Challenge to the church a theological comment on the political crisis in south africa the kairos document preface the kairos document is a christian, biblical and theological comment on the political crisis in south africa today. The kairos palestine document is a profound statement of faith, a description of palestinian life under occupation, and an urgent call to action for the worldwide church. In our document a moment of truth, kairos endorses the call on individuals, companies and states to engage in divestment and in an economic and commercial boycott of everything produced by the occupation. We thank god for the many churches that have received, studied, and offered comment on the document. Middle east and europe israelpalestine recommended reading 3 a palestinian christian cry for reconciliation, by rev. Can we as coworkers of kairos for global justice think of that possible option and join forces. Overwhelming united church of christ vote calls for us to withhold arms from israel. Read more about us church demands end to abuse of palestinian children. Jean zaru clerk of ramallah quaker meeting often speaks of her frustration at repeatedly explaining to christians abroad that there are christian palestinians, only to be asked when they. Kairos palestine remains steadfast in its call for boycott, divestment, and sanctions. Kairos palestine werd op 11 december 2009 in bethlehem door een groep vooraanstaande palestijnse christenen opgericht. A word of faith, hope and love from the heart of palestinian suffering. We are a christian palestinian movement, born out of the kairos document, which advocates for ending the israeli occupation and achieving a just solution to the conflict. Kairos palestine document 10 kairos palestine document.
Decided to merge the two websites long time project elected new chair, rev. The document comes after a long period of discernment about what. Come and see by rifat odeh kassis hen we created the kairos document launched in december 2009, we at kairos palestine tried to reflect on what tourism and pilgrimage really mean to us. It declares that the israeli occupation of palestinian land is a sin against god and humanity. Kairos palestine declares that any theology that legitimises the occupation is far from christian teaching, because it supports violence in the name of god. Kairos palestine was written in 2009 by a small group of palestinian christian leaders. Kairos palestine document whereas, a group of concerned palestinian christians have written the document, a moment of truth, a word of faith, hope and love from the heart of palestinian suffering, 1 in arabic and written first to the people of the churches in their land. Through his immeasurable sacrifice he redeemed us from sin. Kairos theology this is the moment of grace and opportunity, when god issues a challenge for decisive action.
To read the kairos usa call to action document pdf, click here. Kairos palestine is an organization primarily known for its issuance in bethlehem in december. Joining sabeels wave of prayer is included among ten things you can do to support. Rome an italian edition of kairos palestine, a controversial document authored by representatives of middle east christian churches and first presented in. Kairos palestine document a moment of truth, chapter 9. Promoting a just peace in palestineisrael united church of christ.
A word of faith, hope and love from the heart of palestinian suffering this document is the christian palestinians word to the world abou. Palestinian kairos theology the kairos palestine document a moment of truth. Christian palestinian leaders call for church boycott in. Introducing kairos palestine an ecumenical group of palestinian christians issued kairos palestine, a moment of truth, on dec. The kairos document is the word of christian palestinians to the world about what is happening in palestine. A word of faith, hope, and love from the heart of palestinian suffering introduction we, a group of christian palestinians, after prayer, reflection, and an exchange of opinion, cry out from within the suffering in our country, under the israeli occupation, with a cry. Ucc palestineisrael network 1 background four related events led to the founding of ucc pin in 2012. Kairos palestine 9th anniversary gathering in bethlehem. Us church demands end to abuse of palestinian children. Sep 20, 2017 kairos palestine was written in 2009 by a small group of palestinian christian leaders. Ateek is the founder and director for the sabeel ecumenical liberation theology center in jerusalem, a partner of global ministries.
The core mission of kairos usa is to involve churches and local, regional and national organizations in study that leads to praxis. We thank god also for the many ways kairos palestine is. As part of the global church, we have a worldwide responsibility to listen and respond to the voices of our fellow christians when they call out in faithful concern. Kairos is the greek word for that special time of opportunity when we are invited to confess our faith by joining in gods redemptive activity.
Kairos palestine, have linked their local struggles for justice with the palestinian struggle for freedom and dignity for all peoples in palestine and israel. A word of faith, hope and love from the heart of palestinian suffering introduction we, a group of christian palestinians, after prayer, reflection and an exchange of opinion, cry out from within the suffering in our country, under the israeli occupation, with a cry of hope in the absence of all hope, a cry full of prayer and faith. A pastoral response to the palestine kairos document. Oct 24, 2010 rome an italian edition of kairos palestine, a controversial document authored by representatives of middle east christian churches and first presented in 2009, was launched in the italian.
