Webinar: Pursuing Peace in the Middle East
Inspired by Palestinian Christian pastors, theologians, peacemakers, and community leaders.
Join us as we discuss what solidarity with and support for our Palestinian siblings invites from Jesus followers in this season.
Wednesday, Sept 23 • 12PM ET / 9AM PT
Join Pastor Munther Issac from Bethlehem Institute for Peace and Justice and peacemaker Greg Khalil from our sponsor Telos on for a conversation on support and solidarity for our Palestinian Christian siblings. Specifically, when political leaders deploy "end times" rhetoric, we'll discuss how we might pursue a Jesus-centered lens for the way forward in these times. We will also hear about participating in the Red Candle Initiative with Palestinian Christians this Christmas.
Facilitated by Michael Rudzena and Hosted by Keri Ladouceur
If you have questions for the speakers, you can add those when you register for the event.
Register below
Questions? Email Sherry Gossman at sherrygossman@gmail.com
Speakers
Pastor Munther Issac is a Palestinian Christian pastor and theologian. He is also the academic dean of Bethlehem Bible College, and is the director of the highly acclaimed and influential Christ at the Checkpoint conferences. During the genocide in Gaza, Munther gained global attention for his sermon, Christ under the Rubble which was heard by tens of millions of people and subsequently quoted in South Africa’s case against Israel at the International Court of Justice. He is commonly interviewed on major news channels. Munther is the author of numerous Christian books and articles focusing on the Palestinian context. He holds a PhD from the Oxford Centre for Mission Studies.
Greg Khalil is the Co-Founder and President of Telos, a Washington, D.C. based nonprofit that equips American leaders to build a world in which we can all flourish by unleashing our power to confront injustice. Since 2009, Telos has cultivated political and cultural space that centers human rights in U.S. engagement in Palestine/Israel, especially among U.S. Christians. From 2018 to 2025, Greg was also an Adjunct Professor at Columbia University's Graduate School of Journalism. Before founding Telos, Greg lived in Ramallah, Palestine, where he advised Palestinian leadership on negotiations with Israel, including during Israel's so-called 2005 "Disengagement" from Gaza. Although born and primarily raised in San Diego, much of Greg's extended family still lives in Beit Sahour, a predominantly Palestinian Christian town near Bethlehem. Greg's a graduate of UCLA and Yale Law School and currently lives in New York City.
Facilitator
Michael Rudzena is the founding pastor of Good Shepherd New York, an ecumenical congregation focused on Christian unity. He has lived in Manhattan for 13 years with his wife and four children. His thoughtful, winsome approach to preaching offers fresh, sophisticated connections between the Bible and the challenges of modern life. Good Shepherd New York thrives in the dynamic intersection between historic liturgy, contemporary music, and inclusivity. During the pandemic, he co-created an innovative response to quarantine with digitalchurch.nyc, which continues with wide impact today. Michael also works closely with the John 17 delegation, focused on promoting relational unity among Christians in collaboration with the Vatican. He is a trusted voice on topics of religion, spirituality, plurality, and peace, with appearances on The Today Show and Morning Joe. His creative outlets include graphic design, filming, and songwriting.
Host
Keri Ladouceur is a pastor, teacher, incessantly curious question-asker, and bridge-building peacemaker. She believes the fullness of the gospel is liberative good news for all of creation and longs to cultivate new faith spaces of mutuality and flourishing for all people.
She is the co-founder of the Post-Evangelical Collective and founder of New Ground Network, where she co-conspires with pastors, denominations, and organizational leaders to clarify and align around their purpose. One of her favorite roles is organizational coach where she is part dreamer, instigator, activator and team counselor. She has an MA in New Testament from Northern Seminary, and her imagination for the Beloved Community has been primarily shaped by her native heritage and liberation thinkers and theologians.