In this episode of the Faith and Activism series, Abeer speaks with Thanh Nguyen, a Vietnamese American peacebuilder and researcher currently working with Sabeel Ecumenical Liberation Theology Center in East Jerusalem. They discuss how colonial histories and theological frameworks shape global understandings of justice in Palestine/Israel. Drawing from Thanh’s experience in faith-based organizing and decolonial research, the conversation explores how theology can be reimagined through the lens of justice, indigenous worldviews, and collective liberation.

For our Patreon supporters, Thanh shares one of her original poems reflecting on displacement, belonging, and resistance—and reflects on how art can become a powerful tool in movements for justice and healing. To access this extended conversation and others, consider supporting us on ⁠Patreon⁠.

Thanh Nguyen is a peacebuilder and researcher working at the intersection of religion and development. Currently a Project Coordinator at Sabeel Ecumenical Liberation Theology Center in East Jerusalem, she leads strategic partnerships, hosts educational programs, and supports peacebuilding delegations to Palestine/Israel. As a first-generation Vietnamese American whose own history is situated in colonial war, Thanh’s peace work prioritizes subaltern knowledge, resistance to historical amnesia, and indigenous political perspectives. While pursuing a B.A. in political science and international peace studies at the University of Notre Dame, she explored issues of religion, secularity, and coloniality. Her research, commitment, and leadership earned her the Kroc Institute’s 2023 Peter Yarrow Award in Peace Studies. Beyond her academic and advocacy work, Thanh is also a poet and writer, with work on colonial displacement and belonging featured in Re:Visions Magazine, Silk Road Review, Decolonial Passages, and independent film/art productions. Moving forward, she aims to continue merging scholarship, activism, and storytelling in her pursuit of collective liberation.

If you enjoy our content, please consider supporting our work on Patreon at ⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/AcrosstheDivide⁠⁠

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Across the Divide partners with ⁠⁠Peace Catalyst International⁠⁠ to amplify the pursuit of peace and explore the vital intersection of Christian faith and social justice in Palestine-Israel.

Show Notes

https://www.peacecatalyst.org/blog/2024/9/12/meet-2024-rick-love-young-innovator-award-recipient-thanh-nguyen

https://thedecolonialpassage.net/2024/03/23/a-song-about-living/

https://subalternarchives.substack.com/

https://sabeel.org/

This episode is a live-recorded conversation that Across the Divide held as an event for the local community in Cincinnati, OH on May 29, 2025. The conversation explores the intersections between faith and activism across religious traditions. In it, Jen has a conversation with three local faith leaders and activists–Muslim, Jewish, and Christian. Because this episode was recorded during a live event, the audio and video quality may vary from our typical episodes.

It was a joy to collaborate with the Cincinnati Palestine Solidarity Coalition on this event, a local Cincinnati-based coalition that comes together in solidarity with the struggle for justice, liberation and self-determination of Palestinian and all oppressed people in the world. Special thanks to Mike Madanat and Kristen Annette for helping envision and coordinate this conversation. We are very grateful to the Church of the Advent in Walnut Hills, a curious and creative Episcopal community, for hosting this event. A very special thanks to Megan Suttman and Jacob Taylor for making all of this happen.

The recorded Q&A with the panelists from this conversation is available as a bonus clip for our Patreon supporters. To access this extended conversation and others, consider ⁠supporting us on Patreon⁠.

The speakers you hear from in this episode are:

Rev. Abby is a Presbyterian pastor who has mostly served outside traditional congregations and has mostly worked for Catholic organizations... mostly in Cincinnati.

Moshe is a community organizer from Cincinnati and a co-founder and prayer leader for Shema Cincinnati, a pluralistic community of Jews who are working to develop community, religious practice, and political action beyond Zionism, in service to a Judaism rooted in solidarity, compassion, and liberation.

Lena is a Palestinian American health education specialist and co-founder of SILA, a streetwear brand that celebrates identity, resistance, and connection. She was born in the US and raised in Palestine, and is a member of the Cincinnati Palestine Solidarity Coalition.

Follow Across the Divide on ⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠ and ⁠Instagram⁠ ⁠⁠⁠‪@AcrosstheDividePodcast‬⁠⁠⁠

Across the Divide partners with Peace Catalyst International to amplify the pursuit of peace and explore the vital intersection of Christian faith and social justice in Palestine-Israel.

