FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Washington, D.C. - March 29, 2023 Media Contact: media@cmep.org
202-543-1222 Churches for Middle East Peace (CMEP) Joins U.S. Christian Faith Leaders to Show Support for Christian Community in Jerusalem After Attack at Church of Gethsemane in East Jerusalem Churches for Middle East Peace (CMEP) Executive Director, Rev. Dr. Mae Elise Cannon, joined 28 other Christian faith leaders in a statement in support of the Christian community in the Holy Land. The statement comes after an attack at the Church of Gethsemane in East Jerusalem, on Sunday, March 19th, perpetrated by two Israeli radicals. In the letter, copied below, the leaders write, “the International community, including the U.S. government, must do everything in their power to ensure Jerusalem is a city in which freedom of religion and free access to worship for all are strengthened and respected.” — March 29, 2023 As church-based leaders in the United States, we stand in solidarity with our siblings in Christ in Israel/Palestine. We condemn the attack at the Church of Gethsemane in East Jerusalem, on Sunday, March 19th, which occurred during the service. The perpetrators, two Israeli radicals, must be held accountable for their actions. It is not insignificant to note the attack came during one of the holiest times for Christians— the season of Lent—when we seek repentance and prepare to celebrate Christ’s resurrection. We affirm the statement released by the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate in Jerusalem, which notes, “attacks on Christian holy sites, properties, heritage, and identity constitute a violation of international law, which explicitly calls for the protection of religious sites in Jerusalem and emphasizes the need to respect this basic human right to worship freely.” Jerusalem is a sacred city to Jews, Christians, and Muslims. Over the past few years there has been a steady rise of attacks against Christian clergy, churches, and church-owned properties. The International community, including the U.S. government, must do everything in their power to ensure Jerusalem is a city in which freedom of religion and free access to worship for all are strengthened and respected. We offer our prayers and support to the members of the Church of Gethsemane, and the entire Christian community in the Holy Land.
Rev. Eddy Alemán
General Secretary
Reformed Church in America Joyce Ajlouny
General Secretary
American Friends Service Committee Archbishop Vicken Aykazian
Ecumenical Director and Diocesan Legate
Diocese of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern) Bishop Thomas Bickerton
President of the Council of Bishops
The United Methodist Church Rev. Marco Cable
President, Division of Overseas Ministries
Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
Co-Executive
Global Ministries of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and United Church of Christ Rev. Dr. Mae Elise Cannon
Executive Director
Churches for Middle East Peace Carole Collins
Co-Director
Alliance of Baptists The Most Rev. Michael B. Curry
Presiding Bishop and Primate
The Episcopal Church Rev. Dr. John Dorhauer
General Minister and President
United Church of Christ Reverend Emmett Lafayette Dunn
Executive Secretary/CEO
Lott Carey Foreign Mission Convention Rev. Elizabeth A. Eaton
Presiding Bishop
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros of America
Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America The Very Reverend James Gannon, ofm;
Provincial Minister of the Province of Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Susan Gunn
Director
Maryknoll Office for Global Concerns Rev. Dr. Zachary King
General Secretary
Christian Reformed Church in North America Bishop Vashti Murphy McKenzie
Interim President and General Secretary
National Council of Churches The Rev. Dr. Betsy Miller
President, Provincial Elders’ Conference
Moravian Church Northern Province Bridget Moix
General Secretary
Friends Committee on National Legislation Rev. Dr. J. Herbert Nelson
Stated Clerk of the General Assembly
Presbyterian Church (USA) Rev. Teresa Hord Owens
General Minister and President
Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) Rev. Dr. Neil Routh
President, Provincial Elders’ Conference,
Moravian Church in America, Southern Province Richard Santos
President & CEO
Church World Service Dr. Andrea Smith
Founder and Board Member
Evangelicals 4 Justice Rev. Dr. Karen Georgia Thompson
Associate General Minister Wider Church Ministries and Operations
United Church of Christ
Co-Executive
Global Ministries of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and United Church of Christ Nikki Toyama-Szeto
Executive Director
Christians for Social Action Stephen M. Veazey
President
Community of Christ Dr. C. Jeff Woods
General Secretary
American Baptist Churches USA Archpriest Thomas Zain
Vicar-General
Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America Rev. Elijah R. Zehyoue
Co-Director
Alliance of Baptists | 
