Church of England Synod Votes to Hear Palestinian Christians on Gaza, Defying Pro-Israel Pushback
Updated
Updated · Middle East Eye · Jul 14
Church of England Synod Votes to Hear Palestinian Christians on Gaza, Defying Pro-Israel Pushback
3 articles · Updated · Middle East Eye · Jul 14
Summary
The General Synod backed an amended motion urging Church of England congregations and institutions to hear testimonies from Kairos Palestine on Gaza and the occupied territories, changing “receive” to “hear” to avoid implying full endorsement.
The motion described the text as a lived account from Palestinian Christians, called for solidarity with non-violent resistance to occupation, and also rejected antisemitism, anti-Muslim hostility and other religious or ethnic prejudice.
Archbishop of Canterbury Sarah Mullally supported the move after a June regional visit, saying the document reflected Palestinian pain and trauma and that the church must engage difficult conversations across divides.
The vote drew immediate criticism from the Board of Deputies of British Jews and Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis, while Palestinian pastor Munther Isaac said criticism of Israel should not be conflated with antisemitism.
The Kairos II document, published in November, labels Israel a colonial enterprise and genocidal in Gaza; the report said UN investigators, Amnesty and B’Tselem have reached similar conclusions, underscoring the wider stakes of the church’s decision.
Will the Church of England's controversial Palestine vote spark a global Christian schism over Israel?
How will the Church reconcile its anti-racism stance with a document its critics call antisemitic?
With Christian Zionism fading, can a church's moral stand actually alter Middle East foreign policy?
Church of England General Synod Votes to "Hear" Kairos Palestine II: Implications for Interfaith Relations and Solidarity with Palestinian Christians (July 2026)
Overview
In July 2026, the Church of England's General Synod debated a motion on Palestinian Christians and the Kairos Palestine document, which began with a vote at the Carlisle Diocesan Synod and was revised before reaching the national level. Ahead of the debate, Church leaders provided members with important context, urging them to review definitions of antisemitism and anti-Muslim hostility to ensure sensitive discussion. This careful preparation highlighted the complexity and potential impact of the Synod’s decision, as it aimed to address the concerns of Palestinian Christians while considering the broader effects on interfaith relations and community perceptions.