Resources for Discussing War in the Holy Land • Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon

"Wisdom born of experience should tell us that war is obsolete. There may have been a time when war served as a negative good by preventing the spread and growth of an evil force, but the destructive power of modern weapons eliminated even the possibility that war may serve as a negative good. If we assume that life is worth living and that man has a right to survive, then we must find an alternative to war. In a day when vehicles hurtle through outer space and guided ballistic missiles carve highways of death through the stratosphere, no nation can claim victory in war." - The Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

EMO Statement on the War between Israel and Gaza

Oct. 13, 2023

Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon (EMO) grieves with the families who lost loved ones to horrific acts of violence in Israel and Gaza. We know that many Oregonians are feeling fear, pain and anxiety, especially those who have family or friends directly impacted.

We are also concerned that actions thousands of miles away could contribute to rising antisemitic and anti-Muslim sentiment in the United States. We must not give into hate. We stand against hate in all its forms. Terrorism and war can never lead to justice or sustained peace.

Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon calls upon our leaders to promote de-escalation, secure dialogue, and pursue policies that will achieve a just and lasting peace.

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