Call for a Season of Prayer for Peace in the Middle East
August, 2006

In the Ground of the Unity our Moravian Church professes that “Jesus Christ maintains in love and faithfulness His commitment to this fallen world. Therefore we must remain concerned for this world. We may not withdraw from it through indifference, pride or fear. Together with the universal Christian Church, the Unitas Fratrum challenges all with the message of the love of God, striving to promote the peace of the world and seeking to attain what is best for all people.” In the Moravian Covenant for Christian Living we profess that “for the sake of the peace which we have with God, we earnestly desire to live peaceably with all people and to seek the peace of the places where we dwell.” And we say that “we will not hate, despise, slander, or otherwise injure anyone…Together with the universal Christian Church, we have a concern for this world, opening our heart and hand to our neighbors with the message of the love of God…”

The Provincial Elders’ Conferences of the Northern and Southern Provinces of the Moravian Church in North America, meeting jointly on July 28 and 29, 2006, call upon the congregations of our two provinces to observe an immediate, urgent and special season of prayer during the month of August, 2006 for peace in the Middle East. Pray for a time of calm and the cessation of the escalating violence. Pray for all those who are suffering. Pray for the local, national and international leaders who make decisions on the implementation of war to show restraint and a desire to work for justice. Pray for an end to hostilities that will both save lives and lead to a lasting and secure peace for the area. Pray for the leading of our Chief Elder, even the Prince of Peace, to make us instruments of His peace in all we do and say in this time of great concern and loss of human life.

“Let hope keep you joyful; in trouble stand firm; persist in prayer.” (Romans12:12 NEB)

The Rt. Rev. Dr. D. Wayne Burkette
President, Moravian Church, Southern Province

The Rev. David L. Wickmann
President, Moravian Church, Northern Province

July 29, 2006
Winston-Salem, N.C.

The Provincial Elders Conferences of the North and South met in Winston Salem July 28-29, 2006. During that meeting a very important item on our agenda was the topic of the conflict in the Middle East. During that meeting it was determined that we would formulate a statement.

Please feel free to announce the statement in your bulletins/newsletters. The Provincial Elders’ Conferences, North & South, would most certainly wish that every congregation in the Moravian Church, Northern and Southern Province, would make this a matter of prayer focus.

As we focus upon this in prayer let us also remember that the Unity sponsors work in Ramallah, West Bank, Palestine.