‘Christ at the Checkpoint’ conference challenges Church during difficult times |
|
While tensions rise in East Jerusalem over settlement building, in Bethlehem, local and international participants at the conference 'Christ at the Checkpoint' are exploring theology in the service of peace and justice. The five-day conference from 12 – 17 March organised by the Bethlehem Bible College, addresses the intertwining fibre that is Israel and Palestine in general and the Middle East in particular. Seeking to discuss theology in an Evangelical context, the conference also looks at equipping the global church to further understand the Bible in the Palestinian framework. It also explores the relationship to the theological significance of peace and justice while focusing on the realities 'on the ground'. One of these realities is that the Church in the Holy Land and its people is haemorrhaging. The population of Palestinian Christians in the occupied Palestinian territories currently stands at about 51,710 or approximately 1.37 percent of the Palestinian population. (1) Numbers have been declining for the past century, especially since the early 1990s because of lack of freedom and security for Palestinian Christian families, as well as political instability in the region. 'This could not be a better time for the Church to think deeply about its position with reference to the Middle East conflict in a conference produced and directed by the Palestinian Christian Community', said Steve Hass, Vice President and Chief Catalyst of World Vision United States and one of the conference's many participants. 'World Vision really welcomes the opportunity to support and strengthen the search for the truth on these critical issues in the quest of the efforts of the Church to be the light for Christ in the midst of the darkness', he added. World Vision is a supporter of and participant in this conference, and financially supports the Bethlehem Bible College. 'This is a challenge to all kinds of Christians', said Rev. Colin Chapman in his lecture. 'If this is a justice issue, this is also a Gospel issue.' The first step is to realise that the Palestinian Israeli conflict is one that can only be resolved when one sets religion to one side and deals with the underlying issues in regards to international and humanitarian law and rights. To be able to view the situation in the Holy Land and the Middle East through the eyes of compassion and love is the resonating message of the conference. As Brother Andrew pointed out in his lecture, 'The reason we are here is because we are seriously seeking answers. This is a day of unparalleled opportunities… Are you part of the solution or are you still part of the problem? We are not to judge anyone. We are the messengers, the mediators.' Note: Key speakers of the conference included Dr. Tony Campolo, Rev. Stephen Sizer, Brother Andrew, Dr. Salim Munayer, Dr. Manfred Kohl, Rev, Alex Awad, Paul Alexander, Jonathan Kuttab, Gary Burge, and other notable and international personages. (1) Source: Palestinian Christians Facts, Figures, and Trends 2008, pg 6, published by Diyar. |