To become a peacemaker, it is essential to know how others are working for a just peace in the Holy Land and join our efforts with theirs. The networks on this page can provide you with that connection; they are informing and mobilizing hundreds of thousands of Americans in united action.
ON THIS PAGE:
First you will find a few leading organizations we would recommend subscribing to and joining, for the biggest news and alerts that every would-be peacemaker should have, especially those in U.S. churches: American Muslims for Palestine, Friends of Sabeel North America (FOSNA) and the FOSNA Activist Network, Jewish Voice for Peace, Kairos USA, and US Campaign for Palestinian Rights.
Following those “big tent” groups are denominational networks that can provide the latest news in specific churches as well as the opportunity to work with fellow church members for a just peace in the Holy Land.
See below networks in these churches: The Alliance of Baptists, The Episcopal Church, The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, The Mennonite Church USA, The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), Quakers, the Unitarian Universalist Association, The United Church of Christ, and The United Methodist Church.
Find additional groups that you might like to connect with in Mapping the Movement and About Us.
American Muslims for Palestine (AMP)
American Muslims for Palestine is an organization founded by Americans in 2006. Our sole purpose is to educate the American public and media about issues related to Palestine and its rich cultural and historical heritage. Our mission is to educate the public about the just cause of Palestine and the rights of self-determination, liberty and justice. Through providing information, training and networking with like-minded individuals and organizations that support peace, AMP will raise awareness of the issues pertaining to Palestine and its rich cultural heritage.
We work to put a human face on Palestinians, so the public will come to know them as people with the same aspirations, hopes and dreams for freedom and justice that we as Americans hold dear. We also work to educate the public and media about Israel’s occupation of Palestine, to shed light on the plight of the more than 7 million Palestinian refugees, to highlight Israel’s flagrant and continual violations of international law and human rights abuses of Palestinians, and to expose Israel’s denial of civil rights to its Palestinian citizens.
Subscribe to AMP news and action: on their home page, scroll down and see the form on the right side
Friends of Sabeel North America (FOSNA)
FOSNA is a nonprofit, tax-exempt Christian ecumenical organization seeking justice and peace in the Holy Land through nonviolent advocacy and education. Sabeel is an international peace movement initiated by Palestinian Christians, who seek a just peace as defined by international law and existing United Nations resolutions.
FOSNA supports Kairos Palestine to end Palestinian suffering, calls for an end to the Israeli occupation of the state of Palestine, in accordance with international law and United Nations resolutions, seeks equal rights and access to resources for all inhabitants of the region, based on principles of social, economic, environmental, and political justice, supports the right of return for refugees in accordance with international law and human rights, demands an end to policies of the U.S. government that support and perpetuate the occupation, is active in the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) Movement and works in the United States and Canada cultivating the support of churches through co-sponsored regional conferences, advocacy, alternative pilgrimages, witness trips, and international gatherings in the Holy Land.
Subscribe to FOSNA news: scroll down their website home page, see the form on the right side
The FOSNA Activist Network
The FOSNA Activist Network is a powerful force made up of individual FOSNA activists throughout North America. FOSNA local activists work with diverse local groups, coalitions, and allies within their community on BDS campaigns and other educational and nonviolent advocacy efforts to end the occupation of Palestine. They have become connected to FOSNA in one or more ways: being an active member of a FOSNA local group; having helped with a Sabeel conference; having attended a FOSNA leadership retreat; having participated in a Sabeel witness trip; or having given FOSNA substantial financial support.
Learn more about the network and join!
Jewish Voice for Peace (JVP)
JVP seeks an end to the Israeli occupation of the West Bank, Gaza Strip, and East Jerusalem; security and self-determination for Israelis and Palestinians; a just solution for Palestinian refugees based on principles established in international law; an end to violence against civilians; and peace and justice for all peoples of the Middle East.
JVP is a community of people dedicated to supporting and leading winnable campaigns to change US policy, shift US discourse, and even the playing field in order to create the political conditions that will allow Israelis and Palestinians to achieve a just and lasting peace.
