PRAYER AND ACTION FOR PEACE IN ISRAEL AND PALESTINE

Dr. Rick Waldrop

Here is the resolution I wrote on the current crisis in Israel and Palestine. It was endorsed by Darío López Rodríguez, Cheryl Bridges Johns and Kenneth J Archer and then submitted to the Resolutions Committee at the General Assembly. Unfortunately an entire different Zionist resolution was submitted and approved for presentation by the CoG Executive Committee over ours.

PRAYER AND ACTION FOR PEACE IN ISRAEL AND PALESTINE
In light of the current crisis and escalation of tensions in the Holy Land, we offer this resolution as a call to prayer and action both among Church of God constituents worldwide and in the larger Body of Christ.

WHEREAS: The teachings of Jesus Christ and Holy Scripture are clear and compelling in calling Christians to be peacemakers (Matthew 5:9; Hebrews 12:14), to pray for the peace of Jerusalem (Psalm 122:6), and to intercede for all those in authority (I Timothy 2:1-2),

WHEREAS: Church of God missionaries and pastors have historically established churches and schools among Palestinians in the West Bank and Israelis in Jerusalem and the Mt. of Olives,

WHEREAS: The majority of Evangelical Christians and Church of God members are peace-loving Palestinians who are caught in the middle of the conflict,

THERFORE, LET IT BE RESOLVED THAT:
We call on both Palestinians and Israelis to cease all incitement, violence and bloodshed of innocent people and to pursue a course of reconciliation and peaceful coexistence.

We call upon Church of God constituents and the Church at large to promote and uphold the sanctity of human life and to affirm that all people are made in the image of God and are to be treated with dignity and respect.

We call upon government officials everywhere, including the Palestinian Authority and the Israeli government, to renew efforts to work toward a peaceful resolution to the conflict.