In June, delegates to the 2024 Annual Meeting of the Wisconsin voted to launch a year of study by local congregations of the issue of a just peace between Israel and the Palestinian people.
If 30 percent of congregations engage the issue, the 2025 Annual Meeting will vote whether to adopt the Declaration for a Just Peace Between Israel and Palestine adopted at the UCC’s 2021 General Synod. If your congregation already has engaged the issue, please let us know by completing this brief form.
Here are some of the ways congregations have found to study the issue:
First Congregational Church, Sheboygan, viewed the film “Where Olive Trees Weep” and arranged a presentation by the Rev. Diane Dulin and Tom Beilman, two members of the Conference’s Palestine Justice Working Group.
A group at St. John’s UCC, Monroe, is studying the text of the Just Peace resolution adopted at the 2021 General Synod.
McFarland UCC arranged a presentation by the Rev. Harriet Taylor of the Palestine Justice Working Group and viewed “Where Olive Trees Weep”.
Orchard Ridge UCC, Madison, met by Zoom with lifelong Palestine resident Usama, and later arranged a presentation by the Rev. Shelby Jeidy, who served recently as a Global Ministries peace intern in the West Bank. One member of the congregation traveled recently to the West Bank and reported her observations to the congregation. Orchard Ridge also participated in a “longest night” Vigil for Gaza.
First Congregational UCC, River Falls, is studying Walter Brueggeman’s book “Chosen? Reading the Bible Amid the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict,” and plans to watch a PBS documentary as a group. The congregation also has scheduled a local professor to speak in February.
St. Paul’s UCC, Ellsworth, invited two members of the Palestine Justice Working Group to speak on the history and current situation in the Middle East.
Memorial UCC, Fitchburg, presented “Where Olive Trees Weep,” followed by discussion of the film.
Members of Orchard Ridge UCC in Madison and Memorial UCC in Fitchburg co-sponsored public presentations in the Madison area by the respected Palestinian pastor the Rev. Mitri Raheb and personal testimonies by two peace activists, Rotem Levin from Israel and Osama Iliwat from Palestine.
Zwingli UCC, Paoli, explored by video the testimonies of two prophetic peacemakers, Palestinian Archbishop Elias Chacour and Jewish author Mark Braverman. As a next step, the congregation’s book group will read Raheb’s book “Bethlehem Besieged.”
Members of the Palestine Justice Working Group are available to provide study resources to local congregations and other groups. To reach the working group, email Lisa Hart, associate conference minister for faith formation and justice ministries.