Palestinian Christian theologians to tour New Zealand, inviting churches into conversation on faith, justice and peace
Two leading Palestinian Christian scholars will tour eight venues across New Zealand next week, sharing first-hand perspectives on faith, justice and peace-making from the Holy Land.
Presented by Aotearoa Christians for Peace in Palestine (AC4PP), Bearing Witness: Palestinian Christian Perspectives will visit Christchurch, Dunedin, Nelson, Wellington, Auckland and Hamilton from 19 to 26 July.
The tour features Dr. Yousef Khoury, a Palestinian Christian theologian raised in Gaza, where his family still lives, and Dr. Lamma Mansour, a Palestinian Christian writer, sociologist and postdoctoral researcher from Nazareth.
Drawing on both lived experience and academic scholarship, the pair will explore what it means to follow Christ amid conflict, the realities facing Palestinian communities today, and how Christians in New Zealand can faithfully contribute to peace and justice.
Quotes
“I was raised in Gaza, where my family remains. We are not asking you to take sides; we are asking you to come, to listen to our story, and to stand with us in the slow and costly work of peace.” Dr Yousef Khoury, Bethlehem Bible College
“Hope, for us, is not naïve. It is an act of faith. To speak honestly about our people’s suffering, and about the beauty and resilience that endures alongside it, is part of what it means to follow Christ here.” Dr Lamma Mansour
“Too often, we fail to acknowledge Palestinian Christians. They may be spoken about rather than listened to despite their extraordinary insight and experience. This tour is an opportunity for Kiwis to hear directly from followers of Christ among the Palestinian community, to wrestle honestly with the realities of the Holy Land, and to discern together what faithful peacemaking looks like.” Ian McInnes, CEO Tearfund NZ
Tour Dates
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Christchurch | Sunday 19 July | 7:00pm | Christchurch Transitional Cathedral
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Christchurch | Monday 20 July | 7:00pm | Oxford Terrace Baptist Church
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Dunedin | Tuesday 21 July | 7:00pm | All Saints Anglican Church
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Nelson | Tuesday 21 July | 7:00pm | Victory Community Centre
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Wellington | Wednesday 22 July | 7:00pm | Lifepoint Church
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Auckland | Thursday 23 July | 7:00pm | Holy Trinity Cathedral
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Hamilton | Saturday 25 July | 7:00pm | Te Rautini Church
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Auckland | Sunday 26 July | 7:00pm | Eden Church (5:30pm dinner option)
Event information and free tickets are available at: AC4PP.com/tour
About the speakers
Dr Yousef Khoury is a Palestinian Christian theologian raised in Gaza, where his family still lives. He serves as Academic Dean and Assistant Professor of Biblical Studies at Bethlehem Bible College, a Steering Committee member of Christ at the Checkpoint, and a board member of Kairos Palestine.
Dr Lamma Mansour is a Palestinian Christian writer, speaker and sociologist from Nazareth. Her work explores what it means to follow Christ in contexts marked by violence, and the political, emotional and gendered dimensions of Palestinian life. Oxford-trained, she is a postdoctoral research fellow at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.
Bearing Witness: Palestinian Christian Perspectives is presented by Aotearoa Christians for Peace in Palestine (AC4PP).