Anglican Bishop of Jerusalem Speaks at Washington’s National Cathedral

Christians in the Middle East are witnessing a “great migration” of families out of the region, according to the Anglican Bishop of Jerusalem.

“Young people are leaving in big numbers due to ongoing conflict in the Middle East,” said Bishop Suheil Salman Dawani. “For young people, they see there is no future for them in that land.”

The former pastor of the Arabic congregation at Jerusalem’s St. George’s Cathedral said that young Christians “always” leave the country to get a higher education abroad “and they don’t come back.”

Dawani spoke about Christianity in the Middle East while appearing with Dean Samuel Lloyd of the Washington National Cathedral as part of the Episcopal Cathedral’s weekly Sunday Forum speaker series in late February.

While it is a multiethnic group spread across five countries, the Jerusalem diocese is a relatively tiny one in the Anglican Communion with 7,000 members. That small number understates the diocesan presence in the community, however. Twelve schools, two hospitals and five rehabilitation centers are part of a network of 35 social service institutions provided by the church, the funding for much of which comes from partnerships with other Anglican dioceses, including some in the U.S.-based Episcopal Church.

Anglicans form one of 13 traditional churches in Jerusalem, alongside Orthodox, Latin, Lutheran, Coptic, and Ethiopian Christians.

Dawani lamented a drop in the Christian presence in the region, which is now less than one percent of the population. According to Dawani, it was 27 percent at the time of his youth in Nablus. Dawani said that Nablus is where Christ met the Samaritan Woman. It once had a Christian population of 15,000 but only 1,000 are now left.

“In the absence of a genuine peace, there is no economic and political stability,” Dawani said. The Anglican leader made reference to the instability several times, but only inferred at the causes of it. Dawani noted that Muslims and Christians had lived alongside each other for generations, but did not directly mention the spread of radical Islam by name.

“If you look to the struggle now in our region, sometimes it takes a religious shape,” Dawani said. “But I believe that unfortunately religion has been used as a means for conflict … Religion must be part of the solution … especially in our region.”

Dawani said that he hoped spiritual leaders “can agree in order to avoid all kinds of terror and extremism.”

“In absence of genuine peace and justice, those groups will flourish, especially in our country,” the Anglican bishop said. “I believe if we work together, we can handle these kinds of acts.”

While Dawani did not name Islam, he did discuss the Israeli/Palestinian conflict at Lloyd’s prompting.

“I believe if we have political stability, if there is a peaceful solution – a just solution – to the Palestinian/Israeli problem, I believe that many Christians who live in western countries, especially America, would love to come back and start families.”

When asked if he has hope, Dawani replied that the peace process was not progressing any more.

“I believe there are many obstacles to the peace process,” Dawani said, noting settlements built in the West Bank. “By the end of the day, it is good for Israelis and Palestinians to sit and talk about the future of the region.”

At one point, Lloyd asked what it would take to move the peace process forward.

“For example, some would say it’s going to take a major push from the Americans,” Lloyd suggested.

“I believe the American administration and the international community have a duty and responsibility to promote the peace process in that region,” Dawani responded. The Jerusalem bishop explained that after the election of President Obama, Palestinians were optimistic.

“After one year, they are still waiting to see if there will be some changes,” Dawani said. “Palestinians are asking for an independent state, Israelis are asking for security. It can be worked out.”

Dawani specifically mentioned the economic embargo of Hamas-ruled Gaza, which he referred to as a siege that must be lifted.

Lloyd noted that a number of Episcopal Dioceses are saying that they want to engage as they can to help the peace work move along.

“It sounds as though one of the key pieces is advocacy in this country, to put pressure on generating more momentum in the peace process,” Lloyd once again suggested, noting the organization American Friends of Jerusalem, led by Phoebe Griswold, wife the former Episcopal Church Presiding Bishop Frank Griswold.

“That’s one group that’s looking for more participation, conversation and help in the work of advocacy that is certainly ahead,” Lloyd said.

“We value very much these partnerships,” Dawani replied, noting the Diocese of Washington’s relationship with the Diocese of Jerusalem. The Anglican bishop also noted partnerships with the dioceses of Massachusetts, Los Angeles and Olympia.

“This is very encouraging to the people [in the Middle East], when they receive friends and guests at the churches and their homes, and the community.”

All four of the dioceses represent an outspokenly revisionist faction within the U.S.-based Episcopal Church. While the Episcopal Church in Jerusalem and the Middle East is considered a traditionalist province and is led by conservative Egyptian Bishop Mouneer Hanna Anis, the Jerusalem diocese within it has remained quiet about conflicts in the worldwide Anglican Communion.