'Christ at the Checkpoint' Conference in Bethlehem Will Only Breed More Theological Extremism

Joseph Weissman

Joseph Weissman is a linguist and a writer

Theologians based in Bethlehem and in Britain are organising a conference for Christian leaders and theologians, entitled Christ at the Checkpoint. The conference aim is to:

"provide an opportunity for evangelical Christians who take the Bible seriously to prayerfully seek a proper awareness of issues of peace, justice, and reconciliation."

The third affirmation of the Checkpoint 2012 conference states:

"We commit ourselves to be peacemakers and to this ministry of reconciliation. As such we stand resolutely against all forms of violence and racism, regardless of the perpetrators"

Christians from various denominations will speak at the event. Samuel Rodriguez, the President of the National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference, is speaking. Also attending are popular US preacher (and former "spiritual adviser" to Bill Clinton) Tony Campolo, and President of the World Evangelical Alliance, Sang-Bok David Kim.
The impressive range of Christian theologians adds a scholarly gravitas to Checkpoint 2012. Are they aware of whom and what they are backing?
The Checkpoint conference claims to oppose "all forms of violence and racism". Yet many of the Checkpoint speakers have given us reason to question this.
Two of the conference organisers, Stephen Sizer and Sami Awad, appear to defend unequivocally the Gaza flotilla, sent in May 2010 by the Turkish Islamists IHH. Stephen Sizer has told Malaysian TV:

Getting behind the flotilla is a fantastic way [that] people here in Malaysia can help. Getting relief supplies into Gaza, breaking the siege. It embarrasses America and it embarrasses Israel. The ordinary human beings are willing to risk their lives to sail supplies into Gaza.

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