Jerusalem Church Leaders Condemn Christian Zionism

The Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem. Photo: timeout.com

JERUSALEM — The Patriarchs and Heads of Churches in Jerusalem issued a joint statement on Saturday reaffirming that the Christian faithful in the Holy Land are entrusted exclusively to the historic Apostolic Churches, which have carried out their pastoral mission there for centuries. This group includes Patriarch Theophilos III of Jerusalem.

The leaders warned that recent actions by local individuals promoting ideologies such as Christian Zionism are misleading the public, sowing confusion among believers, and undermining ecclesial unity. They cautioned that such initiatives have gained support from certain political actors in Israel and abroad, advancing agendas that could damage the Christian presence in the Holy Land and the wider Middle East.

Citing the Apostle Paul’s teaching that believers are “one body in Christ,” the statement stressed that claims to authority outside the communion of the Church wound the unity of the faithful and interfere with the pastoral mission of the historic churches.

The Patriarchs also expressed concern that these individuals have been received at official levels internationally, calling such engagement an intrusion into the internal life of the Churches. The statement concludes by reiterating that the Patriarchs and Heads of Churches alone represent the Christian flock in all religious, communal, and pastoral matters in the Holy Land.

The statement can be read in its entirety below:

The Patriarchs and Heads of Churches in the Holy Land affirm before the faithful and before the world that the flock of Christ in this land is entrusted to the Apostolic Churches, which have borne their sacred ministry across centuries with steadfast devotion. Recent activities undertaken by local individuals who advance damaging ideologies, such as Christian Zionism, mislead the public, sow confusion, and harm the unity of our flock. These undertakings have found favor among certain political actors in Israel and beyond who seek to push a political agenda which may harm the Christian presence in the Holy Land and the wider Middle East.

Holy Scripture teaches us that “we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another” (Romans 12:5). To claim authority outside the communion of the Church is to wound the unity of the faithful and burden the pastoral mission entrusted to the historic churches in the very land where our Lord lived, taught, suffered, and rose from the dead.

The Patriarchs and Heads of Churches further note with concern that these individuals have been welcomed at official levels both locally and internationally. Such actions constitute interference in the internal life of the churches and disregard the pastoral responsibility vested in the Patriarchs and Heads of Churches in Jerusalem.

The Patriarchs and Heads of Churches in Jerusalem reiterate that they alone represent the Churches and their flock in matters pertaining to Christian religious, communal, and pastoral life in the Holy Land.

May the Lord, who is the Shepherd and Guardian of souls, grant wisdom for the protection of His people and the safeguarding of His witness in this sacred land.

— The Patriarchs and Heads of the Churches in Jerusalem

Previously, UOJ reported that more than 1,000 American Christian Zionist pastors and influencers spent a week in Israel on an all-expenses-paid trip funded by the Israeli Foreign Ministry.

Read also