Mouneer H. Anis Writes about a Heartbreaking Dispute in the Middle East

Posted by Kendall Harmon

I am aware that several heads of churches in Jerusalem have tried to intervene as concerned leaders between Bishop Riah and the Diocese of Jerusalem, but sadly all such amicable attempts have ended in failure. The Diocese of Jerusalem believes that the only way forward is to wait for the court's judgment.

This dispute is breaking the heart of the Province of Jerusalem and the Middle East and has been exceptionally painful to all. We would love to see this conflict ended. I do know that Bishop Suheil and the Diocese of Jerusalem, too, would love to see this ended. I understand that the Diocese of Jerusalem's Standing Committee is insisting that Bishop Riah has the obligation to return Funds kept in his possession that rightly belong to the Diocese and the return of such funds is a condition to settling this most unfortunate matter. If Bishop Riah does not think that the claims of the Diocese of Jerusalem in regards to these funds are true, he should present the evidence of this.

May I request from all of you to pray that this dispute would come to an end.

Makes the heart sad--read it all.

Filed under: * Anglican - Episcopal • Anglican Provinces • The Episcopal Church of Jerusalem and the Middle East • * Culture-Watch • Law & Legal Issues • Religion & Culture • * Theology • Pastoral Theology

5 Comments
Posted March 30, 2010 at 6:19 am [Printer Friendly] [Print w/ comments]



1. Pageantmaster [KJS to Coventry] wrote:

I lift up my eyebrows to the skies.

Prayers for the Province of Jerusalem and the Middle East, and for the Diocese of Jerusalem.

March 30, 6:43 am | [comment link]
2. SC blu cat lady wrote:

I will join you in prayer for these troubled Christians. Perhaps they need a long distance phone call from SC about how to resolve things?  Only the Holy Spirit could have produced a settlement out of a 10 year long dispute between these two parishes.

March 30, 7:26 am | [comment link]
3. Jill Woodliff wrote:

Today the Jews are celebrating Passover.  Let us take up the heavenly hyssop and apply the Blood of Christ over the doorposts and lintel of the Anglican household in Jerusalem.

March 30, 9:44 am | [comment link]
4. New Reformation Advocate wrote:

Yes, a poignant, tragic situation indeed.  And it doesn’t just make +Riah look bad, it inevitably taints the reputation of the Anglican Church in the Holy Land too.  But I think ++Anis has handled it with remarkable grace and wisdom.

1 Peter says that “Love covers a multitude of sins,” but sometimes love must reluctantly uncover and expose sins too, so that denial can give way to repentance and healing.

David Handy+

March 30, 3:34 pm | [comment link]
5. art wrote:

It seems a certain roaring lion loves to try to scatter and devour members of the flock, gaining a foothold wheresoever he might.  Such too has been the case re my friend Chad Gandiya and Nolbert Kunonga in Zimbabwe.  The former and members of the ‘genuine’ diocese of Harare are still facing thugs who prevent them from occupying their buildings for worship and ministry, despite court rulings in their favour.  I shall now add the Diocese of Jrm to my prayers - eyebrows and all! - especially as I have fond memories of visits there.

March 30, 6:03 pm | [comment link]
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