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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Janet Lahr Lewis
RELATED RESOURCES
INTRODUCTION TO PALESTINE/ISRAEL VIDEOS
Two videos were presented, slightly abridged, early in the webinar. Find the full videos here:
How did the Nakba happen?
Al Jazeera English
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=megzzpTWajg
Israeli Palestinian conflict explained: an animated introduction to Israel and Palestine
Jewish Voice for Peace (JVP)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y58njT2oXfE
Another recommended video:
United Methodist Missionaries Speak Out
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rKb8SYVB8KQ&t=1s
United Methodist missionaries who have served in Palestine/Israel speak of what they have seen and learned over decades. They urge the church not only to pray for peace, but to take meaningful action to end the suffering that is caused by the Israeli occupation. They represent the diverse spectrum of the United Methodist Church, from conservative to progressive. Yet they are united in calling for the church to employ non-violent economic actions, such as divestment from companies that support and profit from the Israeli occupation, to help end hostilities and reverse the cycle of violence in Israel/Palestine.
SOLIDARITY ACTION & INFORMATION
Find all of the opportunities for solidarity presented in the closing segment here:
https://www.kairosresponse.org/take_action_home.html
Scroll down this page to find links to give to humanitarian aid organizations:
https://www.kairosresponse.org/war2023_palestine-israel.html
See materials for study and discussion:
https://www.kairosresponse.org/education.html
Materials from Kairos Palestine for reading and study:
https://www.kairosresponse.org/kairos_palestine-1.html
Reports and resources on Israeli Apartheid:
https://www.kairosresponse.org/it_is_apartheid.html
Recommended Books List:
https://www.kairosresponse.org/education_books.html
Find Resources such as UMKR's Quick Facts Series:
https://www.kairosresponse.org/resources_home.html
Find solidarity posters for use at public events or in a church display:
https://www.kairosresponse.org/posters.html
Find sources for Palestinian products; see "Palestine Market:"
https://www.kairosresponse.org/take_action_home.html
Learn about Ceasefire Pilgrimages to do in your area:
https://www.gazaceasefirepilgrimage.com/
Plan a Trip to the Holy Land:
https://www.kairosresponse.org/tours.html
https://www.fosna.org/delegations
Support the Chevron Boycott:
https://www.kairosresponse.org/chevronboycott.html
Learn about Apartheid-Free Communities and take the pledge:
https://www.kairosresponse.org/apartheid-free.html
Christians 4 Ceasefire Campaign:
https://franciscanaction.org/christians-for-ceasefire-campaign
Suggestions for Subscribing:
Mondoweiss
https://mondoweiss.net
+972 Magazine
https://www.972mag.com
Electronic Intifada
https://electronicintifada.net
Better sources of news on Palestine/Israel:
Al Jazeera
https://www.aljazeera.com
Middle East Eye
https://www.middleeasteye.net
Middle East Monitor
https://www.middleeastmonitor.com
Palestine Chronicle
https://www.palestinechronicle.com
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Our Panel
(In order of appearance)
Janet Lahr Lewis (Moderator) lived and served in Palestine and Israel from 1994 to 2014. From 2001 to 2018 she was a United Methodist missionary and the United Methodist Liaison in Palestine and Israel from 2006 to 2014.Among her responsibilities was to assist in planning itineraries for visiting Methodist groups from around the globe. Upon her return to the U.S. in 2014, she served as Advocacy Coordinator for the Middle East with the General Board of Church and Society in Washington D.C. until her retirement in 2018.Janet continues to be involved in the work for justice for the Palestinians
Omar Haramy carries a combination of identities: Arab, Palestinian, Jerusalemite, Christian, and Greek Orthodox. Since 2017, Omar has served as the director of of Sabeel Ecumenical Liberation Theology Center. Sabeel is a Palestinian ecumenical grassroots liberation theology movement that deepens the faith of Palestinian Christians, promotes unity among them, and guides them to engage for justice and peace. Omar also serves on the Kairos Palestine steering committee
Carol Ekdahl-Garwood is a retired insurance adjuster from northeast Nebraska. She is Co-Chair of the Steering Committee for United Methodists for Kairos Response, Chair of the United Methodist Great Plains Conference Holy Land Task Force, and a member of Nebraskans for Peace – Palestinian Rights Task Force. Her first trip to Palestine/Israel was in 2011 and she has traveled back to the region 6 more times, twice in 2024.
