A group of American Baptist leaders have issued a statement expressing their concern over the violence in Gaza. Here’s the statement:
A number of American Baptist leaders expressed their growing concern over renewed violence in Gaza yesterday, issuing the following statement:
We mourn the fact that hostilities have broken out yet again in the Middle East between Hamas and Israel.
We call on both parties to break this cycle of ongoing violence, and we urge our own government to join with other nations in a new mediating role in the search for a just and lasting peace in the area. We advocate a mediating role for our government in the search for a just and lasting peace in the area.
The issues that continually roil this region are complex and they shall never be resolved through armed force. The welfare of each is linked to the welfare of the other. The ongoing violence and fear only fan the embers of resentment and hatred. Only sustained diplomatic efforts which acknowledge the human rights of the other can provide the possibility of peace.
The humanitarian crisis that has been created calls for immediate response.
We join our prayers with those of all who seek peace with justice mindful that our Lord Jesus has pronounced his benediction on those who work for peace.
Related posts:
- Gaza I have been incredibly bothered in the past two weeks...
- A North American Baptist Covenant In case you’ve not caught up on your Baptist...
- American Baptist Ministers Surveyed on Gay Rights Public Religion Research has produced a study of mainline clergy...
- The North American Baptist Convocation As I blogged about months ago, last April a group...
- Baptists Help Draft Joint Statement On Religious Expression The Brookings Institution has unveiled a new statement concerning religious...
Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.
Excellent statement by these American Baptist leaders.
Some years ago I was touring the Acropolis in Athens with a friend, the two of us with our guide, an old Greek man named John. At one point before giving us some history, John wanted to make sure the two Americans understood international relations properly. He prefaced his remarks with, “You know, don’t you, that we hate the Turks.”
For an American, shooting rockets that can’t hit anything into Israel doesn’t make any sense. But it does, finally, when you understand it is just being done just to make Israel mad. Of course, the Palestinians have an excellent case for the injustice of their plight, but at some point, in spite of past injustice, multi-generational hatred has to end.
Did you see that Gaza Baptist Church sustained damage from Israeli rocket attacks? If it was in the Baptist Press, it must be true…