The Christ at the Checkpoint Manifesto

March 5 - 9, Bethlehem, Palestine

This Statement and Manifesto were presented to the 600 conference participants at the Christ at the Checkpoint Conference, March 5 - 9, 2012, Bethlehem Bible College in Bethlehem, Palestine on the last day of the conference but were only agreed upon and endorsed by the Conference Organizers: John Angle, Alex Awad, Bishara Awad, Sami Awad, Steve Haas, Munther Isaac, Yohanna Katanacho, Manfred Kohl, Salim Munayer, Jack Sara, Stephen Sizer.

The Kingdom of God has come. Evangelicals must reclaim the prophetic role in bringing peace, justice and reconciliation in Palestine and Israel.

Reconciliation recognizes God’s image in one another.

Racial ethnicity alone does not guarantee the benefits of the Abrahamic Covenant.

The Church in the land of the Holy One, has born witness to Christ since the days of Pentecost. It must be empowered to continue to be light and salt in the region, if there is to be hope in the midst of conflict.

Any exclusive claim to land of the Bible in the name of God is not in line with the teaching of Scripture.

All forms of violence must be refuted unequivocally.

Palestinian Christians must not lose the capacity to self-criticism if they wish to remain prophetic.

There are real injustices taking place in the Palestinian territories and the suffering of the Palestinian people can no longer be ignored. Any solution must respect the equity and rights of Israel and Palestinian communities.

For Palestinian Christians, the occupation is the core issue of the conflict.

Any challenge of the injustices taking place in the Holy Land must be done in Christian love. Criticism of Israel and the occupation cannot be confused with anti-Semitism and the delegitimization of the State of Israel.

Respectful dialogue between Palestinian and Messianic believers must continue. Though we may disagree on secondary matters of theology, the Gospel of Jesus and his ethical teaching take precedence.

Christians must understand the global context for the rise of extremist Islam. We challenge stereotyping of all faith forms that betray God’s commandment to love our neighbors and enemies.