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.
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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
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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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.
