| |  | July 2023 Check out the latest opportunities and events from
Churches for Middle East Peace (CMEP). | | | | | | Hear directly from Christians in the Middle East This month, starting July 17th, join Churches for Middle East Peace and Embrace the Middle East for a four-week online series in conversation with Christians across the Middle East. Rev. Colin Chapman will speak with Christian leaders from Iraq, Lebanon, Israel/Palestine, and Egypt to discuss the intersection between political context and personal faith. Delve into these rich conversations with us on Mondays in July and August, starting July 17th. | | | | | | | | Save the Date for Next November Churches for Middle East Peace is honored to announce a 2024 Summit in Jericho. This event, a part of our And Still We Rise (ASWR) initiative, is open to Christians from the Middle East, the United States, and the international community. Participants are invited to come together for this summit elevating the voices of women committed to pursuing peace. This three day event includes portions open to women only as well as portions open to everyone. In addition, there will be several tours traveling to the region that will include the summit as a part of their itinerary. If you are interested in leading a group tour to the Holy Land in November 2024, please reach out to info@cmep.org. Registration and more details will be available at a later date. | | | | | | | | Global Impact Week On June 14, 2023, CMEP's Executive Director, Rev. Dr. Mae Elise Cannon, participated as a panelist in a National Council of Churches (NCC) webinar as a part of their "Global Impact Week." The conversation was facilitated by CMEP executive committee member Tony Kireopoulus. Other panelists included Rick Santos (CEO of Church World Services), who addressed global refugee concerns, and Dr. Pavlo Smytsnyuk spoke about the war in Ukraine. Cannon's presentation was based on CMEP's advocacy priorities of humanitarian and economic assistance (highlighting the war in Yemen), holistic peacebuilding and the sustainability of the church (highlighting the Armenian/Azerbaijani conflict), and human rights (addressing Israel and the occupied Palestinian territories). | | | | | | | | "Two Kids a Day" Screening and Talk On Sunday June 25th CMEP hosted a virtual film screening of the film “Two Kids A Day,” which explores the Israeli army's systematic arrests of Palestinian children. The screening included a conversation with the film director David Wachsmann and film advisor Moria Shlomot of Parents Against Child Detention. You can view the recording of our conversation here, and you can rent the film for an online screening here. | | | | | | | | | | June 23, 2023, Letter from Executive Director Rev. Dr. Mae Elise Cannon "While we remain committed to our work, including outreach to churches and Christians across the United States and education and advocacy in Washington, D.C., several things have happened in the region that have captured our attention. We should be aware, in prayerful reflection, and committed to strategically responding to these current realities.” | | | | | | | | CMEP in the Field CMEP Outreach Manager Jennifer Maidrand represented CMEP as ecumenical partner at the Moravian Church Northern Province Synod. CMEP is grateful for the leadership of Rev. Sue Koenig (CMEP board representative for the Moravian Church of North America) in putting forth a resolution at this year's synod for expanding the denomination's partnership and engagement with CMEP's peace and justice efforts in the Middle East- which was approved unanimously. CMEP is grateful for the Moravian church's presence on our board and their commitment to working ecumenically "for the healing of the world," which their focus for the 2023 synod. You can ask for a similar resolution in your own communion- respond to this email to ask us how! | | | | | | | | | | Consider Giving to Furthering Education! When you give to CMEP, it funds the time and travel expenses for our staff, like Jennifer (pictured above), to attend important meetings across the US. These meetings directly impact US churches and expand American Christian understanding of what's happening in the Middle East. | | | | | | | | | | June's Monthly Video: One year after the killing of Shireen Abu Akleh Lauren Draper, Middle East Fellow at CMEP, shares updates on the continued call for justice for the killing of Shireen Abu Akleh, a case for which CMEP continues to advocate and demand accountability. | | | | | | | | | | | | On June 5th, CMEP's Manager of Middle East Partnerships, Kevin Vollrath, and our Middle East Fellow, Lauren Draper, were able to share about the work of CMEP in Jerusalem at the 2023 Alliance for Middle East Peace conference. At the event, the two heard from many notable figures working in Israel and Palestine, including the US Ambassador to Israel, Thomas R. Nides. It was also an opportunity to share with dozens of attendees about the work of CMEP in the region while hosting a booth, and met several new partners working on both sides of the green line and discussed various conceptions of peace and collaboration. | | | | | | | | Contact Us Churches for Middle East Peace (CMEP)
110 Maryland Ave NE, Suite 505
Washington, District of Columbia 20002
(202) 543-1222 info@cmep.org | | | | | | | |
