Moderator Carmen Lansdowne Reflects
on What Is Happening in Israel
and the Occupied Palestinian Territories

The Right Rev. Dr. Carmen Lansdowne, Moderator of the United Church of Canada; Photo Credit: The United Church of Canada

The following reflection was posted on Moderator Carmen Lansdowne’s Facebook page on October 8, 2023.

I have been sitting on the side of my bed for an hour trying to figure our what, or how, to say something about what is happening in the Holy Land – Israel and the occupied Palestinian Territories at the moment.

First – before I was moderator I was invited to participate in an academic conference in Bethlehem on land and theology in the fall of 2020. Because Covid, that conference was rescheduled to this past week. I am mostly in awe of the fact that I would have been there right now were I not moderator.

Second – I am grateful that the UCCan UNJPPI “come and see” visit scheduled for next week is cancelled.

I am conflicted as my personal feelings do not align completely with existing church policy, and that is because as a church we are not aligned. So I am hesitant to say anything at the same time as I feel I can’t say nothing.

And what I keep coming back to is a deeply held conviction that we need to stop theologizing this conflict. And that we must be accurate: that we talk about the three Abrahamic faiths (Judaism, Christianity, and Islam) as distinct from nationality (Israeli and Palestinian/Arab (acknowledging that the Palestinian/Arab identification is problematic in a number of ways because Palestine is not a state yet)). And to realize that not all Palestinians – not even all members of Hamas, are militants. It is very complex.

I also always wish us to avoid binary dualisms as if there is a balance of power. Both Israelis and Palestinians have committed war crimes and broken international human rights and humanitarian law over the last 75 years. But as an occupying power, there are specific obligations the state of Israel must uphold that are not required of Palestinians under international law. International human rights and humanitarian law apply to both sides – just there are additional obligations for an occupying power. And for me, in reflecting on the conflict, I always return to that in how one might pray for a just peace.

Lastly, I am deeply grieving that there are pockets of extremists of many backgrounds and in many places that wish this war to come in order to trigger the coming or second coming of the Messiah. May G-d have mercy on us all, and may they keep civilians safe everywhere.

I am especially saying tonight prayers for friends in the Westbank – both Palestinian and American, and prayers for friends and children of friends in Israel – both Canadian and Israeli. And all those affected.

For a deeply pastoral response I am grateful to my sisters in leadership – Primate Linda Nichols (Anglican Church in Canada) and Bishop Susan Johnson (ELCIC) for their joint statement on their full communion website:  In Full Communion: Anglicans and Lutherans working together in Canada.

Note:  The joint statement can also be read in this post on the Parish’s website.