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Edition 1

October 2025

Welcome to the first issue of the Wisconsin Conference Palestine Justice Working Group’s bi-monthly newsletter. This first edition will provide information of immediate use to individuals and congregations throughout the Wisconsin Conference. We hope you will learn, pray, and take action with us.If you wish to continue receiving our newsletter, once every two months, please subscribe here.

In recognition of the 2-year anniversary of the October 6 attack in Israel, we offer the following prayer, written by Dr. Peter Makari, Executive for Middle East & Europe at Global Ministries UCC of the United Church of Christ and the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ):

God of peace and God of justice, in this time when the world witnesses the injustice of violence of war in many places – Ukraine, Sudan, Ethiopia, and the Middle East – we come to you seeking your mercy and your guidance. It is always the most vulnerable who suffer the most, experiencing death and injury, hunger and pain, displacement and loss. In the lands where you became incarnate, Palestinians have been victims of a two-year genocidal assault in Gaza, and intensified military occupation in the West Bank, with US backing and support. For decades, they have struggled for their rights. God, have mercy.

As we witness the suffering in the world, we pray of you, O God, for your guidance to discern what we can do to effect positive change, the strength to continue to raise our voices for justice, and for the courage to speak to those in power that their hearts may be opened to do what is necessary to work for peace in this broken world. Hear our prayer, O God. Amen.

Summer 2025 Wisconsin Conference Annual Meeting and General Synod Resolution Updates

At the 2024 Annual Meeting of the Wisconsin Conference UCC, delegates voted to launch a year of study by local congregations on the issue of a just peace between Palestine and Israel. Delegates to that Annual Meeting hoped that following a year of study, the Conference would adopt the 2021 UCC General Synod Resolution, “Declaration for a Just Peace Between Palestine and Israel” (located halfway down on this page). At the 2025 Wisconsin Conference Annual Meeting, finding that the number of congregations completing study of the Resolution was not sufficient to trigger a vote of adoption, the Meeting delegates decided to extend the time for studying the Resolution to the 2026 Annual Meeting.

In our denomination, resolutions serve as a blueprint for action. They shape our mission in the world. They also serve to educate ourselves and those around us. They are a prophetic witness on behalf of our partners affected directly by the circumstances identified in the resolution. They play an important role in the life of the church. They name who and what we stand for.

While continuing to encourage study of the 2021 UCC General Synod Resolution cited above, we also call to your attention another resolution, “Declaration for an End to Genocide in Palestine” that was passed at the 2025 General Synod this past summer. This prophetic resolution contains useful new information and insights, and merits your careful study. The Palestine Justice Working Group is available to assist congregations to study these resolutions. Contact us through the Conference office.

How can I make an immediate positive impact on the lives of men, women and children living in Gaza and the West Bank?

It’s a question many are asking.

One action we can take is to contribute to the Wisconsin Conference UCC campaign for Palestine through Church World Service (click the Wisconsin Conference - Donate button and specify the “Gaza Relief Through Church World Service” fund). 

Additionally, the Palestine Justice Working Group has carefully reviewed a list of humanitarian organizations that are currently at work today in Gaza and the West Bank, providing vital services to people in need. While acknowledging there are many hard-working, meritorious (and heroic!) organizations at work in Gaza and the West Bank, we focused our analysis on organizations with which members of our team are personally familiar. 

Here we provide a short list of organizations who have a solid track record of humanitarian service, are very well run, and to which you can donate to with confidence, knowing your contributions will provide immediate relief to suffering Palestinian men, women and children.

The five organizations we highlight for your consideration are:        

• Middle East Children’s Alliance (MECA)
• Al-Ahli Gaza Hospital
• Dar al-Kalima University/Bright Stars of Bethlehem
• United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA)
• Tent of Nations

You may wonder about donating to organizations working in Gaza, where Israel has temporarily halted delivery of goods and services. (The first four organizations listed below have parts or all of their operations in Gaza.) Know that these organizations continue heroically to offer aid and care even while supplies are blocked. As one example, Al-Ahli Gaza hospital continues to provide medical care using whatever remaining supplies may be available. Be assured that vital supplies provided by these organizations will flow into Gaza the moment Israelis lift their blockade of humanitarian aid.

TAKE ACTION!

Churches for Middle East Peace (CMEP) help to resolve conflicts in the Middle East by mobilizing Christians in the U.S. to advocate equality, human rights, security, and justice for Israeli’s, Palestinian’s, and all people of the Middle East. These values are inherent to the Gospel and it is their mission to promote these values on the world stage. Learn more and join CMEP in this work at https://cmep.org/

• Tell Congress to support H.R. 3565, The Block the Bombs Act
• Demand a ceasefire.
• Read this PBS article, Aid groups call on Israel to end “weaponization” of aid in Gaza.
• Watch this video, an interview with a former Green Beret who worked at Gaza food sites.
• Tell Congress to end the siege and blockade, allow full humanitarian access, and stop the bombardment of Gaza. 
• Call your House Representative. FIND YOURS HERE.
• Call your Senators. FIND YOURS HERE.

Global Flotilla sailing to Gaza to Bring Humanitarian Aid

With delegations from 45 countries, the Global Sumud Flotilla (GSF) is the largest civilian maritime mission organized to break Israel's illegal siege on Gaza. Coordinated by grassroots organizers, seafarers, doctors, artists, and solidarity activists from over 40 countries, the flotilla is a nonviolent humanitarian mission responding to the ongoing genocide and siege against the Palestinian people. In August and September 2025, boats of all sizes will set sail from ports around the world, converging toward Gaza to open a humanitarian corridor by sea. To learn more and follow their journey go to Sail to Gaza - Collective Action for Gaza.

All Eyes on Palestine

“All Eyes on Palestine” was the message the newly renamed UCC Movement for Palestinian Solidarity (MPS) – formerly the UCC Palestine Israel Network (PIN) - brought to UCC General Synod this year. 

Learn about the work of MPS by reading their latest newsletter: Movement for Palestinian Solidarity September Newsletter

Rosh Hashanah Message

Watch this video from Rabbi Sharon Brous, “If the Soul of the Jewish People is to be Redeemed.”

We hope you enjoyed this inaugural newsletter. If you wish to continue receiving every-other-month editions, please subscribe here..

Tracy Abler, editor