Our Vision - Palestinian Christians in Australia

We are Christ’s Living Stones

We Palestinian Christians are often referred to as the “Living Stones”, a term made popular over centuries referring to the first Christians from the Holy Land. Our ancestors were there when the spirit fell on them in Jerusalem during Pentecost; they were the first to venerate the Holy Places, the actual stones where Jesus walked and suffered.

We Palestinian Christians have inhabited the land from the river to the sea for more than 2000 years. Our roots are deep and our un-interrupted connection to the land was sustained despite the persecution, hardship and plethora of foreign occupations and military rules. We identify as ethnically and culturally Palestinians. While the majority of us have become refugees in 1948 and 1967 and some have migrated since, our connection and belonging have remained strong as ever.

We Palestinian Christians are proud of our contribution to Palestinian society, culture, and to the liberation of Palestine. Our aim is to make our voice heard in the world. People need to know that we exist, that there are Palestinian Christians and that we stand for the liberation of Palestine from the Israeli occupation. We do not want to be forgotten by the rest of the world.

We want to be part of the solution and become active members of the wider Palestinian community. We want to raise our voice and ask the wider community especially the Christian Church in Australia to stand in solidarity with the Palestinian people.

What We Believe

We Palestinian Christians, believing that human beings are created in the image of God, our vision is for a secular inclusive and progressive future in our homeland, where all people are treated equally with the same rights and opportunities in accordance with international law.

Our Values:

Compassion
Equality and Justice
Respect for human rights
Tolerance
Reconciliation

Our Objectives

Solidarity: Strengthen our connection with Palestine and Palestinians in the diaspora

Provide a forum for Palestinian Christians in Australia to come together to celebrate their culture and heritage, and to foster closer ties between them and work to support the cause.

Provide spiritual and political education for Palestinian Christians in Australia, especially the young generation born in Australia to ensure continuation of their sense of belonging and national identity through study tours, pilgrimage tours and economic cooperation with our community in Palestine.

Truth telling: Share our Palestinian Narrative to the wider Australian public.

Many in Australia, through no fault of their own, have largely swallowed a false narrative about the origins of the conflict in Palestine. It is vital that we tell our story as it is, so that the Australian public may learn the truth.

Offer a just, practical, and transformative solution to the current status quo. Assert and promote the vision of Palestine that is inclusive, democratic, and progressive.

Advocacy: Speak with one voice and advocate for Palestine

Advocate for change in Australian policy towards Palestine and Israel based on international law. Engage with the Australian community to solicit support for Palestinians in Palestine and the diaspora.

Cooperate with Palestinian Ecumenical movements to promote and disseminate information about Palestinian history, heritage and culture to Australians, particularly among Christian groups.

Anglican priest and English Christian singer-songwriter Garth Hewitt has released his new song “Cry for Hope” and gifted it to Palestine. The Palestinian Christians Kairos Palestine’s “Cry for Hope” document is the basis for the inspiration of this song. For more information about Kairos Palestine, visit our resources page