More than 200 Christian theologians, pastors and ministry leaders from over 30 countries have gathered in Jerusalem this week for an emergency summit, focused on rising antisemitism and the Church's relationship with Israel.
The three-day Jerusalem Summit, hosted by the International Christian Embassy Jerusalem (ICEJ), began on Tuesday and explored what organisers described as growing hostility towards Jewish communities worldwide since the Hamas attacks on Israel on 7th October 2023.
The conference also examined theological debates surrounding Israel's place in God's purposes and concerns over the resurgence of Replacement Theology, the belief that the Church has superseded Israel in God's redemptive plan. Organisers said the summit aimed to reaffirm what they describe as the biblical significance of Israel and the Jewish roots of the Christian faith.
The event featured contributions from theologians, academics, ministry leaders, Israeli officials and Jewish representatives.
Dr Jurgen Bühler, President of the ICEJ, said it came at a critical time for the global Church.
"We are living in a decisive moment for the Church, as antisemitism is surging at an alarming rate worldwide following the 7th October terror invasion, and too many Christian leaders are responding with silence," he said in a statement ahead of the event. "At the same time, Israel is increasingly delegitimised – not only politically, but also in theological discourse even within Evangelical circles.
"For this reason, we are convening the Jerusalem Summit to help equip Christian leaders to counter modern antisemitism, to restore biblical clarity on Israel, and to strengthen the Church's witness in a time of moral confusion."
A key feature of the summit was the release of the Jerusalem Affirmation of the Nicene Faith, a new statement developed by Christian theologians and church leaders. According to organisers, the affirmation upholds the historic Nicene Creed while highlighting what they describe as overlooked aspects of Jesus' Jewish identity and the significance of Israel and the Hebrew Scriptures in the development of the Christian faith.
The summit's speaker list includes Israeli President Isaac Herzog, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar, US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee, former World Evangelical Alliance Secretary General Thomas Schirrmacher, and a range of Christian theologians and ministry leaders from around the world.
Antisemitism has increasingly been highlighted by church and political leaders in the UK. Concern over the issue grew after two Jewish men were stabbed in Golders Green, north London, in April, while an ambulance belonging to a Jewish volunteer organisation was set on fire in the same area. This week, a fifth person was charged in connection with the arson attack.
