More than 100 religious leaders call for permanent ceasefire in Gaza
Signatories include UCA President Rev Sharon Hollis, UCA Moderators and several other senior UCA leaders
April 3, 2024
Uniting Church President Rev Sharon Hollis, three Uniting Church Moderators and several other senior Uniting Church leaders are among 106 signatories to an Open Letter calling for a permanent ceasefire in Gaza.
Signed by religious leaders across the country, the letter urges parliamentarians to advocate for an end to military support for all parties involved in the war, the immediate and secure flow of aid into Gaza, and return of hostages and political prisoners held by Hamas and Israel.
“The war is inflicting immense pain and suffering to Israeli and Palestinian communities across the globe, including Australia,” said Rev Hollis.
“It’s vital that our politicians show courage and wisdom by uniting to calm community tensions and call for a permanent end to the horror unfolding in Gaza.”
Moderators Rev David Fotheringham (Vic/Tas), Rev Bruce Moore (Qld) and Rev Peter Morel (SA) also signed onto the letter.
“The scale of death and destruction in Gaza is horrifying and unacceptable,” said Archbishop Geoffrey Smith, Primate of the Anglican Church of Australia.
“We acknowledge the painful history of dispossession and violence faced by both Israelis and Palestinians leading to this and prior wars.
“But this must not be used to justify the deaths of more than 32,000 civilians – over a third of them children.”
Other UCA signatories include UnitingWorld National Director Dr Sureka Goringe, UnitingCare Australia Board Chair Geoff Batkin, and heads of Uniting Church theological colleges Rev Dr Vicky Balabanski, Rev Dr Robyn Whitaker and Rev Dr Sean Winter.
Read the Media Release from Micah Australia.
This group of Christian leaders has also created a video, calling upon the wider Australian community to invest in peace. Watch it below, download and share on your social media.
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Further Reading
- More than 100 religious leaders call for immediate ceasefire - 29 March 2024
- Uniting Church holds fresh concerns for Gaza and Rafah - 14 February 2024
- Gaza Ceasefire Pilgrimages - 31 January 2024
- Uniting Church echoes WCC call for immediate ceasefire - 15 November 2023
- NCCA Statement on Hamas-Israel conflict on behalf of member churches - 24 October 2023
- Read the call for peace and call to prayer from President Rev Sharon Hollis - 11 October 2023
- Read news and statements from the World Council of Churches
- Read news and statements from the Patriarchs and Heads of Churches in Jerusalem
- A prayer for peace shared by the NCCA, 10 October
- Donate to the Act for Peace appeal in support of health clinics run by the Near East Council of Churches in Gaza