This unique episode includes recordings from a special session on Palestinian Christianity at the American Academy of Religion (AAR) 2023 Annual Meeting. This session was organized by the Middle Eastern Christianity Unit to discuss the open letter that was written by four Palestinian theologians to the church in the West: Anton Deik, Rev. Munther Isaac, Daniel Bannoura, and Yousef Alkhouri. Speakers in this session include three of the co-authors of the letter, and the respondents include Logan Williams, Judith Norman, and Atalia Omer. This episode features an important conversation that addresses the missteps and the potential role of the Western church in ending the war on Gaza and seeking justice and peace in Palestine-Israel.

If you enjoy our podcast, please consider becoming a Patreon monthly supporter at: https://www.patreon.com/AcrosstheDivide 

Follow Across the Divide on ⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠ and ⁠Instagram⁠ ⁠⁠⁠‪@AcrosstheDividePodcast‬⁠⁠⁠

Show Notes

An Open Letter from Palestinian Christians to Western Church Leaders and Theologians (Petition still accepting signatures as of December 8, 2023)

Palestinian Christian Books:

The Other Side of the Wall: A Palestinian Christian Narrative of Lament and Hope, Munther Isaac

Through My Enemy's Eyes: Envisioning Reconciliation in Israel-Palestine, Salim J Munayer and Lisa Loden

Decolonizing Palestine: The Land, The People, the Bible, Mitri Raheb

Occupied with Nonviolence: A Palestinian Woman Speaks, Jean Zaru

A Palestinian Theology of Liberation: The Bible, Justice and the Palestine-Israel Conflict, Naim Ateek

Yet in the Dark Streets Shining: A Palestinian Story of Hope and Resilience in Bethlehem, Bishara Awad and Mercy Aiken

Organizations for Education & Action:

Christ at the Checkpoint

Sabeel, Ecumenical Liberation Theology Center

Churches for Middle East Peace (CMEP)

Jewish Voice for Peace (JVP)

US Campaign for Palestinian Human Rights

B'tselem⁠

Community Peacemakers Team (CPT)

Challenging Christian Zionism

Network of Evangelicals for the Middle East (NEME)