I NOTE the letter (September 12) from C Muir, who asked why the Church of Scotland was "bleating" about funding cuts to Tabeetha school whilst Christians were being murdered by IS. The church has close links with partner churches and organisations around the world, including in the Middle East, and speaks on social, economic and political issues which affect them as and when appropriate. We are currently supporting our partner church in Syria to respond to the humanitarian situation there, as well as churches in neighbouring countries who are supporting refugees. We have been robust in our condemnation of the violence and persecution of all people by IS.
The situation in Israel is pertinent to the Church of Scotland as it directly affects a school for which we are responsible. We are taking part in this strike, as we believe the funding cuts fundamentally threaten the provision of Christian education in the country, and therefore ultimately the Christian faith in the country.
We have long worked on the ground with partners of all faiths and none who seek to build peace in Israel and the occupied territories and we believe that further inequalities within Israel will not be conducive to building a lasting and sustainable peace.
Like your correspondent, we would like to see less bad news from Israel and the Middle East, and all our prayers and efforts are directed towards that end. We will continue to critique the policies of the state of Israel in the same way we do all countries when we believe they jeopardise justice or contravene international law.
Rev Iain Cunningham,
Convener, World Mission Council,
Church of Scotland, 121 George Street, Edinburgh.
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