‘Roots – Shaping communities in a time of crises’

Film by Wafa Jamil

 ‘Roots – Shaping communities in a time of crises’ produced by Wafa Jamil and Walid Atallah on behalf of the International Center Bethlehem

ICB’s Ad-Dar Conference Center was the scene of an important international conference the first week of last November. Drawing together 100 key change agents from 22 countries- theologians, sociologists, pastors, artists, journalists, and philosophers – this inter-disciplinary cadre of participants wrestled with the topics of ‘land, peoples and identities’ from local and global perspectives, created a unique environment for engaging these important issues.

Background of the International Gathering and Conference

Many communities are in crisis around the globe. Lines of conflict and exclusion are being drawn along ethnic, religious, cultural and geographical boundaries. Increasing tensions between differing groups of people are creating communities shaped primarily by fear of ‘others’ and desires for impermeable boundaries to ‘keep others out.’ The arrogant use of military might and economic power is contributing to the dehumanization of peoples and the degradation of the earth everywhere. In Palestine, the Wall currently being constructed by Israel in the Occupied Palestinian Territories is leaving no options open for real coexistence or for reconciliation between the two peoples currently sharing the land of Palestine/Israel.

Similarly, such contemporary contextual conflicts often mirror dominant readings of religious texts. In classical biblical exegesis the issue of the land that is historic Palestine and the people that is Israel has been dominant. Although the existence of the “other” peoples of the land was not denied, they were seldom taken seriously into consideration or they were seen only from the perspective of Israel. In recent years, new methodologies have questioned such classical approaches. Several new theological, biblical, philosophical, sociological, as well as political, studies have been done with an enormous wealth on new insights. These different traditions and perceptions need to be given more attention, analyzing them in their respective context in light of the above mentioned new research and discoveries.

ICB’s conference created an intercultural, as well as interdisciplinary, space for participants to engage a variety of narratives that deal with land, peoples and identity, seeking to construct relevant, justice-oriented, hope-building responses to the crises in communities facing us here today.

The 8 days full of rich panels, workshops, exposures / trips, cultural events and personal exchanges among the hundred participants from 23 countries raised new perspectives and hope. Meanwhile a selection of reports, articles and photos can be seen on our website: www.annadwa.org

In order to ‘use’ these resources and experiences we want to present to the public the conference experiences and results: through the lenses of two ‘protagonists’ of the conference the question of ‘shaping communities in times of crises’ will be developed.

The film

The new film explores the issues of the conference through the lenses of two of the participants: a young Iraqi-American woman artist whose family roots are Palestinian. Her parents are refugees from Jaffa – her grandparents came from Budrus.  The other main character is a black South African male theologian. The film tells their stories and the ‘stories’ of the conference through their meeting at the conference in Bethlehem and explores their wrestling with the difficult questions of land, peoples, identities in the Holy Land. 

The duration of the film is 30 min. The DVD can be ordered through the ICB.

The ICB is going to prepare now the Follow-up of the major International Conference for August 2007

The final closing of the last International Conference agreed upon:
 

Steps envisioned

Our Vision

    To see Christian Communities energized by a new reading of their founding narratives & new spirituality

Our Goals

     The Goal: To develop new readings of biblical narratives that will empower communities in times a crises in reflecting on the crucial issue on “Land, Peoples & Identities”.

     To create a platform where diverse communities are enabled to practice this reading in a cross-cultural & in an inclusive way.

     To foster a spirituality that transform communities to become proactive & prophetic in shaping new realities.

Our instrument

     The Palestinian context is instrumental in this endeavor since it presents the original context of the bible as the 5th & the 6th gospel

     A bi-annual conference within a series of five

Steps envisioned

     Publications

     Documentary Films

     Drama

Steps envisioned

     E-community

     Engaged & Exchange Visitations

Steps envisioned

     Young theologian form

     Systematic & shared biblical readings in diverse contexts

In order to work on our visions and to prepare the next International Conference 2007 the ICB will invite for a consultation end of August this year.