Upcoming Justice Dialogue to explore the church’s prophetic role in addressing Palestinian genocide
VALLEY FORGE, PA (ABNS 07/17/2025)—As violence continues to claim the lives of Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank, an increasing number of faith leaders are urging the church to examine not only its beliefs but also what it will do to help quell the carnage.
American Baptist Home Mission Societies (ABHMS) invites the public to a timely and thought-provoking edition of its Justice Dialogues series titled “Being Church in the Face of Genocide,” set for Wednesday, July 30, at noon EDT. This virtual event will provide historical and theological context for the ongoing crisis, while encouraging participants to reflect on how the church must respond during a moment of moral reckoning.
Rev. Dr. Allison Tanner and Judge Wendell Griffen, two faith-rooted leaders deeply engaged in justice work, will be guest speakers for the July 30 session.
Tanner serves as the pastor of public witness at Lakeshore Avenue Baptist Church in Oakland, California, where she has ministered for 26 years. She is also the national organizer of the Apartheid-Free Communities initiative, convened by the American Friends Service Committee, and is recognized for her bold, faithful advocacy on issues of human rights, militarism, and Christian nationalism.
Griffen, who recently retired from the Arkansas state court bench after a 25-year tenure, is the pastor of New Millennium Church in Little Rock, Arkansas, and co-chair of the Samuel DeWitt Proctor Conference. He speaks nationally on race, justice, and the church’s prophetic voice in democracy. As a candidate for county judge in Pulaski County, Arkansas, he also seeks to continue his public service in 2026 if elected.
Min. Matthew Rivera, national coordinator for Healing & Transforming Communities at ABHMS, emphasizes the urgency of this conversation. “In the face of mass suffering and global silence, the church must speak with clarity, compassion, and courage,” he said. “This Justice Dialogue will help us discern how.”
ABHMS launched the Justice Dialogues in 2020 to help Christian citizens who work, live, and pray together realize a more just society. The ongoing initiative demonstrates ABHMS’ deep commitment to faith-rooted social justice and its mission to bring healing and transformation across the United States and Puerto Rico.
To register for “Being Church in the Face of Genocide,” click here. This event is free and open to the public. To learn more about ABHMS’ Healing & Transforming Communities ministry, visit abhms.org.
American Baptist Home Mission Societies partners with American Baptists to promote Christian faith, cultivate Christ-centered leaders and disciples, and bring healing and transformation to communities across the United States and Puerto Rico.
American Baptist Churches USA is one of the most diverse Christian denominations today, with approximately 5,000 congregations comprised of 1.3 million members, across the United States and Puerto Rico, all engaged in God’s mission around the world
