News

Evangelical Leaders Reiterate Call for Two-State Solution for Israel and Palestine

Over 80 educators and ministry heads affirm efforts to negotiate lasting peace, and warn of consequences of failure.

Christianity Today November 28, 2007

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.

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.

* * *

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

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

Copyright © 2007 Christianity Today. Click for reprint information.

Related Elsewhere:

To add your signature, e-mail (evangelical.statement@gmail.com) or fax (610-649-3834) your name, title and organization.

The New York Times published an earlier letter to George Bush with the list of signatures.

Christianity Today‘s September editorial on “What It Means to Love Israel” addressed theological ideas behind support for a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Christianity Today‘s previous articles on Israel and the Jewish people include:

Opinion Roundup: The Evangelical View of Israel? | Evangelicals are more diverse on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict than we are led to believe (June 1, 2003)

Christian History Corner: Zion Haste | Does the passion of a few nineteenth-century Chicagoans still influence American policy in the Middle East? (January 1, 2002)

The Chosen People Puzzle | When it comes to relating to the Jewish people, should we dialogue, cooperate, or evangelize? (Richard J. Mouw, March 5, 2001)

CT Classic: Do Jews Really Need Jesus? | What evangelicals believe about evangelization of the Jews—and whether the Holocaust makes a difference in that task. (October 8, 1990)

David Neff met with Condoleeza Rice in October to discuss evangelicals and Middle East politics.

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