The Church of England’s General Synod voted to “hear” a report titled Kairos Palestine II, which was co-written by Palestinian Anglican priest Father Fadi Diab and calls for an urgent global Christian response to the war in Gaza and Israel’s occupation of the West Bank. The document, published last year by Palestinian Christian leaders from across denominations, employs language including genocide, apartheid, and settler colonialism to describe Israeli actions. The synod’s three houses—bishops, clergy, and laity—passed the motion overwhelmingly.
During the debate, Archbishop of Canterbury Sarah Mullally acknowledged concerns raised by Jewish organizations while explaining that hearing Palestinian Christians’ experiences did not constitute endorsement of every aspect of the report. She stated that the church would listen with compassion and stand in solidarity with Palestinians amid injustices they face. The motion was amended during discussion to say the synod would “hear” the report rather than “receive” it.
Jewish leaders expressed significant concerns ahead of the vote. The Board of Deputies of British Jews urged rejection of the report, arguing it “directly undermines the struggle against antisemitism.” Chief Rabbi Sir Ephraim Mirvis and co-chairs of Progressive Judaism cautioned that the document risked harming Christian-Jewish relations. They argued the report extended beyond criticism of Israeli government policy to question Zionism and Jewish historical connection to the land. Rabbi Charley Baginsky stated that while understanding the church must address Palestinian Christian voices, the document’s language contained antisemitic tropes and closed down dialogue.
Interfaith representatives offered nuanced perspectives. Georgina Bye from the Council of Christians and Jews expressed concern about the document’s lack of nuance while acknowledging its roots in trauma and distress. She welcomed the amendment changing “receive” to “hear” and noted that understanding complex Middle Eastern issues required exposure to multiple perspectives. Richard Sewell, a church official linking England’s church to the Anglican community in Palestine, described the report as a plea for help and stated the church had a duty to hear Palestinian voices.
Mullally had visited Palestinian congregations in the occupied West Bank weeks before the debate, where she observed settlements expanding at unprecedented rates. Sewell noted the Palestinian Christian community welcomed her engagement with these sensitive circumstances. The synod debate represented one of Mullally’s first major interventions as church leader, following years of delays in bringing the motion to a vote.
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