WA Synod 2025 – Peace and Justice in the Holy Land
Uniting Church WA encourages non-violent, anti-genocide action in support of peace and justice for the people of Palestine.
The decisions were made at the 49th Annual meeting of the Synod of WA which took place on Saturday 13 and Sunday 14 September 2025, where Uniting Church members from around Western Australia gathered together to discuss issues of importance in the life of the church and wider community.
Introducing the proposal, Rev Sophia Lizares said:
“Members of Synod, the golden calves of nationalism and race have no place among us. We have been called to worship only the God of love”.
She then went on to lament that “all the wisdom, beauty and relationship of this ancient people (the Palestinians) are being systematically destroyed and intentionally erased by war and dispossession.”
“Recently the World Council of Churches sent out a Call to End Apartheid, Occupation and Impunity in Palestine and Israel. This call has been adopted by the Assembly Standing Committee. As a Christian in diaspora, and a member of our multicultural church, I therefore bring a proposal on behalf of the Social Justice Commission. This was adapted from a resolution of the recent Synod of Victoria and Tasmania.”
In adopting the proposal, Synod members resolved to:
reaffirm its long-standing commitment to ecumenical and inter-religious dialogue and co-operation.
condemn the increasing racist and anti-immigration violence in our communities, including antisemetic acts against the Jewish community and Islamaphobic acts against the Muslim community in Australia.
condemn the mis-characterisation of non-violent anti-genocide action in support of the Palestinian people as antisemetic,
encourage Uniting Church WA members to engage in continuing non-violent anti-genocide action, including on the International Day of Peace, Sunday 21 September during the World Week for Peace in Palestine and Israel (20-26 September 2025)
The proposal also requests the Synod write to the Prime Minister, the federal Leader of the Opposition, and the Premier and Leader of the Opposition in Western Australia, informing them of the resolution.
In the rationale supporting the proposal, Rev Sophia Lizares and Darian Partington, Social Justice Commission members wrote:
“We call on fellow Uniting Church members to stand alongside the Palestinian people, particularly Palestinian Christians, and to reject racism within Australia by speaking out against rising antisemitism, islamophobia and anti-immigrant sentiment.
Non-violent action can include writing letters to politicians and the media, signing petitions, making deputations to politicians, remembering the dead in vigils, participating in protest marches, boycotting or picketing businesses, or engaging in student strikes.”
The proposal was adopted by consensus.
Prayers for Peace
Following the evening meal on the same day, members of Synod were invited to join in a time of prayer and reflection for peace in the Holy Lands led by the Social Justice Commission. People were invited to place olive branches around the Christ candle in a time of prayer and reflection.
After a time of silence and personal prayers Rev Sophia Lizares read a ‘Prayer for This Moment’, written by Rabbi Alissa Wise, Jewish Voice for Peace Rabbinical Council, a prayer which was written in October 2023. The prayer included the following words:
“…May the One Who Makes Peace illuminate paths of peace for those seeing only paths of violence and vengeance
May the One Who Loves Justice fortify us to reinforce our solidarities with all those who share our vision of justice and dignity for all people
May the One Who Knows Hope instill in us the confidence to imagine wholeness, safety, and freedom for all people…”
The full prayer can be found on the Jewish Voice for Peace website – https://www.jewishvoiceforpeace.org/2023/10/08/rabcab10-08/
