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Minute adopted by Friends United Meeting Triennial Sessions
in Nairobi today,
Sunday, July 14, 2002
Minute to FUM Triennial Session from the Interest Group on the Middle
East.
Members of the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers) representing 29 Yearly
Meetings from eight countries meeting in Triennial Sessions of Friends United
Meeting in Nairobi, Kenya, are conscious of the absence of our Palestinian
Quaker brothers and sisters.
Owing to the Israeli/Palestinian conflict, they have not been able to join us in our rich fellowship in the Spirit.
As we have experienced the loss of their presence we are reminded of the devastating impact of the conflict on all people in Israel and the
Occupied Palestinian Territories and wish to extend our deepest concern and desire
for peace. We feel helpless in the face of the complexities of the situation
but know that we can reach out in Christian love to our sisters and brothers in
Christ in the region.
The belief among some Christians that unquestioning support for
current Israeli policies might hasten Christ’s Second Coming is doing grievous
harm to possibilities for peace, justice, and the application of international law,
and has especially impacted the Palestinian Christian community remaining in
the area. Christ’s purpose is that all might have life and live it more
abundantly.
We reject as contrary to the Good News a focus on the Second
Coming which denies this life to others. We call on member meetings and churches in FUM to demonstrate in
a tangible way their love, accompaniment, and concern. One way to do this is to
pray for individual Christian congregations and write to them in expression of
our solidarity and support.
We recommend that FUM, in consultation with Christian communions in Israel
and the Occupied Palestinian Territories, provide contact information for Friends. We ask FUM to join with other Christian bodies, the Christian
Peacemaker Teams, and the World Council of Churches, to find ways together
to work for peace, justice, and reconciliation.
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