Episcopal Church of the Redeemer

Worshiping God, living in community, reaching out to the world.

Tag: Middle East

Letter from Presiding Bishop Sean Rowe on Military Strike on Iran

Dear people of God in The Episcopal Church,

Here in the United States, we awoke this morning with alarm to the news that the United States and Israel have launched a large military strike on Iran. This violent attack comes despite weeks of negotiations that many of us had hoped would prevent armed conflict in this fragile region, which is home to so many religious traditions and faithful people.

Bishop Jeffrey Mello of Connecticut and a group of pilgrims from that diocese are in the Holy Land now, and when we spoke this morning, he let me know that they are safe at St. George’s College in Jerusalem. I ask you to pray fervently for them and their safe return.

Pray, too, for all the people of the Holy Land, and especially for the Episcopal Church in Jerusalem and the Middle East and its leader, Archbishop Hosam Naoum. I had planned to be with Hosam today and tomorrow when he made a long-planned visit to our church. Many Episcopalians who had hoped to see him and assure him of our support will feel his absence keenly in the coming days. I commend to you the letter that he has sent to the people of his diocese this morning.

As news reports tell us of fear and panic in Iran, I ask you to pray especially for the people of the Diocese of Iran and for all of the Iranian people. In recent weeks, we have mourned as the regime in Iran has killed peaceful protesters, and watched with alarm at both its increasing repression of the Iranian people and the escalating response of the U.S. government. As Christians who follow a Prince of Peace, we mourn that today’s attacks will surely mean further hardship for the most vulnerable Iranians and, as retaliation inevitably follows, suffering that will spread across the entire region.

Eternal God, in whose perfect kingdom no sword is drawn but the sword of righteousness, no strength known but the strength of love: So mightily spread abroad your Spirit, that all peoples may be gathered under the banner of the Prince of Peace, as children of one Father; to whom be dominion and glory, now and for ever. Amen.

The Most Rev. Sean Rowe
Presiding Bishop of The Episcopal Church

The Most Rev. Sean W. Rowe

The Most Rev. Sean W. Rowe was elected presiding bishop and primate of The Episcopal Church in June 2024 and took office on November 1 of that year for a nine-year term. In this role, he serves as the church’s chief pastor and CEO. Known for his expertise in organizational learning and adaptive change, Rowe is committed to strengthening support for local ministry and mission.

He was ordained bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Northwestern Pennsylvania in 2007 after serving as rector of St. John’s in Franklin, Pennsylvania, for seven years. From 2014 to 2018, he served as bishop provisional of the Episcopal Diocese of Bethlehem, and from 2019 to 2024, he led a partnership between the Episcopal Dioceses of Northwestern Pennsylvania and Western New York.

Rowe holds a bachelor’s degree in history from Grove City College, a Master of Divinity degree from Virginia Theological Seminary, and a doctorate in organizational learning and leadership from Gannon University. He has served as a leader of many civic and churchwide organizations and governance bodies, and as parliamentarian for the House of Bishops.

Church of the Redeemer

Church of the Redeemer: Worshiping God, living in community, and reaching out to the world around us. We are an Episcopal Church serving north King County and south Snohomish County, Washington. As you travel your road, go with friends walking the way of Jesus at Redeemer.

Church of the Redeemer is at 6220 Northeast 181st Street in Kenmore, Washington. The campus is a short distance north of Bothell Way, near the Burke-Gilman Trail. The entrance looks like a gravel driveway. The campus is larger on the inside than it is on the outside. And we managed to hide a large building on the side of a hill that is not easily seen from the street.

The Episcopal Church welcomes you.

February 28, 2026
Prayers and other resources in wake of violence in Israel and Palestine
Episcopal Church and Anglican leaders continue to share prayers and statements calling for an end to the violence impacting Israelis and Palestinians.

Below is a partial list of statements and resources.
- Statement from Churches for Middle East Peace, of which The Episcopal Church is a member
- Churches for Middle East Peace weekly Zoom briefing
- Statement from leaders of churches in Jerusalem
- Episcopal News Service article: “Christian leaders call for end to violence after Hamas’ attack ignites new war with Israel”
- Facebook page for Archbishop Hosam Naoum of the Anglican province of Jerusalem and the Middle East
- Facebook page for American Friends of the Episcopal Diocese of Jerusalem
- “A Litany for the Restoration of Peace in t he Holy Land“—American Friends of the Episcopal Diocese of Jerusalem
- Bishop Deon K. Johnson’s prayer for peace (below)
The Most Reverend Melissa Skelton

The Most Reverend Melissa Skelton is Bishop Provisional of the Episcopal Diocese of Olympia.

It’s with humility that I offer you words and a prayer related to the horrific situation in Israel, Gaza, and the entire Middle East.

