United Methodists in Palestine

Jan 12

United Methodist leaders report on first-hand experiences with Israeli apartheid and Palestinian resilience in the Holy Land

Palestinian Christians have long called to us to "Come and See, Go and Tell" the stark reality of Palestine today, to dispel the world's grievous misconceptions and mobilize the global church to be effective justice-seekers and peace-builders.

United Methodists are answering that call with prophetic truth-telling.

In November 2022, United Methodist leaders – representing the General Board of Church & Society (GBCS) and the General Commission on Religion & Race (GCORR), as well as United Methodists for Kairos Response (UMKR) – attended the international gathering convened by the Palestinian Christian movement Kairos Palestine, in Bethlehem, Palestine. They also visited a dozen or more Palestinian communities and projects during their intensive fact-finding mission.

Join us as they bring us their reports and their personal insights as well as the urgent message they were tasked to carry home by our brothers and sisters in Palestine.

Hear about first-time experiences with an apartheid regime and firsthand impressions of the powerful matrix of control throughout Israel/Palestine.

Learn of the ongoing work and the current conditions at United Methodist-supported Advance projects and key Palestinian communities including: Wi'am, the Palestinian Conflict Transformation Center; Holy Land Trust, the center for nonviolent activism; the courageous village of Wadi Foquin; Tent of Nations, the Nassar family's remarkable peace project; the oft-besieged Aida refugee camp; the six Palestinian organizations under attack by the Israeli government, and more.

Hear their thoughts on what United Methodists – and all people of faith and people of conscience – are called to do today in the face of escalating oppression in the Holy Land that continues to impact the entire world.

These United Methodist ambassadors report that, far from having a discouraging experience, they found themselves immersed in Palestinian hospitality, hope, and resilience.

United Methodists throughout the Connection were invited to share in the fascinating experience of these church leaders' journey in Palestine and to engage in a lively Q&A following the main program.

OUR SPEAKERS

HOLLY METCALF is the Peace with Justice Director at the UMC General Board of Church and Society, with responsibility for advocacy efforts on peacebuilding, conflict resolution, disarmament and nonproliferation, and gun violence prevention. Before joining the GBCS staff, Holly was a foreign service officer with the U.S. State Department, working on human rights, religious freedom, and refugee issues. Previously, she served as a Peace Corps volunteer and a high school teacher.

In her foreign service work, Holly engaged with persecuted religious minorities and victims of human trafficking, supported American citizens incarcerated abroad, and worked with asylum-seekers in Greece fleeing war and violence. She is currently completing her Master of Divinity at Wesley Theological Seminary and is a candidate for ordination in the Baltimore-Washington Annual Conference.

ALKA LYALL is a member of the Board of Directors of the UMC General Commission on Religion and Race (GCORR), and an ordained elder in the Northern Illinois Conference, where she has served the people of God since 2000. She has twice been elected as a Northern Illinois delegate to General Conference and was also a delegate to the World Methodist Council as a youth representative from India in 1986, later serving on its Presidium. Alka has chaired and served on various boards, agencies and committees in her conference. She currently chairs the NIC Annual Conference committee and serves on the Board of Directors of NIC Justice for our Neighbors. Alka also serves on the Board of Directors of the Reconciling Ministries Network (RMN).

J. PAULA RODERICK is an employment discrimination and civil rights attorney practicing in the Chicago area, a Steering Committee member in United Methodists for Kairos Response (UMKR), and a justice leader in the Northern Illinois Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church. She also serves on the board of Eyewitness Palestine and has made multiple visits to Palestine. Paula is a tireless activist and organizer with numerous social justice organizations tackling issues related to human rights, policing, Black youth, and Palestinian liberation, including Blacks4Palestine, Chicago Faith Coalition on Middle East Policy, and Chicago Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression, among others.