The Archbishop of Canterbury has discussed the state of Christian-Jewish relations with the Board of Deputies of British Jews.
After a Lambeth Palace meeting on Thursday, Most Rev Sarah Mullally said on X: “it was good to hear more about the concerns of many in the British Jewish community” following the controversial Kairos II vote at the Church of England's General Synod in July.
Members voted to “hear” the document, which describes Israel as a “colonial enterprise built on racism” and states it has carried out a “genocidal war on Gaza”.
It formed part of a motion lamenting the loss of Palestinian and Israeli lives, seeking peace and security for all the peoples of the Holy Land, and opposing antisemitism and anti-Muslim hatred; encouraging the Church to “engage” with the documents to better understand the situation.
Supporters said the outcome was not about choosing one people over another, but about hearing the testimony of Palestinian Christians and recognising the need for peace and justice.
A statement from the Board of Deputies said its delegation “conveyed the concerns of the Jewish community… including the erasure in the Kairos II document of Jewish identity and history.”
It added that its members raised concerns “related to the Archbishop’s recent visit to the region”, but added it “welcomed the Church’s commitment to hear a wide range of perspectives from Israelis and Palestinians, both here in the UK and through future visits to the region.”
Speaking about the conversation, Archbishop Sarah added: “I expressed my desire that out of this difficult and painful time we find a new path towards deeper relationship and understanding, even where we disagree with each other.
“I also made clear that the Church of England is committed to deepening its understanding of the situation in Israel and Palestine – listening to a broad range of perspectives, and working across faiths for peace, security and justice for all the peoples of those lands.
“I was grateful for the warm and constructive conversation about the challenges of recent months, the importance of Christian-Jewish relations, and the deep connection that the British Jewish community has with Israel.
“We also spoke about the ongoing pressures, threats and anxieties facing Jewish families and congregations across the country. I assured them of my ongoing prayers and support, and my commitment to fostering dialogue, friendship and partnership between Christians, Jews and Muslims.”
Phil Rosenberg, president of the Board of Deputies, said: “At a time of heightened tension and division between communities, the importance of constructive dialogue between friends is all the more important. There are far too many – both at home and abroad – who would wish to harm the relationship between British Jews and the Church of England. In the face of such forces, we welcomed the opportunity for discussion with the Archbishop.
The Board and the Jewish community stand ready to work with the Church and others to deepen understanding of Jewish identity, as well as the impact of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict on our communities, and to spread hope by becoming active peacemakers together.”
The meeting came ahead of Rosh Hashanah, marking Jewish new year, and the High Holy Days.