Through his immeasurable sacrifice he redeemed us from sin and through his human fullness, made us all worthy of life. Kairos palestine is christian palestinian movement, born out of the kairos document, which advocates for ending the israeli occupation and achieving a just solution to the conflict. Muslims, people who are not religious, and people loyal to various political parties. Arij is among the leaders of the political warfare against israel, seeking to further boycotts, divestment and sanctions bds, false accusations of israeli apartheid and racism, and support for a palestinian right of return, which is inconsistent with twostate solution. Whereas, kairos palestine, written by palestinian christian theologians in 2009 and commended to the churches by the general minister and president of the christian church disciples of christ in a pastoral letter april 2010, reminds us that the communion of love says to every believer in spirit and in truth. This is a real challenge in palestineisrael where all nonviolent actions are rewarded with live bullets in violation of all international laws. Our word is a cry of hope, with love, prayer and faith in god.
This document is the christian palestinians word to the world about what is happening in palestine. Kairos mission is to contribute in ending the israeli occupation to palestine and contributing in building a just peace in the region. Kairos palestine is an organization primarily known for its issuance in bethlehem in december 2009 of the kairos palestine document, full title of which is a moment of truth. Kairos palestine document kairos is a call to from a group of palestinian christians pronouncing a word of faith, and hope from the heart of palestinian suffering. Today, prominent christian palestinian leaders are releasing a historical kairos palestine document, calling on churches around the world to say a word of truth and to take a position of truth with regard to israels occupation of palestinian land. It was a cry from the heart, issued from the city of bethlehem, and it was titled kairos palestinea moment of truth. The palestinian christian kairos document, a moment of truth, was launched in december 2009 in bethlehem, palestine. In 1994, the two evangelical organizations merge to form the kairos southern africas response to palestine kair os the palestine kairos document was launched in south africa on monday evening 4 april 2011, at a meeting of kairos southern africa on the significance of the kairos document. Unambiguously endorsing boycott, divestment and sanctions bds as one of the key nonviolent forms of solidarity that international faithbased. Kairos palestine document published in italian the.
A word of faith, hope, and love from the heart of palestinian suffering, a call by a number of palestinian christians to christians around the world to help fight the israeli occupation. While kairos palestine is a message to christians worldwide, note that it reaches out to a wide range of others in the palestinian community. The kairos palestine document states that the palestinian connectedness to this land is a natural right. In our advocacy, we try to see and respond to both our reality and our rights. Kairos palestine, a document written by leaders of the palestinian christian community, confirms the israeli occupation as the primary cause for christian emigration and appeals to the world to help end the suffering of all palestinians by ending the israeli occupation. On december 11, 2009, palestinian christians sent out a plea to the churches of the world and to people of good will everywhere. It is written at this time when we wanted to see the glory of the grace of god in this land and in the sufferings of its people.
The document containing the call is issued at a time perceived to coincide with what appears to be a deadend in the tragedy of the palestinian people. Wesleyan communities and the world beyond christianity. A word of faith and hope from the heart of palestinian suffering. We also derive energy from the multiple expansion of global solidarity. The rebirth of kairos theology and its implications for public theology and citizenship in south africa clint le bruyns1 abstract this article explores the relationship between kairos theology and public theology, placing a particular emphasis on kairos aspects such as contextuality, criticality and change. Jun 19, 2012 the original kairos palestine document is a powerful statement well worth everyones prayerful consideration. The resources are prepared in the spirit of the kairos palestine document reflecting its message of faith, justice. This study guide was designed to give a better understanding of the plight of palestinian christians and the dynamics of the larger israelipalestinian struggle. As part of its point of view documentary film series, pbs produced a his torical synopsis on the israelipalestinian conflict that illustrated. Amidst the depressing situation, kindly find the christmas alert 2015 in pdf form below, even if belated. Kairos palestine this document is the christian palestinians word to the world about what is happening in palestine. A word of faith, hope, and love from the heart of palestinian suffering. Ateeks new book is remarkable, provocative and challenging, and quite poignant.
It was a meeting that holds great hope for the ability of the growing global network of churchrelated organizations to spread. Its opening paragraph calls on the international community to stand by the palestinian people who have faced oppression, displacement, suffering, and clear apartheid for more than six. Coffman responding to the growing need among christians for an ecumenical and actionoriented response to the kairos palestine confession, issued in 2009 by palestinian christians in bethlehem, a group of fourteen clergy, theologians and laypersons met in june. Receive the kairos palestine document as an authentic word of the palestinian christian perspective on the state of affairs in their homeland and of their commitment to finding peace, justice, and reconciliation with their brothers and sisters through the way of the christ we follow together. Kairos palestine has a specific geopolitical context. The original kairos palestine document is a powerful statement well worth everyones prayerful consideration.
