Last updated on January 3rd, 2025

Palestine and Israel are significant to three major religions: Christianity, Judaism and Islam.

The region has been a centre of religious pilgrimage and devotion for centuries. The sacred sites and traditions associated with this land have played a crucial role in shaping the religious and cultural identities of millions of people worldwide.

UNJPPI is working for justice, peace and an end to Israel’s military occupation of Palestinian territories and system of apartheid.

Timeline of Major Church and Faith-based Actions

1948 to 2024

World Day of Prayer for Palestine

The annual World Day of Prayer was written by a group of Christian Palestinian women and people around the world joined in prayers for Palestine.
2024

Fanning the Flames: The grave risk of Canada’s arms exports to Israel

Report issued by Project Ploughshares called “Fanning the Flames: The grave risk of Canada’s arms exports to Israel”. Project Ploughshares is the peace research institute of The Canadian Council of Churches.
2024

Christ in the Rubble (watched by millions)

Rev. Dr. Munther Isaac leads a live video streamed worship service at the Lutheran Christmas Church in Bethlehem just before Christmas. His moving sermon reaches thousands of people. It focuses on a nativity scene with baby Jesus laying on a pile of broken rocks and rubble symbolizing the destruction of Gaza after Israel launched a brutal military assault, displacing millions and killing thousands of civilians after the Hamas attacks on October 7th. Watch Christ in the Rubble: A Liturgy of Lament
2023

Festivities of Christmas 'cancelled'

The Patriarchs and Heads of Churches in Jerusalem announced in November foregoing “unnecessarily festive activities” and requested funds for Christmas celebrations and decor go to humanitarian aid for Gaza instead
2023

The Role of the Churches in Israel-Palestine

Leaders and representatives from the Anglican, Lutheran, United, Presbyterian, and Roman Catholic churches in Canada gave a public talk in Ottawa about churches in Canada are involved in advocating for and with partners in Palestine. Watch “New Developments in Israel-Palestine and the Role of the Churches”
2023

Focus Palestine (WCRC)

The World Communion of Reformed Churches (WCRC) launches Focus: Palestine - a comprehensive resource that lifts up Palestinian voices while placing the situation into theological, historical, and political contexts. It is the direct result of actions taken by the 2017 WCRC General Council, taken after hearing the cries of Palestinian Christians for justice and solidarity.
2021

Presbyterian Church of Canada to Canadian Government

The General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church of Canada encouraged the Government of Canada to exclude products made in the Jewish settlements in the West Bank, in contravention of international law, from the benefits of the Canada Israel Free Trade Agreement. (A&P 2018, pp. 288-292, 22).
2018

Women Behind the Wall

The Women Behind the Wall podcast stands at the intersection of gender, religion, and conflict, offering a glimpse into the lives of Palestinian Christian women living under the Israeli occupation.
2018

NCCOP Issues Letter to Churches Around the World

The National Coalition of Christian Organizations in Palestine (NCCOP) issue an open letter to churches around the world urging churches to recognize Israel as an apartheid state; take a clear theological stand against any theology or Christian group that justifies the occupation and privileges one nation over the other based on ethnicity or a covenant; stand against religious extremism; revisit and challenge religious dialogue partners; defend the right of Palestinian Christians to resist the occupation creatively and non-violently and more.
2017

Mennonite Church in Canada adopts BDS

Mennonite Church in Canada adopts Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) towards Israel
2016

My Plea to the People of Israel

This Is My Plea to the People of Israel article written by Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu in which he called for a global boycott of Israel and urged Israelis and Palestinians to look beyond their leaders for a sustainable solution to the crisis in the Holy Land.
2014

Anglican Church of Canada resolution

The Anglican Church of Canada passes a resolution on the position of the church, which “recognize the legitimate aspirations, rights and needs of both Israelis and Palestinians to live in peace with dignity within sovereign and secure borders; condemns the use of all kinds of violence, especially against civilians; calls for an end to the Israeli occupation of Palestinian Territories (West Bank and Gaza); and calls upon Israel, as an occupying power, to recognize the Fourth Geneva Convention, which forbids the transfer and settlement of its citizen in occupied territories.”
2013

UCC Palestine Israel Network (UCC USA)

United Church of Christ (UCC) in the USA create the UCC Palestine Israel Network to study the Kairos Palestine document, do advocacy work and support denominational partners in Palestine.
2012

