Jerusalem
and the Middle East
Church Association

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Advent 2009 Editorial Mr John Clark, chair of the Trustees comments...

Recently, I have had a number of opportunities to meet with some of the bishops and clergy of the Anglican Church in the Middle East. It has been impressive to learn of the creative ways in which they are responding to the demands of the very different and often dangerous situations in which they are set.

This magazine provides some highlights. The situation in Baghdad is extremely demanding so it is good to have news from St George’s and to learn of the disturbing effect of the conflict in Iraq on the Syrian Churches by a researcher supported by a grant from JMECA. The hospital in Gaza carries on its ministry of healing in a highly stressful situation. We include news here as over £10,000 in your donations and a JMECA grant were sent to support it after the Israeli invasion.

In the Diocese of Egypt, for example, to which JMECA makes substantial grants from Trusts and general income, there are many developments in social outreach through the social service centres in Cairo, the hospital in Menouf and in the refugee work among the many Sudanese who have settled in Egypt.

Another role is that of hospitality to Christians of other traditions. This is particularly true in the Diocese of Cyprus and the Gulf. In Doha, the development of the Church of the Epiphany (www.epiphany-qatar.org) to which JMECA made a grant of £30,000, is making steady progress. Three temporary meeting halls have been erected for use while funds are raised for the full building and already more than twenty different congregations meet in them during the week and particularly at the weekend.

There are many challenging examples of Christian presence and witness in the Middle East. Only a few can be featured in Bible Lands. But they should stimulate us in our own Christian discipleship and calling in the UK, particularly in the Christmas season as we celebrate the coming of God among us in human form.

I conclude with an item of internal news. Mary Knight, our Secretary, who has brought so much to the work of the Association has given notice that family circumstances mean that she will have to step down as Secretary next summer. So we will be looking for a successor in the New Year. We will pay tribute to Mary in our next issue but in the meantime do pray for us as we seek a successor and for Mary as she looks to the future.