End the Violence in Gaza

''The rockets from Gaza aimed at Israeli communities are destructive and the suicide bombing incidents cannot be condoned ... We strongly condemn the air and ground assaults from the Israeli Defense Forces leading to senseless deaths ...'' (Reformierter Weltbund)

As the number of deaths in Gaza rises, the World Alliance of Reformed Churches (WARC) is calling on all parties involved in the fighting to end the violence and agree to an immediate cease-fire.

In a statement released today (7. Januar 2009), leaders of Geneva-based organization stressed the urgent need to open the borders of Gaza to humanitarian aid and medical assistance for the sick and wounded.

“None of the violence is acceptable,” said WARC’s president, Clifton Kirkpatrick and general secretary, Setri Nyomi. “The rockets from Gaza aimed at Israeli communities are destructive and the suicide bombing incidents cannot be condoned. They constitute a violation of the sanctity of life. We strongly condemn the air and ground assaults from the Israeli Defence Forces leading to senseless deaths and injury to hundreds of people. These must end immediately.”

The statement follows.

A CALL TO PRAYER AND ACTION TO END THE VIOLENCE IN GAZA

From the World Alliance of Reformed Churches

As the number of deaths in Gaza continue to rise, the World Alliance of Reformed Churches (WARC) calls upon our member churches to be in prayer for those who suffer because of this violence and conflict and for a lasting peace with justice in this region of the world. We also call upon all parties involved in the fighting to bring an end to the violence and to agree to an immediate cease-fire. The borders of Gaza must be opened, and soon, to humanitarian aid and desperately needed medical assistance for the sick and wounded. To this end, it is imperative that the United Nations and the international community press the warring parties to bring an end to the violence.

None of the violence is acceptable. The rockets from Gaza aimed at Israeli communities are destructive and the suicide bombing incidents cannot be condoned. They constitute a violation of the sanctity of life. We strongly condemn the air and ground assaults from the Israeli Defense Forces leading to senseless deaths and injury to hundreds of people. These must end immediately.

While every effort must be made to bring an end to the immediate hostilities, we must also recognize that this violence in Gaza is only one symptom of the decades-long failure of the international community, the Israeli government and the leadership of the Palestinian community to achieve a just and lasting peace that ensures the security, well-being, and self-determination for both the Israeli and Palestinian people. As has been said often, peace is not only the absence of violence but also the presence of justice. We must all pray and work for an end to blockades, illegal settlements, suicide bombings, walls of separation, and all other conditions of oppression that prevent people in Palestine and Israel from experiencing the life in fullness that God intends for all.

We yearn for an end to 60 years of uncertainty, violence and oppression, all of which has left its scars on all parties regardless of ethnic, religious or political identification. It is our fervent prayer for an end to this current violence in Gaza, recognizing that no real peace can be the issue of a cease-fire that is not followed by new determination by all parties that it is time for genuine commitment to a just peace.

We call on all our member churches to pray for all those who have been affected by these callous developments and engage in actions to stop the carnage and build a just and lasting peace.

Clifton Kirkpatrick
President

Setri Nyomi
General Secretary

 


Pressemitteilung des Reformierten Weltbundes (WARC), 7. Januar 2009

An international panel of pastors and theologians is drafting a 'manifesto' on church unity and social justice for a new global organisation of Reformed churches. The text is to be presented in June to the Uniting General Council (UGC) of the World Communion of Reformed Churches (WCRC) in Grand Rapids, United States.

Barbara Schenck

Weltgemeinschaft Reformierter Kirchen: Eine Stärkung des ökumenischen Miteinanders

Bukowski: ''Innerreformierte Aufspaltung in zwei Weltbünde wird endlich überwunden.''
Vor der ''Vereinigenden Generalversammlung'' von Reformiertem Weltbund und Reformiertem Ökumenischem Rat. Ein Gespräch mit Peter Bukowski, dem Moderator des Reformierten Bundes.
Leaders of two global networks of Reformed churches set to merge in June have issued a statement declaring their commitment to a continued focus on justice concerns following the merger. The text includes specific reference to racial justice.

WARC, 10 February 2010

WCRC: Uniting General Council

Newsletter Januar 2010
Volunteers Still Needed for Historic Merger - WCRC Uniting General Council Schedule of Main Events

Barbara Schenck

Neuerscheinung von Bibelarbeiten zur Einheit der Kirche

Anleitung für Studiengruppen ab Februar online zum Download
Ein Arbeitsheft für Bibelarbeiten zum Thema der kirchlichen Einheit aus reformierter Sicht soll im Februar auf der Internetseite der Vereinigenden Generalversammlung der Weltgemeinschaft Reformierter Kirchen (WRK) und im März im Druckformat erscheinen.

Reformierter Weltbund, 25. Januar 2010

Die neue Weltgemeinschaft Reformierter Kirchen (WRK)

Ein bedeutender Schritt auf dem Weg zur Versöhnung reformierter Kirchenbünde
Ein Bericht aus update – Dezember 2008 zur Bildung der Weltgemeinschaft Reformierter Kirchen (WRK) als Zusammenschluss von Reformiertem Weltbund (WARC) und Reformiertem Ökumenischen Rat (REC).

Quelle: die reformierten.upd@te 08.4

GEKE: ''Die Stärke der GEKE liegt in der Zusammenarbeit vor Ort''

Gemeinsame Erklärung zur Sterbehilfe erscheint im kommenden Jahr
Die evangelischen Kirchen werden sich durch die GEKE ihrer selbst bewusst: Ein Interview zur Halbzeit zwischen den Vollversammlungen Budapest 2006 und Florenz 2012 mit Präsident Thomas Wipf und Generalsekretär Michael Bünker im heute (15. Dez.) erschienenen GEKE focus.

Gemeinschaft Evangelischer Kirchen in Europa (GEKE) -Leuenberger Kirchengemeinschaft- Pressemitteilung/Thomas Flügge

GEKE focus 8 (04/2009)

Die Hauszeitschrift der Gemeinschaft Evangelischer Kirchen in Europa
Halbzeit für Europas Evangelische - Ecclesia semper reformanda - La coordination des églises avant le SIDA 2010 - Berliner Bibelwoche 2010 - Neu in der Wiener Geschäftsstelle - Das heiße Eisen im ökumenischen Dialog

United Church of Christ: Kritik an der Aufstockung von US-Truppen in Afghanistan

Rev. Geoffrey A. Black: ''Many are concerned that a strategy relying so heavily on military escalation will not achieve the lasting peace that we are called to seek''
Rev. Geoffrey A. Black, Präsident der United Church of Christ (UCC) hat die geplante Aufstockung der US-Streitkräfte am Hindukusch um 30.000 Soldaten kritisiert. Black forderte einen Strategiewechsel von'''winning the war' to 'finishing the job''' und mehr Anstrengungen darin, die Wurzel von Gewalt, Korruption, Armut und Ungerechtigkeit und zu bekämpfen.

Barbara Schenck
Die Südafrikabeauftragte der Lippischen Landeskirche, Stefanie Rieke-Kochsiek, ist seit September als Pfarrerin in der Gemeinde Melodi-ya-Tshwane tätig und lehrt am Northern Theological Seminary in Pretoria. Mit ihrem Ehemann, dem Arzt Dr. Uli Kochsiek, und ihren beiden Kinder Marius und Onalenna wird sie drei Jahre lang in Südafrika leben und arbeiten. Für reformiert-info berichtet Stefanie Rieke-Kochsiek von ihren ersten Eindrücken aus der Hauptstadt Südafrikas.

Stefanie Rieke-Kochsiek, Pretoria, 20. November 2009
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