A broad coalition of national and local Christian organizations and nonviolent peacemakers have envisioned a Ceasefire Campaign rooted in the transforming power of Jesus’ way of active nonviolence. This campaign has entailed months of creative nonviolent resistance action for a ceasefire in Gaza.
Get Updates on the Campaign:
We invite individuals and organizations to join us and sign up for updates in this urgent, transformative Ceasefire Campaign!
The policy goals are:
- immediate, sustained bilateral ceasefire
- demilitarization rather than sending weapons
- release of all hostages and Palestinian prisoners held without due process
- robust humanitarian assistance, including funding UNRWA, the UN agency supporting Palestinian refugees
- end the siege on Gaza and end the occupation
- a political process to address root causes, accountability of harm, and a lasting just peace
Pentecost Campaign Nonviolent Actions:
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Apr. 8-9: Christians 4 Free Palestine: Action in DC
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April 9-11: Christians for Middle East Peace (CMEP) Advocacy Summit in DC. Pastors from Bethlehem will attend. Reception on April 9. Presentations on April 10. Lobby visits on April 11. Register here
Lenten Campaign Nonviolent Actions:
- Feb. 14: Ash Wednesday liturgy and Ecumenical Witness at the White House, which included about 150 participants as well as 14 risking arrest.
- Feb. 21: a multi-faith Pilgrimage for Peace arrives from Philadelphia into Washington DC with a rally at the White House at 1pm.
- Feb. 28: grassroots focused actions; sample tool-kit
- National Catholic Reporter opinion piece by Eli McCarthy
- Mar. 6: Multi-Faith Nonviolent Action 4 Ceasefire – White House, 125 participants, 17 risk arrest, Photos
- Mar. 12: A Political Education Primer webinar: Watch the recording here.
- Mar. 14: Dialogue with Palestinian and Israeli Bereaved Families for Peace: Watch the recording here.
- Mar. 21: Christian mobilization in DC, 100 participants, 13 risking arrest, Photos
- FAN live streamed the event on our Instagram page. You can now view the event on our YouTube page: Ceasefire Part 1 and Ceasefire Part 2
- Follow Up press release can be found here.
- A news clip showing how the nonviolent action accidentally disrupted a Fox News interview with a US Senator
Theory of Change
The theory of change is that Jewish and Muslim leaders have organized mass demonstrations, prayers, and risk-taking. If Christians visibly appeal in mass through prayer and risk-taking to President Biden and members of Congress with Christian commitments, we may deepen and shift their sensitivity toward incentivizing de-escalating steps and a sustaining ceasefire that will save lives, create space for genuine accountability, and illuminate our sacred dignity. This will create better conditions for addressing the root causes and a sustainable just peace.
The organizations involved with this campaign acknowledge that both Hamas and Israel have committed horrible violence. We believe that the focus must shift to diplomacy, accountability mechanisms, and strategic nonviolent peacebuilding, and that neither war nor retribution is accountability. We believe urgent action is needed to stop the mass slaughter, destruction, and generational trauma.
Endorsing Organizations:
The endorsing organizations include Christians for a Free Palestine; Churches for Middle East Peace; Church of the Brethren, Office of Peacebuilding and Policy; Congregation of Our Lady of Charity of the Good Shepherd, U.S. Provinces; Dorothy Day Catholic Worker; The Fellowship of Reconciliation; Festival Center; Franciscan Action Network; Friends of Sabeel North America (FOSNA); Georgetown University Medical Students for Palestine, Maryknoll Office for Global Concerns; National Advocacy Center of the Sisters of the Good Shepherd; National Council of Churches, USA; Palestinian Christian Alliance for Peace; Pax Christi USA; Quixote Center; Sisters of Benet Hill Monastery; Sisters of Mercy of the Americas – Justice Team; Sojourners; United Church of Christ; The United Methodist Church — General Board of Church and Society; US Federation of the Sisters of St. Joseph; and the Women’s Alliance for Theology, Ethics, and Ritual (WATER).
Resources:
- On Good Friday, news broke that the Biden administration had authorized another large transfer of offensive weapons to Israel, including many 2,000 lb bombs, which have caused mass casualties in the war so far.
- On April 1, Israeli forces struck a World Central Kitchen convoy, killing 7 humanitarian workers delivering food.
- Casualty figures from the United Nations as of March 29 show 32,623 Palestinians in Gaza killed, 75,092 injured, 1,200 Israelis killed in Israel and 252 Israeli soldiers killed in Gaza, 1,523 Israeli soldiers injured, 134 Israeli hostages in Gaza, and dire humanitarian conditions, with famine projected to spread throughout Gaza by May 2024.
- For more on the situation in Gaza and the West Bank, including that of Palestinian Christians, please see this Easter sermon and interview with Lutheran Minister Munther Isaac.
At the same time, calls for a ceasefire from many quarters are increasing:
- On March 25, the United States allowed a UN Security Council resolution calling for a ceasefire in Gaza to pass (by abstaining from the vote).
Catholic and other faith leaders have been speaking out for peace:
- Archbishop Timothy Broglio, President of the US Council of Catholic Bishops, issued a statement on March 23 calling for a ceasefire, protection of civilians, and release of hostages.
- Provincial Minister Br. Lawrence Hayes, OFM, joined more than 140 global Christian leaders in a call for a permanent ceasefire in Gaza and to halt the sale of weapons to Israel.
- The Society of Jesus issued a statement on March 28, saying it was “unacceptable that no-one has been able to stop the killing.”
- Leaders of women’s religious communities in the Northwest U.S. released a joint statement with several Catholic bishops calling for a humanitarian ceasefire, Feb 14. Read the statement here.
- African Methodist Episcopal Council of Bishops called for ceasefire and a withdrawal of financial support to Israel, Feb. 15.
Washington, DC 20017