Don't We Want Peace?
It is October 7, 2025, as I write these words. It has been two years of war and conflict since thousands of Islamic terrorists stormed into Israel and tortured, raped and executed over 1200 people and took 251 hostages and forced them to live in deplorable conditions under constant threat of violence.
As a Christian, I have looked to mainline denominations for leadership in practicing what they preach about seeking peace. Yet, at the very moment that there is a glimmer of hope represented by the Trump Peace Plan, a multi-denominational response advocating for peace should emerge. Alas, the sound of silence has been deafening.
By my count, there are forty-five mainline Christian denominations across North America and Europe. Seven of the largest denominations have issued public statements during the Gaza War calling for an immediate ceasefire, with the onus of responsibility on Israel to stand down from further military action.
Logically, one would assume that at least some of the mainline Christian denominations would recognize the urgency of the moment and endorse Trump’s peace plan. Sadly, my research shows that there are zero instances of any denomination publicly supporting the most recent Trump peace plan for Gaza. Instead, where they mention Gaza at all, the trend is toward ceasefire/humanitarian access or explicit criticism of elements attributed to the plan.
It is not a situation where the leadership of the different denominations could not respond quickly and post something through their communications channels. Today, the United Church of Canada (UCC) issued a statement calling for the release of the hostages. That is commendable. However, as we have seen throughout this war with church statements, there is a constant theme of moral equivalency between terrorist groups like Hamas and a democracy with the rule of law like Israel.
The UCC statement says, “The church echoes the cry of Israelis demanding the immediate and safe return of their loved ones for the past two years, as Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank have cried, demanding the release of their loved ones held captive in Israeli jails. These war crimes must end and all those responsible must be held accountable.”
The men, women and children slaughtered on Oct 7, 2023, did not receive due process through the extensive layers of the legal system in Israel. They were slaughtered and captured simply because they were/are Jews. In contrast, the “loved ones held captive in Israeli jails” range from perpetrators of mass terrorist killings to militants who took up arms against IDF troops. They are in jail because they have been found guilty of serious crimes. They are humanely treated, unlike the Israeli hostages.
Why can’t mainline Christian denominations bring themselves to support the last real chance for peace in Gaza publicly? Is it because President Trump may score some political advantage? Or is it a symptom of a more pernicious toxic belief that has reemerged in recent years as the latest brand of Christian antisemitism? Perhaps the mainline denominations just can’t bring themselves to embrace the idea of a peaceful and secure State of Israel.