Editing of multiple publications on the event

At Parkview Community Church in the Chicago suburb of Glen Ellyn, more than 800 Christians gathered for the inaugural Church at the Crossroads conference, a three-day event that brought Palestinian voices to the fore and challenged U.S. Christians to act against the ongoing war in Gaza.

The conference, organized by Palestinian theologians and faith-based groups, sought to move American Christians from sympathy to action. “We are at the crossroads,” said theologian Daniel Bannoura. “Are we going to choose the path of peace or the path of violence? If you are not doing anything, you are doing something. If you are in the U.S., then you are complicit.”

Full text of the statement here

Voices from Palestine and Beyond

Speakers included Rev. Munther Isaac, a Lutheran pastor from Bethlehem; Anton “Tony” Deik, associate director of the Bethlehem Institute for Peace and Justice; and Fares Abraham, CEO of Levant Ministries. All criticized the theological foundations of Christian Zionism, which they argued distorts Scripture to justify occupation, displacement, and war.

Isaac was especially forceful. “Do you know what the biggest problem with Christian Zionism is? You cannot find Jesus in it,” he said to a standing ovation. His recent book Christ in the Rubble reflects on muted Christmases in Bethlehem amid the devastation in Gaza. “Despite overwhelming evidence, this genocide continues to be supported, justified, and even denied by some in the church,” he warned.

Deik, speaking from personal and theological conviction, called linking biblical Israel with the modern state “one of the greatest theological scandals.” While condemning Hamas’ October 7 attacks as war crimes, he also insisted the response in Gaza amounted to genocide. “Let’s live together — whether in two states or one state,” he said. “The question is, how can Israelis and Palestinians live together in peace?”

Abraham, who studied at Liberty University, reminded attendees that the credibility of Christian witness is at stake. “The gospel is about peace, not bloodshed,” he said. “We want the atrocities to stop, the famine to end, and yes, the hostages to return to their families.”

Testimonies of Pain and Faith

For some, the war is deeply personal. Lydia El-Sayegh, 25, told attendees her grandmother had finally escaped Gaza. “It’s a blessing and a tragedy,” she said. “She should never have had to leave her home in the first place.” El-Sayegh said Palestinian Christians often feel invisible to their American counterparts. “Jesus is in Gaza,” she insisted. “He’s experiencing the loss of every child, every pang of hunger, and the crushing of rubble — just like he did on the cross.”

The event was also marked by collective worship and solidarity. Participants — white, Black, Latino, Asian, and Arab Christians of many denominations — joined in singing Palestinian hymns, many draped in keffiyehs. Vendors sold Palestine-themed merchandise, and booths distributed “God Loves Gaza” stickers.

A Counterweight to Christian Zionism

Organizers positioned the conference as an answer to Christian Zionist gatherings like Christians United for Israel (CUFI), which draws thousands annually and claims over 10 million members. “That’s a misreading of Scripture,” said organizer Ben Norquist, an evangelical. “My values draw me to the full humanity and rights of Palestinians.”

Sandra Maria Van Opstal, executive director of Chasing Justice, said the dominance of Christian Zionist voices reflects a broader marginalization. “Voices on the margins are always last to be heard,” she said. She sees a new generation of Christians of color, particularly Black and brown leaders, recognizing immediately that “Israel’s genocide in Gaza was not right.”

A Declaration of Repentance

Coinciding with the conference, more than 70 U.S. Christian leaders and faith-based organizations signed a declaration rejecting Christian Zionism and calling for an immediate ceasefire, the release of all hostages, humanitarian access to Gaza, and accountability for Israeli actions.

“We confess that many of us have used the Bible in ways that excuse oppression, ethnic cleansing, genocide, and other forms of violence while ignoring the teachings of Jesus,” the letter stated. Signatories included well-known Christian activists Shane Claiborne, Adam Taylor of Sojourners, author Jemar Tisby, and VeggieTales creator Phil Vischer, among others. Jewish writer Peter Beinart also endorsed the statement.

The declaration was framed as a response to appeals from Palestinian and Middle Eastern church leaders in 2023 and 2024, urging U.S. Christians to confront their complicity. “Our aim,” said a conference spokesperson, “is to learn from Palestinian Christians, repent where our complicity has harmed them, and participate in their suffering as members of the body of Christ.”

A Struggle Over Christian Witness

Despite such pushback, speakers in Glen Ellyn maintained that Christian complicity in war threatens the very heart of the faith. “The gospel witness, and the church’s witness, is at stake,” Abraham said.

For many participants, the conference represented a rare public stand for Palestinians by U.S. Christians. As worshippers sang Yarabba ssalami, im la’ qulubuna salam — “Oh God of peace, fill our hearts with peace” — they embodied the message repeated throughout the gathering: that following Christ means rejecting violence, dismantling oppressive theologies, and standing with the vulnerable in Gaza and beyond.