THE “appalling war” within the Middle East will give neither security for Israel nor a free and secure Palestinian state, the Archbishop of Canterbury has said.
In a wide-ranging address to the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland on Thursday — at the top of its five-day meeting this week — Archbishop Welby reiterated his call for a ceasefire in Gaza (News, 17 May).
Describing the Church of England and the Church of Scotland as brothers and sisters in Christ, he praised the outgoing Moderator, the Very Revd Sally Foster-Fulton, for speaking out “powerfully and prayerfully” against the conflict (News, 9 February).
He said: “It is obvious that this appalling war won’t result in security for Israel, for which we long and pray, nor to a free and secure Palestinian state, for which we long and pray. As I said recently, I repeat again today, we will only speak to the parties involved on this horror and implore that they select life and never death.
“So, we proceed to call for a ceasefire, for unfettered humanitarian aid, and for the discharge of all hostages, and for the long run a resolution that gives for the for safety, equality, justice, and freedom of all peoples, Israeli and Palestinian.”
Archbishop Welby warned “We must also do not forget that on this twenty first century wars are easily imported.” He has expressed concern on several occasions a few rise in anti-Semitism within the UK because the war broke out. On social media this week, he said: “The growth in anti-Semitism in our society is a danger we can’t be indifferent to. We must not be silent within the face of the extremist ideologies of either anti-Semitism or anti-Muslim hatred.”
The Church, he wrote, had “a vocation to construct bridges between communities . . . calling out hatred and loving our neighbours in these immensely difficult times”.
The Archbishop repeated this call in his address to the Kirk: “Foreign hatreds in nations far-off, of which we all know little, easily change into the conflict of our own country and our own time and place. The actions of a government abroad in Israel don’t ever in any way justify hatred for our fellow residents of Jewish background.
“For the Church of England and the Church of Scotland, our vocations as national Churches lead us to abhor anti-Semitism, that ancient evil. It is on the rise, and we must challenge it. And for a similar reason we must stand alongside those of Muslim faith who’re abused and insulted day-to-day by day on public transport and in lots of other places.”
Churches, he said, “have to be the mortar that holds together the varied stones” that make up the UK.
Archbishop Welby and the Principal Clerk to the General Assembly, the Revd Fiona Smith, are co-presidents of the Council for Christians and Jews.
Church leaders who spoke about political matters were doing so out of “duty, not selection”, he said. “Where there may be injustice, we must say so. Where there may be hunger, we must meet the necessity and speak against the cause.”
Reflecting on the approaching General Election, he said: “My prayer . . . is that folks vote in vast numbers first, treasuring the privilege of citizenship on this democracy. Who they vote for is their selection, not for Churches to say. The Churches of this land, I’m sure, will contribute thoughtfully, respectfully and as servants searching for the common good. May the brand new parliament be also of that mind.”
This is the second time that the Archbishop has addressed the General Assembly; the primary was in 2016, when the Kirk signed the Columba Declaration with the Church of England (News, 8 January 2016).
This act of ecumenism, Archbishop Welby said, had led to the joint pilgrimage of peace to South Sudan in February 2023 with Pope Francis and the then Moderator of the General Assembly, the Revd Dr Iain Greenshields (News, 10 February).
Such a visit would have been “unthinkable within the very recent past in our lifetimes”, he said. “We went to South Sudan not as leaders, but as servants. More importantly, we went as brothers — as a visual sign of the unity and reconciliation that is feasible through the grace of God.”
Ecumenism had also been present within the Coronation, Archbishop Welby said, and described the death in 2022 of Queen Elizabeth II as a “watershed moment” in our national life. “The Coronation was the primary in history to incorporate the participation of ecumenical leaders beyond the 2 Churches. . .
“As established Churches, albeit in other ways, the Churches of Scotland and England have an obligation to guard the variety of our nation and the free practice and flourishing of all faiths and beliefs in England and in Scotland. That was an obligation articulated by her late Majesty, and one which the King has since reaffirmed most powerfully, whilst also reaffirming his most profound Christian faith.”
The Duke of Edinburgh, representing the King because the Lord High Commissioner to the General Assembly, was present, accompanied by his wife, the Duchess of Edinburgh. Archbishop Welby commended her work with women caught up in violent conflict and are sexually abused in conflict.
He ended his speech by referring to the work of Scottish congregations in tackling poverty, school chaplaincy, and community development. “It is the sovereign work of God that makes that service possible and the raw heroism of so many individuals in our churches. . . A Church that chooses another way is at best a charity with pointy roofs and at worst a deception that shall be corrupted.”
Archbishop Welby concluded: “Loyalty to God comes before nation, culture, race, or another claim.”
