United Methodists are responding to Kairos Palestine: A Moment of Truth ,a statement of faith and urgent call to action from Christians in Palestine. UMKR seeks, through nonviolent means and in partnership with Palestinian Christians, freedom, justice and equality for all Palestinians and Israelis.
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Responsible Tourism Recommended Trips
Click the links below to see details about trips with these organizations and tour providers.
On the right side of the page, see other places to check for upcoming trips and special opportunities to spend meaningful time in Palestine/Israel.
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Witness and Solidarity Delegation to Palestine with Sabeel
Led by United Methodist Clergy
August 12-21, 2026
The Eyes of Silwan: Public art in the Palestinian Neighborhood of Silwan in East Jerusalem, where Israel is seeking to expel thousands of Palestinians
Join a United Methodist clergy couple, Ed and Sara Phillips, on a Witness and Solidarity Delegation to Palestine-Israel, August 12-21, 2026. The trip is through Sabeel, the Palestinian Liberation Theology Center headquartered in Jerusalem. Sabeel has been organizing trips to support justice for Palestinians and an end to the occupation of their land.
As part of a Sabeel delegation, expect to:
· Meet local Palestinian and Israeli groups to discuss our spiritual and political commitments in the face of the on-going Genocide in Gaza and Occupation of East Jerusalem and the West Bank.
· Learn about the loss of civil and property rights of Palestinian citizens of Israel.
· Meet and reflect with groups that partner with Sabeel to uplift international/ humanitarian law.
· Act in solidarity with people living on the margins.
· Upon your return, witness to your experiences by organizing speaking opportunities, providing information, and working for justice and reconciliation in Israel/Palestine.
Sabeel is asking all participants to contribute $2000 toward the cost of this trip. The $2000 includes lodging (private room), meals, and ground transportation during the delegation. For a shared room, the cost per person is $1600. You will need to recruit your own roommate, but we may be able to help with that.
This trip will be led by L. Ed Phillips, Associate Professor of Historical Theology and Christian Worship at Emory University and Sara Webb Phillips, retired United Methodist minister.
If you are interested, please contact us at lphill6@emory.eduand/or sarawebbphillips@gmail.com.
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St Francis Jubilee Pilgrimage
October 12-23, 2026, plus dates of travel
Two Information Sessions: July 18 and Aug. 1
Four Community Building Sessions: Aug. 22, Sept 5, Sept 19, and Oct 3
This trip is led by Brother Jacek Orzechowski, OFM and organized with his team and Friends of Sabeel North America (FOSNA)
Open to people of any faith.
Fundraising options are available.
For more information, contact us at jubileepilgrimage@proton.me
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Community Peacemaker Teams (CPT)
October 27 – November 5, 2026
Immerse yourself in a life-changing experience: Join a CPT delegation!
Witness firsthand CPT’s on-the-ground experiment in non-violence. Travel with us for 7-14 days and connect with communities striving for peace. CPT delegations offer a unique opportunity to be part of something bigger than yourself.
No prior experience necessary. Delegations are open to anyone who wants to learn more about non-violent peacemaking.
Delegation participants seek to:
• Learn from grassroots leaders, civil society activists, human rights defenders, and communities resisting destruction, and the ways in which they challenge colonialism, occupation, military operations, forced displacement, systemic oppressions, political violence, and marginalization.
• Engage in CPT’s partnership building and spiritually diverse active peacemaking;
• Commit to challenge violations of human rights, engage in international solidarity accompaniment to base communities resisting peacefully to violence and oppression
• Share about their delegation experience with groups, congregations and communities.
• Advocate for solidarity action for change.
Learn much more about the expectations for participants in the delegation and all travel details at the CPT website:
https://cpt.org/delegations
If you have any questions regarding travel planning, please email delegations@cpt.org
UCC MPS Delegation
UCC Movement for Palestinian Solidarity, organized in partnership with Sabeel
January 20-29, 2027
This delegation is a response to the urgent cry for ‘costly solidarity’ coming from Palestinian Christians and partners in the region. It’s our belief that solidarity and mutual liberation walk hand in hand.
We will meet Palestinian Christians face to face, hear their first-hand testimonies and wrestle with the implications of their call for solidarity, resistance and friendship in a moment of excruciating violence and immense need. Working with our partners at Sabeel (the Ecumenical Liberation Theology Centre in Jerusalem), we are designing an experience that will deepen relationships, expand our capacity for “costly” solidarity, and inspire us individually for the work ahead.
Registration: https://forms.gle/szs6XLv862mvSMWR7
Please fill this online form out as soon as possible. Our Sabeel partners will follow up to confirm your place in the delegation itself.
SCHOLARSHIP ASSISTANCE
We anticipate that the land cost for one will be $2100 (with a $400 deduction if you share a room). That does not include your travel to and from Israel/Palestine. Understanding that this is steep, we have begun to raise funds and apply for grants to defray part of this cost for some delegates. If you would find that helpful—or even essential to your participation—please fill out this form so that our UCCMPS team can act as generously as possible to make this delegation possible for you: https://oGiceccd.breezechms.com/form/02d0ae
GETTING TOGETHER
There will be two offerings this fall, to get delegates together, and introduce us to one another and the purpose of this trip. The first is optional; the second is required.
(Optional) A Moment of Truth: “Faith in a Time of Genocide”
For those with time and interest, we’ll be hosting three sessions on the curriculum developed alongside the Kairos Palestine 2025 document. These will be hour-long Zoom sessions on September 24, October 8 and October 22. Watch for details and a Zoom link—if you’re registered for the delegation—as the summer rolls along.
See the Guide to this Curriculum Here: https://www.kairosresponse.org/kp2guide.html
FOSNA Orientation
All delegates are asked to attend two orientation sessions later in the Fall (November/December). These sessions will focus on the particulars of travel, your questions and the particular hopes and expectations of our Sabeel hosts in Palestine. As you register for the January delegation, you’ll receive more details on these important sessions.
For more information:
Dave Grishaw-Jones, Delegation Team Convener
davidgj@ccdurham.org
831-706-6819
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See these websites for other trips that our partners may be planning:
Eyewitness Palestine
https://eyewitnesspalestine.org/delegations
Pilgrims of Ibillin
https://pilgrimsofibillin.org/
Community Peacemaker Teams
https://cpt.org/delegations
Friends of Sabeel North America (FOSNA)
https://www.fosna.org/come-see-visit-the-holy-land
In the Footsteps of Jesus: Tours to Palestine and Israel
Hosted by Jeff & Janet Wright
http://www.footstepsofjesustour.org/index.html
Society for Biblical Studies - certain trips to Palestine/Israel have the informative and justice-seeking focus that we recommend; see descriptions:
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Discover this remarkable opportunity for an extended stay in Israel/Palestine where you will make a difference for justice and peace in the Holy Land. Scholarships available.