In Australia, Churches, Church-Related Organisations and the Canberra Ecumenical Working Group on Palestine-Israel, are participating in ICAPPI, the World Council of Churches advocacy initiative for Palestine and Israel.  ICAPPI Week is from 4 - 10 June.  You are asked to focus your work for peace in 4 areas:

• To Pray
• To Educate
• To Advocate 
• To Engage in Public Action. 

Heads of Churches Statement and Introductory Information Pack on Palestine-Israel

On 4 June at Australian Parliament House, a Heads of Churches Statement on Palestine-Israel and an introductory information pack on Palestine and Israel were both released. Reverend Gregor Henderson Head of the Uniting Church of Australia, Archbishop Phillip Aspinall Anglican Primate of Australia, Archbishop Mark Coleridge Archbishop of the Catholic Diocese of Canberra-Goulburn and Carolyn Kitto representing Tim Costello the CEO of World Vision Australia, spoke on the need for a just and sustainable peace for both Palestine and Israel and called on the Australian Government and the Christian community to commit to working for a just and sustainable peace. 

The Heads of Churches Statement was supported and signed by 57 National Heads of Churches, Church Leaders and Church Related International Aid Agencies.   Heads of Churches Statement with signatories 

The Introductory Information Pack on Palestine-Israel was produced by the National Council of Churches, The Uniting Church of Australia, Anglicord, World Vision, The New South Wales Ecumenical Council, Major Issues and Theology Centre and the Canberra Ecumenical Working Group on Palestine-Israel. 

Click here to access the contents of the Introductory Information Pack on Palestine-Israel 

ABC report on the conference

The Executive Council of Australian Jewry response to the Heads of Churches Statement 

 In Jerusalem and Around the World

Today in Jerusalem, at the launch of the worldwide ICAPPI week of action for peace in Israel and Palestine, churches will come together for an ecumenical service giving thanks for "every church and parish around the world that is praying with us this day for peace". 

Participating organisations and people tell the World Council of Churches that they welcome the opportunity to act together after so many years of growing concern at events in Palestine and Israel.  They stress that justice must be done for the sake of both Palestinians and Israelis.

Participants are urging their national leaders to play a more active role in promoting a just resolution to the conflict. Churches are speaking to foreign ministries and parliamentarians in places like Australia, Hungary, Scotland and South Africa.  In Norway the foreign minister and a Palestinian church leader will address a multi-religious peace service.   In Sydney Australia, a multi-religious peace service  involving Palestinians and Jews, Muslims and Christians will be held at which all participants will renew their commitment to working together for a just peace. 

The latest World Council of Churches Update on ICAPPI Actions around the World

On the World Council of Churches website you will find MORE INFORMATION ON ICAPPI,  a  list of ACTION WEEK RESOURCES you can use and share with your community, and IT'S TIME TO SPEAK OUT , a blog installed by Ecumenical Accompaniers who are working for peace in Palestine and Israel. 

Download the JERUSALEM LITURGY FOR PEACE - An Ecumenical Liturgy produced by the Jerusalem Heads of Churches and the Jerusalem Inter-Church Centre, for use on 4 June, Sunday 7 June and after.  

MESSAGES FOR BETHLEHEM 

Bethlehem participants in ICAPPI Week are inviting you and your community to send them a prayer , a hope or a wish for peace.  You can email your message and some of the messages recieved will be read aloud in Manger Square on Sunday June 8. Use the following links To SEND A MESSAGE and to READ MESSAGES ALREADY SENT TO BETHELHEM

For more Prayer, Education, Advocacy and Public Action ideas for your community, click here for a copy of the March 2008 ICAPPI Newsletter.