JVP is a national organization closely connected to a growing grassroots base. We have 200,000 supporters on our email list, 10,000 individual donors, over 60 chapters across the United States, a staff of 25; a Rabbinic Council; an Artists’ Council; an Academic Advisory Council; a youth wing; and an Advisory Board consisting of some of the best-known Jewish thinkers of our time.
Subscribe to JVP news and action: at the top of their home page, see the box to “Sign up!”
Kairos USA
Kairos USA is a movement of U.S. Christians representing the body of Christ in all its diversity who believe the time is right for decisive action to end the crisis in Israel and Palestine. We work to unify and mobilize American Christians – lay, academic and clergy – to take a prophetic stance for a just peace. In so doing we heed the call of our Palestinian Christian sisters and brothers, who have called us to stand with them in their struggle for freedom.
The movement provides a home for U.S. Christians seeking to move and act within their institutional contexts as well as beyond institutional limitations to take a bold, prophetic stand against the unjust policies that oppress Palestinians and sicken Israeli society. We aim to reach across entrenched divides in American Christianity––black/white, mainstream/evangelical, conservative/liberal––to stand in solidarity with Palestine Christians as they resist the Israeli occupation of their native land. Kairos USA is inspired by the contemporary prophetic movements of Christians in Palestine, southern Africa, Asia and Europe, as well as the civil rights movement in this country and the struggle to end apartheid in South Africa. It seeks to cooperate and partner with other justice advocacy organizations.
Subscribe to the Kairos USA newsletter
Website: http://kairosusa.org
US Campaign for Palestinian Rights
The US Campaign is a diverse national coalition of hundreds of organizations and more than 100,000 individuals working to end all U.S. support for Israel’s military occupation and apartheid policies toward Palestinians. US Campaign has played a key role in coordinating action among the many church- and faith-based organizations in the U.S. working for a just peace in Israel/Palestine.
Their news and action alerts are essential reading for any would-be peacemaker for the Holy Land.
All members of the coalition hold these principles in common:
• We support a just and lasting peace for Palestinians and Israelis based on human rights, international law, equality, and relevant UN resolutions.
• We oppose U.S. military, diplomatic, financial, corporate, and all other forms of support for Israel’s occupation and apartheid policies toward Palestinians.
• We stand in solidarity with the Palestinian struggle to achieve freedom from Israeli military occupation, justice for refugees through the implementation of their right of return, full equality for Palestinian citizens of Israel, and the right to self-determination.
• We stand opposed to Islamophobia, anti-Semitism, all forms of racism, and any other expressions of bigotry directed at any person or group. We also reject the charge of anti-Semitism when it is used spuriously to silence legitimate criticism of Israel’s policies and practices.
Subscribe to US Campaign news and action: on their home page, see the box in the top right corner “Newsletter Signup”
DENOMINATIONAL NETWORKS
Alliance of Baptists
Community for Justice in Palestine & Israel
This community seeks to follow the model of the 1st Century Jesus by “speaking truth to power” in 21st Century Palestine and Israel. The pursuit of justice is based on building meaningful relationships between and among all people, using the definition given to us by Martin Luther King, Jr., “Power at its best is love implementing the demands of justice, and justice at its best is power correcting everything that stands against love.” This community works for justice in Palestine and Israel by raising awareness about the current situation there, sponsoring trips/pilgrimages to the Holy Land, networking with other likeminded faith-based groups, and advocating the pursuit of justice with elected policy makers. We believe that if justice exists, peace will be found.
Contact leaders to get connected: GJ Tarazi [email protected] or Dona Smith-Powers [email protected]
Website: allianceofbaptists.org/PCP/communities
Episcopal Church
Episcopal Peace Fellowship/Palestine Israel Network
Mission: through education and advocacy, to work within the Episcopal Church for a more robust and faithful response on behalf of peace with justice for Palestinians and Israelis.
