Author. Speaker. Advocate. Peacebuilder.
Beyond Horizons: Racing For Liberation
Mae Elise Cannon is training and fundraising for an Iron Man in September 2025. Her goal is to raise $1,000 for each mile of the race, which will be used to support Churches for Middle East Peace and the organization's work advocating for peace and justice in the Middle East. Click the link below to learn more and consider supporting Mae on this journey.
Activism
Beyond Pro-Life vs. Pro-Choice Politics
To quote Ruth Wilson Gilmore, "Abolition is not absence, it is presence." It is the creation of new systems and relationships that renders a practice or institution unnecessary. An abolition framework permits Christians to engage people across the current pro-life versus pro-choice divide and more effectively addresses the root causes of why there is abortion. This book is not focused on espousing a particular political position regarding electoral politics. Rather, it seeks to evaluate some assumptions that give rise to people feeling trapped in various political dilemmas. In interrogating these assumptions, we create more political and theological space that might open a more effective way to promote the lives of unborn children, their mothers, and their communities.
“Abortion Abolition goes beyond the pro-choice/pro-life debate that problematically results in single issue voting among Christians. Instead, it wisely and carefully considers how we might create new systems to render abortions unnecessary. It also challenges the assumptions of each camp, particularly the need to criminalize abortion. More importantly, Abortion Abolition points to a better, third way of addressing abortion, where we imagine together a world that reduces the harms and conditions leading women to abort. That seems to be the way of Jesus.”
—Russell Jeung, professor of Asian American studies, San Francisco State University
A Sermon in
Time of War
Westminster Presbyterian Church, Wilmington, DE
June 16, 2024
Activism
Comprehensive Justice in a Complicated Age
Activist Mae Elise Cannon takes us beyond the hashtags to serious engagement with real issues. God calls the church to respond substantively to the needs of the poor, the realities of racial inequity, and the mistreatment of women and the marginalized. We can accomplish change through a range of strategic avenues—spiritually, socially, legally, politically, and economically. And addressing the domestic and international injustices of our day takes us on a journey of spiritual transformation that brings us closer to God and those around us.
Channel your passion to care effectively for your neighbor and the world. This book will help you understand and put into action what it means for the church to be a place of peace, justice, and hope.
"With all that is happening in the world, there has never been a more critical time for this important book! In Beyond Hashtag Activism, Mae Cannon brings her years of experience and expertise to call us beyond concern to an authentic commitment to racial justice, gender equity, and global hope. This book is a very practical resource for anyone who wants to actively participate in God's story of reconciliation and social healing. I highly recommend it!"
- Brenda Salter McNeil, author of Roadmap to Reconciliation and A Credible Witness
Spiritual Formation
How Faith Practices Fuel Social Action
Activist and historian Mae Elise Cannon explores the direct connection between Christians' personal relationship with God and outward actions of kindness, mercy, compassion and advocacy. She looks at how notable Christian leaders were able to face societal challenges because of the rich depths of their spiritual practices.
For example:
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Mother Teresa's practice of silence compelled her to service.
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Dietrich Bonhoeffer's prayer life equipped his discipleship.
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Martin Luther King Jr.'s beloved community empowered his proclamation.
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Oscar Romero's discipline of submission prepared him to face martyrdom.
Biographical profiles of these and other key figures from around the world give us concrete examples of how activism and advocacy can be sustained over the long haul.
"Jesus' gospel is a call to action. The gospel requires us to right wrongs, to heal the broken places of this world. Mae Cannon is doing just that. Read this book for its rich wisdom that fuels activism like Mae's—the kind of activism needed in our world's toughest places."
- Richard Stearns, president, World Vision, author, The Hole in Our Gospel
Social Justice
An Award Winning Resource for a Better World
Mae Elise Cannon provides a comprehensive resource for Christians like you who are committed to social justice. She presents biblical rationale for justice and explains a variety of Christian approaches to doing justice. Tracing the history of Christians in social engagement, she lifts out role models and examples from the Great Awakenings to the civil rights movement. A wide-ranging catalog of topics and issues give background info about justice issues at home and abroad.
This handbook includes dozens of practical exercises for taking action, as well as profiles of key figures and movements like William Wilberforce, the Salvation Army and Bono, highlighting how Christians and churches can make a difference. Also included are spiritual practices and resources to help us move from immobility to advocacy.
"This is a cookbook for plotting goodness and stirring up holy mischief. Take a look and find a recipe for revolution. Then let us take it to the streets--interrupting injustice with grace, surprising the world with joy and whispering God's love to a broken world."
