The Church of England’s General Synod voted last week to formally hear a report titled “Kairos Palestine II,” which was written by Palestinian Christian leaders and describes Israeli actions using terms including genocide, apartheid, and settler colonialism. The motion passed across all three houses of the synod—bishops, clergy, and laity—after being amended during debate to change the language from “receive” to “hear” the document.
Father Fadi Diab, a Palestinian Anglican priest from Ramallah who co-wrote the report, characterized the vote as a significant moment for Palestinian Christians. He stated that synod members sought to communicate that they hear Palestinian voices, feel their pain, and wish to stand in solidarity with them. The report, published the previous year by Palestinian Christian leaders across denominations, calls for an urgent global Christian response to the war in Gaza and Israel’s occupation of the West Bank.
The vote prompted warnings from Jewish organizations concerned about the document’s language and its potential impact on Christian-Jewish dialogue. The Board of Deputies of British Jews urged synod to reject the report, arguing it “directly undermines the struggle against antisemitism.” Rabbi Charley Baginsky of Progressive Judaism acknowledged the need to hear Palestinian Christian experiences but expressed concern that the document contained “entrenchment of antisemitic tropes” and failed to recognize Jewish historical connection to the land.
Archbishop of Canterbury Sarah Mullally explained that hearing Palestinian Christians’ experiences did not mean endorsing every aspect of the report, but rather listening with compassion and standing in solidarity with them regarding injustices they face. Georgina Bye of the Council of Christians and Jews noted concerns about the document’s lack of nuance and said it “disparages dialogue,” while welcoming the amendment to “hear” rather than “receive” the report. Richard Sewell, a canon in Jerusalem, described the report as “a cry for help” and stated the Church of England had a duty to hear voices of suffering Christians in the region.
Diab defended the terminology in the report, stating it reflects findings of human rights organizations and describes conditions on the ground. He attributed the document’s creation to existential threats facing the Christian community and called for more people to visit the occupied territories to understand the reality of military occupation.
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