Churches for Middle East Peace is a 501 non-profit advocacy organization based in Washington, D.C. As a coalition of Orthodox, Catholic and Protestant churches, CMEP works to influence American policy in ways that will bring justice and peace for all people and countries in the Middle East. In addition, Churches for Middle East Peace currently has over 100 partner churches, which are religious orders, congregations, church committees, regional church bodies, and church-related organizations such as peace fellowships that commit to working for Middle East peace, and can agree with CMEP's mission and views.
Advocacy
CMEP has the following policy positions: CMEP emphasizes the important role that Christians have to play in prospects for pluralism and democracy in Palestinian society and supports a safe and secure state of Israel. It urges the United States to pursue the creation of a Palestinian state and the end of Israel's occupation as integral to helping Israel achieve the security, recognition and normalization of relations with all countries of the region that it has long been denied. CMEP has vocally supported the efforts of the Obama Administration to re-establish direct negotiations between Israeli and Palestinian parties. On August 30, 2010 they organized a letter to President Obama stating support for his goal of ending the occupation that has existed since 1967 and achieving a just and comprehensive two-state solution to the current conflict. Signed by the leadership of 29 national Catholic, Orthodox, mainline Protestant, Evangelical, and historic African American denominations and organizations, the letter acknowledged the difficulties in achieving this goal, but pledged the U.S. Christian community's efforts to expand the dialogue with American Jewish and Palestinian communities to help achieve this goal. CMEP has also advocated for U.S. leadership in ending the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. In June 2010 they issued a statement advocating for the relief of the blockade of Gaza. In doing so, they affirmed their position that Palestinians have the right to more than just humanitarian aid. They are entitled "to trade, travel, study, and engage in productive work, subject only to reasonable security requirements, and to take part in building a viable Palestinian state together with those who live in the West Bank. Israel has the right to self-defense and to prevent illicit trafficking in arms." CMEP takes an even handed approach, emphasizing the need for both sides to create the conditions for peace. During the 2008-2009 Gaza War, CMEP acknowledged that "Israel's massive military operation has taken a terrible toll on Gaza's population and public infrastructure, while ongoing indiscriminate rocket attacks against towns in southern Israel have made normal life there impossible." CMEP has received praise for its bi-partisan and even handed approach, seeking only to move toward a negotiated peace for both Israel and Palestinians.
Management and Organizational Structure
Churches for Middle East Peace's Executive Director, Rev. Dr. Mae Elise Cannon is a minister, writer, and academic. She has authored several books, including Social Justice Handbook: Small Steps for a Better World and Just Spirituality: How Faith Practices Fuel Social Action and was a co-author of Forgive Us: Confessions of a Compromised Faith. Cannon is an ordained pastor in the Evangelical Covenant Church. Her ministry and professional background includes serving as the Senior Director of Advocacy and Outreach for World Vision-US, the executive pastor of Hillside Covenant Church, Director of Development and Transformation for Extension Ministries at Willow Creek Community Church, and as a consultant to the Middle East for child advocacy issues for Compassion International. She earned her doctorate in American History with the minor in Middle Eastern studies from the University of California – Davis, focusing her dissertation on the history of the American Protestant church in Israel and Palestine. Cannon holds an M.Div. From North Park Theological Seminary, an M.B.A. from North Park University's School of Business and Nonprofit Management, and an M.A. in bioethics from Trinity International University. CMEP's governing board, which makes all policy decisions, is composed of staff from the national policy offices of the coalition members in addition to two independent members. This board makes all policy decisions by consensus. CMEP staff and the board implement these through concrete educational and advocacy actions. CMEP's Board Members include: Alliance of Baptists American Baptist Churches USA Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America Armenian Orthodox Church Christian Church / Christian Reformed Church Church of the Brethren Church World Service The Episcopal Church Evangelical Covenant Church Evangelical Lutheran Church in America Evangelicals for Social Action Franciscan Friars Friends Committee on National Legislation Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America Moravian Church in America National Council of Churches Presbyterian Church Reformed Church in America Unitarian Universalist Association United Church of Christ/ United Methodist Church/ General Board of Church and Society