- Shane Claiborne, activist, author and lover, www.thesimpleway.org
Holy Land
Christian Perspectives on the Holy Land
A Land Full of God gives American Christians an opportunity to promote peace and justice in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. It shows them how to understand the enmity with brief, digestible, and comprehensive essays about the historical, political, religious, and geographical tensions that have led to many of the dynamics we see today. All the while, A Land Full of God walks readers through a biblical perspective of God's heart for Israel and the historic suffering of the Jewish people, while also remaining sensitive to the experience and suffering of Palestinians. The prevailing wave of Christian voices are seeking a pro-Israeli, pro-Palestinian, pro-peace, pro-justice, pro-poor, and ultimately pro-Jesus approach to bring resolution to the conflict.
Activism
Comprehensive Justice in a Complicated Age
Activist Mae Elise Cannon takes us beyond the hashtags to serious engagement with real issues. God calls the church to respond substantively to the needs of the poor, the realities of racial inequity, and the mistreatment of women and the marginalized. We can accomplish change through a range of strategic avenues—spiritually, socially, legally, politically, and economically. And addressing the domestic and international injustices of our day takes us on a journey of spiritual transformation that brings us closer to God and those around us.
Channel your passion to care effectively for your neighbor and the world. This book will help you understand and put into action what it means for the church to be a place of peace, justice, and hope.
"With all that is happening in the world, there has never been a more critical time for this important book! In Beyond Hashtag Activism, Mae Cannon brings her years of experience and expertise to call us beyond concern to an authentic commitment to racial justice, gender equity, and global hope. This book is a very practical resource for anyone who wants to actively participate in God's story of reconciliation and social healing. I highly recommend it!"
- Brenda Salter McNeil, author of Roadmap to Reconciliation and A Credible Witness
Biography
Rev. Dr. Mae Elise Cannon
Cannon has served as Executive Director with Churches for Middle East Peace since 2016. An ordained pastor in the Evangelical Covenant Church (ECC), her ministry and professional background includes serving as the Senior Director of Advocacy and Outreach for World Vision-US, the executive pastor of Hillside Covenant Church (Walnut Creek, California), Director of Development and Transformation for Extension Ministries at Willow Creek Community Church (Barrington, Illinois), and as a consultant to the Middle East for child advocacy issues for Compassion International.
She earned doctorates in History (Ph.D) and Spiritual Formation (D. Min). Her Ph.D focused on American History with the minor in Middle Eastern studies from the University of California – Davis, focusing her dissertation on the history of the American Protestant church in Israel and Palestine. Cannon’s Doctorate of Ministry in Spiritual Formation is from Northern Theological Seminary. Cannon holds an M.Div. From North Park Theological Seminary, an M.B.A. from North Park University’s School of Business and Nonprofit Management, and an M.A. in bioethics from Trinity International University. Cannon completed her Bachelor of Arts degree at the University of Chicago in History, Philosophy, Social Studies, of Science and Medicine.
Recent Articles and Recordings
The 2023-2024 Israel-Hamas War: What Jewish Trauma and Genocide in Gaza Taught Me about Collective Liberation
Christian Relief, Development, and Advocacy: The Journal of the Accord Network
June 2, 2025
The first time I rode down the rolling urban streets of Gaza City, I felt both overwhelmed and surprised at the view of the minaret silhouetted in the distance overlooking the Mediterranean as the sun set in light pink and yellow hues on the horizon.
Daily Inspiration: Meet Rev. Dr. Mae Elise Cannon
Voyage Denver
April 22, 2025
This Advent Season: Hope Has Come
Do Justice
December 16, 2024
As the Year 2024 ends, the earth groans in anticipation of desperately needed hope. Hope for the end of wars - in the Middle East, Ukraine, Syria, Western Sahara Africa, and other parts of the world.
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Running the Race for Peace
Do Justice
May 23, 2025
Growing up, my father was always a fantastic runner. A really good runner. He ran a sub-five-minute mile in combat boots in Vietnam in the early 1970s. He almost qualified for the Boston Marathon, missing the cutoff by only three minutes when he was in his mid-50s. He described the qualifying race as feeling like his “foot was broken.” It was one of the greatest disappointments of his life that he didn’t qualify.
Joy Amid the Sorrow
Do Justice
February 14, 2025
As this past week came to an end, my heart has been full of overwhelming emotions. I do not know if I feel joy, hope, optimism, relief, sorry, despair, or fear. All are true. Sometimes, all at once.
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These Forgotten Christians Know What It’s Like To Be Without a Country
Sojourners
November 15, 2024
How what’s happening in the Armenian community speaks to the broader struggle of living under Israeli occupation in East Jerusalem and beyond.
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Events
Contact Mae
Invite Mae to give a talk or ask her a question.