Kairos Ireland Newsletter – Summer 2026

Church Solidarity with Palestine

Discussions and motions in church synods and assemblies can seem dull or even tedious affairs. However, a motion at the recent Church of England General Assembly, committing British Anglicans to engage with the Ecumenical Kairos Palestine documents written by Palestinian Christians and on church investors to examine church investments regarding Israel and Palestine is a significant step forward for the cause of justice and peace. Palestinian Anglican priest, Fr Fadi Diab attended both the annual British Methodist Conference and the CofE General Synod this July. Fadi is one of the authors of the Kairos Palestine document, ‘Faith in a time of Genocide’. He gives his reaction to the General Synod vote in a Facebook post printed below. Recently the archbishops of York and Canterbury have visited the region and have witness the realities of the Israeli occupation of Palestinian territories. A joint pastoral letter by archbishops Sarah Mullally (Canterbury) and Hosam Naoum (Jerusalem) calls on politicians to take steps to end the occupation.

Posted by Fr Fadi Diab on Facebook 15/07/2026

A Historic Day for Palestine

“Let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream.” (Amos 5:24)”

Yesterday, the General Synod of the Church of England made history by overwhelmingly adopting the Carlisle Motion (GS 2451A), a landmark decision that recognizes, perhaps more clearly than ever before, the witness of Palestinian Christians and the Church’s calling to stand for justice, peace and reconciliation in the Holy Land.

This is much more than the passing of a motion. It is the Church choosing to listen.

The Synod resolved to hear The Kairos Palestine Declaration (2009), Cry for Hope (2020), Call for Repentance (2023), and Kairos Palestine II (2025) “as heartfelt expressions of the lived experiences of Palestinian Christians.” It further encouraged the Church of England at all levels to engage with these documents and to promote resources that enable dioceses, parishes and church communities to gain “a full understanding of the situation.”

The motion also calls upon Church investors to “implement and demonstrate a leading approach to responsible investment” and to review investment policies in the light of the International Court of Justice Advisory Opinion of 19 July 2024 concerning the Occupied Palestinian Territory. In doing so, the Church has recognized that faithful discipleship is expressed not only in prayer and words, but also in ethical stewardship and responsible action.

Perhaps most profoundly, the Synod “acknowledges with repentance the Church’s historic contribution to antisemitism and to the situation now affecting the Palestinian people.” The Church of England acknowledges the ways Christian theology and history have shaped the realities experienced by Palestinians.

This historic moment did not happen overnight.It is the fruit of years of prayer, dialogue, pilgrimage, theological reflection, advocacy and relationship-building. It has been shaped by the visits of successive Archbishops, bishops and church leaders to Palestine, by their encounters with Palestinian Christians, and by the faithful work of countless individuals and organizations who refused to let our voices remain unheard.

I am especially proud of the communities of St Andrew’s Church, Ramallah, and St Peter’s Church, Birzeit. Through their faithful witness, their perseverance and their Christian discipleship amid immense hardship, they have shown the Church what it means to follow Christ under occupation. It was deeply moving to hear their letters and stories quoted on the floor of Synod by both the Archbishop of Canterbury and the Archbishop of York. Their witness reached the heart of the Church.

It was a great honor for me to attend and speak at General Synod and to work alongside an extraordinary group of people whose commitment, wisdom and perseverance made this moment possible. I am deeply grateful to our friends in the Diocese of Carlisle, Kairos-Sabeel, Christian Aid, Embrace the Middle East, and many others who labored tirelessly, over many years.

My heartfelt thanks also go to the Most Reverend and Right Honorable Dame Sarah Mullally Archbishop of Canterbury and Primate of all England; The Most Reverend and Right Honorable, Lord Steven Cottrell Archbishop of York and Primate of England, The Most Reverend Dr. Hosam Naoum, Anglican Archbishop in Jerusalem; The Most Reverend Rachel Treweek, Lord Bishop of Gloucester; The Right Reverend Dr. Guli Francis-Dehqani, Lord Bishop of Chelmsford; The Right Reverend Christopher Chessun, Lord Bishop of Southwark; The Right Reverend Robert Saner-Haigh, Bishop of Carlisle; The Venerable Stewart Fyfe, archdeacon of West Cumberland; The Very Revered Cannon Richard Swell, Dean of St. George’s College, Dr. Charles Reed, the Church of England’s foreign policy advisor, and so many others whose courage, leadership and costly solidarity helped bring us to this day.

Above all, I thank God for accompanying us throughout this journey.As we wrote in Kairos Palestine, “Our word is a cry of hope, with love, prayer and faith in God.” That hope remains alive today. The Church of England has reminded Palestinian Christians that they are not forgotten, that the Body of Christ hears their cry, and that the Gospel continues to call the Church to stand with those who suffer, to speak truth in love, and to seek a just peace where every person is able to live in freedom, dignity and security.

May this be the beginning of a renewed commitment across the worldwide Church to hear the voices of Palestinian and to walk with us on the path of justice, reconciliation and hope.

A motion at the British Methodist Conference expresses the same note of solidarity.

Visit to Ireland by Palestinian Theologian – Samuel Munayer

Samuel Salim Munayer is a Palestinian theologian based in Jerusalem who works for a humanitarian organisation serving in Gaza and the West Bank. He holds degrees in philosophy and theology from Durham University and in Middle Eastern Studies from University of Exeter, where he was supervised by Ilan Pappé. Samuel recently co-edited and authored with his brother John the book The Cross and the Olive Tree: Cultivating Palestinian Liberation Theology Amid Gaza (2025).

Samuel will be Speaking at public meetings in Belfast and Dublin on Saturday 1st August in Newtownbreda Presbyterian Church and on Thursday 6th August in Trinity College Dublin.