Show Notes:

https://linktr.ee/cincypalestinesolidarity

https://www.adventcincy.org/

https://linktr.ee/ShemaCincinnati

https://silamovement.com/collections/for-palestine

In this episode, the finale of the Touring the Holy Land Series, Jen has a conversation with Saleem Anfous. As they reflect on the tourism series as a whole and the importance of these conversations in the current context, Saleem shares from his experience as a tour guide in Palestine and Across the Divide’s producer. Saleem reflects on the opportunities for mutual transformation that he has witnessed through guiding Christians in the Holy Land. This episode also features excerpts from interviews with Palestinian Christians that explore the impact of tourism on Palestinian Christian communities. At the end of the episode, Jen and Saleem make a special announcement about a unique opportunity to travel with Across the Divide in 2026.

In their extended conversation for our Patreon supporters, Jen and Salem chat about Saleem’s hometown Aboud, and its rich Christian history and present realities in the context of occupation. To access this extended conversation and others, consider ⁠supporting us on Patreon⁠.

Saleem Anfous is a tour guide in Bethlehem and the West Bank, a Project Manager for the Muslim/Christian Young Adults program at Musalaha, and serves as the producer of the Across the Divide podcast.

If you enjoy our content, please consider supporting our work on Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/AcrosstheDivide

Follow Across the Divide on ⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠ and ⁠Instagram⁠ ⁠⁠⁠‪@AcrosstheDividePodcast‬⁠⁠⁠

Across the Divide partners with Peace Catalyst International to amplify the pursuit of peace and explore the vital intersection of Christian faith and social justice in Palestine-Israel.

In this episode of the Faith and Activism series, Abeer speaks with Bryan Carey, a peacebuilding consultant and the Director of International Peacebuilding at Peace Catalyst International. Drawing on his years of experience living in post-conflict Bosnia, Bryan reflects on the theological and practical shifts needed within Christian communities to move from domination-based models of faith to power-with approaches rooted in justice, empathy, and shared responsibility.

Together, they explore how Christian theology can either fuel cycles of conflict or serve as a powerful tool for healing and reconciliation—especially in the context of Israel and Palestine. Bryan shares insights from his work with diverse communities in the Balkans and offers practical wisdom on what it takes to form faith communities into networks for peace.

In the extended conversation for our Patreon supporters, Bryan dives deeper into what sustains hope in this work, even when Christian institutions resist change. To access this extended conversation and others, consider ⁠supporting us on Patreon⁠.

Bryan Carey is a peacebuilding consultant, conflict transformation trainer, and Director of International Peacebuilding at Peace Catalyst International. Since 2017, he has lived in Sarajevo, Bosnia & Herzegovina, working alongside Muslim, Catholic, and Orthodox peacebuilders. He regularly leads workshops and trainings focused on peace theology, conflict transformation, and helping Christian communities become active agents of justice and reconciliation.

If you enjoy our content, please consider supporting our work on Patreon at ⁠https://www.patreon.com/AcrosstheDivide⁠

Follow Across the Divide on ⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠ and⁠ ⁠Instagram⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠‪@AcrosstheDividePodcast‬⁠⁠⁠

Across the Divide partners with ⁠Peace Catalyst International⁠ to amplify the pursuit of peace and explore the vital intersection of Christian faith and social justice in Palestine-Israel.

Show notes

https://www.peacecatalyst.org/

In this episode of the Touring the Holy Land Series, Jen has a conversation with Rev. Dr. Mae Elise Cannon, the executive director of Churches for Middle East Peace. Mae shares some of her transformative experiences traveling and leading trips in Palestine-Israel. She unpacks the role that privilege plays when foreigners travel to the region, emphasizing the cognitive dissonance that travelers often face when encountering conflicting narratives and the systemic injustices that Palestinians endure. Mae shares about how Churches for Middle East Peace facilitates Christian Holy Land pilgrimages, fostering transformative possibilities for Christian peacebuilding through multi-narrative trips that uplift diverse perspectives from Palestinians and Israelis.

In their extended conversation for our Patreon supporters, Jennifer and Mae discuss the impact of Christian pilgrimage on Palestinian communities, highlighting both the economic and emotional significance of solidarity. To access this extended conversation and others, consider ⁠supporting us on Patreon⁠.

