The Higher Presidential Committee for Church Affairs in Palestine has issued a strong warning against growing attempts by individuals and newly formed initiatives seeking to bypass the legitimate church authorities or falsely claim to represent Palestinian Christians outside the framework of the recognized historical churches, particularly the Council of Churches in Jerusalem.
The Committee cautioned against initiatives that are managed or promoted from outside Palestine and presented as representative of Palestinian Christians, stressing that such actions pose a serious threat to the unity of the Christian community, constitute illegitimate interference in church affairs, and aim to impose artificial representational frameworks that serve political agendas contrary to the interests of Palestinian Christians and their national principles.
The Committee reaffirmed that the historical churches in Palestine are the sole legitimate religious and ecclesiastical authority entrusted with the pastoral care and representation of Palestinian Christians. This status is rooted in long-established church traditions and in internationally recognized legal principles that guarantee the independence of religious institutions and prohibit interference in their internal affairs.
It further warned that promoting these initiatives through political and diplomatic channels, including meetings with official representatives of foreign states, represents a blatant attempt to impose illegitimate alternatives to the authentic ecclesiastical and national leadership. The Committee noted that such efforts dangerously intersect with the discourse of so-called “Christian Zionism,” which instrumentalizes religion in the service of a settler-colonial project that fundamentally contradicts the message of Jesus Christ, founded on truth, justice, and peace.
The Committee emphasized that Palestinian Christians are an inseparable part of the Palestinian people and their just cause, and that any genuine defense of their rights must come within the broader struggle for their national rights, including their right to remain steadfast on their land and preserve their historical and ecclesiastical presence.
The Committee stressed that any legitimate representation of Palestinian Christians can only take place through their historical churches and their lawful leadership, embodied in the Council of Churches in Jerusalem. It warned that engaging with unauthorized bodies only serves to weaken church unity and undermine the Palestinian Christian presence in the Holy Land.
In conclusion, the Committee highly commended the responsible and principled position issued by the Council of Churches in Jerusalem, considering it a unifying expression of both ecclesiastical and national legitimacy, and a cornerstone in safeguarding the independence of the churches and protecting the authentic Christian presence in Palestine.