United Network for Peace and Justice in Palestine and Israel

The United Network for Justice and Peace in Palestine and Israel (UNJPPI) is formed within the United Church of Canada
2012

Christ at the Checkpoint

Christ at the Checkpoint, a community of evangelical Christians led by the Bethlehem Bible College and Palestinian Christians, sponsor an international conference every other year exploring the obstacles to peace in our world and the opportunities for peace-making that spring from the Christian faith.
2010

United Methodist Kairos Response

United Methodist Church clergy and laity from around the United States came together in a grassroots effort to respond to the “Kairos Palestine Document.” The United Methodist Kairos Response (UMKR) began with a single purpose: encouraging the church to divest its holdings in companies that support and profit from Israel's occupation.
2010

World Week for Peace in Palestine and Israel

The World Council of Churches begins the World Week For Peace in Palestine and Israel every third week of September and coincides with the UN International Day of Peace on September 21. For information on upcoming World Week for Peace see here: https://www.oikoumene.org/events/world-week-for-peace-in-palestine-and-israel#:~:text=World%20Council%20of%20Churches%20(WCC,on%2016%2D22%20September%202024.
2010

Peace in the Holy Land (Evangelical Lutheran Church)

The Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada passes a resolution titled “Peace in the Holy Land” in which it calls on the governments of Israel and Canada to uphold international law and end the occupation of Palestinian territories and condemns Christian zionism as a theological distortion and misreading of the bible.
2009

Kairos Palestine Document

A Moment of Truth: A Word of Faith, Hope, and Love from the Heart of Palestinian Suffering also known as “The Kairos Palestine Document” is a significant statement issued by Christians in Palestine to other churches around the world. The Kairos Document is the word of Christian Palestinians to the world about what is happening in Palestine.
2009

Occupied with Nonviolence: A Palestinian Woman Speaks

Occupied with Nonviolence: A Palestinian Woman Speaks by Jean Zaru is published. Zaru is a Palestinian Christian from the Quaker tradition, a founding member of Sabeel and served the YWCA in Jerusalem and the World YWCA.
2008

Jerusalem Declaration on Christian Zionism

Jerusalem Declaration on Christian Zionism was issued by several heads of churches in Jerusalem
2006

United Church of Christ USA

The General Synod of the United Church of Christ USA passed the “Use of Economic Leverage in Promoting Peace in the Middle East. Among other things, the resolution called on the church to challenge the practices of corporations that gain from the continuation of the conflict and to divest from those companies that refuse to change their practices of gain from the perpetuation of violence, including Israel’s occupation.
2005

Phased, Selective Divestment (Presbyterian)

The General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) adopted a policy of "phased, selective divestment" from certain American corporations operating in Israel beginning in 2004, as a means of influencing the government of Israel. https://www.pcusa.org/resource/minutes-216th-general-assembly-2004-part-i-journal/ Learn more about the ongoing work of the Israel/Palestine Mission Network of the Presbyterian Church USA https://www.theipmn.org
2004

Zatoun Fair Trade

Zatoun was created as a non-profit volunteer organization registered in Canada to import and sell symbolic products from or about Palestine to create awareness for a just peace for Palestine-Israel. Many churches became outlets to sell fair trade Zatoun olive oil and other products and started conversation about the situation in Palestine-Israel.
2004

First United Church Accompanier

The United Church of Canada sends Rev. Tad Mitsui, its first Ecumenical Accompanier, to the community of Jayyous in the West Bank for three months with the WCC’s Accompaniment Programme in Palestine and Israel (WCC EAPPI)
2003

Apartheid in the Holy Land

Apartheid in the Holy Land article written by Archbishop Desmond Tutu
2002

EAPPI Program Created

The World Council of Churches’ Ecumenical Accompaniment Programme in Palestine and Israel (WCC EAPPI) was created in 2002 by the WCC in response to a letter and appeal from local Palestinian church leaders to create an international presence on the ground in Israel and Palestine. EAPPI provides a continuous presence of 25-30 Ecumenical Accompaniers from around the world, who serve in the field for three months, accompanying local people and communities, offering a protective presence, and witnessing their daily struggles and hopes.
2002

