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Partnering With
Churches in Israel
In September 2008 the Presbytery of the Genesee Valley hosted a visit from an International Peacemaker, Rev. Dr. Shehadeh Shehadeh of Israel. Shehadeh is an Episcopal priest, a Palestinian, and an Israeli citizen. Many who heard him speak were moved to learn of the struggles and isolation faced by Arab Christians living in Israel.
In response, a decision was made to begin the process of developing relationships with Christian churches in Israel, starting with the parishes in Shehadeh’s diocese, the Diocese of Jerusalem.
These relationships, or partnerships, will link a church in the Presbytery of the Genesee Valley with a Christian church in Israel. Each will have its own format, based on the needs and interests of the 2 churches.
Please contact me for more details.
The following resources provide some background information on the Diocese of Jerusalem and on the situation in Israel/Palestine.
Resources
The Presbyterian Church has been involved in mission efforts in the Middle East for nearly two centuries. The denomination’s long-standing witness in Israel and Palestine has spanned a range of efforts. Learn more about this region of the world and the Presbyterian church’s involvement there.
The Israel/Palestine Mission Network is an opportunity for Presbyterians throughout the country and at all levels of the church to coordinate ongoing efforts and discover new ones. Ultimately, it aims to support churches in Palestine to strengthen Christian social institutions, create jobs and promote economic development, maintain schools and hospitals, and to enable affordable and safe housing for Palestinians. To join this network, contact Victor Makari.
The Oasis of Peace, or Neve Shalom/Wahat al-Salam, is a cooperative village of Jews and Palestinian Arabs of Israeli citizenship. The village is situated equidistant from Jerusalem and Tel Aviv-Jaffa. Through a variety of programs and efforts, the Oasis of Peace is engaged in educational work for peace, equality and understanding between the two peoples.
Rev. Gordon Webster, co-pastor at Downtown United Presbyterian Church in Rochester, is the President of the American Friends of Neve Shalom/Wahat al-Salam
The Episcopal Diocese of Jerusalem, a diocese of the worldwide Anglican Communion, extends over five countries, including Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, Palestine and Israel, within the Province of Jerusalem and the Middle East.
The American Friends of the Episcopal Diocese of Jerusalem is a non-profit, non-political partnership with the Church in the Holy Land as we seek to serve our Lord’s command to heal the sick, feed the hungry, shelter the orphaned, soothe the suffering, teach the Truth and preach the Gospel.
Background Resources from the UN
Gaza Strip Inter-Agency Humanitarian Fact Sheet published by the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs in the Occupied Palestinian Territory.
Guiding Principles for Sister Church Relationships/Twinning
- Don’t start a relationship until both churches have commitments from people in leadership positions, and until each congregation has had the opportunity to learn about and indicate a desire to form the relationship.
- Consider creating a “covenant” document that each congregation affirms, to lay out clear expectations and arrangements for communication, visits, etc.
- Each church should have a committee to oversee the relationship. The committee should:
- include one person who commits to holding the vision of the partnership
- include another person who commits to handling all communications
- develop an annual plan (this can be very simple) and evaluate how things went at the end of every year
- rotate roles so that there is continuity when people drop off the committee
- Focus on building relationships, not accomplishing tasks.
- If there is any exchange of resources, monetary or otherwise, it is best if a gift from one congregation to another benefits the entire community, and not one individual or family. Beyond that general rule, though, be sure that the recipient church decides how and where the resources are directed.
- Plan annual face-to-face visits, with each congregation taking turns being hosts and visitors.
- The church-to-church relationship should be regularly reflected in various aspects of church life—liturgy, music, youth group, Bible study, etc.
- Keep all members of the congregation informed of twinning/partnership activities through the newsletter, bulletin, or announcements.
Suggestions for Sister Church Relationships/Twinning
- Form pen pal and prayer partner relationships among the children and adults of the two congregations.
- Connect professionals from each congregation with each other—doctors, nurses, farmers, teachers, lawyers, etc.
- Make sure each church is sending its newsletter to the other.
- Send videos of church events, with greetings from members.
- Set up a photo display and ask your partner church to send new photos regularly.
- Offer adult education opportunities to familiarize the congregation with the language and culture of your sister church.
- Celebrate or acknowledge holidays of your sister church’s country.
The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all of its parts are many, they form one body. So it is with Christ… But God has combined the members of the body and has given greater honor to the parts that lacked it, so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.—1 Corinthians 12:12, 24–26
For I am longing to see you so that I may share with you some spiritual gift to strengthen you, or rather so that we may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith, both yours and mine.—Romans 1:11–12