Over 50 people gathered outside Raytheon/RTX, one of 10 weapons contractors in Fort Wayne, Ind., on the afternoon of Sept. 5. Participants representing at least six Church of the Brethren congregations from the two church districts in Indiana, and a group of 10 from the Manchester University Kenapocomoco Peace Coalition, were joined by other Christians, Muslims, Jews, and non-faith folks to say a strong “NO!” to the Israeli/US genocide against Gaza.
In the 1991 statement on Peacemaking the Church of the Brethren established that it shall “advance efforts toward a more peaceful world order through supporting the peacemaking efforts of the United Nations and recognizing the jurisdiction of the International Court of Justice.” The International Court of Justice (ICJ) was created to deal with disputes between countries that relate to international law. The church in 1991 seemed to recognize the importance of this type of arbiter for furthering conflict resolution and peace. In an effort to carry out this call, understanding the recent decisions by the ICJ related to Israel and Palestine is important for our advocacy.
Church of the Brethren general secretary David Steele was one of more than 200 Christian leaders from around the world who signed a public letter in advance of the address to Congress by Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu, which took place the afternoon of Wednesday, July 24.
Over the last eight months, it has felt, at least to me, difficult to imagine constructively and hopefully. While the work of the Office of Peacebuilding and Policy continues to cover a range of topics and organizational partners, we have spent considerably more time than usual in relation to Israel and Palestine.
Church of the Brethren general secretary David Steele was among more than 140 global Christian leaders signing a new letter, released during Holy Week ahead of Easter, calling for a permanent ceasefire in Gaza.
The Church of the Brethren’s Office of Peacebuilding and Policy was one of the endorsing organizations for a prayer vigil calling for a ceasefire in Gaza, held Thursday afternoon, March 21, on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., as part of the Lenten Ceasefire Campaign organized by Christians for Ceasefire.
Church of the Brethren general secretary David Steele was one of more than 20 Christian leaders signing a letter to President Biden saying, in part: “The time for a comprehensive ceasefire is now. Every day of continued violence not only increases the death toll in Gaza and the cost to civilians but also fosters further hatred toward Israel and the United States and irreparably damages the moral standing of the United States in the broader Middle East. There is no military solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.”
A prayer for peace by John Paarlberg, from a release by Churches for Middle East Peace (CMEP).
In a Nov. 9 letter to President Biden, Churches for Middle East Peace (CMEP) and 30 American Christian leaders including Church of the Brethren general secretary David Steele called on President Biden and his administration to support an immediate ceasefire in Israel and Palestine, de-escalation, and restraint by all involved.
The Church of the Brethren’s Office of Peacebuilding and Policy is among the sponsors of a time of prayer for peace in Israel and Palestine to be held in-person in the nation’s capital this coming Monday.
