Middle East
You are the light of the world…let your light shine before others…
December 13, 2019
(Matt. 5:14,16) By Andreas Thiel What sort of courageous people did we encounter today? Not an inappropriate question to pose, considering that each day in the West Bank brings us face to face with individuals and groups that yield fresh…
Post filed in: Gender Justice/Women of Courage, Middle East, Spirited Reflections
A conspiracy with the God of Hope
December 13, 2019
By Jennifer Henry I have rarely seen anything as beautiful as the group of women and children who gathered to meet the KAIROS delegation in Thabra in the West Bank. About thirty women and young children, all so incredibly welcoming…
Post filed in: Gender Justice/Women of Courage, Middle East
Not your Grandmother’s pilgrimage
December 12, 2019
By Rosalyn Elm Packed into a tight airplane seat, excitement was building as we woke from our slumber, touching down in Tel Aviv. It was uneventful as we breezed through security and customs, and were greeted by our driver, Nassar….
Post filed in: Gender Justice/Women of Courage, Middle East
“Come and see…and act” KAIROS solidarity delegation visits Palestine and Israel
December 11, 2019
The KAIROS Church Leaders Delegation to Palestine and Israel took place between Nov 17-28, 2019, bringing together 8 delegates – Indigenous persons, settlers, and newcomers – representing 7 members of KAIROS and the Executive Director of KAIROS (link to bios)….
Post filed in: Gender Justice/Women of Courage, Middle East
KAIROS Joins Amnesty International Canada urging the federal government not to appeal ruling on goods from illegal Israeli settlements
August 27, 2019
KAIROS supports Amnesty International Canada’s request that the Canadian government not appeal the recent, important Federal Court decision – in Kattenburg v. Canada (Attorney General) – that goods imported into Canada from the Israeli settlements in the West Bank and East…
Post filed in: Middle East
Spirited Reflection: Youth and children: raising hope and making change
September 12, 2018
World Council of Churches Week of Prayer for Peace in Israel Palestine Timing is everything, so they say, and the truth of this applied in the coincidence of reading a review of a book about the complexities of the Israeli-Palestinian…
Post filed in: Middle East, Spirited Reflections
Resilience and collective responsibility in peace building in Palestine
August 20, 2018
In July, my colleague Rachel Warden and I travelled to the West Bank to visit with Wi’am: Palestinian Conflict Transformation Center, one of five KAIROS partner organizations in the Women of Courage: Women, Peace and Security (WPS) program. I was…
Post filed in: Gender Justice/Women of Courage, Middle East
Ecumenical Call to stop the demolition of Khan al Ahmar
August 16, 2018
“By silence and inaction, governments have become complicit in this violation of international law…” KAIROS joins fifteen international faith-based, civil society, and human rights organizations from around the world in collectively calling on our governments to take action to stop…
Post filed in: Middle East
The city of Jerusalem must be shared and open
December 8, 2017
In the wake of US declarations on status of Jerusalem, KAIROS shares its long standing position on Jerusalem as an open city. Our policy says: The city of Jerusalem must be shared and open. The question of Jerusalem has two…
Post filed in: Middle East
Wi’am – Occupying space with courage, resilience and humanity
May 4, 2017
It was my first time in Israel and Palestine. From April 1-10, I joined a Canadian delegation, which included representatives from the United Church of Canada and the Presbyterian Church in Canada, to visit partners in the region and finally…
Post filed in: Middle East
Gaza calls: Canada answers on November 26, 2016
November 7, 2016
Gaza Calls: Canada Answers is a live video-conference that will be available in up to 20 locations across Canada on November 26. This initiative is sponsored by some KAIROS member churches, and regional KAIROS committees have helped organize some of…
Post filed in: Middle East
KAIROS network shows solidarity for partners in the Middle East
September 11, 2014
“In this moment, we must all don the robe of humanity. It is a time to stand together as Canadians, Palestinians, Arabs, Muslims, Jews, Israelis and Christians as one soul. We must show that none is ignored or considered unworthy…
Post filed in: Gender Justice/Women of Courage, Middle East
KAIROS Members Call for Peace in Gaza
August 1, 2014
KAIROS member churches and organizations continue to speak out for peace in Gaza, urging the Canadian government to become more engaged in building a just peace.
Post filed in: Middle East
Support those affected by ongoing violence in Gaza
July 28, 2014
A number of KAIROS’ member churches are accepting donations to provide direct support to those affected by ongoing violence in Gaza.
Post filed in: Middle East
Current Violence and Military Action in Israel and Palestine
July 15, 2014
Jennifer Henry, Executive Director of KAIROS: Canadian Ecumenical Justice Initiatives, has issued a statement in response to the ongoing violence and military action in Palestine and Israel.
