On the first day of General Synod, a group gathered outside the Kansas City Convention Center for a candlelight vigil. Participants held signs with artful depictions of eyes while singing and praying together. “All eyes on Palestine,” the signs read, and “We cannot look away.”
It’s a message that leaders of the newly renamed UCC Movement for Palestinian Solidarity (MPS) – formerly the UCC Palestine Israel Network (PIN) – are delivering from people they’ve met in Palestine.
The UCC Movement for Palestinian Solidarity offers images of eyes to bring focus to Palestine.
The words “All eyes on Palestine” are inspired by a Palestinian art project called I Witness Silwan from a community just outside of Jerusalem. It was created in response to the many Palestinians under pressure for demolition or displacement from their homes to be occupied by Israeli settlers, explained the Rev. Linda Noonan, an MPS leader. Noonan most recently visited Palestine in May with a Sabeel Christian Leaders delegation. She described the view from the area of the pool of Siloam — where Jesus is said to have healed the blind man — of a hillside covered with large eyes painted across entire houses in protest of the dispossession.
Inspired by this impactful public art installment, MPS leaders plan to stand in silent witness holding images of eyes at the entrance to each worship and plenary session at Synod. They are extending an open invitation for people at Synod to stand with them as a physical witness of solidarity with Palestinian partners.
‘It goes both ways’
“We hope our motto for Synod, ‘All Eyes on Palestine,’ can connect people with the notion that right now a genocide is being livestreamed before our eyes,” Noonan said. “We want to remind ourselves that we can’t look away, but also that our partners are watching us. It goes both ways – they are literally praying for the UCC to take bold action in support of them. Words from us matter, our actions matter, small congregations witnessing and standing for this really gives hope to our partners in Palestine.”
People gathered for a candlelight vigil with singing and prayer outside the Kansas City Convention Center on Friday, July 11.
“It’s really our hope that it won’t be possible to be at this General Synod and not be aware of these issues,” said the Rev. John Gregory-Davis, another MPS leader, who noted that the U.S. is supporting the violence toward Palestinians “on our behalf and with our tax dollars.”
Delegates of this Synod will consider a Declaration for an End to Genocide in Palestine as one of the proposed Resolutions of Witness.
A name to solidify focus
The Movement for Palestinian Solidarity is rolling out the new name at Synod, and part of the Steering Committee’s choice to re-name is a hope to emphasize the need to continue building a movement throughout the UCC.
The UCC Palestine Israel Network first developed in 2012, inspired by the work of General Synod, as a group that does not speak directly for the UCC, but speaks to it, Noonan explained. She added that this was a time when other mainline progressive denominations were also forming PIN organizations with many of them in support of a two-state solution.
People attending Synod are invited to stand with the Movement for Palestinian Solidarity prior to plenary sessions and worship and at vigils.
A name change to become the UCC Movement for Palestinian Solidarity seeks to update the focus toward current urgent priorities.
“We want peace and justice for all that live in that area, but it felt important to us in this moment to really lean into the connection to Palestinian siblings,” Noonan said. “In this moment, we felt called to move into costly solidarity with them.”
More to come at Synod
There are many ways for people to learn, engage, and prayerfully respond at Synod.
The MPS booth in the Exhibit Hall has resources related to the proposed resolution on Palestine, posters, and buttons. They have kufiyahs for sale as well, noting the difficulty of finding them in many locations.
Another vigil will take place outside of the Convention Center entrance Saturday, July 12 at 4:00 p.m. All are invited to join.
An in-person workshop on Sunday, July 13 at 10:30 a.m. called “For Such a Time as This: Palestine, Solidarity, and Bearing Bold Witness Together” will focus on how people can get involved.
“I hope that people who are concerned but don’t know how to approach this will come and find ways to take this back to their congregations,” Gregory-Davis said.
‘Until peace prevails’
At Friday’s vigil, the Rev. Jenny Veninga, an MPS leader who also visited Palestine in May, shared what she learned from the people there.
“We heard over and over again to just go and tell the truth. I pray we all will have courage to tell the truth even when it’s hard,” Veninga said.
The vigil ended with the Rev. Martha Koenig Stone offering a benediction of hope.
“The devastation is real; the genocide must end; the time for action is now. Let us not look away! Let us not give up! May God strengthen our resolve to see, to tell, and to act with compassion until peace prevails on earth.”
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