The Rev. Canon Suheil was recently elected Coadjutor Bishop of the Anglican Episcopal Diocese of Jerusalem and the Middle East and will work alongside the current Bishop, the Rt. Rev. Bishop Riah Abu-Assal, for a period of two years before taking his place.

The source said one priest was stunned and appalled by the possibility of entering into an agreement with the pro-gay American Episcopal dioceses and publicly protested.

"I want to let you know that the Bishop of the Diocese of Los Angeles is Jon Bruno, and that he is among the worst of the liberals because he has ordained a lesbian woman to the priesthood. I ask that we vote to discontinue this special relationship with Los Angeles, and that we forbid any such liberals who do not recognize the authority of Scripture from coming to the consecration (of bishop-elect Suhayl Dawani on January 6th) so that they do not ruin the consecration of our beloved Bishop and that they do not take advantage of the people of this diocese to further their political ends."

There was immediate, spontaneous applause. The Bishop began to speak, but several delegates from the floor indicated that they wanted to continue this discussion later in the day.

Several hours later the Bishop introduced the topic for discussion. A priest remarked that we should not use labels like "liberal" or "conservative." Another said that this topic was complicated and should be reviewed by the priests of the diocese in a special meeting. Another layman said that the relationship with Los Angeles should be maintained because not every parishioner there was bad. Two priests spoke up in support of an immediate motion to end special relations with Los Angeles, with one of them pleading for an end to the relationship after reading Romans 1.

The Bishop cautioned the delegate who had opposed the special relationship "to relax," and offered him an opportunity to address the convention. The delegate agreed that labels like "liberal" and "conservative" were not helpful, and argued for labels "biblical" and "not biblical." The delegate then expressed surprise that a discussion was even necessary as Scripture was very clear on the issue. "God created humans - male and female, and everyone at this convention knows that (homosexuality) is a perverse behavior which is wrong. This gathering has the authority to cancel the special relationship with the Diocese of Los Angeles now."

At that point a number of laymen and one priest present opposed the delegate vocally from the floor. The Bishop kept telling the delegate to relax. The delegate asked the laymen who were volubly opposing the issue what would be lost if relations were broken with the American diocese. "Why are you afraid of such a vote?"

More heated talk erupted from the floor. The motion was called and seconded. The bishop and a few laymen heatedly opposed the motion.

The delegate said; "Will the record then reflect that I asked for a vote and that my request was seconded, and that a vote was refused, contrary to the rules of the convention?" The Bishop and others said, no, we won't record that. The delegate sat down. Later the delegate asked the diocesan secretary if his request for a vote had been recorded. It had not.

The source said that the delegate's request for a vote was considered out of order and not according to the way the Jerusalem convention is run; (it's function is more to rubberstamp the Bishop's agenda and to check for consensus on matters in which the Bishop is unsure of himself.) Only the Bishop is allowed to call for votes. "The process actually makes sense culturally, although not all members of the Diocese like it," he said.

The matter was deferred to a later meeting of the clergy on December 20th. Bishop Riah completely controlled the meeting. At that meeting Riah began to speak about the "matter of Bruno" but changed the subject after a few sentences, and it was not brought up again.

Details of the Jerusalem/Los Angeles Companion Diocese Relationship can be found online at http://www.episcopalnews.com/ViewArchiveArticle.php?key=121

The source asked VirtueOnline to record the following appeal to readers: "It is crucial in Jerusalem that our leaders hear from godly people. I would ask believers at all levels in the Anglican Communion prayerfully to consider communicating with Bishop-Elect Suheil Dawani and Bishop Riah Abu El-Assal via the diocesan email (ediocese-jer@j-diocese.com). In your communication, please pledge to pray for the Rev. Suheil's upcoming consecration and for the peace and prosperity of God's people in the Diocese of Jerusalem, and respectfully and lovingly encourage the Bishop not to continue alliances with those who are in rebellion against the authority of Scripture."

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