Wednesday, April 2, 2025, 5:15-6:00 PM (Vigil & Processional) 6:30 PM - 8:00 PM EDT (Book Discussion) - Livestream & in person at New York Avenue Presbyterian Church, 1313 New York Avenue, NW, Washington, DC

New York Avenue Presbyterian Church Christ in the Rubble Book Launch with Rev. Dr. Munther Isaac (plus pre-event prayerful processional)

There will be a prayerful processional led by Christians 4 Ceasefire from 5:15-6:00 PM beginning at the White House and ending at the church. Let us know here if you plan to join us for the processional.

Churches for Middle East Peace (CMEP) is pleased to invite you to join us on April 2, 2025 for the Washington DC launch of Rev. Dr. Munther Isaac's new book "Christ in the Rubble" at the New York Avenue Presbyterian Church.

In this impassioned and incisive book, Munther Isaac challenges mainstream Christians’ uncritical embrace of the modern State of Israel. Speaking from his unique vantage point as a prominent Palestinian Christian pastor and theologian, he proclaims a truth that is rarely acknowledged in Christian circles: Israel’s campaign to eliminate the Palestinian people did not begin after October 7, 2023. Rather, the campaign is a continuation of a colonial project with nineteenth-century roots that has, since 1948, established systems of entrenched discrimination and segregation worse than South Africa’s apartheid regime.

Writing from Bethlehem with close-up knowledge of conditions on the ground, and rooted in a commitment to nonviolence and just peace, Isaac challenges readers to realign their beliefs and actions with Christ—who can be found not among perpetrators of violence, but with victims buried under the rubble of war.

To register: NYAPC Christ in the Rubble Book Launch with Rev. Dr. Munther Isaac – Churches for Middle East Peace

Rev. Dr. Munther Isaac - Author - Rev. Dr. Munther Isaac is a Palestinian Christian pastor and theologian. He now pastors the Evangelical Lutheran Christmas Church in Bethlehem and the Lutheran Church in Beit Sahour. 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. Munther is passionate about issues related to the Palestinian theology.

He speaks locally and internationally and has published numerous articles on issues related to the theology of the land, Palestinian Christians and Palestinian theology, holistic mission and reconciliation. He is the author of “The Other Side of the Wall”, “From Land to Lands, from Eden to the Renewed Earth”, “An Introduction to Palestinian Theology” (in Arabic), a commentary on the book of Daniel (in Arabic), and more recently has published a book on women ordination in the church, also in Arabic. He is also involved in many reconciliation and interfaith forums. He is also a Kairos Palestine board member.

Munther originally studied civil engineering in Birzeit University in Palestine. He then obtained a Master in Biblical Studies from Westminster Theological Seminary and then a PhD from the Oxford Centre for Mission Studies.

Respondents

Rev. Dr. Mae Elise Cannon is the executive director of Churches for Middle East Peace and an ordained pastor in the Evangelical Covenant Church (ECC). Cannon formerly served as the senior director of Advocacy and Outreach for World Vision U.S. on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC; as a consultant to the Middle East for child advocacy issues for Compassion International in Jerusalem; as the executive pastor of Hillside Covenant Church located in Walnut Creek, California; and as director of development and transformation for extension ministries at Willow Creek Community Church in Barrington, Illinois. Cannon holds an MDiv from North Park Theological Seminary, an MBA from North Park University’s School of Business and Nonprofit Management, and an MA in bioethics from Trinity International University. She received her first doctorate in American History with a minor in Middle Eastern studies at the University of California (Davis) focusing on the history of the American Protestant church in Israel and Palestine and her second doctorate in Ministry in Spiritual Formation from Northern Theological Seminary. Her work has been highlighted in The New York Times, The Washington Post, CNN, Chicago Tribune, Christianity Today, Leadership Magazine, The Christian Post, Jerusalem Post, EU Parliament Magazine, Huffington Post, and other international media outlets.

Albert Mokhiber is an attorney in the Washington DC area with an extensive background in immigration, government affairs, political consulting, and public relations. A partner in the law firm, Mokhiber & Moretti, PLLC, Mr. Mokhiber has an international practice dealing with individual and corporate clients concentrating in areas of administrative, corporate, international and immigration law.

Mr. Mokhiber served as national president of the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC) from September 1990 to October 1994. In that capacity he has represented ADC in public and private forums across the United States, Europe and the Middle East and North Africa on issues ranging from civil rights, human rights, international relations, and expanding markets. Mr. Mokhiber has served on the national boards of the Association of Arab-American University Graduate (AAUG), the American Committee on Jerusalem (ACJ) and ADC, for which he served on the National Board and Executive Committee. Mr. Mokhiber joined the ADC staff in 1984 as Director of Legal Services where he counseled thousands of members and developed a national legal referral network consisting of hundreds of attorneys. He represented ADC before the United States Supreme Court in the landmark case of St. Francis College v. Al-Khazraji which held that Arab-Americans were entitled to full protection under the Civil Rights Act.

A frequent media guest and lecturer, Mr. Mokhiber has been featured on numerous American and foreign radio and television shows from Larry King Live and Crossfire to print media pieces ranging from The New York Times to People Magazine.

Mr. Mokhiber holds a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy and History from the State University of New York (SUNY) Binghamton and a Juris Doctorate from the SUNY Buffalo Faculty of Law and Jurisprudence. He is licensed to practice before the United States Supreme Court and in the states of New York, Virginia and the District of Columbia.

Mr. Mokhiber is the fourth generation of Lebanese-Americans in his family, who emigrated at the beginning of the last century.

To register: NYAPC Christ in the Rubble Book Launch with Rev. Dr. Munther Isaac – Churches for Middle East Peace

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