Presiding bishop speaks at prayer breakfast on Capitol Hill
Episcopal News Service – Washington, D.C.. June 15, 2010 [061510-02]
Lynette Wilson
Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori June 15 reminded more than 80 people gathered at the Russell Senate Office Building here for a prayer breakfast that the Episcopal Church's call for a "just and secure two-state solution" for Israel and Palestine dates back to 1973 and the Yom Kippur War.
"Through our General Convention and Executive Council we have more than 30 times repeated our belief that a two-state solution is the only viable avenue to a just peace," she said.
The presiding bishop spoke at the Congressional Prayer Breakfast for Peace in the Holy Land, organized by Churches for Middle East Peace as part of its annual advocacy day. U.S. House of Representatives chaplain the Rev. Daniel P. Coughlin and Democratic U.S. Rep. David E. Price, of North Carolina, also attended the breakfast.
CMEP is a coalition of 23 public policy offices of national churches -- including the Episcopal Church -- and agencies, including Orthodox, Catholic and Protestant traditions. It works to encourage U.S. government policies that promote a just, lasting and comprehensive resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Peace between Israel and Palestine has topped the advocacy agenda of the Episcopal Church's Washington, D.C.-based Office of Government Relations since its inception in 1979. The office helped form CMEP in the 1980s, the presiding bishop said, and Alexander Baumgarten, OGR's director of government relations and international policy analyst, serves on its board today.
Previous presiding bishops have spoken beyond the church in the wider world "consistently and urgently" addressing the need for peace in the Middle East, and Jefferts Schori has continued that tradition.
"Since taking office three and a half years ago I have made public statements about the folly of violent methods on all sides in Gaza, urged Israel's ambassador to treat justly with Palestinians, made personal visits to Jerusalem, the West Bank, and Gaza, met and worked with human rights and peace organizations of all three Abrahamic faiths, and advocated at several levels of our own government," she said. "I continue to urge more effective policy toward Israel and the Palestinian leadership, most recently in a letter to President Obama on the Gaza blockade."
Jefferts Schori also talked about the Episcopal Diocese of Jerusalem, its involvement in the peacemaking process and its everyday contributions to life in Israel.
"The Episcopal Diocese of Jerusalem today is engaged in ongoing peacemaking efforts of major importance, particularly through its schools and hospitals in Palestine, Israel, Jordan, Syria and Lebanon," Jefferts Schori said. "The health-care institutions in those places serve ordinary citizens of all kinds and all faiths, as well as special-needs populations.
"The schools educate Muslim and Christian children together, teaching respect for all peoples and understanding for different faith traditions. Bishop Suheil Dawani is a constant and urgent voice for peace through his work in the five countries of his diocese, as well as in building partnerships for peace in other parts of the Anglican Communion."
Jefferts Schori used the gospel story of a woman's tireless, often pesky, efforts to get her grievance heard, described in Luke 18:1-8, as an example of the importance of staying on message and on course.
"Some in Israel and in Palestine and in our own government may find all that nagging from here and from around the world tiresome, but we will not go home until justice has been served," she said. "The lives and dignity and holy possibility of far too many people depend on our willingness to nag. The peace of Jerusalem and the world depends on our efforts. Pray for the city of peace."
CEMP members were scheduled to meet with their elected officials on Capitol Hill following the 8:30 a.m. breakfast to call for peace and a two-state solution for Israel and Palestine.
Price thanked the attendees for their work on behalf of Middle East peace and urged them to go forward in courage and conviction that their work is important.
"I know when it comes to Middle East peacemaking the words 'crisis' and 'critical' are used so often that they almost risk losing their meaning, but I think we can safely say that you are here at a critical time, that the region is in crisis and that the messages you are bringing today … are extremely important, extremely urgent," said Price, a longtime supporter of a two-state solution.
"This organization has made a difference and can make a difference," he said.