Church Relies On Good Friday Gift
Episcopal News Service. December 18, 1986 [86277]
NEW YORK (DPS, Dec. 18) -- The plight of refugees, the displaced, the orphaned -- all victims of war and other tragedies In the Middle East -- are the focal point of this year's Good Friday Offering.
Episcopal parishes nationwide are being asked to join in the effort through prayer and financial support for the work of the Episcopal Church in Jerusalem and the Middle East. Although the Church there consists of only four dioceses, it maintains 32 service institutions in the Jerusalem diocese alone.
"The Episcopal Church in Jerusalem and the Middle East plays a leading role in that community," says Presiding Bishop Edmond L. Browning. "It has been assisting the growing number of displaced persons through a wide range of service institutions... If the work is to continue -- and it must continue -- we must offer our prayers and support at this time of need."
The Episcopal Church has been assisting in the mission and ministry of the Church in the Middle Fast through the Good Friday Offering since 1922. According to Judith Gillespie, Executive for World Mission at the Episcopal Church Center here, it has become the "life-blood" of the work of the Church there. She adds that "over the last three years, the Offering has increased substantially, thanks to a greater response on the part of our congregations. In 1985, we were able to increase the allocation from the Offering to each of the four dioceses by $1,500, and each diocese received a further increase of $5,750 in 1986. The total Offering in 1986 was $138,000."
Those dollars translate into vocational training centers, homes for boys and girls, hostels for university students, homes for the aged, institutions for the care and education of deaf children and many other service-oriented institutions.
The Rt. Rev. Sanir Kafity, President-Bishop of the Episcopal Church in Jerusalem and the Middle East, has been vocal in his appreciation of the Good Friday Offering. In a recent interview he said, "We thank God that we are not standing alone. The whole Anglican Communion realizes that, tiny as we are, we are performing the service and we share with our partners in running these institutions. We feel really grateful to the process of partners in mission, partners in prayer, and partners in service."
The World Mission and Communication units at the Episcopal Church Center have prepared special materials, including a new 16-minute videotape in addition to a slide and cassette presentation, designed to familiarize parishioners with the work of the Church in the Middle East and the important role it plays in that area. Sample copies of Good Friday Offering posters, bulletin covers, bulletin inserts explaining the work of the province in detail and offering envelopes are being mailed to all Episcopal parishes and diocesan offices.