“Companions” to deepen ties with Jerusalem

Mississauga, Ont. – Canadian Anglicans wishing to support the ministry of Episcopalians in the Holy Land can now do so through the national church.

The Canadian Companions of the Episcopal Diocese of Jerusalem is a voluntary body that will support the partnership of the Anglican Church of Canada with the Episcopal Diocese of Jerusalem and the Middle East. Terms of reference for the voluntary body were approved by the Council of General Synod (CoGS), at its fall meeting here Nov. 18-20.

“It’s an important relationship that we have an obligation to nurture,” Archbishop Fred Hiltz, primate of the Anglican Church of Canada, told CoGS. He added that this initiative responds to a directive issued at General Synod 2010 in Halifax to deepen ties with the Jerusalem-based diocese. The bishop of the diocese of Jerusalem, Suheil Dawani, and his wife, Shafeeqa, were guests at the meeting.

Canadian Companions will identify projects in the diocese where specific financial support may be given or promoted. It will also:

· encourage a portion of Sunday offering for special ministries of the diocese;

· establish and promote Oct. 23, the Feast of St. James of Jerusalem, in the Anglican Cycle of Prayer “as a day of particular concern, awareness, prayer and action” for the Jerusalem diocese; and

· provide information on Sunday worship services and educational opportunities for Canadians traveling to Israel through St. George’s College in the diocese of Jerusalem;

Applications for annual membership can be made in writing to the primate. An individual membership costs $50 per year, an annual parish membership costs $250 and a diocese can join for $500 annually.

Canadian Companions will have a nine-member Advisory Council made up of:

· seven members from the Anglican Church of Canada, including at least one member of General Synod;

· one member from the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada (ELCIC);

· one member who is a Palestinian Anglican residing in Canada; and

· the primate, who will sit on the Advisory Council in an ex-officio capacity.

 

The ministry of the diocese of Jerusalem extends to Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, Palestine and Israel. It has 27 parishes and supports 33 institutions that run hospitals, clinics and schools.

For more information, contact Andrea Mann, Global Relations Coordinator via email at [email protected] or by telephone at 604 827-5924.