Reminder: Stones Cry Out Delegation -- Upcoming Webinars

June 14, 2024

THE STONES CRY OUT VIRTUAL DELEGATION

Maintaining the Momentum, Mobilizing for Change

Online webinars throughout the summer

Actions in Washington DC, September 23-26

The first Stones Cry Out Delegation (February 27-March 7, 2024) was made up of 23 church leaders from across the United States. We traveled to Palestine to listen to Christian, Muslim and Jewish religious, political, and NGO leaders. We then went to Washington DC to bring their message to members of Congress and the State Department.

In this next Stones Cry Out Delegation we continue the work, broadening our interviews to include thought leaders and activists in the U.S, including Palestinian American activists and thought leaders, with a focus on strategy at this flexion point. These will be held online in a series of webinars throughout the summer. We will then return to Washington DC in September, reinforcing and expanding the contacts we established on Capitol Hill, the State Department, in the Washington DC church community, and beyond.

Below is the current line up of the outstanding webinars to be held this summer. This coming week features conversations with three Palestinian Christian leaders. Register below for Monday's interview with Omar Haramy of the Sabeel Ecumenical Liberation Theology Center, where, it can be said, Palestinian Liberation Theology began 35 years ago. Sabeel's work continues today in the unstoppable resistance of the Palestinians, guided by their fierce determination to refuse to give up their culture, their faith and their homeland. In a recent visit to the U.S., Mr. Harami spoke of the importance of activists here: "What empowers me are the voices of the young people we have been listening to. I could hear the voice of Jesus speaking through them."

On Thursday we will talk with Rev. Munther Isaac and Mr. Rifat Kassis, of Kairos Palestine and the Global Kairos for Justice Coalition. Rev. Isaac's Christmas sermon "Christ Under the Rubble" has been viewed by tens of thousands of people across the world. "Gaza today" he said, "has become the moral compass of the world." Together with Rev. Isaac, Mr. Kassis led the team that produced "Cry for Hope," a similarly powerful challenge to the churches of the world. "Today," Kassis stated recently, "the very being of the church and the integrity of the gospel is at stake."

Register for these webinars and the upcoming, also not-to-be-missed interview with Dr. Mads Gilbert using the links below.

WEBINAR SCHEDULE

Webinars begin at 1:00pm Eastern time unless otherwise noted.

Monday, June 17 Omar Haramy

Sabeel Palestinian Liberation Theology Center, Jerusalem

Thursday, June 20 Rifat Kassis & Rev. Munther Isaac

Rifat Kassis, Global Kairos for Justice, Kairos Palestine

Munther Isaac, Christmas Lutheran Church, Bethlehem, Christ at the Checkpoint

Wednesday, June 26 Dr. Mads Gilbert

Norwegian ER doctor who has worked extensively in Gaza

Wednesday, July 10 Issa Amro

Hebron-based non-violent activist, founder Youth Against Settlements

Wednesday, July 17 Neve Gordon

Israeli professor of International Law and Human Rights

Wednesday, July 24 TBA

Wednesday, July 31 TBA

Wednesday, August 7 TBA

Wednesday, August 14 Huwaida Arraf

Co-founder, International Solidarity Movement, activist and lawyer

Wednesday, August 21 Josh Ruebner

Political analyst and activist, Institute for Middle East Understanding

Wednesday, August 28 David Wildman

Executive Secretary, Human Rights and Racial Justice, United Methodist Church

Wednesday, September 5 Rev. Wendell Griffen

Retired judge, Co-Chair, Samuel DeWitt Proctor Conference

Wednesday, September 12 Ali Abunimah

Political analyst, Founder, Electronic Intifada

Wednesday, September 18 Mark Braverman & Jonathan Kuttab

Mark Braverman, Founder, and Executive Director, Kairos USA

Jonathan Kuttab, Executive Director, Friends of Sabeel North America

JOIN US IN WASHINGTON DC, SEPTEMBER 23-27

for direct actions, advocacy, meetings on Capitol Hill, and more

SPONSORING ORGANIZATIONS

Global Kairos for Justice and Kairos Palestine

Kairos USA

Indiana Center for Middle East Peace

Episcopal Bishop's Committee for Peace & Justice in the Holy Land - Diocese of Olympia

Sabeel Palestinian Liberation Theology Center

Friends of Sabeel North America

Palestinian Christian Alliance for Peace

United Church of Christ Palestine-Israel Network

Pax Christi USA

Kairos West MIchigan

Joining Hands for Justice in Palestine and Israel

Pilgrims of Ibillin

She came because she had to be there.

Who is my neighbor? Political courage, then and now

On a rainy night in early March, Palestinian American Representative Rashida Tlaib walked to the lectern at the historic Calvary Baptist Church in Washington DC and did something extraordinary. Tlaib was there to address a gathering of about 100 people, including 23 church leaders who had returned from the West Bank to bring a message to Washington.

With few exceptions, Senators and members of the House did not meet with us themselves -- they assigned their staffers to hear our reports and receive our asks. Rashida Tlaib went one better -- she came to us, accepting the invitation to join in our service of testimony and prayer.

She came to the church that night because she had to be there.

Read the essay by Mark Braverman on the meaning of the first Stones Cry Out Delegation and the events of the final evening's service of prayer and witness.

Kairos USA is a 501(c)3 corporation. Please consider making a tax deductible donation to help us continue our work. Make your check payable to Kairos USA, and note the new mailing address:

Kairos USA

552 Embody Road

Port Ludlow, WA 98365

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