Speakers Bureau

Chloe Bergen has been involved in Palestine advocacy since 2016 when she returned from living in Palestine for 2.5 years while her parents worked with Mennonite Central Committee. Since then, she has completed a 5-week physiotherapy practicum in a children's hospital in Bethlehem (2023) and has been involved in a learning tour with Canadian Friends of Sabeel (2024). Chloe is a member of the Mennonite Church Manitoba Palestine-Israel Network.

Chloe is available to speak in adult SS or an informal meeting. She is also available to facilitate the Palestine Land Exercise.

Possible topics:

  • Current realities in the West Bank and Gaza
  • Experience and updates in the health care sector

 


Marta Bunnett Wiebe serves on the MCM Palestine-Israel Network as part of her role as the MCC Manitoba Peace & Advocacy Program Coordinator. She is a graduate of Canadian Mennonite University and a member of Home Street Mennonite Church.

Marta is available to preach and speak in adult SS.

Possible topics:

  • Stories and scripture that illuminate current realities in Palestine/Israel

 

 

Dan Epp-Tiessen taught Bible and theology at Canadian Mennonite University for 25 years. In retirement, his interests include settler-colonialism in Palestine and Canada, the history of Zionism and Christian Zionism, Christian antisemitism, and the role of the in generating settler-colonialism and the genocide in Gaza. Dan visited Palestine/Israel most recently in 2024. He is a member of Home Street Mennonite Church.

Dan is available to preach, speak in adult SS and lead a Bible study.

Possible topics:

  • How did we get from the Bible to Genocide in Gaza?
  • Christian Zionism: Its use of the Bible and its Impact on Palestine
  • Christian Antisemitism and its Impact on Israel/Palestine

 

Esther Epp-Tiessen has been involved in advocacy on Palestine/Israel for over twenty years, initially as a staff person with Mennonite Central Committee and now as a volunteer. She serves on the Mennonite Church Manitoba Palestine/Israel Network and is also as a board member of Canadian Friends of Sabeel, a national ecumenical solidarity organization. She visited Palestine/Israel most recently in 2025. She is a member of Home Street Mennonite Church in Winnipeg.

Esther is available to preach, speak in adult SS, lead an informal discussion, and facilitate the Palestine Land Exercise.

Possible topics:

  • Stories and realities in Palestine: Gaza and the West Bank
  • The Christian Community in Palestine and its Call to Us
  • Kairos Palestine Document II: "A Word of Truth: Faith in a Time of Genocide"

 

Joanna Hiebert Bergen has been involved in advocacy on Palestine/Israel since living and working there from 2012 to 2015. She has returned to the region four times since 2015, most recently in November of 2024. She serves as chair of the Mennonite Church Manitoba Palestine/Israel Network. She is a member of Fort Garry Mennonite Fellowship.

Joanna is available to preach, speak in adult SS, lead a Bible study or informal discussion, and facilitate the Palestine Land Exercise.

Possible topics:

  • Current realities in Palestine: Gaza and the West Bank
  • The Christian Church in Palestine
  • Kairos Palestine Document II -- "A Word of Truth: Faith in a Time of Genocide"
  • Difficult Conversations: What’s So Confusing About Genocide?
  • Stories of Resilience and Struggle: Gaza and the West Bank
  • Heeding God’s Call for Justice: Action Steps in Solidarity with a Just Peace in Palestine/Israel
  • Why Gaza Matters: A Litmus Test for our Time.

 

Jan McIntyre is a farmer and school trustee based in Clearwater, Manitoba. She was sent twice by the United Church of Canada to serve 3-month terms as an Ecumenical Accompanier with the World Council of churches EAPPI programme in the South Hebron Hills and in Jerusalem. She returned for 1-month terms in 2014, 2015 and 2017 to work with a small humanitarian organization based in Hebron, and in November of 2025 to attend the Kairos Palestine Conference and visit various communities. She is a member of MCMPIN and is involved with UNJPPI (United Network for Justice and Peace in Palestine/Israel)

Jan is available to preach, speak in adult SS or in an informal evening setting. She is especially open to serving in southwestern Manitoba.

Possible topics:

  • Basic overview of current situation, with an emphasis on the West Bank
  • Stories of real people living under occupation
  • Steps we can take to help bring peace to this troubled region
  • What is Kairos Palestine II?

 

Byron Rempel-Burkholder is co-author of the Mennonite Church Canada resolution on Palestine/Israel. He and his wife Melita did short term service stints with MC Canada at Bethlehem Bible College in 2016, and with Mennonite Central Committee in 2023. He is a member of the MC Manitoba Palestine/Israel Network, chairs the MC Canada Palestine/Israel Network, and edits MC Canada PIN's Update, a monthly online newsletter. He visited Palestine/Israel most recently in 2024. He is a member of Home Street Mennonite Church.

Byron is available to preach, speak in Adult SS, lead a Bible study or a more informal discussion.

Possible topics:

  • 2016 MC Canada Resolution and the Palestine/Israel Network: history and mandate
  • Kairos Palestine and its "Moment of Truth" calls: what they mean for the church
  • Palestinian Christians: Who are they and what are they saying to us?
  • Jesus' "good news to the poor" in the context of Palestine
  • Anabaptists, Palestinians, and a discipleship of martyrdom
  • Is advocacy for Palestinian liberation antisemitic?

 

Ernie Wiens has been a member of the Mennonite Church Manitoba Palestine/Israel Network for about five years and is also involved with Mennonite Action Winnipeg. He has been a peace activist and conscientious objector military taxation for many years. He is a member of La Salle Community Fellowship.

Ernie is available to preach, speak in SS, lead a Bible or an informal discussion.

Possible topics:

  • A Vision for Peace (Micah 4:2-4)
  • Creative Peacemaking (Matthew 5:39-44)
  • A Foundation for Peace (Ephesians 2:13-18)
  • Peacemaking and military production/exports
  • Peacemaking and Palestine/Israel
  • Peacemaking and conscientious objection
  • Mennonite Action