Israel minister embarks on Scottish church tour
Published on 29 January 2025 5 minutes read
A minister based in Jerusalem is embarking on a tour of churches to "amplify" the voices of people directly affected by the Israel-Hamas war.
Rev Dr Stewart Gillan is taking part in speaking and preaching engagements throughout February and early March to share the life and work of St Andrew's Church in Jerusalem and Tiberias Church.
Operating as one congregation, members work closely with ecumenical and interfaith partners to advocate for peace and justice in the Middle East.
In laying bare the harsh reality of life in the troubled region, the minister is seeking to encourage people in Scotland to speak out against all violations of the "sanctity of life" and advocate for human rights of all to be upheld.
He will share how the Church and its partners have worked together to support people caught up in the conflict and advocate for the cessation of hostilities, the release of hostages and prisoners and to maintain the essential flow of humanitarian aid to Gaza and other areas blighted by conflict.
The minister of St Andrew's Church, also known as the Scots Memorial Church, will outline how local people feel about the fragile ceasefire agreement and their hopes and aspirations for the future.
Dr Gillan's first engagement is at his former church, St Michael's Parish Church in Linlithgow, West Lothian on Sunday, 9 February at 10 am.
He is the guest preacher and his sermon will reflect on his time working in the Holy Land and the impact of the war and there will be time for conversation with the congregation after the service.
Other engagements:
- Wednesday, 12 February - a talk at Balerno Parish Church, Edinburgh at 7.30 pm which will be followed by a question and answer session.
- Thursday, 13 February – a speaker event with Christian Aid and the Friends of St Andrew's Jerusalem & Tiberias at St Matthew's Parish Church in Perth at 2 pm which will include a question and answer session.
- Sunday, 16 February – guest preacher at the Parish Church of St Cuthbert's in Edinburgh at 10.30 am including an opportunity for conversation afterwards.
- Sunday, 16 February – guest preacher at the Robin Chapel, an ecumenical place of worship in the Craigmillar area of Edinburgh, at 4 pm. The event will include a question and answer session.
- Wednesday, 19 February – Dr Gillan is meeting with members of the cross-party group on Israel and Palestine at the Scottish Parliament and will, in part, focus on the importance of diplomatic pressure to resolve conflict.
- Wednesday, 19 February – a prayer meeting at Fauldhouse and Harthill: St Andrew's Church at 7 pm. Dr Gillan will share prayers from Palestinian Christians from the time the war began in October, 2023.
- Thursday, 20 February – a speaking event at Meadowbank and Willowbrae Parish Church in Edinburgh at 7 pm which includes a question and answer session.
- Friday, 21 February – a presentation and question and answer session at St Leonard's Church in St Andrews, Fife at 2.30 pm. The congregation is keen to forge strong connections with the Scots Memorial Church.
- Sunday, 23 February – guest preacher at Murrayfield Parish Church in Edinburgh at 10.30 am. There will be time for conversation following the service.
- Sunday, 23 February – guest at the evening service at Canongate Kirk in Edinburgh at 7 pm, which will be followed by a question and answer session.
- Tuesday, 25 February – presentation and question and answer session at Morningside Parish Church in Edinburgh at 7.30 pm.
- Thursday, 27 February – afternoon meeting at Augustine United Church with Christian Aid, which involves a presentation and question and answer session. Time to be confirmed.
- Sunday, 2 March – guest preacher at Kirkliston Parish Church. Time to be confirmed.
Dr Gillan hopes to meet Rev Rosie Frew, Moderator Designate of the General Assembly 2025-26, and members of the Guild during his deputation, which is being organised by the Presbytery of Edinburgh and West Lothian.
He said: "I am looking forward to the programme of events and sharing the life and work of the Church of Scotland in Israel.
"We have been channelling the donations of Scottish people, particularly Church of Scotland members, for humanitarian aid for Gaza throughout the war through the Department of Services to Palestinian Refugees of the Middle East Council of Churches.
"I recently had a meeting with Abu Amsha, the executive director of the Department of Service to Palestinian Refugees within the Middle East Council of Churches, and he said he would like people in Scotland to use their voices to stand up for what we say we believe in.
"'What we need is your voices', he said.
"The equal right of all people for their human rights to be recognised, raising our voice against all violations of the sanctity of life, which we see in all people by virtue of having been created in the image and likeness of God.
"I intend to amplify the voices of Christians in Israel and Palestine so that people in Scotland can hear what they're saying, as people of faith during what is a really heavy time of trial and death and aggravated grief."
Prayers of hope
Dr Gillan said he will also be sharing the work the Church does with Israeli partners, particularly a group called Rabbis for Human Rights.
He revealed that the Church had held two key interfaith events with the group since the outbreak of war, which brought Christians, Jews and Muslims together.
Dr Gillan said: "To mark St Andrew's Day this year, we held prayers of lament and hope and invited a cross-section of Jerusalem society to it, in the knowledge that people on the West Bank would not be able to attend because they couldn't get permits.
"We hosted an event which focused on prayer for justice and peace, for an end to the war, cessation of hostilities, the release of hostages and prisoners and the flow of humanitarian aid.
"We had three people bring testimonies - from Rabbis for Human Rights, a Palestinian women's artisan organisation, and a Bedouin community leader –witnessing to how they maintain the flame of hope in such desperate circumstances."
Partnerships
Dr Gillan said one of them remarked that it was the "most meaningful and moving" St Andrew's Day event that he had ever attended.
The Church of Scotland has had a presence in the Holy Land since the 1800s and in addition to the two churches, it owns the Scots Hotel in Tiberias, St Andrew's Guesthouse in Jerusalem and Tabeetha School in Jaffa.
The Church supports an olive grove - the Scottish Grove - in the heart of the Jezreel Valley between Nazareth and Tel Megiddo (Armageddon) which is run by Sindyanna of Galilee.
A non-profit organisation led by a team of Arab and Jewish women, it promotes Fair Trade, creates economic opportunities and assists local growers and producers.
Dr Gillan works alongside fellow mission partner Rev Muriel Pearson and they are both employed by the Church of Scotland's Faith Impact Programme.