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Aspiring to be catalysts for peacemaking, especially where minorities are persecuted, where justice is denied, human rights are suppressed or reconciliation is needed

Spring Peacemaker News

<<First Name>>, it is a delight to share with you about new Peacemaker initiatives, projects and interviews since I last wrote in January. So much has been achieved following my four year tribunal. It is good to be able to focus now on the future and seek the Lord’s direction for the year ahead. I hope you will find this update an encouragement. Thank you for your continued prayers and support. If you have any questions or suggestions for future projects please let me know.

“Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 3:13-14)

Weekly Bible Expositions

A consequence of my brief sabbatical in January was the conviction that I should begin preparing a weekly Bible exposition once again. I am basing these on the Revised Common Lectionary (RCL), used by many churches internationally. My hope is that these will be useful to fellow pastors, to bible study groups as well as for personal devotions.

Each week the Bible exposition will be available as a video as well as text to read or download. Recommended resources as well as questions for group or personal study will also be provided. The latest weekly expositions, as well as previous sermons, may be accessed here.

Bishop Riah on Palestine and Church of England

In this compelling interview, the Right Revd Riah Abu El Assal, the retired Anglican Bishop in Jerusalem, speaks frankly about how to achieve a just peace in Palestine and shares his frustrations with the Church of England for failing to engage constructively in the process. Continue reading ->

Convivencia: Jewish Perspectives

As you may know, I am chair of the Convivencia Alliance, an international coalition of 17 Jewish, Muslim and Christian organisations supporting a just peace in Palestine, based on One Democratic State. The second in a series of webinars giving a Jewish perspective took place in January. The four distinguished speakers were: Ronnie Kasrils, Cape Town; Naomi Wimborne-Idrissi, London; Prof. Daniel Boyarin, San Francisco; and Prof. Haim Bresheeth-Zabner, London. Continue reading ->

Garth Hewitt: The Easter Revolution

I recently interviewed Garth Hewitt about his latest album and book entitled Easter Revolution “It is a revolution of peacemaking, of following Jesus the peacemaker. It is a revolution that rejects violence as a solution, rejects greed, and embraces justice for all, sharing with all and welcoming the forgotten. It is a rejection of past ways of mistreating people and is a call for equality. It also recognises the responsibility for the care of the planet. It is a revolution of hope.” Continue reading ->

Paul McAllister: The Dietrich Bonhoeffer Institute

The Revd Dr Paul McAllister is a Senior Fellow of the Dietrich Bonhoeffer Institute. We met a couple of years ago in North Carolina. The DBI forms, supports, and encourages ethical and morally courageous leaders to address the social crises of our time. In this interview I wanted to find out more about the work of the DBI and Paul’s role. Continue reading ->

Bishop Richard Llewellin Joins Peacemakers

We are delighted to announce that the Right Revd Richard Llewellin has kindly agreed to join the Peacemaker International Board of Reference. Bishop Richard becomes the 10th Anglican Bishop or Archbishop to do so. Bishop Richard is a member of the Palestine Solidarity Campaign and has also served as a human rights monitor with the Ecumenical Accompaniment Programme in Palestine. Continue reading ->

Sabeel: Bible Studies on Apartheid

As part of the Sabeel-Kairos Apartheid in Advent series, I prepared four Bible studies challenging zionism, colonialism and militarisation and also explored what a future might look like without apartheid. Although prepared for Advent they are relevant all year round, the more so as Israeli apartheid becomes more explicit and unacceptable. You can access the Bible studies and other resources from the Sabeel-Kairos website

Epilogue: How to Avoid Burnout

Unless you benefit from annual winter breaks in the sun, January to March are not necessarily months we look forward to here in the UK. The Met Office forecast invariably predicts cold and wet weather. It is still dark when you get up, the days are short and summer seems light-years away. So how do you avoid burnout at this time of year? Continue reading ->

Tribunal Response from Friends

“The central message arising from the tribunal is that the well-documented accusations of repeated antisemitic behaviour made over more than a decade have been dismissed! Only one allegation of antisemitism has been found to have substance – but that was dealt with quickly and effectively [in 2015] at the time by the Bishop of Guildford (as Jonathan Arkush accepts), Stephen apologising for his actions, recognising the deep hurt his actions had caused and stating publicly that his sharing of the material was ill-considered and misguided and that he “never believed Israel, or any other country was complicity in the terrorist atrocity of 9/11.”

“As an Israeli Jew and the head of an Israeli human rights organization – ICAHD, the Israeli Committee Against House Demolitions – I am appalled by the very thought of bringing anyone, let alone such a principled person as Stephen Sizer, before a religious Tribunal. What, are we back to the Medieval days of the Inquisition? I can’t speak for the Church of England, but Jews, the British Board of Deputies, participating in a religious Tribunal?! The very thought is appalling. What has happened to us, Jews and Christians together? Are we willing to return to the dark processes of Tribunals with no legal underpinnings, no genuine evidence or testimony, conducted solely against people whose views we don’t like – besmirch and destroy people’s lives – just to prevent criticism of Israel? Is it really so easy, in the 21st Century, to persecute people for their religious and political views? Savonarola meets Trump?” Jeff Halper (Jeff’s statement has been viewed over 92,000 times)

“It is significant that not one word or statement from Dr Sizer has been shown to be antisemitic. There are none.” Stephen Hofmeyr KC

If you wish to read any of the 40+ statements of support from archbishops. bishops, rabbis, clergy and academics as well as my defence statement and that of the expert witness, Antony Lerman, please visit my personal website.

Spring Challenge

Peacemaker Trust is a faith ministry. By the grace of God, we are entirely dependent on the prayers, advocacy and financial support of our dedicated Peacemaker friends. We are a small charity with low overheads and a prudent budget. If you identify with our vision, we invite you to make a one-off gift or regular monthly donation to help us fulfil our charitable purposes in 2023.

We need to raise an additional £10,000 in 2023

If you wish to give regularly, you may download a standing order form and return to your bank. You may also donate via PayPal or by making a deposit or transfer directly into our Peacemaker Trust Metro Bank account, using our bank account number 19949718 and sort code 23-05-80. See here for more details of other options.