Anglican Communion News Service

What has been called one of the "poorer years" for St George's College by its Dean, 2001 saw only 146 pilgrims in contrast to 450 in 1999. The Very Revd Ross Jones, an Episcopal priest from the United States, met with his executive committee at Virginia Theological Seminary, Alexandria this week in hopes for wide support from around the Anglican Communion during this time "as we struggle to survive with the dearth of pilgrims."

The Anglican Bishop in Jerusalem, the Rt Revd Riah Abu El Assal, shared his vision as well as fears for the future. He told the committee that "three Christians leave Bethlehem every day." He spoke of crisis humanitarian needs in Beit Jala, Beit Sahour, where churches have to provide food for 300 families, following continuing destruction of homes.

Dean Jones said the college is running in a considerable deficit but reported that St George's "is one of only three comparable institutions still open." He said, "Those who have attended have heartily endorsed both the program and their decision to attend."

Bishop Riah spoke of St George's as an important "window to the world." The statement of purpose of the college reads "a Holy Land centre for the formation of faith, presenting the Christian faith through the Anglican tradition in the context of the land, the people and the traditions from which it arose."

Present at the Virginia meeting were chairpersons of regional committees in Great Britain, North America and Australia/New Zealand as well as the Anglican Consultative Council.