Washington Report on Middle East Affairs, July 1987, page 17

Religion and the Middle East

By the Rev. L. Humphrey Walz

Churches for Middle East Peace

Human rights, terrorism, the peace process, arms transfers, and the unique status of Jerusalem for Jews, Christians, and Muslims are among the concerns of C-MEP's (Churches for Middle East Peace). Established just two years ago, it has become an effective clearing house and resource base for a dozen Protestant, Orthodox, and ecumenical agencies committed to an even-handed search for security and justice for all countries in the Middle East. From its modest Suite 108 at 110 Maryland Ave., NE, Washington, DC 20002 [phone (202) 546-8425], it communicates to appropriate offices of government Christian perspectives on current developments. It does this primarily by citing official church policy resolutions and by reporting insights from the on-going involvement of churches with the people and events of the Middle East. At the moment C-MEP is questioning massive military infusions as a substitute for imaginative diplomacy within a consistent foreign policy. With all but three countries in the UN (US, Israel, and Antigua) it calls for all interested parties to engage in Arab-Israeli peace talks in an international forum. Like the US Catholic Bishops, Rabbi Arthur Hertzberg of the World Jewish Congress, and others, it believes that only US initiatives, not simply reactive responses, can prevent another major explosion in the area. C-MEP's supportive denominations include American Baptists, Antiochian Orthodox, Brethren, Episcopalians, Friends, Mennonites, Presbyterians, Unitarian Universalists, and the United Church of Christ.

For Justice in The Holy Land

The first quarterly newsletter of the embryonic Religious Task Force for Justice in the Holy Land features a message from Gabriel Habib, Executive Director of the Middle East Council of Churches. "The first requirement is spiritual," he writes. "We need to acquire, through repentance and prayer, a spiritual quality that helps us transcend emotional and ideological approaches and all forms of prejudices and attitudes of superiority...This spiritual quality will enable us to look at the people of the Middle East as our brothers and sisters of God's creation, to exorcise the stereotypes created by some media...and to destroy all forms of anti-semitism, whether against Jews or Arabs." Beginning in the Chicago area and expanding as time, energy, and resources permit, the Task Force hopes to provide speakers and hold seminars to bring Christian, Muslim, and Jewish perspectives to bear upon the conflicts in the Holy Land and upon the plight of the Palestinians. It is situated for the time being in the offices of the Palestine Human Rights Campaign, 220 S. State St., #1308, Chicago, IL 60604.

The Rev. L. Humphrey Walz, D.D., a retired Associate Executive of the Presbyterian Synod of the Northeast, is active in Christian-Jewish and Christian-Muslim dialogues.