Councillors Vivian Achwal, Mayor of Winchester, and Lucille Thompson, Leader of Winchester City Council, joined Southampton & Winchester Visitors Group (SWVG), Southampton Stand up to Racism, and Winchester Cathedral represented by Canon Brian Rees, in standing Together with Refugees on our parade through Winchester this evening.
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On 17 November, Southampton City Art Gallery hosted the launch of a new book and walking tour guide by Professor Tony Kushner, of the Parkes Institute for the Study of Jewish/non-Jewish Relations and History Department at the University of Southampton, detailing the rich history of Southampton’s migrant past.
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ICAHD USA hosted a webinar on 7 November entitled ‘Christian Zionism: What Is It, How Does it Impact on the Palestinian Question, and How Do We Combat It?’ The three guest speakers were Jonathan Kuttab – Executive Director, Friends of Sabeel, North America, Dr Don Wagner – Author, co-author of five books dealing with Christian Zionism and Christian history in Palestine / Israel, and myself. Here is a recording of my presentation:
“The very being of the church, the integrity of the Christian faith, and the credibility of the Gospel is at stake. We declare that support for the oppression of the Palestinian people, whether passive or active, through silence, word or deed, is a sin. We assert that Christian support for Zionism as a theology and an ideology that legitimize the right of one people to deny the human rights of another is incompatible with the Christian faith and a grave misuse of the Bible.” (2020 Kairos Palestine: ‘Cry of Hope’)
Watch a recording of the full webinar here
Several trustees of Southampton & Winchester Visitors Group (SWVG) met with the Muslim Council of Southampton executive today at the Medina Mosque to discuss how we might collaborate in caring for refugees and asylum seekers in our community. We stand together with refugees. We were also invited to view their food bank supporting the poorest in Southampton irrespective of religious affiliation.
The Right Revd Debbie Sellin, the Bishop of Southampton, visited the Avenue Multicultural Centre (AMC) this morning to meet people seeking asylum and speak to some of the Southampton and Winchester Visitors Group (SWVG) team.
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Southampton and Winchester Visitors Group (SWVG) have just launched a weekly cultural event for clients and visitors in conjunction with Southampton Central Library. Today the librarian introduced us to the resources and facilities available in the library. The plaque by the entrance to the library commemorating the arrival of 4,000 children from Spain on the Habana in 1937 reminds us that Southampton has a long history of welcoming refugees and asylum seekers.
Continue readingWhat does the Bible say about apartheid? How has the Bible been used to justify supremacism, segregation and racial purity? How is apartheid easily refuted from the Bible? This presentation will provide some answers. The introduction gives a brief historical overview showing the lineage of European supremacism, slavery, segregation and apartheid. It also examines why apartheid has been designated a crime against humanity, and shows the similarities between the South African and Israeli variants.
Download a copy of this presentation here
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During the annual Sabeel-Kairos UK conference held in September, I led a short bible reflection on Apartheid based on Isaiah 56. I also led a workshop for which I prepared a research paper as well as a Bible study for personal as well as group discussion.
The following statement, presented by the Sabeel-Kairos UK trustees with the support of both Kairos Palestine and Sabeel Jerusalem, was endorsed by conference participants.
‘Having considered a Christian response to Israeli apartheid, we affirm that all people are created equally in the image of God; we commend the B’TSelem and Human Rights Watch documents designating Israel as an apartheid state; we repudiate all forms of racism and discrimination; and we recommit ourselves to working for justice, peace and reconciliation in Israel/Palestine.”
The Avenue Multicultural Centre drop-in centre for people seeking asylum re-opened in Southampton today. After a gap of 18 months due to Covid restrictions it is good to be back supporting people seeking asylum face to face.
Southampton and Winchester Visitors Group is working in partnership with CLEAR, the Red Cross and Avenue Multicultueral Centre
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Passionate about peacemaking?
Want to be a part of the global movement in peace studies?
Desire to learn more from dynamic Holy Land Christian peacemakers?
Join us this September in our first online course for audit or credit entitled Introduction to Peacemaking and Justice.
The Bethlehem Institute of Peace and Justice promotes interdisciplinary research and study of peace and justice in the context of the Palestinian experience. Bethlehem Bible College is accredited by the Palestinian Ministry of Education and Higher Education, the Asia Theological Association, and the Middle East Association for Theological Education.
Peacemaker Trust 