Rostered Ministers Gathering
Weaving Connections through Solidarity Pilgrimages
The Rev. Paul Walters
The Rev. Khader Khalilia
Two pastors, one from America (Pastor Paul Walters) and one from Palestine (Pastor Khader Khalilia), will share how journeys to the Holy Land have reshaped their preaching, pastoral care and congregational life.
Pilgrimages are more than visits to ancient stones. They are encounters with the living stones the church is built from today. Many describe the Holy Land as the “Fifth Gospel” because the land and the people who live the faith there bring Scripture to life in fresh and sometimes challenging ways.
Learn how relationships with Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land congregations and the wider Palestinian Christian community in the Holy Land and the U.S. can deepen faith, expand perspective and form congregations for thoughtful, lasting solidarity amid the region’s realities.
This workshop will offer practical guidance for pastors and leaders: the “dos and don’ts” of planning and leading pilgrimages, how to prepare travelers spiritually and pastorally, and how to build ongoing connections with Palestinian Lutheran communities in the U.S., so the experience can continue long after the return flight.
1 hour