Jerusalem
and the Middle East
Church Association

Bishop Mouneer and Bishop Derek lead the Palm Sunday procession in Cairo

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Obituaries

Visit to England

Bishop Suheil Dawani assisted the Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, in a meeting with the Chief Rabbis of Israel, held in London. The meeting was designed for better understanding and trust between the Anglican Communion and the Chief Rabbinate and worldwide Judaism.

“This is very much our vision for the local church,” said Bishop Suheil, “to work in the ministry of reconciliation among the faiths. I hope to continue this work and play a part in helping to make Jerusalem a model of peace and reconciliation.”

Preaching and meetings in the United States

Bishop Suheil had a very successful trip to the US, where in October he received the degree of Doctor of Divinity at the Virginia Theological Seminary.

Following the kind invitation of the Revd Susan Henry- Crowe, the Dean of the Chapel and Religious Life, Bishop Suheil visited Emory University in Atlanta. He preached at St. Bartholome Episcopal Church and at the Chapel of Emory University, and met with American families for Kids for Peace.

Bishop Suheil then visited with the Diocese of Olympia. He attended the Holy Land International Conference ‘Opening Doors of Hope in Faith’ in Washington DC. There he addressed the pressing need to preserve the indigenous Christian community of the land of the Holy One by offering them increased opportunities and prospects.

Bishop Suheil also preached at the Sunday service at St Andrew’s Episcopal Church in Burke, Virginia. During a forum after the service, he talked about the living ministry of the Diocese of Jerusalem. Later that day he preached at the National Presbyterian Church during a service dedicated to ecumenical prayer for peace in the Middle East. He also gave a speech at the reception of the American Friends of the Episcopal Diocese of Jerusalem at the National Cathedral in Washington DC.

Bishop Suheil felt very privileged to accept the many kind invitations of friends and supporters in the US and to see their wonderful work for the benefit of the Diocese of Jerusalem and the indigenous Christian community of the land of the Holy One.

Decline in Palestinian Christians

Speaking at a reception at the Cathedral in January, Bishop Suheil warned, “There has been a sharp decline in the Christian population in the Holy Land, with a real possibility of the extinction of native Christians in the course of the next decade in the towns and villages of the West Bank. What is needed to keep Palestinian Christians will only come with a viable peace between the Holy Land's Arab and Jewish populations.”

“Although as Arabs, the Christians face some of the same challenges as the rest of the non-Jewish population, Palestinian Christians - including some 7,000 Episcopalians - take an active part in society, especially in providing crucial education and health services without discrimination.”

“By working for a just peace in the Holy Land,” Bishop Suheil said, “Anglican Episcopalians can make a difference in the lives of Palestinian Christians. It will take international and interfaith co-operation to solve the problems of the Holy Land.”

The Right Revd Suheil Dawani was Installed as the 14th Anglican Bishop in Jerusalem, with gratitude to God and in joyful celebration, on the First Sunday after Easter, April 15th at the Cathedral of St George the Martyr,

Information on the Diocese of Jerusalem