This week the Bush State Department is devoting its full diplomatic efforts toward bringing a two-state resolution to the Israel-Palestine conflict. Over the past few months, they have put on a full-court press to gather a broad representation of Arab world leaders to join Israeli and Palestinian negotiators for a historic meeting in Annapolis, Maryland. Now, Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Palestinian National Authority President Mahmoud Abbas have agreed to a program of sustained and focused negotiations throughout 2008.
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With these cautious but hopeful beginnings, over 80 evangelical leaders have signed a statement indicating their belief "that the way forward is for the Israelis and Palestinians to negotiate a fair, two-state solution."
These leaders—including Christian college and seminary presidents, denominational heads, and other ministry leaders—pledge their "ongoing support for the security of Israel," and state that "unless the situation between Israel and Palestine improves quickly, the consequences will be devastating" for Israel. Palestinians with little economic opportunity "are increasingly sympathetic to radical solutions."
The full text of their statement and the list of signatories follow.
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An Evangelical Statement on Israel/Palestine
As evangelical Christians committed to the full authority of the Scriptures, we feel compelled to make a statement together at this historic moment in the life of the Holy Land.
The Israeli-Palestinian conflict is near a momentous turning point. The strife has continued—sometimes simmering, sometimes exploding in terrible conflict—for decades.
In the context of our ongoing support for the security of Israel, we believe that unless the situation between Israel and Palestine improves quickly, the consequences will be devastating. Palestinians—especially the youth who have no economic opportunity—are increasingly sympathetic to radical solutions and terrorism. As a result, the threat to Israel's security is now greater.
Likewise, the threat to America's national security is greater. Because so many of the world's 1.3 billion Muslims see America through the prism of Israel-Palestine, the longer the current situation continues, the more likely it is that anti-American attitudes, policies, and terrorist activities will increase dramatically among Muslims worldwide.
As evangelical Christians, we believe our faith compels us to speak a word together at this crucial moment.
The Bible clearly teaches that God longs for justice and peace for all people. We believe that the principles about justice taught so powerfully by the Hebrew prophets apply to all nations, including the United States, Israel, and the Palestinians. Therefore we are compelled to work for a fair, negotiated solution for both Israelis and Palestinians. We resolve to work diligently for a secure, enduring peace and a flourishing economy for the democratic State of Israel. We also resolve to work for a viable permanent, democratic Palestinian State with a flourishing economy that offers economic opportunity to all its people. We believe that the way forward is for the Israelis and Palestinians to negotiate a fair, two-state solution.
We are encouraged that the Israeli and Palestinian governments have officially endorsed a two-state solution and that polls demonstrate that solid majorities in both Israel and Palestine embrace this path.
We call on all evangelicals, all Christians, and everyone of good will to join us to work and pray faithfully in the coming months for a just, lasting two-state solution in the Holy Land. We call on all involved governments to work diligently toward this goal. And we covenant to pray for the leaders of all the nations engaged in this effort, hoping for them the blessing of our Lord, who said, "Blessed are the peacemakers."
As we work and pray, we are strengthened by the truth that Christ will return some day to complete his victory over sin and injustice, and we are empowered by the knowledge that until He comes again, He summons us to support the things that promote peace and justice for everyone in the Holy Land.
