Honoring the Life of Reverend Stephanie Lee
Pictured in Jerusalem, right to left, Rev. Stephanie Lee, tour guide Husam, daughter Melanie, Dr. Martha, driver Jalal/Jimmy (a graduate of the University of Akron, who was familiar with the city in which Rev. Lee was serving in 2012) (Photo courtesy of Martha Banks.)
Reverend Stephanie Lee participated in our 2012 African Heritage delegation. She passed away in 2021, but her community of Interfaith Peace-Builders of Ohio (IFPB-OH) has kept her spirit of care for the Palestinian people alive. This active group of Eyewitness Palestine alumni, have founded The Reverend Stephanie Lee Scholarship Fund. The fund has supported two delegates this year on our May and June delegations. IFPB-OH hopes this scholarship will inspire other groups of delegates to also develop scholarships in the name of outstanding activists. We are grateful for the witness of Rev. Lee, and Interfaith Peace-Builders of Ohio.
Below is a tribute to Rev. Lee by her daughter Melanie, and treasured friend Martha, who also joined her on the African Heritage delegation.
Reverend Stephanie Lee (1954-2021) was a United Methodist ordained elder and a uniquely gifted musician who fully infused her passion for music into every aspect of her ministry and service. A worldwide witness of many cultures, she traveled to Palestine in October 2012 as a member of the IFPB African Heritage delegation, along with her daughter, Melanie Smith. In excerpts from one of Rev. Lee’s worship services after returning from that trip, she described the reason that we need to continue her model of witnessing and speaking out about the injustices the nation of Israel is inflicting on Palestinians:
We started this service by singing, “We’ve a story to tell to the nations!” And we do have a story to tell this nation! It’s a story of a people, uncomplicated farming people, the Palestinian people, who have been disenfranchised and oppressed…and pretty much abandoned by the international community... and [who, in the hopes of somehow achieving some justice, have asked us] -US citizens- to come & see the reality of their situation, & then just to simply tell their stories. That we will do, no matter how unbelievable they will sound to others. And We were asked to support the good things that are happening there like the nonviolent resistance of some of the villages in the West Bank, and encourage people to boycott and divest and lobby our elected leaders to stop U.S. funding.
Actually, there are 2 stories that we need to tell today! And tell them in the light of Scripture... The 1st story is the very disheartening and appalling story of the horrible oppression and actual ethnic cleansing of the land that is happening to the people of Palestine... due SOLELY to their ethnicity! NOT their religion!!
Her sermon continued with reflection on Jesus’ warning against hypocrisy (Matthew 23:37-39 NIV):
37 “Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were not willing. 38 Look, your house is left to you desolate. 39 For I tell you, you will not see me again until you say, ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.’”
[In this story Jesus is not talking to the teachers of the law & the Pharisees – the ones he is condemning... he is talking to the crowds and to his disciples. And that makes a big difference when you read it with that in mind. See, this word for us is not so much a heavy word of judgment and condemnation, it is a word of grace and freedom. You see what Jesus is recognizing here is that the things people say and the things people teach - especially people we’ve been taught to listen to and respect - the sayings and teachings can become like an old outdated gift – maybe a vase – given to you by your Aunt Gretel-- something heavy and ugly that clutters up your life and weighs you down. So Jesus is saying that if the things/traditions you’ve been taught have become like chains on your ankles or a yoke on your shoulders, get rid of them. Let them go.]
And in that is where I witnessed the 2nd jaw-dropping experience... the 2nd story that needs to be told...that of witnessing the resilience, courage and strength of the Palestinians and Israelis.
And many others that are resisting the occupation, working for change through the BDS (boycott, divest, sanction) movement, assisting with court challenges, engaging in nonviolent resistance, forming cooperatives, empowering youth and refusing to act as enemies by building bridges and relationships… They were truly inspiring. In them lies the hope despite the overwhelming reality of occupation and inequality.
The Reverend Stephanie Lee Scholarship Fund offered by the Ohio chapter of Interfaith Peace-Builders (now Eyewitness Palestine) is formed in recognition that, indeed, we do have a story to tell to the nations! We are grateful to Rev. Lee for her passion to follow the teaching of Jesus (John 13:34-35):
“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”