The first of four sessions exploring the book “Decolonizing Palestine: The Land, The People, The Bible” commenced Thursday with the author, the Rev. Dr. Mitri Raheb, joining more than 50 participants for a 75-minute discussion that encompassed the book’s first chapter, “Settler Colonialism, Palestine, and the Bible.”
The PC(USA)’s Christian Zionism working group, which consists of the Presbyterian World Mission’s Middle East and Europe office, the Office of Public Witness, the Presbyterian Peacemaking Program, and members of the Israel Palestine Mission Network (IPMN), is holding an online book study series that begins October 24 at noon Eastern Time and will run on successive Thursdays through November 14. The book to be studied is the Rev. Dr. Mitri Raheb’s “Decolonizing Palestine: The Land, the People, the Bible.”
A packed virtual Zoom room of nearly 500 participants logged on Thursday to listen to the first webinar in a series of three which addresses the topic of “Confronting Christian Zionism.” Presented by the PC(USA)’s Christian Zionism working group, which includes PC(USA) national staff from World Mission’s Middle East and Europe office, the Presbyterian Peacemaking Program, the Office of Public Witness, and members of the Israel/Palestine Mission Network, the 90-minute session discussed how the Zionism ideology contributes to the violence Palestinians have experienced and the consequences of the settler colonial experience.
The PC(USA)’s Christian Zionism working group, which includes PC(USA) national staff and members from its congregations, will present the first in a series of webinars centered on the topic of confronting and challenging Christian Zionism. The Zoom-based webinar is scheduled for noon Eastern Time on Thursday, April 18.
Together with a few ecumenical partners, “Solidarity with the Suffering,” a 35-member delegation of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)’s Israel/Palestine Mission Network returned home last week after eight days of solidarity with people who are suffering and mourning the deaths of those who have died in the war in Gaza between Hamas and Israel.