The Church of England’s General Synod voted last week to formally hear a document titled Kairos Palestine II, authored by Palestinian Christian leaders and co-written by Father Fadi Diab, an Anglican priest from Ramallah. The report, published the previous year, calls for a global Christian response to the war in Gaza and Israel’s occupation of the West Bank, employing terminology including genocide, apartheid, and settler colonialism to describe Israeli actions.
The motion generated significant debate within the three houses of the synod comprising bishops, clergy, and laity. During discussion, members amended the original proposal to “hear” the report rather than “receive” it. Archbishop of Canterbury Sarah Mullally stated that listening to Palestinian Christian experiences with compassion did not constitute endorsement of all aspects of the document. She acknowledged concerns raised by Jewish organizations while emphasizing the church’s commitment to standing in solidarity with Palestinians facing injustices.
Jewish leaders and interfaith organizations expressed substantial concern prior to the vote. The Board of Deputies of British Jews urged the synod to reject the report, arguing it undermined efforts against antisemitism. Chief Rabbi Sir Ephraim Mirvis and representatives of Progressive Judaism warned the document risked damaging Christian-Jewish relations by going beyond criticism of Israeli government policies to question core elements of Jewish history and connection to the land. However, Rabbi Charley Baginsky acknowledged the church’s responsibility to engage with Palestinian Christian voices while expressing concerns about antisemitic language within the document.
Interfaith advocates struck a measured tone following the vote. Georgina Bye of the Council of Christians and Jews welcomed the change from “receive” to “hear” and noted the importance of exposing different perspectives on Middle Eastern complexities, while raising concerns about insufficient nuance in the report’s language. Richard Sewell, a canon in Jerusalem, characterized the document as a plea from suffering Palestinian and Israeli Christians for wider church engagement with their circumstances.
Mullally’s decision to hear the report marked one of her early significant interventions as leader of the church. She had recently visited Palestinian Christian communities in the West Bank, where she observed settlements expanding at what she described as unprecedented rates. Supporters noted the motion had faced repeated delays over several years before reaching the synod floor, with Palestinian Christians expressing growing frustration over postponements.
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