Our Church Leaders on the Hill
"Palestinian Christians have been a continuous presence in the Holy Land for over 2000 years and we as Canadian Christians and churches cannot give up on our brothers and sisters from the cradle of Christianity. They need us to amplify their voice in our churches and ecumenical initiatives. They need us to be there for them with bolder, stronger and faster actions. – Rula Odeh, Chair, CFOS Board.
Canadian church leaders speak out on ceasefire and a just peace
The Gaza Ceasefire Pilgrimage, which began during Lent, completed its final leg on May 22 in Ottawa. Over 150 congregations across Canada took part in the peace pilgrimage, in Ottawa, or in their home locations, walking all or a portion of the 41-km length of the Gaza Strip.
The events of May 22 represented Canadian churches coming together to speak boldly for a ceasefire and a just peace. They were organized by Canadian Churches for a Just Peace, and Kairos Canada. Kairos Canada has 10 member churches representing over 4 million Canadians.
Picture of the crowed praying at Minto Park, Ottawa; Photo taken by CFOS
The morning began with prayers at Minto Park and then a walk to Parliament Hill, one kilometer away. On the hill, some 200 people gathered for a public vigil, which included prayers, scriptures, music, and brief comments from Canadian church leaders.
The Reverend Ian Ross-McDonald of the Presbyterian Church in Canada spoke about participating in a recent solidarity visit to Palestine. He shared the “damning questions” that Palestinian friends asked of their Canadian visitors. “Where is the church’s courage and integrity? Why is there little more than silence from the church’s pulpits and public platforms?” He acknowledged that the global church needs to repent and respond to these difficult questions.
CFOS Board member Rev. Dr. Dorcas Gordon, also of the Presbyterians and a participant in the recent solidarity visit, similarly brought messages from Palestinian Christian friends. Time and again these friends urged Canadian churches to:
Rev. Dr. Dorcas J. Gordon / Photo by CFOS
forthrightly use the terms “genocide” and “ethnic cleansing” to describe Israeli action against Palestinians,
describe the current destruction in Gaza in the explicit context of the ongoing 76 years of Nakba,
work for boycott, divestment, and sanctions against Israeli companies in the West Bank,
to press the Canadian government to vote at the UN against the Occupation and the building of illegal Israeli settlements.
As CFOS Board Chair, and as the daughter of a 90-year-old Palestinian Christian who personally experienced the 1948 Nakba, Rula Odeh spoke of her grief at “the silence, the inaction, the impunity and the complicity” that has been going on for 76 years worldwide and expressly on the part of the Canadian government. Rula emphasized:
Chair of CFOS, Rula Odeh / Photo by CFOS
the rulings of the International Court of Justice that there is a plausible case of Israeli genocide, and of the International Criminal Court to seek warrants for the leaders of Israel and of Hamas,
Kairos partner B’tselem’s belief that Israeli violence against Palestinians to perpetuate the Occupation is inherent in the Israeli apartheid regime,
the need for Canadian churches to amplify the voices of Palestinians crying out for justice.
Rula concluded her speech with Ephesians 6:14-15. “Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.”
An emotional highlight of the vigil was the singing of “Dona Nobis Pacem” led by Samia Elias, a sister to Rula. Samia also sang the traditional Palestinian song, “Yarabba ssalami.”
Photo by CFOS
Father Nektarios Najjar, priest of St. Elias Antiochian Orthodox Cathedral in Ottawa brought a powerful message. Many members of his congregation have beloved family and friends in Gaza, not knowing where they are, or if they are alive. He noted that, so far, 1.7 million Gazans are displaced; over 100,000 are dead or injured; and over 1 million are lacking basic life necessities. And yet, he lamented, the world remains mostly silent.
Father Nektarios quoted a prayer which Palestinian churches pray at Easter: “Christ is risen from the dead, trampling down death by his death, and upon those in the tombs bestowing life.” This prayer grants peace, joy and hope, “so that nothing despairs them, not even death.” Father Nektarios asked only for simple common sense and empathy on the part of our government leaders, adding, “Oh how low the bar has become for this humanity of ours.”
The press conference on Parliament Hill following the vigil was moderated by Leah Reesor-Keller, Transitional Executive Director of Kairos Canada. Also speaking were leaders or senior officials of Lutheran, Presbyterian and United church denominations.
Leah stressed the strong connections Kairos Canada and its member churches have to partner organizations, working bravely on the ground in Palestine. She mentioned specifically Wi’am: the Palestine Conflict Transformation Centre in Bethlehem. She quoted from Wi’am’s belief in “the sacredness of life, and that all people deserve to live in dignity and in safety.” A recording of the press conference is available on CPAC here.
Source: Kairos Canada website
Following the press conference, on May 23 the Kairos Canada delegation of Canadian church leaders presented their five calls to selected Parliamentarians.
Enduring and sustained ceasefire
Immediate flow of life saving food, water, aid, fuel and humanitarian assistance
Release of all captives
End of all arms transfers to Israel
End of occupation so a just-peace can begin.
See more on the Gaza Ceasefire Pilgrimage here.
Read the op-ed by Leah Reesor-Keller, Dorcas Gordon, and the Right Rev. Dr. Carmen Lansdowne, Moderator of The United Church of Canada. It was published in the May 22, 2024 issue of The Hill Times; a copy is posted on the Kairos website here.
See more photos and footage soon from the Ottawa events, on the CFOS website.