Statement from The Episcopal Diocese of Jerusalem and the Middle East
Sponsor: Archbishop Hosam Naoum
We, the bishops of the worldwide Anglican Communion, called together by the Archbishop of Canterbury for the Lambeth Conference in 2022, affirm the vital historic presence of Christians in the Holy Land, the “Living Stones”, where our Saviour Jesus Christ lived, died and was resurrected. In our commitment to the common good of all ethnic and religious communities in Israel, and to those in the Occupied Palestinian Territories, we reiterate our conviction that a two-state solution offers the best hope for a sustainable future for all, where both states live side by side in security peace and dignity of all their citizens.
Jerusalem remains a historic part of that future hope, and the existence and indeed flourishing of the Christian presence within Jerusalem should be respected and guarded. We therefore affirm that:
- Israel is a state that deserves the security and protections of a free state, but is also subject to the demands of international law just like any other state.
- A two-state solution to the aspirations for self-determination of the Palestinian people in the West Bank and Gaza, and the end of the occupation, remains the best hope for a just and peaceful resolution to all peoples in the region.
- Jerusalem is a city that is precious to Jewish, Christian, and Muslim communities. Therefore, in accordance with the United Nations, we regard Jerusalem as an intrinsic issue with respect to any future political settlement for Israel and the Palestinian Occupied Territories.
Statement of Support welcoming the Province of Alexandria in Egypt
Sponsor: Archbishop Sami Fawzi
We, the bishops of the worldwide Anglican Communion, called together by the Archbishop of Canterbury for the Lambeth Conference in 2022, from the provinces of the Anglican Communion, give thanks to Almighty God for the churches (Provinces) of the Communion that have been established since we last met in 2008, amongst them the Episcopal/Anglican Province of Alexandria.
We welcome the Province of Alexandria as a full member of the Council of Anglican Provinces of Africa, of the Middle East Council of Churches, of the All Africa Conference of Churches and of the World Council of Churches. We rejoice in the commitment shown by the Province, and the Diocese of Egypt in particular, to ecumenical relations – within Egypt as a founding member of the Egyptian Council of Churches. Similarly, we are grateful for the leading role the Diocese plays in inter-religious relations, particularly with Islam, building on the unique role of Al Azhar Al Sharif within the Muslim World. We extend our encouragement to the newly established Centre of Christian-Muslim Understanding and Partnership and the programmes f lowing from the Diocese’s membership of Egypt’s Bait al ‘Aila.
Despite conflicts on all her borders, the adverse impact on the economy of COVID and the international instability, Egypt strives for the mutual flourishing of both her people and those welcomed in a long-established tradition of hospitality (including, as our Scriptures relate, providing refuge for the Holy Family). Alongside the many who are grateful for this tradition and Egypt’s contribution to civilisation, we offer our prayers for the country’s peace, progress and prosperity.
We are troubled, and express our concern, that the positive contributions to Egyptian society and our world-wide Communion made by the Diocese of Egypt are put at risk by attempts to constrain its independence and autonomy. We reiterate our support for the Diocese as it resists such attempts and call on sister churches, inter-religious partners and all people of good-will to work with us. We appeal President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi to affirm the positive role played by the Anglican Diocese in Egypt and the wider region by exercising his constitutional authority to recognise the creation of the Episcopal/Anglican Province of Alexandria. We also seek a speedy resolution to the discussions that have recently been instigated to restore practical authorisation of its functioning as an autonomous Church within the Arab Republic of Egypt.
Refugee and Migration Crisis Statement
Sponsor: Archbishop Justin Welby
We, the bishops of the worldwide Anglican Communion, called together by the Archbishop of Canterbury for the Lambeth Conference in 2022, reaffirm our commitment to the treatment of refugees and migrants as made in the image of God and therefore deserving of equal dignity and respect.
The statements from individual Provinces within the Anglican Communion that have already been presented to this Lambeth Conference highlight the growing impact of conflict, climate change and food shortages on the already massive movement of peoples within and across nations. As Anglicans, we are called in our Marks of Mission to “respond to human need by loving service” and to “transform unjust structures of society, to challenge violence of every kind and pursue peace and reconciliation.” Meeting the immediate needs of those who have been displaced or trafficked in any way, and doing what we can to build better structures to help all people flourish, is at the heart of our mission.
We therefore affirm our support for:
- The UNHCR (the UN Refugee Agency) Welcoming the Stranger (2013) initiative, which includes a set of affirmations signed by global religious leaders. The affirmations aim to inspire leaders of all faiths to ‘Welcome the Stranger’ with dignity, respect and loving support and are a resource and a practical tool to foster support for refugees and other displaced people in their communities https://www.unhcr.org/uk/protection/ hcdialogue%20/51b6de419/welcoming-stranger-affirmations-faith-leaders.html
- The work of Anglican provinces, dioceses and agencies on the ground. Churches and other faith communities are on the front line of many displacement situations – whether in identifying early warning signs of potential displacement, meeting the physical and spiritual needs of displaced populations, or dealing with their own displacement, within countries and across borders
- The Global Compacts on Refugees and Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration and welcome the widespread adoption of both Compacts by states in 2018. We urge all countries to fully implement their commitments under the Compacts, and integrate the principles of the Compacts into national policy. We celebrate those provinces and dioceses of the Anglican Communion who have already pledged to support the aims of the Global Compact on Refugees and encourage others ministering and working with displaced populations to work with the Anglican Communion Office at the United Nations to make submissions ahead of the 2023 Global Refugee Forum.
- A response to the increased understanding at the global level of climate change and other environmental changes as drivers of displacement, recognising that the vast majority of displacement in the context of disasters and climate change happens within countries, rather than across national borders. We call for more political will to integrate just, generous and universal efforts at the global level, with the richest bearing the greatest burdens, including across UNFCCC, IOM and other international agencies and fora.
