A Political Education Primer: Christian Zionism, BDS, and the Pursuit of a Christ-Centered Response

The Lenten Ceasefire Campaign Presents-
A Political Education Primer: Christian Zionism, B.D.S., and the Pursuit of a Christ-Centered Response to Apartheid, Dispossession, and Genocide in the Holy Land
Join the Lenten Ceasefire Campaign for an intensive evening of political education, self-examination, and conversation as we explore:
The Immediate Context:
What is the situation on the ground in Gaza and throughout Palestine? How did we get here? Are we bearing witness of Genocide in real time?
Christian Zionism:
What is it? How does it influence both American Christianity and American Policy? How is it impacting the situation on the ground in Gaza and throughout Palestine? And, what is a faithful, Christ-centered response to Christian Zionism?
Palestinian Christians:
How are Palestinian Christians responding to the crisis in Gaza and throughout Palestine? What message do they have for western Christians, and what responsibility does the Western church have for our Palestinian siblings? How might we amplify their message?
Boycotts, Divestments, and Sanctions:
What is B.D.S.? Why is economic and cultural activism important? Is B.D.S. a proper Christian response to the crisis in Palestine, particularly Gaza, and Israeli apartheid? How might communities of faith mobilize to make an impact for justice and peace?
Featuring:
Zeina Ashrawi Hutchison: Zeina serves as Director of Development and Expansion for the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC). Zeina is a Palestinian-American rights activist and community organizer with notable experience in the political arena, currently the only Arab American elected to a political party’s Central Committee in Virginia and has been heavily involved in policy and the election process at the state and national level for years.
Mimi Kirk: Mimi Kirk facilitates the Master of Arts in Arab Studies thesis workshop and the Arab Studies Certificate Capstone at Georgetown University. She is Program Manager at the Middle East Studies Association and a writer and editor with expertise in Palestine and US foreign policy toward Palestine/Israel. Mimi is currently the president of the board of Americans for Middle East Understanding (AMEU). She is an Editorial Consultant at Al-Shabaka: The Palestinian Policy Network, having previously served as the organization's commissioning editor and managing director from 2016 to 2020.
Daniel Bannoura: Daniel Bannoura was born in Jerusalem and has lived both in Palestine and the US. A lecturer at Bethlehem Bible College, Daniel is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Theology from the University of Notre Dame. He has a special interest in Christian-Muslim relations but has long been involved with Kairos Palestine and Christ at the Checkpoint. In addition to his long track record of Palestine advocacy and education, Daniel is the founder of Ultimate Palestine.
Allison Tanner: Allison serves the National Organizer for the Apartheid-Free Communities Campaign with the American Friends Service Committee. In addition, Allison serves as Pastor of Public Witness at Lakeshore Avenue Baptist Church, in Oakland, CA, and is the Palestine Advocacy Representative for the Alliance of Baptists.
About the organizers:
This is an initiative of members within the Christians for Ceasefire Coalition.
A broad coalition of national and local Christian organizations and nonviolent peacemakers have envisioned a Lenten Ceasefire Campaign rooted in the transforming power of Jesus’ way of active nonviolence. This Lenten campaign has arisen out of collaboration during months of creative nonviolent resistance action for a ceasefire in Gaza.
The policy goals are:
-immediate, sustained bilateral ceasefire
-demilitarization, instead of sending weapons
-release of all hostages and Palestinian prisoners held without due process
-robust humanitarian assistance, including funding UNRWA
-end the siege on Gaza and end the occupation
-a political process to address root causes, accountability of harm, and a lasting just peace
Theory of Change:
Jewish and Muslim leaders have organized mass demonstrations, prayers, and risk-taking. If Christians visibly appeal in mass through prayer and risk-taking to President Biden and members of Congress with Christian commitments, we may deepen and shift their sensitivity toward incentivizing de-escalating steps and a sustaining ceasefire that will save lives, create space for genuine accountability, and illuminate our sacred dignity. This will create better conditions for addressing the root causes and a sustainable just peace. The organizations involved with this Lenten campaign acknowledge that both Hamas and Israel have committed horrible violence. We believe that the focus must shift to diplomacy, accountability mechanisms, and strategic nonviolent peacebuilding, and that neither war nor retribution is accountability. We believe urgent action is needed to stop the mass slaughter, destruction, and generational trauma.