Rev. Dr. Mae Elise Cannon is the executive director of Churches for Middle East Peace. Cannon formerly served as the senior director of Advocacy and Outreach for World Vision U.S. on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC; as a consultant to the Middle East for child advocacy issues for Compassion International in Jerusalem; as the executive pastor of Hillside Covenant Church located in Walnut Creek, California; and as director of development and transformation for extension ministries at Willow Creek Community Church in Barrington, Illinois. Cannon holds an MDiv from North Park Theological Seminary, an MBA from North Park University’s School of Business and Nonprofit Management, and an MA in bioethics from Trinity International University. She received her first doctorate in American History with a minor in Middle Eastern studies at the University of California (Davis) focusing on the history of the American Protestant church in Israel and Palestine and her second doctorate in Ministry in Spiritual Formation from Northern Theological Seminary. She is the author of several books including the award-winning Social Justice Handbook: Small Steps for a Better World and editor of A Land Full of God: Christian Perspectives on the Holy Land. Her work has been highlighted in The New York Times, The Washington Post, CNN, Chicago Tribune, Christianity Today, Leadership Magazine, The Christian Post, Jerusalem Post, EU Parliament Magazine, Huffington Post, and other international media outlets.

If you enjoy our content, please consider supporting our work on Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/AcrosstheDivide

Follow Across the Divide on ⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠ and ⁠Instagram⁠ ⁠⁠⁠‪@AcrosstheDividePodcast‬⁠⁠⁠

Across the Divide partners with Peace Catalyst International to amplify the pursuit of peace and explore the vital intersection of Christian faith and social justice in Palestine-Israel.

Show Notes:

Vox article on the influence of the book Exodus by Leon Uris

CMEP Trips

CMEP Action alert

In this episode of the Touring the Holy Land Series, Jen has a conversation with Jer Swigart on immersive peacebuilding in the context of Israel-Palestine. In this conversation, Jer discusses the complexities of Christian tourism in Israel and Palestine, highlighting its role as a propaganda tool that often neglects the realities of the local communities. He emphasizes the importance of building deep, meaningful relationships with both Israeli and Palestinian kin to foster genuine peacemaking efforts, and how Global Immersion seeks to do this through immersion trips for Christian leaders. Jer shares personal experiences and insights on navigating the challenges of peacemaking, especially in light of recent conflicts. He advocates for local immersion and community engagement as vital components of social transformation, encouraging listeners to connect with marginalized communities in their own cities.

In their extended conversation for our Patreon supporters, Jen and Jer chat about the intersections in peacebuilding work across the contexts of the U.S. Deep South, Northern Ireland, and Israel and Palestine. To access this extended conversation and others, consider ⁠supporting us on Patreon⁠.

Dr. Jer Swigart is the Co-Founding Executive Director of Global Immersion, a non-profit training organization and conflict consultancy that forms Everyday Peacemakers and Reconciling Leaders to mend divides. Whether on international battlefields, the divided streets of U.S. American cities, or in organizational and congregational boardrooms, Jer is adept at guiding immersive processes that transform constructed enemies into co-creating allies and forge conflict-competent leaders and teams.

He is a North American contributing member of the Reconcilers Together Alliance, a Pepperdine University Cross Sector Leadership Fellow, a Bonhoeffer Senior Fellow at the Hebrew College’s Miller Center of Interreligious Learning and Leadership, and on the Leadership Team of the Network of Evangelicals for the Middle East (NEME). He holds an MDiv from Fuller Theological Seminary and his Doctor of Global Leadership from George Fox University. He’s the co-author of the award-winning book, Mending the Divides: Creative Love in a Conflict World (IVP, 2017), host of the Mending Divides Podcast, a leadership coach & conflict consultant, and a speaker and writer who regularly reflects on the intersection of faith, leadership, and peacemaking. He and his family live in Spokane, WA.

If you enjoy our content, please consider supporting our work on Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/AcrosstheDivide

Follow Across the Divide on ⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠ and ⁠Instagram⁠ ⁠⁠⁠‪@AcrosstheDividePodcast‬⁠⁠⁠

Across the Divide partners with Peace Catalyst International to amplify the pursuit of peace and explore the vital intersection of Christian faith and social justice in Palestine-Israel.

