Press release from Lambeth Palace: July 12th 2011
Archbishop launches appeal for Christians in the Holy Land
The Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, today launched an Appeal at
General Synod's July 2011 Group of Sessions, for funds to help sustain Christian
communities in the Holy Land.
“I returned from a visit to the Holy Land last year with a very, very strong sense that
we had to do more to express our solidarity with the Christian communities
there...We know our brothers and sisters there are suffering; and we don’t always
ask ourselves often enough what our response needs to be.”
He hoped that Anglicans and others would give generously to help build a fund
from which community projects could be supported – projects which would
contribute to the sustainability of the most vulnerable Christian communities,
especially on the West Bank.
“I want to appeal today to you, for your support in creating in the near future, a fund
with which we might assist projects of community development and work creation,
especially among Palestinian Christians.”
The Archbishop’s appeal comes ahead of a conference on Christians in the Holy land
which he and the Archbishop of Westminster Vincent Nichols are jointly hosting at
Lambeth Palace on 18/19 July. They explained the purpose behind holding the
conference in a short video which was screened as part of the Archbishop’s appeal to
Synod.
To view the video click here: http://bit.ly/ndFcC2 and to view a transcript click
here: http://bit.ly/oo7wyc
“The rate of emigration from Christian populations in the Holy Land has been
growing steadily for a long time” said the Archbishop of Canterbury in the video.
“People are leaving, Christians are leaving, and we want to say that the Christian
presence in the Holy Land is important to its balance…not just its historical reality,
but to its present and future viability” added Archbishop Vincent Nichols.
“I want to say to Christians in the Holy Land that we treasure enormously their
presence and witness. A witness which has gone on throughout Christian
history…often in conditions of great trial and stress…Christians in the West…need
to be aware that the Christians of the Holy Land are an intrinsic part of our Christian
family” (Archbishop Williams).
Dr Williams commended to Synod the work of the Friends of the Holy Land:“A
small but growing ecumenical charity…made up of parish-based groups…dedicated
to praying with and for Christians in the Holy Land, and supporting them in
practical and personal ways.” He hoped that more Anglicans would consider joining
the Friends of the Holy Land, which had agreed to collect and hold in trust all funds
donated in response to the Archbishop's Appeal. The Archbishop hoped that in the
coming year a substantial fund would be established from which regular income
could be derived for channeling into simple but effective projects with partners in the
Holy Land.
The Archbishop was delighted that Anglicans and Roman Catholics, with the
personal support of Pope Benedict - with whom the Archbishop had discussed the
situation of the Christians in the Holy Land during his visit to Britain last September
- were committed to collaborating closely to focus attention on the plight of
Christians in the Holy Land and to find practical ways to make a difference.
“I hope that in the weeks ahead, fellow Anglicans will give generously to support
this vision and consider ways of becoming better informed and more involved with
the issues – not as part of any kind of political campaign but as part of what we owe
to our brothers and sisters in Christ’s Body, in supporting the continuance of the vital
presence of Christian communities in the land where our Lord preached, lived and
died the Gospel.”
ENDS
Notes to editors:
Projects currently being supported by Friends of the Holy Land include hiring local
craftsmen to renovate the dilapidated homes of vulnerable people, and establishing
and running a day care centre for elderly widows in Bethlehem. Future projects will
include supporting new small businesses to provide employment opportunities in
areas such as olive wood carvings, and the production of soap and wax candles.
For more details and to donate, please see the Friends of the Holy Land website:
http://www.friendsoftheholyland.org.uk/
The video of the Archbishop of Canterbury and the Archbishop of Westminster
speaking of their hopes for the Conference can be viewed here: http://bit.ly/ndFcC2
and the transcript can be viewed here: http://bit.ly/oo7wyc
The complete text of the Archbishop’s appeal to Synod can be found here:
http://bit.ly/qnanVo