Episcopal Diocese of Jerusalem needs our help

by Van Lawrence
St. Mark's Cathedral, Minneapolis

The Episcopal Church in the Holy Land is struggling to survive. The emigration of Christians from the Middle East has reduced the population from 25% after World War II to 2%. Those who remain in Palestine suffer from the loss of land to Israeli settlements, unemployment, travel restictions that interfere with commerce, education and healthcare.

In spite of the hardships the Diocese of Jerusalem maintains 22 parishes, 18 schools,  2 hospitals, institutes for the deaf, disabled and mentally impaired in Palesine, Israel, Jordan and Lebanon. These institutions are open to all. Who among us can deny that this Christian example is not of lasting benefit to  a people caught in the war between Israel and a mostly Islamic state.

That is why our Presiding Bishop and Leading Churchmen met with the Administration to urge the President to make a more forceful effort to bring the Israelis and Palestinians to the peace table. The Episcopal Policy Network has called for all churchmen and women to write letters to the President and to their congressmen urging the same.

It's good to know that our Church is making an effort to bring peace. That of course will be the ultimate solution. However, in the mean time the grinding day to day struggle goes on with little hope of relief now.

If we Episcopalians believe that Christianity contributes something vital to our communities how can we not contribute to the Episcopal Diocese of Jerusalem where Christ's message is so needed?

For those who do not feel that they understand the situation well enough, Episcopal News is a reliable source as are the reports of the Episcopal Policy Network. More resources have been posted here on November 14, 2011.

At St. Mark's Cathedral a small group of "missioners" to the Diocese of Jerusalem have kept the issue alive by bringing in speakers and information. As a result, annual collections have been mldly successful. It is a workable start.