Post filed in: Middle East
Serving refugees in the Middle East region: DSPR
July 23, 2013
KAIROS partner, Department of Service to Palestinian Refugees (DSPR), is a body of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) that serves Palestinian and other refugees across the Middle East region. In operation since 1949, DSPR provides diverse services to…
Post filed in: Middle East, Migrant Justice
KAIROS, the WCC and the MECC express concern for bishops kidnapped in Syria
May 29, 2013
In April, Syrian Archbishops (Metropolitans) His Eminence Boulos (Yazigi), from the Greek Orthodox Church of Antioch and His Eminence Mor Youhanna Gregorios (Ibrahim) from the Syriac Orthodox Church of Antioch, were abducted in Aleppo. By all accounts they remain in…
Post filed in: Middle East
Middle East Churches and their partners issue statement on Christian presence and witness in the Middle East
May 21, 2013
From May 21 to 25, KAIROS staff took part in the Middle East Council of Churches and World Council of Churches conference, “Christian presence and witness in the Middle East” in Beirut, Lebanon. In a joint statement, the conference called…
Post filed in: Middle East
Take action: Ask the government to clearly identify Israeli settlement products sold in Canada
May 6, 2013
(Support for a United Church of Canada action) The United Church of Canada is inviting the ecumenical and justice community to write to the Foreign Affairs and Trade ministers, asking for proper identification of Israeli settlement products in Canadian stores…
Post filed in: Middle East
Honouring human rights defenders in photos: A KAIROS slideshow for International Human Rights Day
December 11, 2012
KAIROS marks International Human Rights Day, December 10, and the following week of celebration by commemorating the courageous work of our human rights partners in Canada and in the Global South. Through our migrant justice, Indigenous rights, women of courage and…
Post filed in: Africa, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, Middle East
United Nations has recognized Palestine as non-member state
November 30, 2012
On 29 November 2012, the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) passed an historic resolution upgrading the Palestinian Territories to the status of a non-member observer state. This move by the UNGA to recognize Palestinian statehood is seen by many as…
Post filed in: Middle East
Crisis in Gaza: KAIROS Partners Respond
November 20, 2012
As the conflict continues between Israel and Hamas in Gaza, KAIROS partner, the Near East Council of Churches (NECC), is responding with emergency medical care to the growing number of injured civilians. NECC in Gaza, a branch of KAIROS partner…
Post filed in: Middle East
News from KAIROS Partner in Gaza
November 16, 2012
“We could not sleep last night, today we cannot go out of our houses, it is dangerous to move around. NECC premises are closed , employees cannot reach the working places. Gaza people live in fear and stress. I hope…
Post filed in: Middle East
KAIROS joins the cry for an end to violence in Syria
September 7, 2012
KAIROS joins the global cry for an end to the violence in Syria, for dialogue between the warring parties, and for a just peace for the Syrian people. KAIROS echoes the call of the World Council of Churches for an…
Post filed in: Middle East
Report on Living Courage Eastern Tour and TRC, June 5-25, 2012
August 13, 2012
KAIROS partners, Claudia Castellanos, from the Popular Feminist Organization (OFP) in Colombia, and Lucy Talgieh from Wi’am: Palestinian Conflict Resolution Center in Bethlehem, Occupied Palestinian Territories visited communities in Nova Scotia, Newfoundland, Ontario and Saskatchewan during the Living Courage tour,…
Post filed in: Gender Justice/Women of Courage, Indigenous Rights, Latin America, Middle East
Canada must urge Israel to resume negotiations for peace within International Law
February 13, 2012
Download PDF of this article >> Recently, Canada’s Minister of Foreign Affairs travelled to the Middle East, an admirable thing to do in a region so in need of peace. KAIROS: Canadian Ecumenical Justice Initiatives believes that the government of…
Post filed in: Middle East
Representing Rebecca Nyagai Kafi
October 20, 2011
Sermon, Vancouver Chinese Presbyterian Church, 16 October 2011 (Pastor Morgan Wong of Vancouver Chinese Presbyterian Church had invited Rebecca Nyagai Kafi of the Sudan Council of Churches to preach at the English and Chinese services in his church. When Rebecca…
Post filed in: Africa, Gender Justice/Women of Courage, Middle East
KAIROS Partner Voices speak on UN Statehood for Palestine
September 26, 2011
At the UN General Assembly, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas is seeking to upgrade Palestinians’ status from non-state observer to full UN membership. Given the United States’ proposed exercise of its veto, there is concern that Palestinian hopes may once again…
Post filed in: Middle East