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The American Friends of the Diocese of Jerusalem is asking us to include the Episcopal Diocese of Jerusalem in our congregational and prayers on Sunday, December 9 (The Second Sunday in Advent). Please ask your rector to invite a special offering for humanitarian aid to be mailed to : All checks should be made out to: AMERICAN FRIENDS OF THE EPISCOPAL DIOCESE OF JERUSALEM. Donations are tax deductible in accordance with the rules and regulations of the U.S. Internal Revenue. To learn more about the work of the Diocese of Jerusalem go to
Rt. Rev. Suheil Dawani installed and welcomed as the 14th Anglican bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Jerusalem. By Jim Rosenthal, Local Jerusalem Orthodox, Lutheran, Armenian, Coptic, Protestant and Roman Catholic prelates, pastors and members of religious orders processed into the historic St. George cathedral accompanied by a Palestinian Youth Marching Band, amid clouds of incense and smiling faces. Clergy and lay leaders of the diocese processed with Anglican and Ecumenical guests from around the world. Bishop Michael Langrish of Exeter represented the Archbishop of Canterbury, and Bishop Mark Sisk of New York represented Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori. Bishop Gayle Harris of Massachusetts was also present as both the diocese and the Cowley Fathers, the religious order of St. John the Evangelist, have close ties with Jerusalem's Anglican church. Muslim and Jewish leaders and clerics, as well as civic representatives were also in attendance. As Dawani entered the Cathedral with the assisting clergy, the congregation sang the Byzantine Easter hymn "Almaseeh kam" -- Christ is risen -- with great intensity, as the bishop reached the great crossing and knelt in private prayer before being vested in his episcopal order. The ceremony was presided over by the retiring Primate of Jerusalem and the Middle East, the Most Rev. Clive Handford. The newly elected Primate, the Most Rev. Hanna Anis Mouneer, who will be installed later this week in Cairo, was also present. The more-than-two-hour liturgy marked Dawani's actual enthronement, his installation, and the receiving of gifts from laity, clergy and guests, symbols of his new role in the diocese. A gospel book, bread and wine for the Eucharist, Water for baptism, oil for healing, incense, a candle, an olive branch of peace and goodwill, and roses in honor of the Virgin Mary. The vestments were given by the Diocese of Los Angeles with Bishop Jon Bruno placing the miter on Dawani during the rite. This L.A. diocese has strong ties with the Palestinian Christian community, supporting work in some of the most hard hit areas as a result of the current crisis. Among those participating in the liturgy were Dr. Stephen Need, dean of St George's College; Canon John Peterson of Washington National Cathedral; Jerusalem's two previous Bishops, Samir Kafity and Riah Abu El-Assal; and event organiser Canon Samir Habiby. Fr. Alan Moses of All Saints Margaret Street in London, England, represented the United Society for the Propagation of the Gospel (USPG), and the English Bishops of Southhampton, Tonbridge, and Warwick were present. The Lutheran World Federation, Lambeth Palace, Australia/New Zealand St George's College Group, the Anglican Communion Office, the Church Army and the "mother" mission society, Church Mission Society (CMS), were all well represented. The well-constructed liturgy was duly orchestrated by the acting Cathedral dean, Canon Hosam Naoum, and the Rev. Samuel Barhoum of Holy Family Episcopal Church in Raineh. In his sermon, given in Arabic and summarized in English, Dawani called for a strong Christian proclamation in the days ahead in the Holy Land. He made repeated references for dialogue with "sister faiths" and recognized the "mutual sufferings" of Muslims, Jews and Christians, and called for Israel and Palestine to "accept each other and forgive." He said Jesus Christ's call is "a mission of reconciliation with justice and peace with human dignity" for all. "We need bridges of peace, not walls of separation," he said, acknowledging the current situation as a "critical time" for all. His call and vision is for the presence of "Jesus Christ to increase" in the diocese. A rite of sprinkling followed the renewal of baptismal vows and the liturgy continued with a Solemn Eucharist, with clergy administering Holy Communion in the courtyard to the overflow congregation. During communion, a children's choir from Ramallah sang repeatedly: "We shall live in peace, we shall overcome, we'll walk hand in hand," at which point the hundreds present joined in the singing, as many shed tears of sorrow, hope and joy. As one parishioner said, "It was a moment of great release." Also present were St. George's College course members from All Saints Church in Beverly Hills, United States, and the Great St. Mary's Church in Cambridge, England. Earlier that day the cathedral was also full for the regular Sunday Eucharist, attended by scores of pilgrims and local Christians. Bruno preached a powerful sermon on the resurrection calling on the congregation to be in "solidarity" with the plight of the Palestinians and expressing his concern for the dwindling Christian population in the Holy Land. The Diocese of Jerusalem, although small in numbers, maintains more than 30 institutions of education and care for the people of Israel, Palestine and Jordan.