World Conference Against Racism

Many church representatives attended the World Conference Against Racism (WCAR) in Durban, South Africa (also known as Durban I). The focus of the NGO Forum and the World Conference convened at a time when the situation in the Middle East was in the forefront of people's minds, and the issues this highlighted quickly gained prominence. The World Council of Churches delegation was greatly helped by the sensitive explanations and support of its Palestinian members. https://www.oikoumene.org/resources/documents/world-conference-against-racism-racial-discrimination-xenophobia-and-related-intolerance-durban-south-africa-26-august-7-september-2001 The outcome of the conference was a comprehensive framework for addressing racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance https://www.un.org/en/conferences/racism/durban2001
2001

Canadian Friends of Sabeel

Canadian Friends of Sabeel was formed. CFOS has engaged in a wide range of activities to build awareness and support for Palestinians, and especially the Palestinian Christian community. They have hosted conferences, webinars, organized speaking tours, held theater productions, developed films, photo exhibits, videos and other resources. CFOS raised funds for humanitarian assistance projects in Gaza.
1998

Friends of Sabeel North America

Friends of Sabeel North America (FOSNA) was founded. Through grassroots education in churches from 1996 to 2000, early FOSNA brought more awareness to the U.S. role in Israel’s military. FOSNA continues to educate, advocate and provide resources to end the occupation of Palestine.
1996

Community Peacemaker Teams

Community Peacemaker Teams (CPT, formerly Christian Peacemaker Teams) was invited by the municipality of Al-Khalil/Hebron after a CPT delegation visited the city in 1994, following the Ibrahimi Mosque massacre. In 1995, the first official CPT team was established in the Old City of Hebron. The plan was to accompany the community for six months until the situation stabilized and Shuhada Street opened once again. Unfortunately, the occupation and its violations continue and CPT maintains a presence in Hebron and the south Hebron Hills.
1994

Desmond Tutu visits Palestine

In 1989, at the height of the first Intifada (popular Palestinian uprising from 1987-1993), South African Archbishop and anti-apartheid champion Desmond Tutu went to Palestine on a solidarity visit. Speaking at the Shepherds’ Fields in Beit Sahour – welcomed by thousands of Palestinians, both Christian and Muslim, and representatives of the Israeli peace movement – the archbishop repeatedly pointed to the parallels between South Africa and Israel. Tutu was one of the first to identify the situation in Israel/Palestine as apartheid.
1989

Justice and Only Justice

Justice and Only Justice: A Palestinian Theology of Liberation by Rev. Naim Ateek is published.
1989

Sabeel

The Sabeel Ecumenical Liberation Theology Center (sabeel is Arabic for 'the way' and also 'a channel' or 'spring') is a Christian liberation theology organization based in Jerusalem. It was founded by Palestinian Anglican priest, Rev. Naim Ateek.
1989

The People’s Patriarch

Patriarch Emeritus Michael Sabbah served as the first Palestinian Roman Catholic Bishop of Jerusalem from 1987 to 2008 (previous Bishops were European). Sabbah became a key voice during the First Intifada (popular Palestinian uprising from 1987 to 1993) advocating for Palestinian rights from a Christian perspective. A film called “The People’s Patriarch” was made about Sabbah in 2020.
1987

The Unholy Land

The Unholy Land book published by Rev. Dr. Alfred C. Forrest, a former editor of the United Church of Canada’s Observer magazine. The book details the displacement of Palestinians, their rights as refugees, the destruction of Palestinian villages after the creation of Israel. The book appeals to churches and the international community to learn about the region and act for justice.
1972

Presbyterian Church of Canada

The General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church of Canada adopted a statement on the Middle East, encouraging the Government of Canada to seek that the United Nations establish a peace-keeping force adequate and appropriate for restoring and supervising conditions for a just settlement and seek solutions that take full account of the needs of all peoples and nations involved, with particular reference to the plight of Palestinian refugees. (A&P 1967, pp. 70-71, 103)
1967

DSPR

The Department of Service to Palestinian Refugees “DSPR” of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) started in 1948 as an ad-hoc ecumenical group with international and local spirited clergy, and secular people to tend to the trauma of over 726,000 Palestinian refugees from the first Arab-Israeli war. DSPR eventually evolved into five committees in Jerusalem and West Bank, Jordan, Lebanon, Galilee and the Gaza Strip. They are coordinated through a central office in East Jerusalem since 1997. DSPR became part of the MECC which was established in 1974
1948