March 2025: A Lenten Delegation w/Candler School of Theology Faculty + Friends
Sabeel Lenten Trip, March 8-16.
Dear Friend,
To introduce myself, I am Rev. Dr. L. Edward Phillips, Associate Professor of Historical Theology and Christian Worship at Emory University. I am organizing a Witness and Solidarity trip to Jerusalem/Palestine, March 8-16 this spring. The trip is through Sabeel, a Palestinian Christian organization headquartered in Jerusalem that has been organizing such trips for many years. Sabeel is very ecumenical, working across and through various Christian bodies in the region, as well as around the world. It also has strong interfaith ties in the Middle East and beyond.
March 8-17 falls during Ramadan, Orthodox Lent and Catholic Lent. The themes of this delegation are “Lent” (a season of repentance and preparation for Christians) and Christian-Muslim relations in Palestine. During the trip, we will witness the occupation of the West Bank firsthand. While the specific itinerary for each delegation is different, most delegation will meet with Palestinians and others engaged in nonviolent resistance, visit West Bank refugee camps, experience life under occupation, tour communities suffering from encroaching Israeli settlements, and view environmental degradation, among other opportunities. As time allows, we will visit some historic sites in the Old City of Jerusalem and Bethlehem.
Sabeel has been hosting visitors to Palestine/Israel for years and knows how to navigate the roadblocks, both physical and bureaucratic. Safety of our delegation is important.
As part of a Sabeel delegation, expect to:
Meet with Palestinian Christian and other persons of faith to discuss how our spiritual commitments apply to our lives today, especially in Palestine & Israel
Experience the reality of joy and resistance of the Palestinian community living in the Land of our Holy One – religious extremism, shrinking space, the wall, settlements, checkpoints, confiscated land and demolished homes, refugee camps, and environmental degradation
Learn about the loss of civil and property rights of Palestinian citizens of Israel
Meet and reflect with Palestinian Christians, Muslims, Samaritans, Jewish Israelis and internationals who partner with Sabeel to uplift international/ humanitarian law
Act in solidarity with the Palestinian community.
After you return, Sabeel hopes you will continue to share your experiences in Palestine with your home community by organizing speaking opportunities, sharing information, and working for justice and reconciliation for all who live in Israel/Palestine.
We are asking for all participants to contribute $2500 toward the cost of this trip. This $2500 includes airfare, ground transportation, lodging, and meals. There is an extra charge of $400 if you needed a private room.
If you are interested in learning more, contact me at lphill6@emory.edu.
Sincerely,
Ed Phillips
L. Edward Phillips, Candler School of Theology
Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322
Resources
For a good, brief introduction to the illegal Israeli Settlements in the West Bank, I highly recommend this piece by the political comedian John Oliver. Be warned, Oliver uses language that some may find offensive. But this is the very best, succinct treatment of the relevant issues I have found. And it is also entertaining: https://youtu.be/NqK3_n6pdDY?si=nQ6koq1hYoFaFSsW
For an example of a previous delegation, below is a list of persons and groups that the Advent Delegation met with in December, with links to relevant websites:
Sabeel: Palestinian Liberation Theology Center. Organized travel and facilitated meetings. See also Friends of Sabeel North America (FOSNA)
Budour Hassan, co-author of the Amnesty International report: You Feel Like You Are Subhuman’: Israel’s Genocide Against Palestinians in Gaza. Watch Budour on Democracy Now speak about the report.
Bishop Dr. Munib A. Younan: Palestinian Bishop Emeritus of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land. Read his 2024 article about The Future of Christianity in the Middle East in The Middle East Council of Churches.
Save the ArQ: Movement to save the Armenian Quarter of Jerusalem. Read this article for background and this article about their upcoming speaking tour in the US. Share/donate to the Legal Defense Fund here.
Basalan Initiative for Human Rights, Dalia Qumsieh: Advocacy to prevent land annexation by Israel, including areas of Cremizan and Al Makhrour, near Bethlehem.
Tent of Nations, Daoud Nasser. A farm and movement near the village of Nahalin that is surrounded by 5 illegal Israeli Jewish settlements (Gush Etzion settlement bloc) that are growing to become cities. The land is constantly under threat of annexation by Israel.
Wi’am: The Palestinian Conflict Transformation Center. Located in Bethlehem.
Reverend Munther Isaac, Evangelical Christmas Lutheran Church in Bethlehem. Watch Isaac’s 2023 liturgy of lament Christ in the Rubble and the follow-up liturgy in 2024, Christ is Still Under the Rubble.
Save Al-Makhrour, Alice Kisiya. Al-Makhrour is one of the few remaining green spaces for Palestinians near Bethlehem. Israel has stated it will annex the land to form a new illegal settlement. Alice Kisiya’s family has lived on the land for generations. She and her family have suffered violence protecting her family land from annexation.