EPF/PIN is a growing network of Episcopalians, mindful of the promises contained in their baptismal covenant and committed to peace and justice in Palestine/Israel, who wish to take specific advocacy steps they hope will contribute to a just peace in the region. EPF/PIN members are asked to commit themselves to active engagement in education, support and advocacy for a just peace in Palestine and Israel and to partner with other faith communities and secular groups who share PIN’s purpose. What form each of these takes will differ with each person and their context.
EPF/PIN is a network of the Episcopal Peace Fellowship (epfnational.org), a national organization connecting all who seek a deliberate response to injustice and violence and want to pray, study and take action for justice and peace in our communities, our church, and the world. We are called to do justice, dismantle violence, and strive to be peacemakers.
Join EPF PIN at this page
Contact them to ask to be added to a mailing list: on their home page, scroll down for the form at the bottom of the page
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
Isaiah 58
Isaiah 58 is a group of concerned ELCA Lutherans who support justice for those living under military occupation in the West Bank (including East Jerusalem) and Gaza. We urge the ELCA to take a more active role in assisting our neighbors in need in this part of the world, and listen more closely to our Lutheran sisters and brothers who live and minister there.
Our group takes its inspiration from a Bible passage, Isaiah 58, which speaks about the consistency between religious belief and human action. Without actively seeking justice, our religious practices are rendered void.
(Photo, right: August 2014–By an overwhelming majority, ELCA adopts human-rights investment screen that includes companies profiting from Israeli occupation)
Subscribe to the Isaiah 58 newsletter: on their home page, see “Join our newsletter” on the right side
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Peace Not Walls
We are a church that rolls up our sleeves and gets to work. We do God’s work in the world — restoring and reconciling communities. The ELCA is working for justice and peace in Palestine and Israel through our campaign, Peace Not Walls. Through accompaniment, advocacy and awareness-raising, Peace Not Walls connects ELCA members to our companions and promotes dignity, full respect for human rights, healing and reconciliation. With our Palestinian Lutheran companions, we also accompany Palestinians and Israelis, Jews, Christians and Muslims working together for peace with justice.
Our church’s primary companion church in the Holy Land is the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land (ELCJHL). This Arabic-speaking community of faithful Lutherans is the primary relationship through which the ELCA sees the situation in Palestine and Israel. Together, our churches are members of The Lutheran World Federation, a global communion that has a vital Jerusalem-area program that has been running projects related to health, education and humanitarian aid in the occupied Palestinian territories for over 65 years.
Subscribe to Peace Not Walls alerts: on their website, scroll down to see “Advocacy Alerts” on the right side
Mennonite Church USA
MennoPIN: Mennonite Palestine Israel Network
We believe that Christ calls us to work for peace, justice, and reconciliation in the world. The land of Palestine/Israel is in many ways a microcosm of our world, ancient and modern. The conflict in that small area fuels mistrust and violence throughout the region and the entire globe. For these reasons we feel specifically called to pray and work for peace in that holy land. We commit ourselves to follow the model of Christ, speaking and acting boldly yet non-violently, with love as our guide.
Goals/Purposes of the Network:
1) To encourage and support advocacy and action in local and national contexts, with a special emphasis within the Mennonite Church.
2) To develop and/or promote educational resources related to Israel/Palestine, including books, movies, and curricula for use by individuals, congregations, or other groups.
3) To enable quick communication among members of the network and the larger Mennonite Church regarding ongoing developments in Palestine/Israel.
4) To join with people of faith and conscience around the world who share our passion for peace with justice, especially those working within Palestine/Israel.
Subscribe to MennoPIN news and action
Website: https://mennopin.org
Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)
Israel/Palestine Mission Network (IPMN)
In joyful obedience to the call of Christ, and in solidarity with churches and our other partners in the Middle East, this network covenants to engage, consolidate, nourish, and channel the energy in the Presbyterian Church (USA) toward the goal of a just peace in Israel /Palestine by facilitating education, promoting partnerships, and coordinating advocacy. Our network speaks TO the Church not FOR the Church.
