The management team of the World Methodist Council, comprised of President Rev. Prof. Jong Chun Park, Vice President Ms. Gillian Kingston, General Secretary Revd Ivan Abrahams, Geneva Secretary Bishop Rosemarie Wenner, and Treasurer/CFO Mr. Kirby Hickey, issue the following statements on 17 March 2024.
Statement on Situtation in Middle East
The Management Team of the World Methodist Council, meeting in Cape Town, South Africa, on 11-12 March 2024, calls on Methodists world-wide to join in prayer for the people of Gaza, the occupied Palestinian territories and Israel at this time of unprecedented and deepening crisis.
We condemn unequivocally the indiscriminate killing by Hamas of innocent Israeli civilians and the taking of hostages, men, women and children, which has precipitated the current situation. We are appalled by the killing of thousands of innocent civilians in Gaza in the continued and intensive bombing of the enclave and its cities by Israeli forces. While affirming the right of the State of Israel to defend itself, we urge the immediate recognition of international law in respect of civilian populations and occupied territories.
We join the many calls for an immediate cessation of hostilities in order that adequate humanitarian aid may reach the people of Gaza who are without power, water, food and medical supplies and are living in increasingly desperate conditions, now amounting to famine.
Ps 130.1 “Out of the depths we cry to you, O Lord; O Lord, hear our voice.”
Statement on Ukraine and Russia
The Management Team of the World Methodist Council, meeting in Cape Town, South Africa, on 11-12 March 2024, has noted with deep concern the second anniversary of the war initiated by an unprovoked attack on Ukraine by Russia in February 2022.
Recognising that the history of the region is long and complex, and that nothing but suffering and destruction can be achieved by armed conflict, we call for an immediate cessation of fighting and the withdrawal from occupied territory. We further note with concern that the ongoing war continues to cause food deprivation in parts of the world which have been heavily dependent on grain from Ukraine for survival.
The Team remembers that there are Methodist and other Christians on each side in this conflict and prays that they may be blessed as peace-makers.
We ask for prayer for ‘the people called Methodist’ and others in the region, for Bishop Eduard Khegay of the Eurasia Episcopal Area of The United Methodist Church, for Bishop Christian Alsted of the Nordic and Baltic Episcopal Area as he travels to and from Ukraine and for all local and regional church leaders as they minister against this backdrop of war.
Methodist Ecumenical Office Rome 