March 12: Webinar on Christian Zionism, BDS, and our response to apartheid, dispossession, and genocide in the Holy Land

>>WATCH the recording of this webinar on the FOSNA website

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For the past few months, Pax Christi USA and several other faith-based groups* have been working together to organize events and actions to respond to the ongoing violence in Gaza and the Occupied Territories, and have made a particular commitment to holding at least one event each week of Lent.

On Tuesday, March 12, the Lenten Ceasefire Campaign will offer a special webinar entitled: “Christian Zionism, BDS, and the pursuit of a Christ-centered response to apartheid, dispossession, and genocide in the Holy Land.”

The webinar will start at 6:30 PM Eastern/3:30 PM Pacific, and will last approximately two hours. 

Join us for an intensive evening of political education, self-examination, and conversation as we explore:

• The immediate context:
  • What is the situation on the ground in Gaza and throughout Palestine? How did we get here? Are we bearing witness of genocide in real time? 
• Christian Zionism:
  • What is it? How does it influence both US American Christianity and US American policy? How is it impacting the situation on the ground in Gaza and throughout Palestine? And, what is a faithful, Christ-centered response to Christian Zionism?
• Palestinian Christians:
  • How are Palestinian Christians responding to the crisis in Gaza and throughout Palestine? What message do they have for western Christians, and what responsibility does the Western church have for our Palestinian siblings? How might we amplify their message?
• Boycotts, Divestments, and Sanctions:
  • What is BDS? Why is economic and cultural activism important? Is BDS a proper Christian response to the crisis in Palestine, particularly Gaza, and Israeli apartheid? How might communities of faith mobilize to make an impact for justice and peace?

Featuring:

Zeina Ashrawi Hutchison: Zeina serves as Director of Development and Expansion for the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC). Zeina is a Palestinian-American rights activist and community organizer with notable experience in the political arena, currently the only Arab American elected to a political party’s Central Committee in Virginia and has been heavily involved in policy and the election process at the state and national level for years.

Mimi Kirk: Mimi Kirk facilitates the Master of Arts in Arab Studies thesis workshop and the Arab Studies Certificate Capstone at Georgetown University. She is Program Manager at the Middle East Studies Association and a writer and editor with expertise in Palestine and US foreign policy toward Palestine/Israel. Mimi is currently the president of the board of Americans for Middle East Understanding (AMEU). She is an Editorial Consultant at Al-Shabaka: The Palestinian Policy Network, having previously served as the organization’s commissioning editor and managing director from 2016 to 2020.

Daniel Bannoura: Daniel Bannoura was born in Jerusalem and has lived both in Palestine and the US. A lecturer at Bethlehem Bible College, Daniel is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Theology from the University of Notre Dame. He has a special interest in Christian-Muslim relations but has long been involved with Kairos Palestine and Christ at the Checkpoint. In addition to his long track record of Palestine advocacy and education, Daniel is the founder of Ultimate Palestine.

Allison Tanner: Allison serves the National Organizer for the Apartheid-Free Communities Campaign with the American Friends Service Committee. In addition, Allison serves as Pastor of Public Witness at Lakeshore Avenue Baptist Church, in Oakland, CA, and is the Palestine Advocacy Representative for the Alliance of Baptists.

*In addition to Pax Christi USA, groups participating in the Lenten ceasefire campaign include Christians for a Free Palestine; Churches for Middle East Peace; Church of the Brethren, Office of Peacebuilding and Policy; Congregation of Our Lady of Charity of the Good Shepherd, U.S. Provinces; Dorothy Day Catholic Worker; Festival Center; Franciscan Action Network; Friends of Sabeel North America (FOSNA); Georgetown University Medical Students for Palestine, Maryknoll Office for Global Concerns; National Advocacy Center of the Sisters of the Good Shepherd; National Council of Churches, USA; Palestinian Christian Alliance for Peace; Quixote Center; Sisters of Mercy of the Americas – Justice Team; Sojourners; United Church of Christ; The United Methodist Church — General Board of Church and Society; and the Women’s Alliance for Theology, Ethics, and Ritual (WATER).