To order printed copies with study questions for your organization or congregation, click here. Late in 2009, a small group of palestinian christian clergy and laity banded together to produce a document entitled kairos palestine. On december 6, hundreds of palestinians and internationals gathered on the 9 th anniversary of the kairos document a word of faith, hope, and love from the heart of palestinian suffering. A moment of truth, to end the israeli occupation and achieve a just peace i n the holy land umkr seeks through nonviolent action and in partnership with christians in palestine freedom, justice, and equality for all palestinians and israelis. Kairos palestine christmas alert 2015 global ministries. And to help groups more closely examine the documents themes, we have developed a.
When local resistance and global solidarity merge, ours is a winning formula. Kairos palestine document a group of palestinian christians representing a variety of churches and churchrelated organizations have issued this animated and prayerful call for an end to occupation of palestine by israel on 11 december 2009. On the international level kairos palestine is now a global solidarity movement still in formation, but seeking to grow. Kairos, from the greek, means a decisive or opportune moment. Kairos palestine affirms particular boycotts, divestment and sanctions as an expression of nonviolent resistance to injustice and as tools for justice, peace and security for all. Dec 23, 2011 late in 2009, a small group of palestinian christian clergy and laity banded together to produce a document entitled kairos palestine. A word of faith, hope, and love from the heart of palestinian suffering was launched. It is an attempt by concerned christians in south africa to reflect on the situation of death in our. A word of faith, hope, and love from the heart of palestinian suffering, 8.
In the 2009 kairos palestine document, a moment of truth, palestinian christians called on the churches of the world to stand alongside the oppressed in. At a kairos moment, members of catholic, greek orthodox, lutheran, anglican and baptist traditions in the palestinian christian community issued a statement in bethlehem in december 2009 called the kairos palestine document. Kairos palestine and the unholy crusade against israel. Mar 26, 2020 arij is among the leaders of the political warfare against israel, seeking to further boycotts, divestment and sanctions bds, false accusations of israeli apartheid and racism, and support for a palestinian right of return, which is inconsistent with twostate solution. A moment of truth a summary and guide for further study in december 2009, palestinian christians joined together in bethlehem to launch the palestine kairos document, a moment of truth. Our call to action document is a key component in this mission. May 08, 2011 of particular interest is the way the theological material was produced. We rejoice because jesus christ, who triumphed over death, enables us also to triumph over all forms of death in our life. Billings get suggestions about practical ways to respond to the crisis. Dec 11, 2009 a group of palestinian christians representing a variety of churches and churchrelated organizations have issued this animated and prayerful call for an end to occupation of palestine by israel on 11 december 2009. Kairos palestine 5 th anniversary kairos palestine palestine israel ecumenical forum alternative tourism group conference statement from december 24, 2014, over 250 participants from palestine and many other countries1 gathered in bethlehem to commemorate the 5th anniversary of a moment of truth.
Kairos south africa challenge to the church, 1985 as distinct from the greek kronos, meaning chronological time, kairos exists outside of our linear counting of days weeks and years. The kairos palestine document study guide was prepared by the middle east monitoring group that was mandated by the 219th general assembly 2010. Thus, this study process is part of a global christian con. The kairos palestine document, a prayerful call of. Lowe thus accused kairos palestine of deliberately misleading the public about the clerics involvement, combining the document and the. Commends for study the kairos palestine document a moment of truth and endorses the documents emphases on hope for liberation, nonviolence, love of enemy, and reconciliation. It is a christian palestinians word to the world about what is happening in palestine. Because the proposal was in contradiction to the kairos palestine document and the churchs policy in many other areas, the ma task force. The south africa kairos document 1985 kairos southern africa. Call to action study guide and curriculum kairos usa. Kairos palestine document world council of churches. Kairos palestine is not a comprehensive analysis of the middle east or of the complex history of the israelipalestinian conflict. The statements formal title is a moment of truth a word of faith and hope from the heart of palestinian suffering.
Basically, it promoted familiar palestinian aspirations. Kairos palestines argument is not only political, but also theological. The rebirth of kairos theology and its implications for. Kairos palestine and the unholy crusade against israel ajc. Kairos palestine document metropolitan washington, d. Kairos palestine document to the church for study as one of the most recent examples of that historic commitment. Kairos palestine strongly urges people who seek justice for palestine and those who seek peace for all to see anxiety of the buy israel campaign for exactly what it is. To obtain study materials for the call to action document, click here. Many of these brothers and sisters in christ are partners of the presbyterian church u. We lift up for study the often neglected voice of palestinian christians. In june 1985 as the crisis was intensifying in the country, as more and more people were killed, maimed and imprisoned, as one black township after another revolted against the apartheid regime, as the people refused to be oppressed or to cooperate with oppressors, facing death by the day, and as the apartheid army moved. On december 11, 2009, the palestinian kairos document a moment of truth. On the kairos palestine website the purpose of the document is spelled out. Kairos palestine is now a global solidarity movement said rifat kassis, coordinator of kairos palestine, at the opening of the conference.
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