You and I have not met, but I have long admired the ministry and influence of All Saints' in Pasadena. The recent piece in the "Jewish Journal" by Rob Eshman also indicates the esteem in which the Jewish community holds your church. Mr Eshman's reference to your position on disinventment from Israel suggests agreement with that of the Episcopal Diocese of New York; our position paper is attached.
In light of this shared perspective, I would like to register concern that All Saints' seems about to host Canon Naim Ateek, founder and Director of Sabeel, without giving an indication of intent to balance his sometimes extreme statements and positions in regard to Israel. Even if he has lately come around to at least provisional acceptance that a Palestinian State should co-exist with the State of Israel, as recently as June 17, 2006, at the Episcopal General Convention Canon Ateek stated in open hearings "I affirm the existence of Israel as a state, but let us not say a 'Jewish State.'" Moreover, to call the latter an apartheid régime, refer to its creation as "original sin," and speak of "the Israeli crucifixion machine," as he has, cannot have any result but to delegitimate Israel and even provoke antipathy toward Jews. Groups such as "Christians for Fair Witness in the Middle East," headed by Sister Ruth Lautt, O.P., provide resources to help us all calibrate our language, as well as our policies, in order better to fulfill our vocation as peace-makers.
I hope you will not mind my expressing this view, and wish you every blessing in the pursuit of your innovative ministry.
Bruce Chilton
Bernard Iddings Bell Professor of Religion
Bard College
Annandale
New York 12504