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Jul 12, 2011

Archbishop Launches Appeal for Christians in Holy Land

The Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams, today launched an appeal for funds to help sustain Christian communities in the Holy Land.

 

"I returned from a visit to the Holy Land last year with a very, very strong sense that we had to do more to express our solidarity with the Christian communities there...We know our brothers and sisters there are suffering; and we don't always ask ourselves often enough what our response needs to be."

 

He hoped that Anglicans and others would give generously to help build a fund from which community projects could be supported - projects which would contribute to the sustainability of the most vulnerable Christian communities, especially on the West Bank.

 

"I want to appeal today to you, for your support in creating in the near future, a fund with which we might assist projects of community development and work creation, especially among Palestinian Christians."

 

The Archbishop's appeal comes ahead of a conference on Christians in the Holy land, which he and the Archbishop of Westminster, Vincent Nichols, are jointly hosting at Lambeth Palace on July 18-19. They explained the purpose behind holding the conference in this short video: http://bit.ly/ndFcC2. To view a transcript see: http://bit.ly/oo7wyc

 

"The rate of emigration from Christian populations in the Holy Land has been growing steadily for a long time" said the Archbishop of Canterbury in the video. "People are leaving, Christians are leaving, and we want to say that the Christian presence in the Holy Land is important to its balance, not just its historical reality, but to its present and future viability," added Archbishop Vincent Nichols.

 

"I want to say to Christians in the Holy Land that we treasure enormously their presence and witness. A witness which has gone on throughout Christian history, often in conditions of great trial and stress. Christians in the West need to be aware that the Christians of the Holy Land are an intrinsic part of our Christian family," said Archbishop Williams.