AACC’S 6th Theological Symposium Reflects on the Middle East Christians’ Expectations from African Churches

On 9th October 2025, the third day of AACC’s 6th Annual Theological Symposium on African Churches on Israel and Palestine, Emeritus Bishop Munib Younan, a church leader and respected ecumenist from Palestine expressed the Middle East Christians' expectations from the African churches.  

“The holy land only needs peace that comes with justice, and we expect you to stand with us in pursuing this,” he said. 

He noted that most African Christians going for pilgrimage to Palestine do not involve nor visit Palestinian Christians for social work.

“What is the holy land without the Palestinian Christians?” He questioned as he endeavored to differentiate between the Biblical Israel and the Political Israel formed in the 1948.

Mr. Aderele James from the Nigeria Baptist Convention called upon all African Churches to stand in solidarity with Christians in Palestine, noting that persecution of Christians and war in the Middle East poses existential threats to humankind that cannot be ignored.  His call was also affirmed by Mr. Mugaidizi Ahona, a catechist, ecumenist and student of AACC’s Master of Theology in Ecumenical Leadership. In his submission, he reminded the symposium of Apostle Paul’s message to the Corinthians noting that if one part of the body suffers, all the other parts suffer with it.

“All Christians live as one body of Christ and must stand together against injustices experienced by any member of this body.” He emphasized.

Dr. Nicolas Abou Mrad, a Lebanon scholar of Old Testament Theology shared that it is shocking to see babies in Palestinian die gasping for oxygen that does not exist in Palestinian hospitals just because of the tyranny of Israel’s force. He challenged all Christian churches to care for the middle east Christians and lead the call for justice.

“This is what God requires of us in accordance with scripture.” He concluded.

In the photo: Emeritus Bishop Munib Younan addressing the theological symposium. [Courtesy: Brian Muyunga]