Christian Peacebuilding Strategic Gathering focused on Advocacy in

Response to Atrocities in Gaza and oPt

July 29-30, 2025

Atlanta, GA

This summit aims to unite Christian leaders and organizations working toward Palestinian justice within the U.S. context, creating coordinated strategies that effectively respond to the current political landscape. Churches for Middle East Peace (CMEP), a U.S.-based 501(c)(3) organization representing a coalition of 36 member communions and organizations with over 88 million Christians across the United States is pleased to be hosted by The Carter Center (TCC) to host a Strategy Summit for Multi-Level Peacebuilding in the Middle East. There will be an executive committee with representatives from NGOs, Palestine-Israel Networks (PINs), denominational representatives, and Palestinian Christians, which will shape the agenda and goals of this event.

The pursuit of justice and peace in Israel/Palestine faces significant challenges within the U.S. political environment. The recent reelection of President Trump and the composition of Congress create particular hurdles for advocacy work in this area. Meanwhile, the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and ongoing tensions throughout the region demand urgent, coordinated action.

Strategic conversations around U.S. work for justice in Palestine remain disjointed. Despite numerous organizations working on these issues, there are few spaces where grassroots Christian groups, formal denominations, civil society organizations, and Palestinian voices can jointly strategize. This lack of coordination adversely impacts the effectiveness of the broader movement and limits the ability to influence U.S. policy effectively. CMEP, with its broad representation across Christian denominations and organizations, is eager to work with NGOs, PINs, grassroots groups, and other Christian agencies to strategize the most constructive ways forward. The Carter Center, with its legacy of peacebuilding and human rights advocacy, provides an ideal venue and institutional partner for this historic gathering.

Project Objectives

● The primary goal of this gathering is to leave our time together with a clearer picture of strategic steps to be taken in coordination to work toward ending injustices and pursuing positive actions that promote human rights, equality, and nonviolent actions toward the liberation of the Palestinian people and freedom and equality for all in Israel/Palestine and the broader Middle East.
● The second goal is that all participants will have strengthened their relationships and determined how to collaborate more effectively toward common goals in order to increase efficiency and effectiveness.

The Strategy Summit for Multi-Level Peacebuilding in the Middle East presents a historic opportunity to unite diverse Christian voices in strategic action toward justice and peace in Israel and Palestine. By bringing together formal denominations, NGOs, grassroots groups, and Palestinian Christian leaders, the summit will create pathways for more effective engagement with U.S. policymakers and more coordinated mobilization of Christian constituencies across the United States.

With the Carter Center as a host, this gathering will honor President Carter's legacy while addressing the urgent challenges of our time. We invite all stakeholders to join in this critical effort to advance peace, justice, and human dignity in the Holy Land.

Subcommittees

This summit will enable collective conversations toward a coordinated strategy, rather than being fragmented across the breadth of advocacy spaces, to implement critically needed interventions in the American political sphere. The two-day strategy meeting will be organized around three focused subcommittees. You will have the opportunity to rank your preference for participation in one of these three tracks during registration.

Church and Denominational Engagement
● Strategies for engaging denominations and congregations
● Development of justice-centered educational and theological resources for churches
● Tools and training for pastors and church leaders
● Frameworks for mobilizing congregational action

Grassroots Mobilization
● Coordination of community organizing efforts between NGOs, PINs, and other groups
● Development of effective public witness strategies
● Digital mobilization strategies
● Coalition-building with interfaith and secular partners

Government Engagement and Advocacy
● Assessment of the current policy landscape
● Development of targeted strategies for engaging elected officials
● Creation of tailored approaches for the current administration
● Identification of key policy priorities and messaging
● Planning for coordinated advocacy campaigns

We will also host an interfaith dinner on the evening of July 29th at Springfield Missionary Baptist Church in Atlanta.
This will be ticketed dinner and you'll need to purchase that ticket in addition to your conference registration if you wish to attend.

FAQs

Schedule:
We will begin at The Carter Center in Atlanta at 8 am on Tuesday, July 29, 2025.

There is an optional ticketed dinner banquet on Tuesday evening for which a ticket must be purchased in advance.

You can expect to be free to depart the Carter Center by 5 pm on the 30th.

Transportation to Atlanta: You are responsible for booking all your transportation and lodging. Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta Airport is the nearest major Airport. If you are entering from outside of the U.S., we have been advised that entering via another city before continuing to Atlanta may facilitate a smoother boarder process.

Ground Transportation: You are responsible for your own ground transportation. Standard rideshare options are available.

Driving and Parking: Visit The Carter Center website for directions and maps: Click here. There is free on-site parking.

Lodging: You are responsible for your own lodging. We have arranged for a conference rate block at:

The Wylie Hotel
1 mile from the Carter Center
$209/night on July 28th and 29th
Book using this link: https://www.hilton.com/en/attend-my-event/churchesformiddleeastpeaceconventionjuly2025/

Meals: Lunch is included in the conference registration for Tuesday and Wednesday. There is an optional ticketed dinner banquet on Tuesday evening for which a ticket must be purchased in advance. All other meals are on your own.

Dress Code: Business Casual

Donate to Support This Event

Christian Peacebuilding Strategic Gathering focused on Advocacy in

Response to Atrocities in Gaza and oPt

July 29-30, 2025

Atlanta, GA

Project Objectives

Subcommittees

We will also host an interfaith dinner on the evening of July 29th at Springfield Missionary Baptist Church in Atlanta.
This will be ticketed dinner and you'll need to purchase that ticket in addition to your conference registration if you wish to attend.

FAQs

2025 Carter Center Event

2025 Carter Center Event

Checkout

Payment Details

2025 Carter Center Event

Thank you!

You should have an email confirmation of your registration. Please contact us at info@cmep.org with questions. We will share more info on the program in the weeks ahead.

Christian Peacebuilding Strategic Gathering focused on Advocacy in

Response to Atrocities in Gaza and oPt July 29-30, 2025 Atlanta, GA

Project Objectives

Subcommittees

We will also host an interfaith dinner on the evening of July 29th at Springfield Missionary Baptist Church in Atlanta. This will be ticketed dinner and you'll need to purchase that ticket in addition to your conference registration if you wish to attend.

FAQs

2025 Carter Center Event

2025 Carter Center Event

Checkout

Payment Details

2025 Carter Center Event

Thank you!

You should have an email confirmation of your registration. Please contact us at info@cmep.org with questions. We will share more info on the program in the weeks ahead.

Response to Atrocities in Gaza and oPt

July 29-30, 2025

Atlanta, GA

We will also host an interfaith dinner on the evening of July 29th at Springfield Missionary Baptist Church in Atlanta.
This will be ticketed dinner and you'll need to purchase that ticket in addition to your conference registration if you wish to attend.