Concerns about the desire for revenge and the possibility of harassment against Arab-Americans were frequent messages from Episcopal and other Anglican bishops in the wake of the Sept. 11 tragedies at the World Trade Center, the Pentagon, and in Pennsylvania. Church leaders spoke frequently about the need for Christians to be cautious in their response to the horrific events.

"Many are speaking of revenge," Presiding Bishop Frank T. Griswold noted. "Never has it been clearer to me than in this moment that people of faith, in virtue of the gospel and the mission of the church, are called to be about peace and the transformation of the human heart, beginning with our own. I am not immune to emotions of rage and revenge, but I know that acting on them only perpetuates the very violence I pray will be dissipated and overcome."

Bishop Griswold reminded people that the passionate desire of God is for the well being and flourishing of all people.

"Yes, those responsible must be found and punished for their evil and disregard for human life, but through the heart of this violence we are called to another way," he said. "May our response be to engage with all our hearts and minds and strength in God's project of transforming the world into a garden, a place of peace where swords can become plowshares and spears are changed into pruning hooks."

The Rt. Rev. Riah Abu al-Assal, Bishop of Jerusalem, a man who is familiar with reacting to violence, spoke of the church's struggle.

"We as the church are called upon to struggle against evil in the world," he said, "provided that our struggling does not resort to the means of the evildoers."

The Archbishop of Sydney, the Most Rev. Peter Jensen, urged Anglicans to turn to God. "This is not the time for any racist attitudes that attribute blame to new communities in our midst, especially the Islamic people who have come to share their lives with us," he said.

A similar message was issued by the Bishop of Chicago, the Rt. Rev. William D. Persell. "We must avoid the temptation to hold particular groups of people or religious groups responsible for the actions of a few," he warned. "The Christian's best response to both the potential and the danger inherent in our world today is to pray and act that our interconnection may, through compassion, become unity."

A sampling of reactions from other Episcopalians and Anglicans:

The Rt. Rev. Jubal Neves, Bishop of Southwestern Brazil: "Facing the terrorist attack to the people of North America, we understand better where the ambition (the core of sin) may lead the human being."

The Rt. Rev. John P. Croneberger, Bishop of Newark: "We ask that the Lord guide us away from hatred and bigotry in the face of hatred and bigotry."

The Most Rev. Michael Peers, Primate of the Anglican Church of Canada: "We can be certain that God meets us in prayer and shares in both our horror and our hope."

The Rt. Rev. Claude E. Payne, Bishop of Texas: "Hate creates the fertile ground for evil to flourish, and the bombings in New York and Washington are a clear demonstration of the power of that evil."

The Most Rev. Livingston Nkoyoyo, Archbishop of Uganda: "The Christians here stand shoulder to shoulder with your people as they grieve and struggle to come to terms with the terrible tragedy which has befallen your country and the whole world."

The Rt. Rev. Jane Holmes Dixon, Bishop of Washington pro tempore: "In response, let us turn to the God who loves us, and in quiet strength to one another, as we seek solace in the face of unimaginable tragedy."

The Rt. Rev. Leo Frade, Bishop of Southeast Florida: "My call to all Episcopalians in Southeast Florida is for us to be patient as the authorities investigate the source of the evil acts our country has experienced."

The Rt. Rev. Vincent Warner, Bishop of Olympia: "These attacks are assaults on all of our humanity, leaving us speechless and dumbfounded."

The Rt. Rev. Mark Sisk, Bishop of New York: "This emphatically has nothing to do with religion and everything to do with people overcome by the venom of hatred."

The Rt. Rev. J. Jon Bruno, Bishop Coadjutor of Los Angeles: "Even through these horrible events, obviously the worst assault on this nation since Pearl Harbor, God is our strength and our refuge."

The Rt. Rev. Herbert Thompson, Jr., Bishop of Southern Ohio: "It is a different world today because it is a world where our need for God's love and mercy has been more clearly revealed."

Episcopal News Service and Anglican Communion News Service contributed to this article.