[Media Release] WEA and European Evangelical Alliance Call for Immediate Ceasefire and Withdrawal of Russian Forces from Ukraine, Urge Prayers for Peace

[Media Release]

WEA and European Evangelical Alliance Call for Immediate Ceasefire and Withdrawal of Russian Forces from Ukraine, Urge Prayers for Peace

Feb. 24, 2022. World Evangelical Alliance. Retrieved from: https://worldea.org/.

The World Evangelical Alliance (WEA) joins the European Evangelical Alliance (EEA) in condemning the violation of international law by Russia and calling for an immediate end to the attacks on Ukraine. WEA and EEA also call upon churches around the world to pray for restoration of peace.

WEA Secretary General Bishop Dr Thomas Schirrmacher said: “We are gravely concerned to yet again witness armed conflict that will inevitably lead to tragic loss of human lives, including innocent civilians who only desire to live in peace. We call for an end to the hostilities, an immediate ceasefire and respect for Ukrainian territorial integrity.”

“We also call on the global Christian community to pray for peace in Ukraine. Europe has witnessed the horrors of war in the past and has learned that armed conflict and military occupation only bring suffering and devastating.”

The European Evangelical Alliance released the following statement:

The European Evangelical Alliance condemns all attacks upon Ukraine. The General Secretary, Thomas Bucher says: “We see no justification for these actions and are deeply distressed by the death, destruction, chaos and misery that will result.”

The invasion of Ukraine is both unjustified and unprovoked. It has been claimed that the attack is necessary to protect ethnic Russians within Ukraine and to stop Ukraine from threatening Russia. These claims are untrue. This disaster has been provoked into being by President Putin for wider geopolitical purposes.

Russia and Ukraine are both sovereign nations that must be able to live in peace with each other, respecting each other’s borders and internal and geopolitical affairs. EEA calls upon Christians to pray for all who suffer and for those who have the power to save lives, bring humanitarian aid and protection. And let us pray for all those with the power to stop the war and to bring about long-term peace.

Read also: WEA and European Evangelical Alliance Call for Prayer for Peace in Ukraine

MEDIA CONTACT:

• Timothy K. Goropevsek. Chief Communications Officer
• timothyg@worldea.org
• +1 212.233.3046

Over two billion Christians in the world today are represented by three world church bodies. The World Evangelical Alliance (WEA) is one of those, serving more than 600 million evangelicals belonging to churches that are part of 143 national Evangelical Alliances in 9 regions. Launched in London in 1846, the WEA unites evangelicals across denominations for prayer, evangelism, mission, theological education, religious freedom, human rights advocacy and engagement in a wide range of social issues. It speaks with one voice to United Nations, governments and media in public or through behind-the-scenes diplomacy on issues of common concern to the Church. For more information, visit worldea.org.