Palestinian Priest calls for solidarity with West Bank Christians Father Fadi Diab is the rector of St. Matthew's Episcopal Church in Zabadeh, a town in the northern West Bank. Fr. Diab and his wife Ruba, a Jordanian citizen, have been unable to obtain a West Bank residency permit for Ruba that will enable them to live together as a family in Zababdeh. On September 28, the Diabs became parents of their second son, Andrew. Until now, Andrew's older brother Phillip, now 5, has spent most of his young life in Jordan, where Ruba has been required to return every three months to renew her "visitor's" visa. Now Israel considers Ruba to be an "illegal" resident, and she cannot cross a checkpoint without risking deportation to Jordan, never again to be allowed to enter the West Bank. In a recent issue of the Dublin Diocesan Review, Fr. Diab describes the difficulties facing Christians living in the West Bank. Click here for more. Jerusalem Declaration on Christian Zionism On August 27, 2006, the patriarch and local heads of churches in Jersusalm issed the following declaration urging Christians on every continent to "reject the narrow world view of Christian Zionism and other ideologies that privilege one people at the expense of others." Christian Zionism is a modern theological and political movement that embraces the most extreme ideological positions of Zionism, thereby becoming detrimental to a just peace within Palestine and Israel. The Christian Zionist programme provides a worldview where the Gospel is identified with the ideology of empire, colonialism and militarism. In its extreme form, it laces an emphasis on apocalyptic events leading to the end of history rather than living Christ's love and justice today. We categorically reject Christian Zionist doctrines as false teaching that corrupts the biblical message of love, justice and reconciliation. We further reject the contemporary alliance of Christian Zionist leaders and organizations with elements in the governments of Israel and the United States that are presently imposing their unilateral pre-emptive borders and domination over Palestine. This inevitably leads to unending cycles of violence that undermine the security of all peoples of the Middle East and the rest of the world. We reject the teachings of Christian Zionism that facilitate and support these policies as they advance racial exclusivity and perpetual war rather than the gospel of universal love, redemption and reconciliation taught by Jesus Christ. Rather than condemn the world to the doom of Armageddon we call upon everyone to liberate themselves from the ideologies of militarism and occupation. Instead, let them pursue the healing of the nations! We call upon Christians in Churches on every continent to pray for the Palestinian and Israeli people, both of whom are suffering as victims of occupation and militarism. These discriminative actions are turning Palestine into impoverished ghettos surrounded by exclusive Israeli settlements. The establishment of the illegal settlements and the construction of the Separation Wall on confiscated Palestinian land undermines the viability of a Palestinian state as well as peace and security in the entire region. We call upon all Churches that remain silent, to break their silence and speak for reconciliation with justice in the Holy Land. Therefore, we commit ourselves to the following principles as an alternative way: We affirm that all people are created in the image of God. In turn they are called to honor the dignity of every human being and to respect their inalienable rights. We affirm that Israelis and Palestinians are capable of living together within peace, justice and security. We affirm that Palestinians are one people, both Muslim and Christian. We reject all attempts to subvert and fragment their unity. We call upon all people to reject the narrow world view of Christian Zionism and other ideologies that privilege one people at the expense of others. We are committed to non-violent resistance as the most effective means to end the illegal occupation in order to attain a just and lasting peace. With urgency we warn that Christian Zionism and its alliances are justifying colonization, apartheid and empire-building. God demands that justice be done. No enduring peace, security or reconciliation is possible without the foundation of justice. The demands of justice will not disappear. The struggle for justice must be pursued diligently and persistently but non-violently. "What does the Lord require of you, to act justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God." (Micah 6:8) This is where we take our stand. We stand for justice. We can do no other. Justice alone guarantees a peace that will lead to reconciliation with a life of security and prosperity for all the peoples of our Land. By standing on the side of justice, we open ourselves to the work of peace - and working for peace makes us children of God. "God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men's sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation." (2 Cor 5:19) His Beattitude Patriarch Michel Sabbah Archbishop Swerios Malki Mourad, Bishop Riah Abu El-Assal, Bishop Munib Younan,
For more information about the diocese of Jerusalem visit: The Diocese of Jerusalem, the Episcopal Church in Jerusalem and the Middle East American Friends of the Episcopal Diocese of Jerusalem www.americanfriends-jerusalem.org and click on Middle East Crisis.
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