An initiative of the Christian Peacemaker Team in Hebron
– adopted and adapted by the Methodist Federation for Social Action

The Christian Peacemaker Team (CPT) in Hebron urges Christians around the world to light a candle in the dark of homes, churches, work places, monasteries, prayer centers, and institutions of all kinds to bring light into this world where intolerable dimensions of violence are erupting.

In Hebron, where Abraham and Sarah are buried, CPT members gather daily to pray, to listen for the words that will be given to them, and to deepen their ability to pester those at every level who play a part in perpetuating the violence and injustice convulsing the Holy Land.

MFSA urges United Methodists around the country to join this call to light a candle every day until July 4th, a day when U.S. citizens celebrate liberation and freedom.

• Light your candle in a dark room and sit with its light until you receive some guidance on how to PRAY, PREACH AND PESTER for peace in the coming days.
  
  
• Organize a candlelight vigil at gatherings such as Annual Conference and invite others to join in this initiative.

As we light our candles in the darkness, the Christian Peacemaker Team in Hebron invites all of us across the world to:

• PRAY for vision and a surge of new energy to propel all those involved in the conflict, including those who finance it, to confess, repent and make a break with violence.
  
  
• PREACH to Christians in churches, parishes, gatherings, monasteries and institutions throughout the world that this is the hour of decision to "get in the way" of those who direct the violence.
  
  
• PESTER those at every level who have power, which they may or may not claim, to be instruments of transformation now.

As you pray, preach and pester for peace, the CPT in Hebron will continue their work of "Getting in the Way," the Way to which they are called - confronting those who use violence, protecting children, comforting those who have lost co-workers, friends or family, listening and documenting the pain and unfairness.

“Our appeal is for a million candles,” writes CPT Hebron. “The people of Palestine and Israel deserve the light of your candles despite the overwhelming darkness right now. We believe that your prayers, your preaching, and your pestering will make our efforts immeasurably more effective. More importantly, we believe that the light from these candles will combine to illuminate every cave, village and city street of this land.”

PRAY, PREACH AND PESTER FOR PEACE: PRACTICAL POSSIBILITIES

PRAY:

• Light a candle each day from now until July 4th a day when U.S. citizens celebrate liberation and freedom.
• Share any insights or inspirations with your faith community, with MFSA http://www.mfsaweb.org and with CPT cpt@igc.org
• Gather with others in a public place to light your candles and pray. Hold a candlelight vigil at Annual Conference and invite others to join in lighting a candle daily.
  
  

PREACH:

• Recall the persistence of the Widow with the Unjust Judge (Luke 18:1-8).
• Recognize that violating people's lives breeds terrorism.
• Emphasize that there is no military solution to the conflict. Peace and security for both Israelis and Palestinians can only come with an end to the 34-year-old Israeli Occupation.

PESTER:

• Identify and support someone from your congregation or group to participate in a peace-keeping trip to the Middle East. Possibilities include:
  • Emergency Peacemaker Delegations to Hebron with the Christian Peacemaker Team. Contact Claire Evans at CPT, 312-455-1199
  • Fact finding, solidarity and advocacy trip to the Middle East from August 2-11 led by Rev. Peter J. Miano, Executive Director, The Society for Biblical Studies, Arlington, MA. For more information call 718-641-4453 or log on to http://www.sbedu.org
    
    
• Organize your church or group to conduct a day of Prayer and Faxing (or emailing). Contact Anita Fast; Campaign for Secure Dwellings; 604-707-0194;
  
  
• Contact decision-makers involved in this conflict (see address list below); keep communications short and consider including some of the following points:
  • Respect civilians, non-combatants, journalists, medical personnel, hospitals, clergy, priests, nuns, houses of worship, etc.
  • Reflect the horror of so many citizens at the wanton aggression of both the occupation and the suicide bombings and stop all aid immediately.
  • Abide by international law regarding human rights and the role of occupying forces and the recent (March 30) UN Resolution 1402 calling for immediate Israeli withdrawal from all Palestinian areas.
    
    

ADDRESSES

United States:

• U.S. President George W. Bush
  Fax: 202-456-2461
  e-mail: president@whitehouse.gov
  
  
• U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell
  Fax: 202-261-8577
  e-mail: secretary@state.gov
  
  
• U.S. Congressional Switchboard: Senate and House
  Tel: 202-224-3121
  
  

Israel:

• Prime Minister Ariel Sharon
  Fax: +972-2- 566-4838; 651-3955; 651-2631
  e-mail: webmaster@pmo.gov.il
  
  
• Foreign Minister Shimon Peres
  Fax: +972-2-530-3704
  e-mail: sar@mofa.gov.il
  
  
• Defense Minister Binyamin Ben-Eliezer
  Fax: +972-3-696-2757; 691 6940; 691 7915
  e-mail: sar@mod.gov.il
  
  

United Nations:

• Secretary General Kofi Annan
  Fax: 212-963-5012
  e-mail: ecu@un.org
  
  

Christian Peacemaker Teams:
CPT is a program of Brethren, Quaker and Mennonite Churches.

• CPT
  P. O. Box 6508 Chicago, IL 60680
  Tel: 312-455-1199
  Fax: 312-432-1213,
  email: cpt@igc.org
  web: http://www.prairienet.org/cpt
  
  
• Anita Fast
  Christian Peacemaker Teams
  Campaign for Secure Dwellings Coordinator
  Tel: 604-707-0194
  email: csd@cpt.org
  

MFSA STATEMENT ON CONFLICT IN THE MIDDLE EAST
April 22, 2002

We see in the current Middle East conflict the bankruptcy of all attempts to solve conflict by violent means. We support the existing non-violent groups in Israel and Palestine. We further affirm those Palestinians and Israelis who are pursuing the goal of a Palestinian state and an end to Israeli-Palestinian conflict though non-violent resistance. We believe the Palestinian people have the right to live in freedom and peace, in a nation unoccupied by an oppressive, foreign, military force and in Israel’s right to live within secure borders. We call for Israel to return to pre-1967 borders, the establishment of Jerusalem as an international city, and the removal of all Israeli settlements from the West Bank and Gaza. In order to facilitate this, we call for Israel to remove all military forces from the occupied territories, and we call for the UN to send in a peacekeeping mission to Israel and Palestine. We also call on our government and President Bush to fully support this UN Peace-keeping mission, to refrain from unilateral action, and to “stop military assistance and arms exports to the region” (UMC Book of Resolutions 2000, p. 758).

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