| Episcopal Church of Jerusalem and the Middle East | |
|---|---|
| Classification | Protestant |
| Orientation | Anglican |
| Scripture | Holy Bible |
| Theology | Anglican |
| Polity | Episcopal |
| Primate | Hosam Naoum |
| Headquarters | Jerusalem |
| Territory | Israel, Palestinian territories, Jordan, Syria, Lebanon, Cyprus, the Persian Gulf states, Oman, Yemen, Iraq, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran |
| Members | 35,000 |
The Episcopal Church of Jerusalem and the Middle East is a province of the Anglican Communion. The primate of the church is called President Bishop and represents the Church at the international Anglican Communion Primates' Meetings. The Central Synod of the church is its deliberative and legislative organ.
The province consists of three dioceses:
- Diocese of Jerusalem — covering Israel, Palestinian territories, Jordan, Syria and Lebanon,
- Diocese of Cyprus and the Gulf — covering Cyprus, the Arabian Peninsula and Iraq,
- Diocese of Iran.
A fourth diocese (Egypt with North Africa and the Horn of Africa) was part of the province until June 2020. In 2019 the synod of the province had agreed to allow the Diocese of Egypt to withdraw, in order to become an autonomous province,[1] with the other three existing dioceses remaining as the Province of Jerusalem and the Middle East.[1] This was put into effect on 29 June 2020, with the creation of the Province of Alexandria.[2]
Each diocese is headed by a bishop. The President Bishop (Primate, but not an Archbishop) is chosen from among the diocesan bishops, and retains diocesan responsibility. The President Bishop, Hosam Naoum since 2023, also serves as Archbishop in Jerusalem. The province estimates that it has around 35,000 baptized members in 55 congregations. The province has around 40 educational or medical establishments and 90 clergy.
- ^ a b "Overview of the Province". The Jerusalem and the Middle East Church Association. Retrieved 26 June 2020.
- ^ "The Episcopal / Anglican Province of Alexandria officially inaugurated as 41st Province of the Anglican Communion". Anglican Communion News Service. Retrieved 3 July 2020.