Join us for our Summer Speaker Series! Our topic this Summer is “Living Faithfully in Turbulent Times.” This week:

Mae Elise Cannon

Peace and Justice in the Middle East: A Christian Perspective

What does it mean to pursue a sustainable, just peace in one of the most contested and conflict-ridden regions of the world? Rev. Dr. Mae Elise Cannon, Executive Director of Churches for Middle East Peace and an ordained pastor in the Evangelical Covenant Church is a respected author, theologian, and human rights advocate, who offers a Christian perspective on the urgent issues facing the Middle East—particularly in Israel and Palestine, as well as in Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, and Egypt.

Dr. Cannon has years of experience working with Christian communities, peacebuilders, and policy leaders in the region. We will have a conversation that explores how Christians can engage thoughtfully and faithfully in the pursuit of justice, reconciliation, and peace. The presentation will address questions such as:

· How should Christians respond to the ongoing conflict between Israelis and Palestinians?

· What is the role of the Church in advocating for human rights in countries like Syria and Egypt?

· What role do justice and peacemaking play in the Christian witness?

· How can we engage constructively across political, ethnic, and religious divides?

Especially in these divisive times, understanding the geopolitics, social considerations, and other aspects of the conflict demands that we, as people of faith, look beyond the headlines into the daily realities of people living on the ground. Join CMEP Executive Director Rev. Dr. Mae Elise Cannon to learn what it means for us as individuals and the global church to pursue peace while also advocating for justice in Israel/Palestine and beyond.

Mae Elise Cannon is the executive director of Churches for Middle East Peace and an ordained pastor in the Evangelical Covenant Church (ECC). She 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 PhD in American History with a minor in Middle Eastern studies from the University of California (Davis) focusing on the history of the American Protestant church in Israel and Palestine and a DMin 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.