Remembering The Plight of Those in the Middle East

A church in Vernon, B.C. asked Synod 2019 to deepen awareness in the denomination about the plight of the Palestinians and to plead their cause to the governments of Canada and the U.S..

Synod 2019 considered this request and recognized that the issue is complicated. It noted that various justice ministries of the CRC are already working in various ways to bring reconciliation in the Middle East. It also encouraged all staff and churches to continue to strive for increased partnership that seeks reconciliation.

Delegates, particularly those who have traveled to the Middle East, urged the delegates not to look away from Palestine, what John Tenyenhuis, Classis Toronto, called “a tsunami of human horror.” 

Theo Beels, Classis Grand Rapids North, said when he got to the Middle East, the plight of the Palestinians shocked him. “It was worse than I thought.” 

Andy Buwalda, Classis Quinte, wondered, “How much do our churches know?” Jan Heerspink, Classis Grand Rapids South, said her experience in Palestine did not make her an expert, but “I became very sensitive. We must pay attention.”

Synod did so, encouraging the ministries of the denomination to continue “the work of addressing peace in the Middle East already being done.”

Some of the delegates were not satisfied with the strength of the synodical statement. John Tenyenhuis called it “approximate,” but, he said, “To say nothing isn’t right. It seems to me that we should say something.” 

Synod framed the discussion in prayer. Sid Couperus opened the discussion with a prayer from the Mennonite Central Committee. At the end of the discussion, synod president William Koopmans directed the delegates to pray silently at their desks for shalom in the Middle East.

For continuous coverage of Synod 2019 including the live webcast, news, video recordings, photos, liveblog, social media links, and more visit www.crcna.org/synod.