The news site of the Anglican Church Southern Queensland: nourishing and connecting our faith community

The Occupied Territories

Monday October 02

WCC marks 75th commemoration of “Al-Nakba”

During the 75th commemoration of what Palestinians refer to as the nakba, or “catastrophe”—when hundreds of thousands of people were uprooted during Israel’s creation in 1948—World Council of Churches (WCC) general secretary The Rev’d Prof. Dr Jerry Pillay expressed solidarity with member churches in the Holy Land

Are you being served more than meets the eye?

“Shawarma is from the Arab-Middle East region, but a recent major tour company promotion described the shawarma as an Israeli delicacy. This is a far cry from the friendly tussle between Australia and New Zealand over pavlova!” says Helen Rainger, General Synod member and President of the Palestine Israel Ecumenical Network

"This stencilled mural was first painted in the Palestinian town of Bethlehem in 2003, shortly after the construction of the 708km West Bank Wall that annexes Palestinian land inside the Israeli-occupied West Bank...The image infers that it is right to protest injustice, but it challenges people to protest in a way that does not create new violence," (Bishop Cam Venables)

Whom, or what, do we worship?

“I recently had the privilege of visiting an art exhibition in Brisbane that is currently showcasing the work of British street artist and film director, Banksy…One of the things Banksy repeatedly challenges is the complex reality of consumerism that flourishes and perpetuates itself in our ongoing love of stuff,” says Bishop Cam Venables

WCC provides resource to help people push for unimpeded access to Jerusalem during Easter celebrations

The World Council of Churches is providing resources – including a sample letter and ideas for distribution—that calls on the government of Israel and all governments worldwide to ensure unimpeded access to holy sites in the Jerusalem during upcoming Easter celebrations.

Journeying and pilgrimage

The Rev’d Dr Ray Barraclough explores the Christian traditions of ‘journeying’ and ‘pilgrimage’, with a particular focus on the continuing trauma experienced by both Jews in Israel and Palestinians in ‘the Occupied Territories’