Christians have lived in Palestine since the earliest days of the Jesus movement. Yet Palestinian Christians find themselves marginalized and ostracized; their voices often unheard and ignored. For our first colloquium for our course Palestinian Liberation Theology with Rev. Dr. Fadi Diab, Rev. Dr. Munther Isaac offers an invitation to "step into the other side of the wall" to listen to the stories and perspectives of the "Living Stones" of the Holy Land.
Drawing from his book, The Other Side of the Wall, Dr. Isaac will provide a Palestinian Christian narrative of lament and hope. He will share how Palestinians experience God and read the Bible while living behind the separation wall, offering a theology of the land that envisions a shared home belonging to God—where there are no second-class citizens of any kind. Join us as we explore how Jesus, a "fellow Bethlehemite," challenges us to see others as neighbors and love them as ourselves.
This event took place on Wednesday, April 29, 2026.
Resources
Books
The Other Side of the Wall: A Palestinian Christian Narrative of Lament and Hope by Munther Isaac
Christ in the Rubble: Faith, the Bible, and the Genocide in Gaza by Munther Isaac
Documents
Organizations
Bethlehem Institute for Peace & Justice
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Rev. Dr. Munther Isaac
Rev. Munther Isaac is a Palestinian Christian pastor and theologian serving as pastor of Hope Evangelical Lutheran Church in Ramallah. He is the Director of the Bethlehem Institute for Peace and Justice, and leads the internationally recognized Christ at the Checkpoint conferences. During the war in Gaza, he gained global attention for his sermon Christ under the Rubble, which reached millions worldwide and was cited in South Africa’s case against Israel at the International Court of Justice. A frequent media commentator, he speaks and writes widely on Palestinian theology, justice, reconciliation, and the role of faith in public life.
Rev. Isaas is the author of several books, including The Other Side of the Wall and Christ in the Rubble, and holds a PhD from the Oxford Centre for Mission Studies. He serves on the board of Kairos Palestine and is actively involved in reconciliation and interfaith initiatives. Munther is married to Rudaina, and they have two sons.
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The Rev. Dr. Fadi Diab
The Rev. Dr. Fadi Diab is a Palestinian priest, theologian, writer, and advocate for justice and peace. He serves as the rector of St. Andrew’s Church in Ramallah and St. Peter’s Church in Birzeit and provides pastoral leadership across multiple institutions in the Episcopal Diocese of Jerusalem, including the Episcopal School, Medical Centre, and Evangelical Home for Children.
A key figure in interfaith and justice movements, he co-authored the Kairos Palestine Document and serves on the board of Kairos Palestine, the Palestine-Israeli Theologians Forum, and the Al Ahli Arab Hospital (Gaza) board. Fr. Diab holds degrees from the Near East School of Theology, Chicago Theological Seminary, Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary, and Virginia Theological Seminary.
About the artwork
The artwork used to promote this course and it's associated EDS colloquia was adapted from Palestinian artist, Malak Mattar’s Shelter. It is used with permission and compensation. You can explore more of Malak’s work on her website: malak-mattar.com and Instagram: @malakmattarart.