Resolution Number: 1991-A150
Title: Support an Anglican Presence in the Middle East
Legislative Action Taken: Concurred As Substituted and Amended
Final Text:

Resolved, That the 70th General Convention of the Episcopal Church:

  1. Sends greetings to and express solidarity with all Christians in the Middle East, especially to the members of the Diocese of Jerusalem and to Bishop Samir Kafity, and
  2. Reaffirms the prophetic role of Bishop Samir Kafity, and
  3. Encourages American Episcopalians to journey to Jerusalem on pilgrimages to lend support to the Christian community, and
  4. Calls on the religious and governmental authorities in Jerusalem to hear the alarm of Christian constituents of that city who in the past forty years have gone from being a presence of 24% to 2% of Jerusalem and who fear that their total absence is desired by these authorities, and
  5. Calls the religious and governmental authorities to make a gesture of mutuality by restoring St. John's Hospice to the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate, and
  6. Urges dioceses of our Church to engage in study and dialogue with respect to Muslim/Christian relations, and
  7. Rejoices in the success of the Jewish/Christian dialogue and the deepening fellowship that had occurred, and
  8. Deplores all expressions of anti-Arab and anti-Jewish prejudice in our culture and among Christians and commit ourselves to continue to combat the prejudice, and
  9. That the Secretary of the 1991 General Convention of the Episcopal Church be requested to send copies of all resolutions adopted by this Convention relating to Palestinian/Israeli resolutions to the President of the United States, to the Secretary of State, to Episcopalians and other appropriate members of Congress, to the Secretary General of the United Nations, to the representative of the Anglican Consultative Council to the United Nations, to the Middle East Council of Churches, to the Most Reverend Samir Kafity, to the mayor of Jerusalem, and to the Prime Minister of Israel.
Citation: General Convention, Journal of the General Convention of...The Episcopal Church, Phoenix, 1991 (New York: General Convention, 1992), p. 772.

Legislative History

Author: The Standing Commission on Peace
Originating House: House of Bishops
Originating Committee: Committee on National and International Problems

House of Bishops

Original Text of Resolution:

(A150)

Resolved, the House of Deputies concurring, That the 1991 General Convention of the Episcopal Church express its gratitude for and its solidarity with the Anglican Church in the Middle East, and assure the Most Reverend Samir Kafity, President Bishop of the Episcopal Church in Jerusalem and the Middle East, and the clergy and laity of the Anglican Church in the Middle East, of its high regard and firm support.

Proposed Committee Substitute:

Resolved, The House of Deputies concurring, That the 70th General Convention of the Episcopal Church

  1. Send greetings to and express solidarity with all Christians in the Middle East, especially to the members of the Diocese of Jerusalem and to Bishop Samir Kafity, and
  2. Reaffirms the prophetic role of Bishop Samir Kafity, and
  3. Encourages American Episcopalians to journey to Jerusalem on pilgrimage to lend support to the Christian community, and
  4. Calls on the religious and governmental authorities in Jerusalem to hear the alarm of Christian constituents of that city who in the past forty years have gone from being a presence of 24% to 2% of Jerusalem and who fear that their total absence is desired by these authorities, and
  5. Calls the religious and governmental authorities to make a gesture of mutuality by restoring St. John's Hospice to the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate, and
  6. Urges dioceses of our Church to engage in study and dialogue with respect to Muslim/Christian relations, and
  7. Rejoices in the success of the Jewish/Christian dialogue and the deepening fellowship that has occurred, and
  8. Deplores all expressions of anti-Arab and anti-Jewish prejudice in our culture and among Christians and commit ourselves to continue combat the prejudice, and
  9. That the Secretary of the 1991 General Convention of the Episcopal Church be requested to send copies of all resolutions adopted by this Convention relating to Palestinian/Israeli resolutions to the President of the United States, to the Secretary of State, to Episcopalians and other appropriate members of Congress, to the Secretary General of the United Nations, to the representative of the Anglican Consultative Council to the United Nations, to the Middle East Council of Churches, to the Most Reverend Samir Kafity, to the mayor of Jerusalem, and to the Prime Minister of Israel.

Motion carried

Substitute resolution adopted

(Communicated to the House of Deputies in HB Message #178)

House of Deputies

The Committee on National and International Problems presented its Report #50 on House of Bishops Message #178 relating to Resolution A150s (Support for Anglican Presence in Middle East) and moved concurrence.

The House concurred

(Communicated to the House of Bishops in HD Message #290)

Resolution Concurred by Both Houses, July 19.

Report Reference:   Standing Commission on Peace, Reports to the 70th General Convention, 1991, pp. 394-431.
Abstract:   The 70th General Convention expresses concern for the health of the Christian community in Jerusalem and calls for interfaith dialoge and cultural tolerance.