Updates

Dear Friends,

We are passing along a few pieces of information.

First is an update regarding the recent Mennonite Church USA delegation to Palestine-Israel.

Second is a petition we would encourage you to consider, drafted by Friends of Sabeel North America and written to Pope Francis as he prepares for his upcoming trip to the “Holy Land”.

Third, we are sharing information regarding an upcoming speaking tour here in the U.S. by Rev. Dr. Mitri Raheb, pastor of the Christmas Lutheran Church in Bethlehem, to promote his new book, Faith in the Face of Empire.

Finally, while we are talking about new resources, please check out this new book by Mennonite scholar Alain Epp Weaver, Mapping Exile and Return: Palestinian Dispossession and a Political Theology for a Shared Future. Learn more about this important resource here: https://www.facebook.com/mappingexileandreturn. Continue reading “MennoPIN Update: March 2014” →

Dear Friends,

Greetings from the steering committee of the Mennonite Palestine Israel Network! This past month at our last steering committee check-in, we decided there were several items we needed to share with you all for your feedback and participation.

1) The first relates to the work of the Network subcommittees (Education, Advocacy/Action, Grassroots, and Communications). We are looking forward to getting these subcommittees off the ground, but we wanted to reiterate the invitation to join them. In particular, we are looking for folks to serve on the Communications and Grassroots subcommittees. Perhaps most importantly, we are looking for someone to serve as web manager for the Network website. Please do let us know if you are interested. Continue reading “MennoPIN Update: February 2014” →

Dear Friends,

Greetings! And welcome to the Mennonite Palestine Israel Network! This email goes out to over 100 folks who have expressed interest in and who have already provided helpful feedback on the form and function of this network.

As you all know, there has been significant interest among folks within the Mennonite Church in the U.S. in looking at action and advocacy opportunities related to the situation in Palestine-Israel. The beginnings of a “Mennonite Palestine Israel Network” have emerged, and as this initiative is getting off the ground a small steering committee has been formed including Jason Boone (coordinating minister at MC USA Peace and Justice Support Network), Tom Harder (co-pastor at Lorraine Ave Mennonite Church in Wichita, KS), Joy Lapp (professor at Iowa Wesleyan College in Mt Pleasant, IA), Sue Lyke (kindergarten teacher in South Bend, IN), George Muedeking (worship leader at Albuquerque Mennonite Church in Albuquerque, NM), Rachelle Lyndaker Schlabach (director at MCC U.S. Washington Office), and Timothy Seidel (student and member of Community Mennonite Church of Lancaster, PA).

Many of us were at the recent Mennonite Church USA convention in Phoenix and observed significant ongoing interest in engaging the church’s role in Palestine-Israel. There was quite a bit of activity including workshops, a discussion on the Kairos Palestine Document and on alternative travel to the “Holy Land”, a conversation on “The Church an Israel/Palestine”, as well as a performance of the play “My Name Is Rachel Corrie” (with Rachel’s parents in attendance). It was also in Phoenix where many of us were introduced to the idea of this network. Continue reading “Mennonite Palestine Israel Network introductory letter” →