The battle over homosexuality that has threatened to split the Anglican Communion could be decided at a June meeting in Jerusalem. On December 26, a conservative coalition led by the archbishop of Nigeria, Peter Akinola, announced a June 15-22 conference in the Holy Land to chart the church’s future course.
Divided into liberal and conservative factions, the 80-million member Anglican Communion is on the verge of breaking up over the consecration in 2003 of a gay priest as bishop of New Hampshire.
However, Anglicans are as divided over Israel as they over homosexuality. While the meeting will focus on the current crisis facing the church, some Anglican and Jewish supporters of the gathering hope the presence in Jerusalem this June of conservative Anglican bishops from every continent will present an opportunity to broaden Israel’s support in the developing world.
Great story, too bad the Bishop of Jerusalem doesn’t want them there see:
http://www.standfirminfaith.com/index.php/site/article/8859/
gloria
My experience with the various Anglican bishops _in_ Jerusalem is that they are very sensitive to the issues of Palestinian independence and responsive to those, like the present and former leadership of General Convention, who support that cause.
Someone please prove my experience wrong: I have not met an Episcopal priest yet who has studied at St. George’s College and has come back with a positive view of Israel, nor a negative view of the Palestinians and their cause.
Tony, I think you’re right. For that matter, I think many in the CoE/TEC leadership feel the same way. Alas, anti-Semitism is alive and well in the Communion. So much for remembering Jesus’s family background.
Why are they going ahead with this when both the local bishop and the local primate have asked them to go elsewhere? Conspiracy theorists of the right will doubtless blame it on American (TEC) money, while conspiracy theorists of the left will doubtless blame it on… American (Religious Right, Pro-Israel) money
#3, I do. I know a priest who came back from St. George’s with a positive view of Israel (though critical of some of their Palestinian policies) but also with a positive view of the Palestinian Christians and their cause (though extremely critical of terrorism and the complicit ineptitude of the Palestinian political establishment). So, in part, yes. Why does criticism of Israeli tactics have to amount to anti-Semitism? Is there no room for balance, for an Aristotlean mean?
#6, I’m talking about no sympathy for Israel coupled with a pro-Palestinian (not just Palestinian Christians) viewpoint, not a criticism of Israeli tactics. I’m talking about sympathy for Palestinian terrorists and no sympathy for the security needs of Israel. Granted there are various degrees to this, but what I said in 3 is true uniformly. I’m glad that you know a priest that still holds a positive view of Israel.
Do I recall a request from the Unglican Primates that Lambeth be deferred or rescheduled because they feared for their safety in London? Jerusalem? Safe for Christian conservatives?
St George Cathedral and Seminaries are just TEC institutions in Israel, their main activity is to make anti Israel propaganda.