Methodist Campaigners hold Vigil for Gaza

Our Sabeel-Kairos Methodist campaign group held a vigil for Gaza outside the entrance to the 2024 Methodist Conference on the 1st July, sharing prayers, poems, reflections and stories from Gaza and the West Bank.

Over 200 delegates at the conference joined our campaign group in lighting a candle for Gaza and praying for Palestinians living in what Chair of the group John Howard described as ‘appalling conditions’.

Campaigners handed out candles to be lit, alongside an information sheet saying what the Methodist position on Israel and Palestine was, stating in an interview with the Methodist Recorder that ‘we want to affirm the Methodist position, but are aware that many, even Methodists, are unaware of what this is’. 

©Robin Prime

Campaigners were joined throughout the morning by many senior figures in the Methodist Church, including two ex-presidents, the current head of the Connexional Team, and the Methodist Liaison officer David Hardman who would normally have spent the last 10 months in Jerusalem had it not been for the events of October 7th and the events that have followed.

Member of the group Bea Foster read out a powerful poem from Gaza, and later said the following regarding her motivation for travelling from Burnley to be in Leeds for the event:

“I have had the privilege of going out and living in the West Bank , volunteering with the Methodist Liaison Office. This experience of seeing first hand the oppression that the Palestinians live under, an Apartheid situation, has inspired me to become a member of the Methodist Campaign group. Together in mutual support, motivated by our Faith, which is based on the Justice that God speaks about, that we are all made in his image and are of equal value leads us to action. As Methodists, we believe in the power of prayer, so the prayer vigil at  the start of the Methodist Conference was an important way to raise awareness, our voices and pray for Justice for our Palestinian brothers and sisters. Please join us by continuing to pray for Justice for all who live in the Holy land.”

©Robin Prime

Campaigners in the Sabeel-Kairos group were also responsible for 3 memorials put to conference regarding the situation in Palestine. These were passed unanimously, and included a call for the Methodist Church to continue its solidarity with the Tent of Nations and Nasser family facing a 70+ year battle to stay on their land, and for the Methodist Church to write to the British Government and Israeli Embassy to express their concern at the family’s situation. Another memorial called on the Methodist Church to do more to put pressure on Barclays Bank and HSBC to withdraw their loans and investments from companies involved in the development of Israeli settlements on Palestinian land. The memorials and replies can be read here: Conference 2024 Agenda (d1yuutt686hfi0.cloudfront.net)