The violent, shocking October 7 attack on Israel, including the taking of hostages, was an unspeakable act. The oppression, terrorizing, and targeting of innocent civilians – Israelis or Palestinians – recently or in the past – is wrong.

At the same time (and I will speak just for myself here), the history, the political dynamics, and the religious circumstances within and among those in the region are complex and fraught beyond my comprehension – though I am doing my best to comprehend them.

And so, I offer you this brief prayer for now, a prayer I will be praying daily.

Loving and liberating Creator, send your healing Spirit upon all involved in the current conflict and violence in the Middle East. Comfort those who mourn or who have been harmed by brutality. Stand with those who are fearful. Protect and provide for the powerless and the vulnerable. Inspire a spirit of forbearance and understanding within all and uphold those who even now work for a just and durable peace. In the name of Christ. Amen.

Church of the Redeemer

Church of the Redeemer: Worshiping God, living in community, and reaching out to the world around us. We are an Episcopal Church serving north King County and south Snohomish County. We welcome you be with us as we walk the way of Jesus.

Church of the Redeemer is at 6220 Northeast 181st Street in Kenmore, Washington. We are a short distance north of Bothell Way, near the Burke-Gilman Trail. The entrance looks like a gravel driveway. The campus is larger on the inside than it is on the outside. And we managed to hide a large building on the side of a hill that is not easily seen from the street.

The Episcopal Church welcomes you.
October 11, 2023
The Episcopal Church calls for prayers for peace in the Holy Land

We offer our prayers and support during this time of violence in Israel and Palestine. In Luke 19:41, we are reminded ‘That when Jesus drew near and saw the city, he wept over it.’ Many still weep.

We pray for those who have been killed, injured, are searching for loved ones, and are struggling with grief and fear. The Episcopal Diocese of Jerusalem has consistently advocated for peace and justice, teaching us all what it means to walk in the way of love, to which Jesus points.

We are praying for Israelis and Palestinians.

We give thanks for the dedicated staff at al-Ahli Arab Hospital in Gaza, part of the Episcopal Diocese of Jerusalem, and for all who are offering medical care in the region. We pray for their strength and safety.

Please join us in praying that there is a de-escalation and that the root causes of violence and oppression may be confronted and challenged so that a new understanding of peace prevails.
The Rev. C.K. Robertson, PhD, Canon to the Presiding Bishop for Ministry Beyond The Episcopal Church

This is taken from a statement from The Office of Government Relations.

Statement from the Churches for Middle East Peace

The Episcopal Church, a founding member of Churches for Middle East Peace, shares the following statement:

Churches for Middle East Peace (CMEP) is deeply grieved by the news coming out of Israel and
Gaza today. CMEP condemns all acts of violence against civilians that have occurred in the past
twenty-four hours, as fighting has escalated between Hamas and Israel. As of late Saturday (EDT),
reports indicated that hundreds have been killed and thousands wounded, both Israelis and
Palestinians. CMEP mourns with the victims of the violence and their families.

The actions of Hamas and the Israeli response in Gaza in no way advance peace, but rather cause
loss of life and harm, grief, and devastation, not only to the individuals affected, but also to the
legitimate cause of the Palestinian people in seeking an end to the decades long occupation and the
blockade of the Gaza Strip.

Throughout this year, CMEP and allies have urgently been calling attention to the evolving context,
characterized by escalating levels of violence between settlers, soldiers, and Palestinians. The
increased nationalism and radicalization within Israeli society have led to more frequent and
numerous incidents of hatred, racialized tensions, settler attacks, and incursions onto Muslim and
Christian holy sites such as Stella Maris Monastery in Haifa and the Temple Mount in Jerusalem.
These realities are not justifications but have long been ignored by the international community,
including the longstanding frustration and desperation of the Palestinian people who seek an end to
the oppression of the occupation and Israeli desires for lack of fear and for security. It is time for the
US and the international community to strengthen efforts to de-escalate the systemic violence that
has gone on for decades.

CMEP reiterates its consistent call for a negotiated, just, and peaceful resolution to the conflict that
advances security and self-determination for Israelis and Palestinians. A just peace will only be
realized when all parties respect and protect the full human rights of all. In light of the current war, we
make the following desperate pleas:

CMEP calls on all parties to end all acts of violence and aggression and to pursue peaceful and
diplomatic resolutions to accomplish their desired outcomes.

CMEP is concerned that Israel’s response is disproportionate and urges it not to engage in military
actions that devastate Palestinian civilian populations. CMEP opposes Israel’s practice of collective
punishment of all people in Gaza, including the turning off of electricity and water.

