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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

Summer Peacemaker News

<<First Name>>, thank you for allowing me to share with you our latest news of Peacemaker projects, interviews and supported initiatives. We very much appreciate your prayers and support.

Refugee Week comes to Winchester Cathedral

During Refugee Week, members of Southampton and Winchester Visitors Group invited visitors to Winchester Cathedral to write messages of support to people seeking asylum and also postcards to the Home Secretary expressing their views on UK asylum policy. Continue reading→

Global Kairos Dossier on Israeli Apartheid

On 1st July, Kairos Palestine launched a significant Dossier on Israeli Apartheid prepared by member of Kairos Palestine and Global Kairos for Justice coalition. The launch included presentations by speakers and activists from leading Human rights organizations including Amnesty International. The Dossier also includes a link to my resource, “A Biblical Response to Israeli Apartheid” prepared for the Sabeel-Kairos UK conference last year.

Convivencia Alliance Launch

The launch of the Convivencia Alliance took place on 8th May at the P21 Gallery in London. As one of the three conveners, I spoke along with Professor Haim Bresheeth (Jewish Network for Palestine) and Massoud Shadjareh (Islamic Human Rights Commission).

Members of our Peacemaker Board of Reference who have endorsed the Convivencia Declaration now include Archbishop Munir Anis, Bishop Riah Abu El Assal, Bishop Bill Musk, Revd Alex Awad, Canon Garth Hewitt, Rifat Kassis and Ilan Pappe. Significantly, Revd Prof. Allan Aubrey Boesak, University of Pretoria, and President, The Sankofa Institute for Pan African Leadership and Prophetic Ministry has also just endorsed the declaration.

Convivencia is a cross-faith, international initiative for a just peace in the Middle East that seeks to substitute the current militarised ‘solutions’ based on racist oppression, brute force, denial of rights and colonial dispossession with an approach predicated on shared values and commitment to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

New Forest Rangers Welcome Asylum Seekers

Photos taken on our recent Southampton & Winchester Visitors Group (SWVG) day out in the New Forest National Park for families seeking asylum and volunteers led by the amazing team of Park Rangers. They kindly provided us with lunch, drinks and activities for the children. Continue reading→

Sabeel-Kairos UK: Investing for Peace

In June, Christian Aid hosted a meeting at their Central London HQ with Sabeel-Kairos UK for staff and volunteers to hear presentations by Hagai El-Ad from the Israeli human rights organisation B’Tselem, and Raji Souranifrom the Palestinian Centre for Human Rights (PCHR) in Gaza. Representatives from the Sabeel-Kairos denominational groups attended (Anglican, Church of Scotland, Methodist, Roman Catholic, URC). Continue reading→

Archbishop Munir Anis: Centre for Christian Muslim Understanding & Partnership

The Episcopal/Anglican Diocese of Egypt played an important role in the drafting of the interfaith agreement between the Anglican Communion and Al-Azhar Al-Sharif, signed in 2002 at Lambeth Palace in London. Since then, the Diocese and Al-Azhar have worked together on many community projects through Egypt, and have arranged and participated in an annual dialogue meeting. The Centre for Christian-Muslim Understanding and Partnership was established in order to bring these projects together in one organisation, in order to further develop and resource this vital work in the future. I interviewed Archbishop Munir about the new centre and his aspirations for closer cooperation between the Christian and Muslim communities in Egypt and beyond. Continue reading→

Dr Jeff Halper on Religious Tribunals

“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?” Continue reading→

Peacemaker 2022 Financial 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 2022.

We need to raise an additional £4,000 more to meet our budget this year

If you wish to give regularly, you may download a standing order form and return to your bank. You may also donate via PayPal (use button above) or by making a cash or cheque 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.

May the Lord bless you and those you love.