Rev. Darrell Hamilton is an ordained Baptist minister. In 2017, he earned his Master of Divinity from Wake Forest School of Divinity and in 2012, he earned his degree in Political Science from the University of Central Oklahoma. His ministry and leadership is centered on advancing diversity, inclusion, and advocacy for the vulnerable and marginalized to inspire our world toward greater justice and love for all people.
Sara Webb Phillips is United Methodist clergy; she retired after 42 years of United Methodist Ministry in over seven conferences, fourteen churches and three campus ministries. She grew up as a Methodist, found her life partner through her campus Wesley Foundation, graduated from Candler School of Theology, and has always served in United Methodist settings, except for one stint at the University of Notre Dame.
Rev. John Wagner is a founding member of United Methodists for Kairos Response (UMKR) and has served as a Steering Committee Co-chair. He first visited Israel/Palestine in 2008 and was able to see the Israeli occupation up close. He was especially moved by the Palestinian Christians he met, but also the Palestinian Muslims and Israeli Jews he heard who are speaking out for a just peace. John attended Earlham College and got his M.Div. at Yale Divinity School. He has served churches in Indiana and Ohio for the last 42 years. He and his wife JoAnn have three daughters and two grandchildren.
Scroll down the pate to see the webinar video
PALESTINE IS CALLING:
An Urgent Appeal for Faith-Inspired Solidarity
Wednesday, 13 November 2024
Presented by United Methodists for Kairos Response (UMKR) and Methodist Federation for Social Action (MFSA)
UMKR and MFSA present the compelling experiences of United Methodist and Baptist laity and clergy who have recently visited some of the most troubled spots in Palestine/Israel and who bring us Palestine’s urgent call for solidarity and support.
Opening with a basic introduction to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, its recent history, and current realities, the webinar will close with a wide range of recommendations for responding to that call, wherever we are and with whatever means we have.
Hear from a panel of justice advocates who know Palestine/Israel well and who have been recent eyewitnesses to the worsening conditions on the ground across historic Palestine. They bring us their first-hand experiences of providing a protective presence at key locations of conflict and creating a bold public witness of faith-based solidarity, a witness intended to be shared in our churches and our communities.
Joining the panel will be Omar Haramy, the Executive Director of Sabeel Ecumenical Liberation Theology Center in Jerusalem, speaking about the purpose and power of these ongoing solidarity trips that Sabeel is organizing with diverse faith partners. Our panel’s trip was co-sponsored by Sabeel, Rabbis for Ceasefire, and Christians4Ceasefire, and it included Buddhists and Hindus as well.
The webinar panel also includes Carol Ekdahl-Garwood, Co-chair of UMKR's Steering Committee, Rev. Darrell R. Hamilton II, Pastor of First Baptist in Jamaica Plain, Mass, Rev. Sarah Webb Phillips, member of UMKR's Steering Committee, and Rev. John Wagner, co-founder of UMKR & past Steering Committee Co-chair, and Janet Lahr Lewis as the moderator, a Palestine solidarity organizer, former United Methodist missionary to Palestine/Israel, retired GBGM and GBCS staff, and former member of UMKR's Steering Committee.
These presenters also carry with them and bring to us the fear and frustration of Palestinians who see their lives are not valued by a neglectful world community and who despair of the global church’s seeming silence and inaction.
This webinar will challenge us to answer Palestinians' urgent call to solidarity, offering manifold ways that we can be justice-seekers and peacemakers: acting as individuals and in community, within the church and in our society, locally, nationally, and globally.
See the video of the webinar below (scroll down) and below that, find all the resources shared during the webinar.
Resources Webinar