MCEC Palestine Israel Network Working Group
The constituency-based MCEC Palestine Israel Network Working Group serves the MCEC constituency by promoting awareness and education on specific issues and topics. The information and links are those of the Working Group and do not necessarily represent MCEC as a whole.
Educating ourselves, engaging our neighbours, encouraging sustainable justice and peace for Palestinians and Israelis
Mennonite Church Canada Palestine Israel Network invites you to register for "Palestine/Israel: Is this Settler Colonialism?" and a course on "The Legacy of Archbishop Desmond Tutu." These online classes are part of the Canadian Mennonite University Xplore program.
Wednesdays March 2--April 6
11:00 AM – 12:00 PM (CDT)
"Palestine-Israel: Is this Settler Colonialism?"
with Esther Epp-Tiessen, Joanna Hiebert Bergen, Byron Rempel-Burkholder, and Kathy Bergen
In recent years, many people have begun to describe the reality of Palestine-Israel as "settler colonialism"—a form of colonialism in which the settler-colonists "come to stay" and assert their sovereignty over Indigenous land and people. (Canada is also a settler-colonial state). This course will explore the analysis of settler colonialism and how it manifests itself in the current lived reality of Palestinians and Israeli Jews. It will draw on a variety of guest speakers, both live and pre-recorded, who are experts on the situation in Palestine-Israel today and who bring political, biblical, and theological perspectives to the issues. This course is hosted by the Mennonite Church Canada Palestine-Israel Network.”
More information and to register
Wednesdays March 2--April 6
9:30am - 11:00am (CDT)
"The Legacy of Archbishop Desmond Tutu"
with Piet Meiring; Emeritus Professor University of Pretoria, South Africa; friend of Archbishop Tutu for almost half a century, working with him in the South African Truth and Reconciliation Commission, representing Desmond Tutu at the launch of the Canadian TRC in Winnipeg, teaching a CMU course.
This course will provide a brief overview of the life of Desmond Tutu—the son of a domestic servant who became a Nobel Prize winner, prophet, and reconciler. We will discuss Desmond Tutu’s struggle against injustice and his work with the Truth and Reconciliation Commission in South Africa, tell stories about "the Arch", his friendship with President Mandela, his personal faith, his love for people, his humour, his retirement, and his legacy.
The MCEC Palestine-Israel Network (PIN) builds relationships and advocates for peace and justice in Israel and Palestine.
We offer a variety of educational activities, with a special focus on the congregations of Mennonite Church Eastern Canada, and welcome partnerships with other groups.
Members of PIN are available to speak in churches and to organize or co-sponsor public events.
Our group was formed after Mennonite Church Canada passed a resolution in 2016 affirming the efforts of Israelis and Palestinians who are committed to non-violent ways of overcoming the injustice in their region, and committed Canadian Mennonites to working in partnership with them and with Jewish and Palestinian communities in Canada. The resolution also called upon congregations to deepen their understanding of the Palestine-Israel relationships.
There are similar Palestine-Israel Network groups in several other Canadian provinces. The Mennonite Church Canada PIN website provides additional information and resources.
Contact: Kathy Bergen
2016 Mennonite Church Canada Assembly
Resolution on Palestine and Israel
North American Mennonites have lived and studied, ministered and served in Palestine and Israel for nearly 70 years. Many partnerships have formed over these years, particularly through Mennonite Central Committee, our various denominational mission boards and Christian Peacemaker Teams. Thousands of Mennonites from Canada and the US have participated in learning tours and exchanges facilitated by Mennonite educational institutions, service and mission agencies, and tour operators. Mennonite Church Canada has sent workers to serve at Bethlehem Bible College and Serve Nazareth.
This resolution, approved at the 2016 Mennonite Church Canada Assembly, emerges largely in response to the plea of Palestinian Christians that the global church come alongside the Palestinian people as they suffer under Israel’s 49-year military occupation of their lands: the West Bank, East Jerusalem and Gaza.