS Canada and its member churches, which collectively represent more than four million people from communities across Canada—culminated in a pilgrimage to Parliament Hill on May 22.
Church leaders and representatives discussed the calls to action with members of Parliament from all political parties and in a press conference held on Parliament Hill. The calls to action are:
• An enduring and sustained ceasefire.
• Immediate flow of life-saving food, water, aid, fuel and hu-
manitarian assistance.
• Release of all captives.
• End all arms transfers to Israel.
• Ending occupation so a just peace can begin.
Canada has a strong policy base to take leadership on these is- sues, and there is more that Canada can and should do.
Canada can engage the international community to secure a ceasefire and humanitarian access. It can speak about how inter- national humanitarian and international human rights laws must be
respected. Canada should highlight how international rules require Israel to respect the provisional measures of the International Court of Justice, which calls for a ceasefire and urgent safe passage of humanitarian aid.
Canada can impose a comprehensive and binding embargo on military trade with Israel to avoid complicity in what is be- ing investigated as genocide. The recent Parliamentary motion is not insignificant, but it does not do enough. An effective embargo would apply to both existing and future export agreements, would capture component parts of military equipment and would apply to goods moving through third parties, such as the United States.
Canada can help ease human suffering by increasing its aid envelope, doing more to help refugees needing access to safety in Canada (like the response for refugees from Ukraine) and commit- ting to help build a lasting peace, including ensuring justice for harms and safeguarding of evidence needed for truth and reconciliation.
The group urged Members of Parliament in Canada to support the calls to action for long-term sustainable and just peace in the region, which is so urgently needed for the security, rights and dig- nity of all Palestinians and Israelis.
Page 6...
Highlights from General Assembly
Page 20...
Gatherings Across Canada
Page 34...
Supporting a New Doctor in Malawi
PM#40614067