Bishop in Jerusalem: "Regrettably, I have not been consulted about this planned conference"

UPDATE January 2: Anglican Communion News Service sees fit to run Dawani's press release here.

From the Diocese of Jerusalem website:

PRESS RELEASE
Contact:
The Rt Revd Suheil Dawani
Anglican Bishop in Jerusalem
Bishop’s Office
Diocese of Jerusalem
bishop@j-diocese.org

Re: Global Anglican Future Conference planned for the Holy Land in June 2008

The Anglican Bishop in Jerusalem, Bishop Suheil Dawani, has expressed his concern about the Global Anglican Future Conference planned for the Holy Land in June this year.

“Regrettably, I have not been consulted about this planned conference,” said Bishop Suheil. “The first I learned of it was through a press release.

“I am aware that the post-Christmas announcement that this conference is to be held here has excited considerable interest around the Anglican Communion, and has become the subject of online discussion. Yet we Anglicans who minister here have been left out in the cold.

“I also note that the Archbishop of Sydney, Dr Peter Jensen, who appears to be one of the organisers, is encouraging clergy and lay people from his diocese to attend the conference with him and his bishops. He speaks of the meeting taking place because the Anglican Communion is, he says, ‘in disarray over fundamental issues of the gospel and biblical authority’.

“I am deeply troubled that this meeting, of which we had no prior knowledge, will import inter-Anglican conflict into our diocese, which seeks to be a place of welcome for all Anglicans.

“It could also have serious consequences for our ongoing ministry of reconciliation in this divided land. Indeed, it could further inflame tensions here. We who minister here know only too well what happens when two sides cease talking to each other. We do not want to see any further dividing walls!

“I believe our Primate, Dr Mouneer Hanna Anis,is also concerned about this event. His advice to the organizers that this was not the right time or place for such a meeting was ignored.”

“I urge the organizers to reconsider this conference urgently.”

# # #

If you want further information on this topic, please email the office of the Anglican Bishop in Jerusalem at bishop@j-diocese.org.

Update: Episcopal Life Online has a story.

Updated at 8pm: Mark Harris has some analysis here. See, also, Father Jake's piece "Sorting out the GAFCON gaffes".

Posted by John B. Chilton on January 2, 2008 10:03 AM | |
Comments (3)

I'm particularly taken by the point of the bishop that conflict does not need to be imported into the Holy Land.

And that *ALL* Anglicans should be welcome, not just those deemed worthy or suitably committed to certain viewpoints.

Posted by Nicholas Knisely [TypeKey Profile Page] | January 2, 2008 10:48 AM

Happy New Year, eh???? Welcome to the 2008 Season of "As the Anglican World Turns!"

Susan Russell

Posted by revsusan [TypeKey Profile Page] | January 2, 2008 12:41 PM

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