Show Notes:

Global Immersion

Swigart and Huckins, Mending the Divides: Creative Love in a Conflicted World

Elizabeth Neumann, Kingdom of Rage: The Rise of Christian Extremism and the Path Back to Peace

In this episode of Touring the Holy Land, Jen has a conversation with Sara Williams about the power dynamics of narratives surrounding the Holy Land and the emergence of solidarity tourism among American Christians. Sara shares a shift she has observed in her research from traditional pilgrimage models to a focus on witnessing marginalized communities, emphasizing the call to come and see as a transformative experience. Sara and Jen also discuss how liberation theology informs solidarity tourism, and the complex identities and experiences of Palestinians that travelers can encounter. Their conversation explores the transformative potential of these tours, the ethical implications of participants' experiences, and the necessity of acknowledging the multifaceted narratives of marginalized communities.

In their extended conversation for our Patreon supporters, Jen and Sara discuss the transformative potential of “Come and See” tours and their invitation for travelers to engage in deeper reflexivity and genuine solidarity within Christian communities.

Sara A. Williams is an Assistant Professor of Religious Studies at Fairfield University. Her scholarship examines possibilities for just relationships in contexts marked by asymmetries of power and privilege. Her research on this topic has spanned progressive American Christian Holy Land tourism and gentrifying post-industrial U.S. urban communities. Dr. Williams holds a PhD from Emory University, an MA in Religion from Yale Divinity School, and a Master of Social Work from the University of Georgia.

If you enjoy our content, please consider supporting our work on Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/AcrosstheDivide

Follow Across the Divide on ⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠ and ⁠Instagram⁠ ⁠⁠⁠‪@AcrosstheDividePodcast‬⁠⁠⁠

Across the Divide partners with Peace Catalyst International to amplify the pursuit of peace and explore the vital intersection of Christian faith and social justice in Palestine-Israel.

Show Notes:

Hillary Kaell, Walking Where Jesus Walked: American Christians and Holy Land Pilgrimage

Sara A. Williams and Roger Baumann, “Journeys to and among the Margins: Transnational Religio-Racial Identity on American Christian Palestinian Solidarity Tours”

Sara A. Williams, Moral Commodities and the Practice of Freedom”

Sara also recommends Roger Baumann’s book, Black Visions of the Holy Land: African American Christian Engagement with Israel and Palestine

In this episode of the Faith and Activism series, Abeer engages in a conversation with Rev. Dr. Sari Ateek to explore how theology, identity, and justice intersect in the life of a Palestinian Christian leader. They discuss Sari’s journey from Israel/Palestine to leading St. John’s Norwood Episcopal Church in Maryland, his commitment to inclusivity and radical generosity, and why he believes the true Christian message calls for the liberation of Palestinians.

Together, they reflect on the challenge of holding onto faith in a polarized world—and the spiritual responsibility to pursue justice not from a place of partisanship, but from a deep conviction that God is always on the side of the oppressed.

Rev. Dr. Sari Ateek is a Palestinian Christian pastor and the rector of St. John’s Norwood Episcopal Church in Maryland. Born and raised in Israel/Palestine, and the son of an Episcopal priest, Sari brings a rich depth of experience to his ministry. His leadership is marked by a commitment to inclusivity, justice, and spiritual generosity. He holds a Master of Divinity from Fuller Theological Seminary and a Doctorate in Ministry from Virginia Theological Seminary.

If you enjoy our podcast, please consider becoming a Patreon monthly supporter at: https://www.patreon.com/AcrosstheDivide

Follow Across the Divide on ⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠ and ⁠Instagram⁠ ⁠⁠⁠‪@AcrosstheDividePodcast‬⁠⁠⁠

Across the Divide partners with Peace Catalyst International to amplify the pursuit of peace and explore the vital intersection of Christian faith and social justice in Palestine-Israel.

Show Notes:

St. John's Norwood Episcopal Church: https://stjohnsnorwood.org/

Sabeel Ecumenical Liberation Theology Center: https://sabeel.org/visit-sabeel/

A Palestinian Theology of Liberation Book: https://www.amazon.com/Palestinian-Theology-Liberation-Palestine-Israel-Conflict/dp/1626982600