Zvika Klein of The Jerusalem Post writes that The Anglican Church of Canada’s General Synod formally ratified a motion to remove a prayer from their “Book of Common Prayer” that originally called for the conversion of Jews to Christianity. The new text eliminates any mention of conversion, instead focusing on reconciliation with the Jewish community.
The change was first approved in 2019. Both the Canadian Rabbinic Caucus and the Center for Israel and Jewish Affairs praised the change, calling it a crucial milestone for interfaith dialogue between the Anglican Church and Jewish communities.
Klein continues:
An Anglican church in Canada has moved to replace a prayer calling for the conversion of Jews with a prayer calling for reconciliation with the Jewish community.
Rabbi Adam Stein of Congregation Beth Israel, speaking on behalf of the Canadian Rabbinic Caucus (CRC) and the Center for Israel and Jewish Affairs (CIJA) on Tuesday, commended the decision and expressed gratitude for the collaborative efforts between the Anglican Church and Jewish organizations, stating that authentic interfaith dialogue necessitates respect and that attempts to convert one another contradict the principles of respect.
Stein further described the removal of the prayer as a significant development in Anglican-Jewish relations, inviting Anglicans to embrace a reconciliatory approach toward the Jewish community.
The resolution, identified as A051, was proposed during the 2023 General Synod by The Rt. Rev. Bruce Myers and seconded by The Ven. Jane Humphrey. It called for the deletion of prayer number four from the “Prayers and Thanksgivings upon Several Occasions” section of the “Book of Common Prayer.”
The resolution proposed replacing the prayer with a new one titled “For Reconciliation with the Jews.” The newly approved prayer seeks forgiveness for acts of violence and prejudice committed against Jews by Christians and encourages a future of harmony and redemption. The resolution, which does not entail any financial implications, was submitted by the Governance Working Group.
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