Christian Church

(Disciples of Christ)
IN THE UNITED STATES AND CANADA

Global Ministries
Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and United Church of Christ

A Pastoral Letter on the Crisis in Syria

October 2013
See, Damascus will cease to be a city,
and will become a heap of ruins.
Her towns will be deserted forever. Isaiah 17:1-2a
Sisters and brothers of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and United Church of Christ,
For the past two and a half years, we have witnessed the deterioration of the situation in Syria. In March
2011, peaceful protests took place in the spirit of similar demonstrations in Tunisia and Egypt, seeking
greater political rights and better economic opportunities. Within two months, antagonisms turned
violent. Today, more than 110,000 people are confirmed killed and at least 7 milliona full third of
Syrias populationhave been forced from their homes. Most of the displaced remain within Syria, and
at least two million are registered as refugees in neighboring countriesLebanon, Jordan, Egypt, Turkey,
and Armenia. The political crisis begs a solution; the human tragedy will not soon disappear.
What started out as a political protest has morphed into a devastating civil war that is increasingly defined
by sectarian identity. Syria is the home of Sunni Muslims, Alawites, Druze, and Christians. Before the
war altered the countrys demography, Syrias majority was over 70% Sunni Muslim, but Alawites (the
religious identity of President Asads family) and Christians each comprised a little over one-tenth of the
population. Syrias population is also ethnically diverse; while mostly Arab, it includes Kurds and
Armenians.
Through Global Ministries, we have nurtured relationships with the Christian community in Syria for
over a century. Syrian Christians are now caught in the middle of the struggle for power. Having
experienced great freedoms to worship and to express their faith under two Asad regimes, they are
generally assumed to be supportive of the current government; in fact, Syrian Christians possess diverse
political perspectives. Even so they, along with most Syrians, desperately wish the conflict to end and the
suffering to cease.
The past few weeks have been especially tense. In the space of a few days the United States went from a
posture of imminent missile strikes on Syria, to debate in Congress, to a diplomatic opening that paved
the way for negotiations to account for and destroy Syrias chemical weapons. Even so, the conflict in
Syria continues to rage with only the specter of hope that a political solution can be reached to end the 30month war.
The United Church of Christ and Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) are especially concerned about
the humanitarian crisis. To that end, we are supporting relief efforts for the displaced and refugees.
Currently, two Global Mission Interns are serving with partners in the Middle East, focusing on the
Syrian refugee crisis. Through One Great Hour of Sharing (OGHS) and Week of Compassion (WoC), the
UCC and Disciples have already contributed over $100,000 to Global Ministries partners undertaking
relief work throughout the region in 2013, including partners in Syria, Lebanon, Jordan and Turkey.
United Church of Christ
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Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)

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Additionally, OGHS and WoC have directed funds to our primary UCC and Disciples ecumenical
humanitarian agencies such as Church World Service and the ACT Alliance. While these contributions

are not insignificant, they only meet a small portion of the vast needs of those who have been
affected. Continued support for our joint relief efforts is greatly needed.
Last month in Geneva, the Disciples General Minister and President Sharon Watkins was among a
gathering of Christian leaders from Syria and the around the world. They concluded that, Churches must
continue to raise their voice in their congregations, in their societies and with their governments. We must
strengthen the public outcry so that those in power will protect the common interest of humanity.
Recent efforts again prove diplomacy as an effective tool to resolve conflict. We have joined ecumenical
and interfaith initiatives seeking alternatives to US military involvement, and supporting humanitarian
relief. Through the UCCs Justice and Peace Action Network in late September, thousands of letters were
sent to Washington to avoid military intervention. Even so, the recent diplomatic engagement over
chemical weapons cannot be mistaken for the need to resolve the crisis more broadly. The Christian
leaders who met in Geneva stated, We believe there can be no military solution to the crisis in Syria. It is
time for the international community to assume its responsibility to end the violence and initiate a
political process that brings peace for all the people of Syria.
Isaiahs prophecy portended the destruction of Damascus. That text is indeed eerie as we witness the
brutality and destruction of this war today. It is especially tear-wrenching as we hear from church friends
and partners in the region of the extent of the damage, and the impact on individuals and communities.
Yet we also know that Damascus is a place of transformationwhere Paul regained his sight and was
changed for life. We recognize that God can inspire change in the hearts of Gods children. We pray that
warring factions will see the futility of their actions, and that they recognize that only death and
destruction results.
Acts 9 says, Now there was a disciple in Damascus named Ananias. The Lord said to him in a vision,
Ananias. He answered, Here I am, Lord. The Lord said to him, Get up and go to the street called
Straight. We urge you to respond to this tragedy in ways you are called to: through prayer; by learning
more about our Global Ministries and ecumenical partners and their witness; by working to support a
peaceful and negotiated resolution of the conflict; and by contributing to OGHS and WoC to help our
partners meet the vast humanitarian needs.
In Christ,
Rev. Geoffrey Black
General Minister and President
United Church of Christ

Rev. Dr. Sharon Watkins

General Minister and President
Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)

Rev. Dr. James Moos

Executive Minister
Wider Church Ministries, UCC
Co-Executive, Global Ministries

Rev. Julia Brown Karimu

President
Division of Overseas Ministries, Disciples
Co-Executive, Global Ministries