We're glad you're here.
It was not until something happened to people within my own faith community right in front of me that I was forced to look.
It was not until I looked that I began to see.
I realized, once I saw, how embarrassingly late I was to the cause. But I’m here.
When it comes to Palestine, I believe too many people, particularly in the Christian world, have not been looking, and as a result, are not seeing past the only narrative they've ever known. While part of the responsibility lies with those with eyes to see, it is also the responsibility of those with a voice to speak. It is CPC's mission to open up a peaceful dialogue here in WNY and engage with the current narratives surrounding the Israel-Palestine conflict.
Most of what we will be doing as a Collective will be local and in-person and open to people across the spectrum of political ideologies and faith backgrounds. We will also be keeping track of the interfaith initiatives throughout Western New York and amplifying them in our WNY for Peace newsletter.
If you find yourself at odds with anything you find here, I urge you to pause for a breath and to consider that the truth has nothing to fear. Seek truth. Speak truth. Engage in peaceful dialogue with those you disagree with... ideally in-person, the old-fashioned way. Come to an event. Tell someone your experience. Grab a coffee with someone that thinks differently. Meet people directly affected by the conflict and listen to their stories. If your narrative is solid, it will hold up.
So what's next? Sign up for the newsletter if you haven't, share it in your circles, and stay posted. Check out the resources provided here. Get a paid subscription if you want to help pay for food/books/venue, etc., for upcoming initiatives, but otherwise it's completely free to participate.
If you have an event, initiative, article, or work of art that you would like shared on here, or if you have any questions, please email info@cpcwny.org.