Church of the Good Shepherd United Church of Christ
 Statement on the Humanitarian Crisis in Palestine
Ann Arbor, MI
Passed by Congregational Vote on March 24, 2024

But let justice roll on like a river, righteousness like a never-failing stream! 
Amos 5:24 (New International Version)

As the Church of the Good Shepherd (COGS), our roots in Christ and in our Christian faith have pushed  deeper as our branches have grown wider over the years. As a Sanctuary Church (by congregational vote on July 23, 2017), we are called to provide physical, emotional, and spiritual refuge for the oppressed, the wounded, and the targeted. From its earliest days (COGS was established in 1957), this church has spoken out against social injustice. From demanding racial equity and marriage equality to fighting against the mass incarceration of people of color and unjust immigration laws, we have always acted on our faith.

We believe in the principles of non-violence and liberation theology, which bring us closer to God through challenging and working to stop oppression in all of its forms. We have actively supported movements that promote the right of all people to freely and safely exist. Therefore, we are called to respond with the following statement regarding the Israeli government’s total siege on the Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip, which has resulted in a massive humanitarian crisis. We issue this statement as a call to action for our local, state, and national leaders -- specifically, the Biden Administration. We issue this statement because we believe that we must center our focus on the millions of Palestinians, who for decades have lived under an apartheid system, and who:

  • are confined in an untenable geographic, political, and economic cage;

  • have been subjected to incessant carpet bombing;

  • have been denied access to basic necessities including food, clean water, electricity, shelter, and communications infrastructure;

  • face a multitude of physical disabilities as a result of the violence and are increasingly at risk of dying of disease and starvation;

  • are experiencing homelessness and lack access to basic medical care;

  • have become refugees in need of safe corridors to escape the violence; and

  • are unable to properly bury and honor the tens of thousands of family members who have been killed.

This statement is grounded by love and support for our Jewish siblings. We acknowledge the complex history surrounding the Israeli occupation of Gaza and the West Bank, and we grieve the loss of life and liberty of Israeli civilians on October 7th. We support all efforts to combat the Islamophobia and antisemitism that is so prevalent today. But as the Palestinian death toll continues to rise, we must center Palestinian voices and experiences and rally against the intentional erasure of Palestinian people and culture. We can do this while also supporting Jewish people, Jewish history, and Jewish voices calling for peace and equity. We recognize that the Israeli government does not represent the sentiments of all Jewish people.

By issuing this statement, we amplify our solidarity with and support of oppressed peoples globally, while raising awareness of the suffering of the Palestinians. What is happening in Gaza to the Palestinian people is a violation of international law, a violation of what Christ calls us to do, and a violation of the divine word of numerous world religions. Israel’s decades-long systematic oppression, the continued investment in maintaining an apartheid state, and the more recent extreme and atrocious acts of violence are part of a calculated attempt to eradicate a whole population. We are dismayed by how US military support is contributing to the situation in Gaza, which constitutes genocide and goes against everything we believe as a congregation. 

Accordingly, the Church of the Good Shepherd, United Church of Christ, by congregational vote on March 24, 2024: 

  • demands an immediate ceasefire; 

  • demands the US suspend military aid to Israel until a permanent ceasefire agreement has been reached; 

  • demands a humanitarian solution for Palestine that promises immediate access to basic necessities; and 

  • demands an end to the apartheid state, that includes lasting guarantees of freedom, autonomy, and self-determination for everyone.