Churches for Middle East Peace (CMEP) Joins U.S. Christian Faith Leaders to Show Support for Christian Community in Jerusalem After Attack at Church of Gethsemane in East Jerusalem

Churches for Middle East Peace (CMEP) Executive Director, Rev. Dr. Mae Elise Cannon, joined 28 other Christian faith leaders in a statement in support of the Christian community in the Holy Land. The statement comes after an attack at the Church of Gethsemane in East Jerusalem, on Sunday, March 19th, perpetrated by two Israeli radicals. 

In the letter, copied below, the leaders write, “the International community, including the U.S. government, must do everything in their power to ensure Jerusalem is a city in which freedom of religion and free access to worship for all are strengthened and respected.”

As church-based leaders in the United States, we stand in solidarity with our siblings in Christ in Israel/Palestine. We condemn the attack at the Church of Gethsemane in East Jerusalem, on Sunday, March 19^th, which occurred during the service. The perpetrators, two Israeli radicals, must be held accountable for their actions. It is not insignificant to note the attack came during one of the holiest times for Christians— the season of Lent—when we seek repentance and prepare to celebrate Christ’s resurrection.

We affirm the statement released by the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate in Jerusalem, which notes, “attacks on Christian holy sites, properties, heritage, and identity constitute a violation of international law, which explicitly calls for the protection of religious sites in Jerusalem and emphasizes the need to respect this basic human right to worship freely.” Jerusalem is a sacred city to Jews, Christians, and Muslims. Over the past few years there has been a steady rise of attacks against Christian clergy, churches, and church-owned properties. The International community, including the U.S. government, must do everything in their power to ensure Jerusalem is a city in which freedom of religion and free access to worship for all are strengthened and respected.

We offer our prayers and support to the members of the Church of Gethsemane, and the entire Christian community in the Holy Land.
 

Rev. Eddy Alemán
General Secretary
Reformed Church in America

Joyce Ajlouny 
General Secretary
American Friends Service Committee

Archbishop Vicken Aykazian 
Ecumenical Director and Diocesan Legate 
Diocese of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern)

Bishop Thomas Bickerton
President of the Council of Bishops
The United Methodist Church

Rev. Marco Cable 
President, Division of Overseas Ministries 
Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) 
Co-Executive 
Global Ministries of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and United Church of Christ 

Rev. Dr. Mae Elise Cannon 
Executive Director 
Churches for Middle East Peace

Carole Collins
Co-Director
Alliance of Baptists 

The Most Rev. Michael B. Curry 
Presiding Bishop and Primate 
The Episcopal Church 

Rev. Dr. John Dorhauer 
General Minister and President 
United Church of Christ 

Reverend Emmett Lafayette Dunn
Executive Secretary/CEO 
Lott Carey Foreign Mission Convention

Rev. Elizabeth A. Eaton 
Presiding Bishop 
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America

His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros of America
Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America

The Very Reverend James Gannon, ofm; 
Provincial Minister of the Province of Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Susan Gunn
Director 
Maryknoll Office for Global Concerns

Rev. Dr. Zachary King
General Secretary 
Christian Reformed Church in North America

Bishop Vashti Murphy McKenzie
Interim President and General Secretary
National Council of Churches

The Rev. Dr. Betsy Miller 
President, Provincial Elders’ Conference 
Moravian Church Northern Province 

Bridget Moix 
General Secretary 
Friends Committee on National Legislation

Rev. Dr. J. Herbert Nelson 
Stated Clerk of the General Assembly 
Presbyterian Church (USA) 

Rev. Teresa Hord Owens 
General Minister and President 
Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)

Rev. Dr. Neil Routh
President, Provincial Elders’ Conference,
Moravian Church in America, Southern Province

Richard Santos 
President & CEO 
Church World Service 

Dr. Andrea Smith
Founder and Board Member
Evangelicals 4 Justice

Rev. Dr. Karen Georgia Thompson 
Associate General Minister Wider Church Ministries and Operations 
United Church of Christ 
Co-Executive 
Global Ministries of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and United Church of Christ

Nikki Toyama-Szeto
Executive Director
Christians for Social Action

Stephen M. Veazey
President
Community of Christ

Dr. C. Jeff Woods
General Secretary
American Baptist Churches USA

Archpriest Thomas Zain
Vicar-General
Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America

Rev. Elijah R. Zehyoue 
Co-Director
Alliance of Baptists