Heads of churches in Jerusalem have welcomed the Palestine Israel Ecumenical Forum launched in Jordan last week. They voiced satisfaction with the new advocacy initiative at meetings with World Council of Churches (WCC) general secretary Rev. Dr Samuel Kobia during his 21-26 June visit to the Holy Land.
In addition to heads of local churches, the WCC delegation visited the staff and some ecumenical accompaniers from the WCC Ecumenical Accompaniment Programme for Palestine and Israel, formed in 2002 as the result of a plea for help from Christians world wide. The accompaniers work side by side with Palestinians and Israelis working for a just peace. The delegation visited Hebron, where accompaniers walk children to school to protect them from violence by settlers, and a refugee camp in Bethlehem, where accompaniers work with children teaching English and other skills. They also visited holy sites, government and religious leaders and Yad Vashem.
Video: Rev. Dr. Kobia’s greeting to heads of churches
Video: Rev. Dr. Kobia on what it will take to bring just peace