Moving from Words to Action- How Church Activists Can Advocate Effectively

How are denominational activists organizing their own constituencies for a just peace in the Holy Land. How do you get individuals, congregations, regional bodies and denominations educated and motivated to take a stand, pass resolutions, lobby politicians, find local partners, work in coalitions, recruit activists, engage in boycotts and divestments? We will compare and contrast different approaches.


Speakers:

Noushin Framke

Framke is an Armenian/Iranian-American who has lived in the U.S. since 1978. Noushin is a Presbyterian Ruling Elder in the Presbyterian Church (USA) and a longtime organizer and leader in her church for racial justice and Palestinian rights. She served for many years on the Steering Committee of IPMN, the Israel/Palestine Mission Network of the PCUSA and continues to be a leading organizer in the U.S. for the cause of Palestinian liberation. IPMN Website: https://www.theipmn.org/

Joe Roos

Joe is a co-founder of and former publisher at Sojourners Magazine, a premier ecumenical Christian publication committed to the integration of spiritual renewal and social justice. He is an ordained pastor in the Mennonite Church USA and has served churches in Washington, Maryland, India and California. Today Joe serves as Co-chair of FOSNA, Friends of Sabeel North America and on the Steering Committee of MennoPIN, the Mennonite Palestine Israel Network. MennoPIN Website: https://mennopin.org/
FOSNA Website: https://www.fosna.org/

John Thomas

A former General Minister and President of the United Church of Christ (UCC), John served in the UCC’s Collegium of Officers, overseeing the denomination’s national ministries, from 1999 to 2009. As General Minister and President, he was the spokesperson for the denomination, representing the UCC in ecumenical and interfaith circles. Today, John is a member of the Steering Committee of UCC PIN, the UCC Palestine Israel Network. UCCPIN Website: https://www.uccpin.org/

John Wagner

John is a decades-long organizer and justice activist, with a particular focus on Palestinian rights, in the United Methodist Church as well as ecumenical and interfaith circles. He is an ordained elder in the UMC and has served as pastor for several churches in the West Ohio conference. John was one of the founders and for many years the Co-chair of UMKR, United Methodists for Kairos Response. UMKR Website: https://www.kairosresponse.org

Resources:

MennoPIN website

MennoPIN's program twinning congregations with Gazans

Article on Palestine Portal about the MennoPIN initiative

IPMN website

IPMN’s Hosanna Preaching Project

UCC PIN resources on the 2021 UCC resolution: Declaration for a Just Peace between Palestine & Israel
UCC PIN curriculum and film: “How Are the Children?”

World Communion of Reformed Churches Palestine resources

World Council of Churches collection “Focus: Palestine

Recommended website: https://www.christianzionism.org

A resource from Jonathon Kuttab on the history of the conflict

Regarding work in The Christian Church (Disciples of Christ):
In lieu of the COVID-canceled Disciples General Assembly, Disciples leaders issued the following statement which speaks both for the church and to the church: “Compelled to Witness”
Working now on distributing the statement and encouraging actions called for in the Christian Palestinian’s 2020 declaration: “Cry for Hope: A Call to Decisive Action”
See Cry for Hope online and endorse it:
Download Cry for Hope

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