Episcopal Press and News
Presiding Bishop Issues Invitation for Fall Consultations on the Middle East
Episcopal News Service. July 20, 2001 [2001-189]
James Solheim
(ENS) Presiding Bishop Frank T. Griswold has issued an invitation "to those who have shown themselves to have a particular concern for the life and witness of the church in the Holy Land" to attend fall consultations designed "to strengthen our church's peacemaking efforts."
In a July 12 letter, Griswold said that he would welcome participants to the East Coast consultation in New York, September 13-15, and former presiding bishop, Edmond L. Browning, will host the West Coast consultation, September 16-18 at the Church Divinity School of the Pacific in Berkeley, California.
Both consultations will feature Bishop Riah Abu El-Assal of Jerusalem, who has kept Anglicans around the world informed about the struggles for peace and justice in the midst of violence, as well as others directly involved in the issues. "I know participants will be enriched by their perspectives and insights, as well as by the witness of Muslim and Jewish peacemakers we plan to invite as part of an increasing effort to make common cause with these interfaith partners," said Griswold. The Rev. Naim Ateek, a Palestinian who is director of the Sabeel Theology Center headquartered in East Jerusalem, will be among the theologians who will participate in the consultations.
"These consultations are another demonstration that the Episcopal Church is committed for the long haul to the search for peace in the region," said the Rev. Brian Grieves, director of Peace and Justice Ministries for the Episcopal Church. His office is coordinating the consultations, with assistance from colleagues in Episcopal Relief and Development, Anglican and Global Relations and Ecumenical and Interfaith Relations.
Expressing his hopes for the consultations, Griswold pointed to participation of churches in the Ecumenical Prayer Vigil for Peace, training in advocacy for church policies, use educational materials, participation in the Jerusalem 2000 campaign, work with local media to tell the stories, assessing the status of interfaith dialogues, and reflecting on the perspectives of interfaith peacemakers.
"We want to help people connect with the different possibilities in the search for peace, to see what the whole church is doing collectively, on different levels," Grieves added. He said that he was excited by the possibilities for forming new networks, new initiatives, and even new tools for grappling with the issues.
Griswold and his wife Phoebe have visited the area several times. It was one of his first international trips after his investiture as presiding bishop in 1998.
Griswold asked Edmond and Patti Browning to join an ecumenical delegation to the area last December where they met with top Israeli and Palestinian leaders. In a statement at the end of the pilgrimage the delegation confessed that the outbreak of violence had seriously crippled the peace process.
Based on the urgent reports of the delegation, Griswold led a delegation of church leaders to a special meeting with Secretary of State Colin Powell to discuss Middle East issues.