Witnessing for Peace

In response to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, the Unitarian Universalist Association of Congregations and President William G. Sinkford have joined several interfaith efforts aimed at stopping the violence and calling religious people to action.

In joining with these efforts, Rev. Sinkford expressed the sense of urgency shared by many Unitarian Universalists. "The widening conflict in the Middle East is a call to all people of conscience to witness for a just and lasting peace," Sinkford said. "As we work to end the violence, may we also find the courage to examine our own role in shaping the conditions that allow violence to flourish."

The UUA has officially endorsed a statement from Dr. William F. Vendley , the Secretary General of Religions for Peace , calling for an end to fighting between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon, and Israel and Hamas in Palestine. The statement also urges religious leaders to "reject the grotesque misuse of religion in support of violence." Religions for Peace, the largest coalition of international religious communities, is a long-standing partner of the UUA.

Rev. Sinkford, along with senior Jewish, Muslim and Christian leaders, including religious leaders from Israel, Palestine, Lebanon, Syria and Iran, will participate in the Eighth World Assembly of Religions for Peace , a conference to be held in Kyoto, Japan, at the end of August. Religions for Peace supports religious leaders in the Middle East who are working together to end the violence and build a lasting peace.

To help gather domestic support for these peace-making efforts, the UUA has joined a broad interfaith initiative organized by religious leaders from groups including the National Council of Churches USA, Islamic Society of North America, and The Shalom Center. The campaign, called "Season of Prayer for Peace in the Middle East ," will officially be launched later this week, and will include a collection of online worship and advocacy resources.

Rev. Sinkford has signed two letters authored by another US interfaith group, Churches for Middle East Peace , a religious coalition of twenty-one church groups including the UUA. The first letter addresses the recent crisis in Gaza , and the second calls for a broader cease-fire .

For UUs committed to long-term action, "Peacemaking" is the issue that was selected by General Assembly for congregational study and action over the next four years. Sustained attention to this critical question presents an opportunity for Unitarian Universalists to engage with some of the most profound issues of our time.

The purpose of the Congregational Study/Action Process, according to the UUA by-laws, is "to provide the member congregations of the Association with an opportunity to mobilize energy, ideas, and resources around a common issue. The end result will be a deeper understanding of our religious position on the issue, a clear statement of Association policy as expressed in a Statement of Conscience, and a greater capacity for the congregations to take effective action."

The text of the "Peacemaking " Congregational Study/Action Issue can be found online. A resource guide for congregations will be available by November 1st.

For further reading

• The following books are published by Beacon Press :
  • The Tent of Abraham: Stories of Hope and Peace for Jews, Christians, and Muslims
    By Arthur Waskow, Joan Chittister, and Saadi Shakur Chishti
  • Resurrecting Empire: Western Footprints and America's Perilous Path in the Middle East
    By Rashid Khalidi
  • The Iron Cage: The Story of the Palestinian Struggle for Statehood
    By Rashid Khalidi

Additional UUA Resources on the Middle East

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