(Times-Dispatch) Jerusalem bishop sees vital role for small Anglican community

….[Bishop Suheil Dawani] said the task was harder than ever, with a Christian population that has shrunk from about 30 percent of the population of the overall total just after World War II to about 1 percent today.

The Episcopal Diocese of Jerusalem oversees the Anglican community in Israel, Palestine, Jordan, Lebanon and Syria, but only has 29 parishes and about 7,000 members. Its reach, though, is deeper and wider than what shows up in the pews, with direct support of two hospitals, five health clinics, five rehabilitation centers and 17 schools.

“Our main influence is through the work of our institutions,” Dawani said.

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Posted in * Anglican - Episcopal, * Culture-Watch, * International News & Commentary, * Religion News & Commentary, Anglican Provinces, Ecumenical Relations, Inter-Faith Relations, Israel, Middle East, Religion & Culture, The Episcopal Church of Jerusalem and the Middle East