Introductory Letter from Fellowship of Reconciliation

September 30, 2002
Washington, DC

Eight U.S. citizens recently departed for two weeks in Lebanon, Jordan, and Israel/Palestine as part of Fellowship of Reconciliation’s Interfaith Peace-Builders delegation. The delegation is co-sponsored by the Resource Center for Nonviolence of Santa Cruz, California, and led by Scott Kennedy, RCNV Middle East Program Coordinator.

During their stay in the region, delegates are scheduled to meet with peace and human rights activists and organizations, humanitarian assistance workers, community and religious leaders, refugees, settlers, educators, and government representatives from across the political spectrum.

The purpose of their visit is to gain deeper insight into the issues surrounding the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, to examine the effects of United States foreign policy in the region, and express support for Israelis, Palestinians, and others who are working for a nonviolent, just, and sustainable peace.

The delegation is comprised of a congressional staff person, two ministers, a public relations representative, a computer applications specialist, and a Peace and Justice Pastoral Ministry Coordinator hailing from Santa Cruz, Berkeley, Minneapolis, Olympia, Washington, and Dickinson, North Dakota. This is the first visit to the region for six out of the eight participants.

Upon their return to the United States on October 11, delegates are committed to share their experiences with the public and their political representatives. If you wish to hear directly from the participants when they return, please contact us. We can provide you with information about their speaking engagements or help you arrange a visit from a participant.

The delegation will also be sending back regular reports during their trip, which will be forwarded to our email network and posted on the FOR website at www.forusa.org(also at www.stjoan.com) . If you are not part of our email network and wish to receive delegation reports and updates on the work of FOR’s Interfaith Peace-Builders Program, please email us at middleeast@forusa.org or phone us at 202-244-0821.

Joe Groves, Gretchen Merryman
Interfaith Peace-Builders Program
The Fellowship of Reconciliation
Phone: (202) 244-0821; Fax: (202) 244-6396