anglican focus

The news site of the Anglican Church Southern Queensland: nourishing and connecting our faith community

West Bank

International Palm Sunday pilgrims in Jerusalem International

World Council of Churches video reiterates sacred importance of Jerusalem

In the lead up to Ramadan, Palm Sunday and Holy Fire Saturday, the World Council of Churches shares this video detailing violations of freedom of worship and the urgent need to safeguard the city as a shared sacred space: “The fact that Jews can worship freely in Jerusalem is a good thing, but why can’t Christians and Muslims be allowed to exercise the same right?”

23 November 2022, Bethlehem, Palestine: A man walks across the street that marks the edge of the Aida camp, established in 1950 by UNRWA and located between the municipalities of Bethlehem, Beit Jala and Jerusalem. The camp is partly surrounded by the wall raised by Israeli authorities to block off the West Bank (Photo: Albin Hillert/WCC)
International

WCC condemns escalating violence in the Middle East

World Council of Churches (WCC) general secretary The Rev’d Prof. Dr Jerry Pillay has condemned the escalating violence in the Middle East, including Israel’s recent airstrikes on Iran and its ongoing military operations in Gaza and Lebanon

People & History

Palestine: A land with a people

“Out of God’s sovereignty I believe that good will come out of all this. God knows what is going on and he will bring about a just peace and something good, even if we as human beings can’t see it yet; and, even though Palestinians have been waiting for a very long time,” says Anglican Palestinian Randa

Randa
International

Prayer vigil planned for dispossessed Christian Palestinians

Israel has announced that a new illegal settlement called Heletz will be built. It will forcibly displace people of the entire area or restrict their movement. The valley of Al-Makhrour and the neighboring Beit Jala, which is part of the greater Bethlehem area, are some of the few places where Christians are concentrated. An international campaign, “Save Al-Makhrour”, has people of faith around the world praying for the affected families