BACKGROUND
On June 25, 2007 a Christian Reformed Church ad-hoc Middle East study team of sixteen persons boarded a Continental Airlines Boeing 777 at Newark International Airport and embarked on a journey that has yet to end. Although this report along with its recommendations is one important result of our experience, it is not the final product.
The final product, we pray, is our group and our denomination faithfully standing in Love with the struggling and diminishing community of Christians in the Holy Land, and effective in our efforts to contribute to the cause of justice and peace for all – Israelis and Palestinians, Christians, Muslims, and Jews.
GOALS FOR THE TEAM
The study team was recruited by the CRCNA’s Office of Social Justice and Hunger Action (OSJHA). Its mandate was to provide detailed input for this report assessing whether or not the CRC should increase its involvement in Palestine/Israel. In making this assessment, the group was asked to visit potential partners – particularly within the Palestinian Christian community - in order to assess the potential for CRC learning and transformation as well as what we might contribute to the work of peace and justice.
In case a positive assessment was returned, the team was asked to provide input for suggested recommendations to the denomination, to denominational agencies, and to CRC institutions identifying ways and means of doing so.
In the course of the journey, the team itself added a third task: To identify ways and means of contributing to the goals of solidarity, peace, and justice in our own personal spheres of action and influence.
The following report fulfills these three goals.
THE HISTORICAL CONTEXT OF THE STUDY TEAM
In 2006 the CRC synod received a study report on “War and Peace” that highlighted the role of the Christian and the Church as “Bearers of Shalom.” In acting on the recommendations of that report, synod instructed denominational agencies and staff to develop more resources and act to raise CRC awareness of our peace-building calling. This included educating ourselves, doing programs that build peace and justice, and engaging in public witness for peace and justice.
In that light, and because of a heightened interest on the part of CRC members and agencies alike, the CRC’s OSJHA believed it was time to organize a small learning group to go to Palestine and Israel. The central task of the group would be to suggest an answer to the question: “Should the CRCNA become more active in the search for peace and justice in this crucial slice of the Middle East, and if so, in what ways?”
In preparing for the study visit the group found that although there were a good number of individuals in our denomination with experience and expertise in this region, most CRC agencies had little current knowledge or experience of the area. There are some notable exceptions:
In the late 60s and early 1970s, CRWRC supported relief and disability programs in Jordan. *
CRWM supported Epke (Ed) Vander Berg’s pastoral work in Jordan in the early 80s.
The Back to God Hour has had Arabic radio broadcasts for many years and has recently become more involved in the Middle East Reformed Fellowship (MERF) through MERF’s Director, Victor Atallah.
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* The primary mover behind this involvement was Dr. Bert DeVries of Calvin College who was engaged in archeological study in Jordan.