CMEP calls on Hamas to stop all acts of aggression, the targeting of Israeli civilians, and the taking of
civilian hostages.

CMEP calls on the United States government, including the Biden Administration and Congress, not
to act rashly but to prioritize immediate diplomatic measures to bring an end to the violence, including
through the United Nations.

CMEP urges the US government to refrain from providing further unrestricted material and political
support for further militarization of the conflict but rather focus on the protection of all civilians,
especially the most vulnerable. The US must not prioritize the support of one side of the conflict over
another but support the safety and dignity of all people in the Holy Land, including Israelis and
Palestinians. While the United States empathizes with Israeli suffering, so should it empathize with
Palestinian suffering. Furthermore, the U.S. should not exacerbate the problem by ignoring the
legitimate struggle of the Palestinian people for their rights.

Churches for Middle East Peace (CMEP) calls upon all Christians and people of faith to pray for
peace – not an empty peace devoid of justice, equality, and hope for all people, but a deep, lasting,
and just peace that addresses core systemic issues of the conflict, from Palestinian needs for self determination and freedom to Israel’s needs for safety and security.
October 7, 2023: Hamas and Israel War

Presiding Bishop Michael Curry participates in walking the Stations of the Cross in 2018 outside the Lutheran Church of the Redeemer in Jerusalem during a Holy Week trip to the Holy Land. Photo: Mary Frances Schjonberg/Episcopal News Service.

For more information

To learn more about the Anglican presence in the Holy Land, visit the Episcopal Diocese of Jerusalem

To learn more about the American Friends of the Episcopal Diocese in Jerusalem.

Office of Government Relations

The Office of Government Relations (OGR) represents the policy priorities of The Episcopal Church to the U.S. government in Washington, D.C. and helps to shape the discussion of political issues throughout the Church. OGR aims to influence policy and legislation on critical issues, highlighting the voices and experiences of Episcopalians and Anglicans globally. All policy positions are based on General Convention and Executive Council resolutions.

Church of the Redeemer

Church of the Redeemer: Worshiping God, living in community, and reaching out to the world around us. We are an Episcopal Church serving north King County and south Snohomish County, Washington. As you travel your road, go with friends walking the way of Jesus at Redeemer.

Church of the Redeemer is at 6220 Northeast 181st Street in Kenmore, Washington. The campus is a short distance north of Bothell Way, near the Burke-Gilman Trail. The entrance looks like a gravel driveway. The campus is larger on the inside than it is on the outside. And we managed to hide a large building on the side of a hill that is not easily seen from the street.

The Episcopal Church welcomes you.

October 7, 2023
Good Friday Offering in 2023

The history of the Good Friday Offering reaches back to 1922. In the aftermath of World War I, The Episcopal Church sought to create new relationships with and among the Christians of the Middle East. These initial efforts focused on a combination of relief work and the improvement of ecumenical and Anglican relations. From that, the Good Friday Offering was created.

Through the years many Episcopalians have found the Good Friday Offering to be an effective way to express their support for the ministries of the three dioceses of the Province of Jerusalem and the Middle East. Pastoral care, education, and health care continue to be primary ministries through which the reconciling spirit of the Christian faith serves all in need. Participation in this ministry is welcome. The generous donations of Episcopalians help the Christian presence in the Land of the Holy One to be a vital and effective force for peace and understanding among all of God’s children.

For 101 years, Episcopalians have generously shared their love, compassion, and financial gifts to support the ministry of the Anglican Communion Province of Jerusalem and the Middle East. These gifts have made an astounding difference in the lives of many people in the homeland of Jesus and beyond. Check out our history of the Good Friday Offering to learn more about this life-changing ministry.

Donate to the Good Friday offering of the Episcopal Church

Church of the Redeemer

Welcome to Church of the Redeemer: Worshiping God, living in community, and reaching out to the world. We are an Episcopal Church serving north King County and south Snohomish County, Washington. As you travel your road, go with friends walking the way of Jesus at Redeemer.

Church of the Redeemer is at 6220 Northeast 181st Street in Kenmore, Washington. We are a short distance north of Bothell Way, near the Burke-Gilman Trail. The entrance looks like a gravel driveway. The campus is larger on the inside than it is on the outside. And we managed to hide a large building on the side of a hill that is not easily seen from the street.

The Episcopal Church welcomes you.

March 15, 2023

Funeral for the Rev. Canon John Fergueson, Saturday, March 2, 2026, at 10:00 am in Church of the Redeemer. Additional parking available at The Vine Church across 181st Street from Redeemer.

The 6th Sunday of Easter (Year A), May 10, 2026. Services at 8:00 am (no music) and 10:30 (music). Xristos Kuxwoo-digoot! Xegaa-kux Kuxwoo-digoot!