Anglican Communion News Service

by J M Rosenthal and Matthew Davies

"We are here in this church to show our solidarity with the remnant of the Church in the Holy Land: we are one with them. We are not here to make a political protest, though the political implications of what we are doing are inevitable." These words of Anglican Bishop Robin Smith were heard by hundreds who gathered on Wednesday in St Martin-in-the-Fields, Trafalgar Square, for a moving service of witness and solidarity with the beleaguered Christian community and all people suffering in the Holy Land as a result of the current, seemingly endless, strife and conflict.

The Eucharist, which was attended by religious leaders from various denominations, was sponsored by the British Regional Committee (BRC) of St George's College, Jerusalem, in order to offer people an opportunity to unite in a prayerful quest for peace.

In his sermon, Bishop Smith, Anglican Chairman of the British Regional Committee of St George's College, said, "We are here to pray; but to pray to the God who has no favourites, the God who in Jesus Christ claims all the peoples of the earth as his own. So we are bound to pray for the families of the 15 Israeli's killed in the suicide bombing in Richon Letzion the other week; and for all who have been terrorised in this way over the years."

Speaking of the Christian presence in the Holy Land the Bishop presented alarming figures. He said, "The statistics [of the Christian presence] in Israel and the Occupied Territories, the Land we used to call rather easily, the Holy Land, speak for themselves. In 1948 at the time of the Arab-Israeli War the total number of Christians in the country as a whole was reckoned to be 20%. 50 Years later it is down to 1.5%: just 130,000 Christian Souls. (Can we imagine the Holy Land without the Holy People?). In the Jerusalem of 1967 there were 30,000 Christians; today that number has dropped to 9,000. When the latest Intifada began 2 years ago, 80 Christian families left the Bethlehem area within the first 6 months."

The procession, at the close of the service, made its way around the sculpture of the Child of Bethlehem outside the church for an act of witness. Each ecumenical representative then offered a short prayer for peace. Salvation Army, Greek Orthodox, Roman Catholic, Lutheran, Moravian clergy were among those present. Christian Aid was represented by the Revd Garth Hewitt, who led the congregation in singing "O Little Town of Bethlehem" as hundreds watched from the streets around St Martins.

Canon John Peterson, Secretary General of the Anglican Communion, and former Dean of St George's said, "The number of people attending was evidence of just how much concern there is for the disturbing circumstances throughout Israel and Palestine and also the significance of holding such gatherings."

The Rt Revd Riah Abu El-Assal, Anglican Bishop of Jerusalem, told reporters of his visit to the Church of the Nativity this week with Church leaders, following the siege and occupation of the Christian shrine. He wore vestments crafted on colourful Palestinian fabric. "I am deeply moved by your presence here today," he said, standing in front of the sculpture of the child marked with the text from John, "IN THE BEGINNING."

During the Prayers of the People, led by Syrian Presbyterian United Reformed pastor, the Revd Nadim Nassar, pleas for reconciliation were repeatedly mentioned by the minister.

At the annual meeting of the BRC, the Dean of St George's College, the Very Revd Ross Jones, an American Episcopal priest, spoke of a "new day" for Jerusalem. He said, "We need something other than retaliation. Non-violence is the way forward." He also spoke critically of the world church's pre-occupation with matters of sex, liturgy, and ordination. "The Gospel of Our Lord moves us from the church and its survival mentality to a new dawn of hope."

Dean Jones spoke of this new surge of energy coming from "the indigenous community, the local people, no expatriate can do it!" He called for a return to the gospel values of reaching out to the "outcasts and proclaim the good news. We are on the verge of drastic change in the Holy Land." He based his comments on his observation of the military initiatives he has seen develop in recent months.

The choir led the singing of the hymn "Pray that Jerusalem may have peace and felicity" following Communion. The final blessing was given in Arabic by Bishop Riah.