A216 (The Patriarchs and Heads of Local Churches of the Holy Land)

House of Bishops Message #162

The House of Bishops informs the House of Deputies that on Jun 26, 2024 it considered resolution A216 (The Patriarchs and Heads of Local Churches of the Holy Land). The house acted to:

Adopt - HB Only


Resolved, That the House of Bishops, gathered at this 81st General Convention of The Episcopal Church in Louisville, Kentucky, expresses to our brothers in Christ, the Patriarchs and Heads of Local Churches in Jerusalem, our solidarity and support as they lead and pastor their communities during this time of war, violence, displacement, and uncertainty;

and further joins with the Patriarchs and the Heads of the Churches in their consistent call for an end to all violence; an immediate humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza and the speedy distribution of humanitarian aid;  the release of all captives;  the unimpeded access of fully-equipped doctors and medical staff to tend the sick and injured; and their urgent plea for effective internationally facilitated negotiations aimed at ending and moving beyond the present cycle of violence;

and further sends our prayers and solidarity to the staff and patients of the Al-Ahli Arab Hospital, run by the Episcopal Diocese, and the clergy and faithful of Saint Porphyrios Orthodox Church and Monastery and Holy Family Catholic Church, all of them in Gaza City, as they find ways to continue their work and ministry in the shadow and devastation of ongoing war;

and further continues to express our alarm at the escalating threat to the Christian presence in the Holy City of Jerusalem and the Holy Land from Israeli radical groups who are actively seeking to undermine the Christian communities of the Holy Land, and our support of for the efforts of the Patriarchs and Heads of the Churches at both the local and international level to raise awareness of the plight of the Churches in the Holy Land;

and further commit ourselves, in solidarity with our brothers in Christ, the Patriarchs and the Heads of Local Churches of the Holy Land, to pray and work for the stability, well-being, and prosperity of the Christian communities of Jerusalem and the Holy Land as the living witnesses of our sacred history in the region.