Established by action of the 2004 General Assembly, the Israel/Palestine Mission Network encourages congregations and presbytery mission committees, task groups and other entities, toward specific mission goals that will create currents of wider and deeper involvement with Israel/Palestine. As our mandate calls for, we seek to demonstrate solidarity, educate about the facts on the ground, and change the conditions that erode the humanity of both Israelis and Palestinians, especially those who are living under occupation in East Jerusalem, the West Bank, and Gaza.
The Israel/Palestine Mission Network is an opportunity for Presbyterians throughout the country and at all levels of the church to coordinate ongoing efforts and discover new ones. We unite our efforts through this Network, praying for the Holy Spirit’s bold guidance in our work for peace and justice. Please continue to view our web site, learn more about our activities, and how you might get involved.
Join the IPMN network: fill out the form on their website
Quakers
Quaker Palestine Israel Network (Q-PIN)
Over many years, Quakers have worked to support the development of lasting peace with justice in Israel Palestine. In the past few years several monthly meetings and yearly meetings have issued minutes of support for boycott and divestment as a nonviolent approach to advocate for change. Ann Arbor Meeting, Swannanoa Valley Meeting, Illinois Yearly Meeting to name just a few have expressed concern and actively advocated for peace and there is a growing energy and movement emerging among Friends. Q-PIN (The Quaker Palestine Israel Network) was founded in the Fall of 2013 to support the growth of this movement of Friends, to educate about boycott, divestment, and sanctions as a nonviolent approach, and to work together across Quaker meetings and churches and with the interfaith movement for greater impact.
Subscribe to QPIN’s news and action: at their blog, scroll down and see “Follow Blog via Email” on the right side.
Unitarian Universalist Association
Unitarian Universalists for Justice in the Middle East (UUJME)
UUJME works for a peaceful and just resolution of the Palestine-Israel conflict, affirming the equality, dignity, freedom and security of all peoples involved. UUJME’s principal activities are educational programs, including appearances at the Unitarian Universalist Association of Congregations General Assembly, support of local social action groups, conducting and sponsoring trips to Palestine-Israel, and advocacy. UUJME is guided by UU principles, international law, UN resolutions, universally accepted principles of human rights, the right to religious freedom, and UU actions and statements. Founded in 1971, UUJME is incorporated in Massachusetts as UUJMECorp, a 501(c)(3) non-profit entity and is a UUA Related Social Justice Organization.
Subscribe to UUJME news and action
Website: http://uujme.org/home
United Church of Christ
UCC Palestine-Israel Network
Gathered in the Spirit as the United Church of Christ Palestine-Israel Network (UCC PIN), we covenant together in prayer and bold action for a just peace to end the conflict in Palestine/Israel. We seek to educate and motivate our churches on the issues within Palestine/Israel. Our actions are guided by General Synod Resolutions, consultation reports, engagement with the Kairos Palestine Document and our personal experiences. We strive to join in solidarity with our mission partners and with Jews, Christians, Muslims and others who are prophetic witnesses and risk takers for human rights, security, and a just peace in Palestine/Israel.
To contact UCC PIN and to join the network: [email protected]
Website: www.uccpin.org and www.uccpalestineisraelnetwork.org
United Methodist Church
United Methodists for Kairos Response
United Methodists for Kairos Response (UMKR) is an international, grassroots movement of laity and clergy answering the urgent call of Palestinian Christians, in Kairos Palestine: A Moment of Truth, for effective action to end the Israeli occupation and achieve a just peace in the Holy Land.
UMKR seeks – through nonviolent action and in partnership with our Palestinian sisters and brothers in Christ – freedom, justice and equality for all Palestinians and Israelis.
UMKR advocates in over 35 annual conferences support and expand UMKR’s action areas: boycott, divestment, political advocacy, education on Israel/Palestine and responsible Holy Land tourism.
Subscribe to UMKR news and action
Website: www.kairosresponse.org