We, the La Verne Church of the Brethren, commit ourselves to the continuing journey of racial justice. We do so by dedicating ourselves to the inner work of our own learning and healing and to the outer work of standing in solidarity with others through our actions, words, relationships, and practices.
To read our Land Acknowledgement Statement, click HERE.
To read our Statement on Systemic Racism Effectuated through Voter Disenfranchisement click HERE.
To read our Statement on Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, and George Floyd, click HERE.
Statement on the violence in Israel & Palestine
La Verne Church of the Brethren
As one of three historic peace churches, the La Verne Church of the Brethren affirms our foundational commitment to nonviolence and reconciliation. From our origin, we have opposed war and systems of oppression, standing in solidarity with communities harmed by violence, injustice, and domination. We have supported conscientious objectors, opposed the Vietnam War, marched for civil rights, and spoken against South African apartheid. In 1967, 1986, 1987 and 1989, the Church of the Brethren Annual conference made statements and resolutions related to apartheid in South Africa. “We see apartheid as an evil system. The Church of the Brethren recognizes the link between U.S. corporate presence … and the strength and stability of apartheid.” This affirmation, made in 1989, addressed the unjust system of South African apartheid. In the same spirit, our faith compels us to affirm the following:
- We condemn the brutal and violent attacks carried out on October 7, 2023 by Hamas and the more than 1200 people who were killed and over 200 Israelis who were taken hostage.
- We acknowledge the legacy of antisemitism in the United States–specifically in Christian contexts–and around the world. We reject antisemitism and the hatred, violence, and dehumanization it has produced.
- We are concerned about the presence of apartheid in Israel and Palestine.
- We acknowledge the value of joining with other organizations with common values to advocate for peace in Israel and Palestine, in particular an end to the killing of Palestinians.
- We condemn the ongoing and often indiscriminate attacks carried out by the Israeli government against Palestinians particularly in Gaza, attacks that have killed over 64,000 people. This month the Human Rights Commission of the United Nations has declared this a genocide.
- We confess our complicity in the violence taking place in Israel and Palestine—acknowledging the role our tax dollars play in funding weapons and supporting systems that perpetuate such harm.
- We reaffirm our Church’s commitment to nonviolent advocacy for those facing violence and oppression worldwide and recognize that state sponsored oppression is not isolated to Israel. This includes people suffering under genocidal or mass atrocity conditions in places such as Sudan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ukraine, Myanmar, Ethiopia (Tigray), Xinjiang (Uyghur Muslims in China), and Nagorno-Karabakh (Armenians displaced by Azerbaijani forces).
- We commit ourselves to continuing our own education and exploring stronger and more supportive relationships with our Jewish and Palestinian sisters, brothers and siblings, including our neighbors.
We believe peacemaking must be principled, persistent, and rooted in the sacred dignity of every person. We affirm that this statement is one such effort.
Board Of the La Verne Church of the Brethren
September 16, 2025
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