Signatories of An Evangelical Statement on Israel/Palestine
Thomas Armiger, General Superintendent
The Wesleyan Church
Gayle D. Beebe, President
Westmont College
David Black, President
Eastern University
Marilyn Borst, Director of Global Ministry
Peachtree Presbyterian Church
Ed Boschman, Executive Director
U.S. Conference of Mennonite Brethren Churches
David C. Brown, Chair
Evangelical Child & Family Agency
George K. Brushaber, President
Bethel University
Gary M. Burge, Professor of New Testament
Wheaton College
Tony Campolo, President/Founder
Evangelical Association for the Promotion of Education
R. Judson Carlberg, President
Gordon College
Joseph Castleberry, President
Northwest University
Paul A. Cedar, Chairman
Mission America Coalition
Thomas A. Curry, Senior Minister
Round Lake Community Church
Craig C. Darling, U.S. Director
India Rural Evangelical Fellowship
Murray Dempster, President
Vanguard University
G. Blair Dowden, President
Huntington University
Robert P. Dugan, Jr., Retired
National Association of Evangelicals
Merrill Ewert, President
Fresno Pacific University
Leighton Ford, President
Leighton Ford Ministries
Arthur Evans Gay, Minister-at-Large
Evangelical Initiatives International
Jules Glanzer, President Elect
Tabor College
Vernon Grounds, Chancellor
Denver Seminary
Ronald Habegger, President
Fellowship of Evangelical Churches
Jack Haberer, Editor
The Presbyterian Outlook
Mike Hagan, President
Sioux Falls Seminary
Stephen A. Hayner, Professor
Columbia Theological Seminary
Dennis Hollinger, President
Evangelical Theological Seminary
Jim Holm, President
Mennonite Brethren Biblical Seminary
John Hubers, Former Director of Reformed Church Mission Program,
Middle East and South Asia
Reformed Church in America
John A. Huffman, Jr., Pastor
St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church, Newport Beach
Board Chair, Christianity Today International
Ken Hunn, Executive Director
The Brethren Church
Joel Hunter, Senior Pastor
Northland Church
John K. Jenkins, Senior Pastor
First Baptist Church of Glenarden
Bruce W. Jones
National Association of Evangelicals
J. Ellsworth Kalas, President
Asbury Theological Seminary
John F. Kim, Interim President
Northern Seminary
Peter Kuzmic, President
Evangelical Theological Seminary (Osijek, Croatia)
Duane Litfin, President
Wheaton College
Jo Anne Lyon, CEO
World Hope International
V. James Mannoia, President
Greensville College
Molly T. Marshall, President
Central Baptist Theological Seminary
Kevin T. McBride, Senior Pastor
Raymond Baptist Church
Larry J. McKinney, President
Simpson University
Gregory A. Monaco, Associate Field Director,
Youth for Christ/USA
Royce L. Money, President
Abilene Christian University
Richard Mouw, President
Fuller Theological Seminary
Shirley A. Mullen, President
Houghton College
Mike O'Neal, President
Oklahoma Christian University
David Neff, Editor-in-Chief
Christianity Today
Glenn R. Palmberg, President
Evangelical Covenant Church
Earl F. Palmer, Minister
University Presbyterian Church
Linda Pampeyan, Consultant
Leadership Renewal Center
Ted W. Pampeyan, Director
Leadership Renewal Center
David L. Parkyn, President
North Park University
Roger Parrot, President
Belhaven College
Jerry Pence, General Superintendent
The Wesleyan Church
Rita Rihani, Professor of Arabic
North Park University
Bob Roberts, Pastor
Northwood Church
Bill Robinson, President
Whitworth University
Haddon W. Robinson, President
Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary
Leonard Rodgers, Executive Director
Evangelicals for Middle East Understanding
Andrew Ryskamp, Director
Christian Reformed World Relief Committee
Michael G. Scales, President
Nyack College/ATS
Chris Seiple, President
Institute for Global Engagement
Robert Seiple, Former Ambassador-at-Large
for International Religious Freedom
Ronald J. Sider, President
Evangelicals for Social Action
James Skillen, President
Center for Public Justice
Wallace Smith, President
Palmer Theological Seminary
Glen H. Stassen, Lewis Smedes Professor of Christian Ethics
Fuller Theological Seminary
Gary W. Streit, President
Malone College
Joseph Tkach, President
Worldwide Church of God
Paul Vicalvi, Chaplains Commission Executive Director
National Association of Evangelicals
Harold Vogelaar, Professor Emeritus
Lutheran School of Theology, Chicago
Berten Waggoner, National Director
Vineyard USA
Don Wagner, Professor
North Park University
John Wagner, Pastor
Andover Congregational Church
Jon R. Wallace, President
Azusa Pacific University
Jim Wallis, Editor
Sojourners
Bob Wenz
Renewing Total Worship Ministries
Luder G. Whitlock, Executive Director
The Trinity Forum
John P. Williams, Jr., Regional Director
Evangelical Friends International - North America
Craig Williford, President
Denver Seminary
Earl L. Wilson, General Superintendent
The Wesleyan Church
Larry E. Yonker, Vice-President
The Elevation Group
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