Anglicans/Episcopalians from around the world have started to respond generously to a call from Archbishop George Carey to strengthen Christian outreach in the Holy Land. The Archbishop has challenged his fellow Anglicans "to give thanks for the incomparable gift of Christ, and to show our solidarity with our brothers and sisters".

An initiative, called Jerusalem 2000, is under way in the Anglican Communion, to assist the Episcopal Diocese of Jerusalem and its ministry. The Episcopal Church is a small part of an even smaller Christian presence within the Holy Land. Its ordained ministers are one Bishop and thirty-two clergy. However the ministry of this Church is remarkable and greatly appreciated throughout the Holy Land; in addition to its Church life the Diocese offers the whole community - Islamic and Jewish as well as Christian, its ministry through work in schools, hospitals and the like.

Initial monies received at the Anglican Communion Office in London have enabled the first two of several projects to be undertaken. The Trustees have agreed to launch initially two urgent projects - the renovation of the Nablus Hospital and much needed assistance for the Bishop's School in Amman. Two further projects have been identified for confirmation at the autumn meeting of the Trustees subject to funds being available at the time. These next two projects are a community service programme and increased work with handicapped people.

At a recent meeting of the Trustees, the Revd Randolph Alexander, who has been co-ordinating the appeal, stated that the initial response has been very encouraging. Sandra Swan, Director of Episcopal Relief and Development (ERD) of the Episcopal Church in the United States, announced that Presiding Bishop Frank T. Griswold and the Episcopal Church would start the Jerusalem 2000 appeal in the United States in October this year. The Rt. Revd Riah Abu El Assal, Anglican Bishop in Jerusalem, said that he was delighted with what he had heard at the Trustees' meeting regarding the progress so far. "I am greatly encouraged". The Bishop said. "It is so wonderful to know that we as a Christian presence in the land of the Holy One are being prayed for and indeed being helped through this vigorous appeal. Nazareth, Bethlehem and Jerusalem are familiar names. Seemingly, few people understand that a Christian witness has continued in the Holy Land for the past two millennia. Today many of the churches, including the Anglican Church are under greater pressure than for centuries - and the problems are very difficult to resolve".

Support for Jerusalem 2000 is global in scope. The Primates, [Chief Archbishops and Bishops], of the Anglican Communion, in a meeting in Portugal earlier this year, gave support to the Jerusalem 2000 appeal. Canon John L Peterson, Secretary General of the Anglican Communion, stated that Provinces were looking at creative ways to sponsor this appeal in their own national churches. The Primates were clear that this must be seen as a communion-wide initiative.

Each Church is asked to encourage every communicant member to support Jerusalem 2000 with a donation in their own unit currency. Pounds, pesos, schillings, dollars, pesetas and many other currencies are expected to be received at the Anglican Communion Office in London.

Anglicans view Jerusalem as the Mother Diocese of Christian faith and seek to be identified with the struggles of the people of this land. Although the Episcopal Church presence in the Province of Jerusalem and the Middle East is small, its influence and ministry are very far-reaching.