Who Are We?

In May, 2016, a group gathered to read Mitri Raheb’s book Faith in the Face of Empire, and from that has emerged Twin Ports Peace Not Walls with members in the Duluth and Superior areas. The name "Peace Not Walls" echoes the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) campaign for justice in Israel/Palestine (see www.elca.org/peacenotwalls). Participants represent various church traditions and other organizations, all with the goal of raising awareness of the current situation for the Palestinian people in the Holy Land and advocating for a future that provides freedom, justice, and security for them as well as the Israelis.
All interested in the work of Twin Ports Peace Not Walls
​are invited to contact us and request to have your name added to the email list.
Churches for Middle East Peace (CMEP) includes many denominations and organizations.

AWARENESS

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GROUP STUDY
  • Discussion of books and articles
  • Viewing of videos and webinars
COMMUNITY EDUCATION 
  • Film and Food Nights to raise awareness 
  • List of resources:  books, videos, websites, recorded webinars & podcasts, and reliable news media
  • Presentations to faith communities, classes, and other organizations​

ACCOMPANIMENT

TRAVEL EXPERIENCES​
  • Several group participants have traveled to Israel/Palestine, a few as early as the 1960s and 1970s, and some multiple times.
  • Three group members have lived a year in the Bethlehem area as Young Adults in Global Mission (YAGM), a program of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. 
  • ​Planning is underway for a trip to Israel/Palestine in 2022 to allow participants to witness and learn about the daily reality on the ground of both Palestinians and Jewish Israelis.

ADVOCACY

  • Occasional alerts to contact the White House and Congressional representatives to advocate legislation or action needed.
  • Information from various advocacy organizations such as Churches for Middle East Peace (CMEP) or US Campaign for Palestinian Rights is shared.

For more information:
​                   Jim Bailey  jimjudybailey@gmail.com  218-481-7195
                   Karen Bockelman  kgbockelman@gmail.com    218-349-5863
                   Ryan Jagim  rdjagim@gmail.com   218-730-7812