February 20, 2009

JERUSALEM – U.S. House of Representatives members Keith Ellison (D-Minnesota) and Brian Baird (D-Washington) met February 18 with Anglican Bishop in Jerusalem Suheil S. Dawani prior to their visit to Gaza.

Ellison and Baird met Dawani in Doha, Qatar, during the 2009 U.S. Islamic World Forum. Dawani, a participant at the forum, had invited them to visit him at St. George's Anglican Cathedral when in Jerusalem. Ellison is the only Muslim in the U.S. Congress

During the 70 minute meeting, Dawani briefed the two men on the work and mission of the diocese and its involvement in ecumenical and interfaith endeavors in the five countries served by the Diocese of Jerusalem since the inception of an Anglican presence in Jerusalem in 1841. The diocese is part of the Anglican province known as the Episcopal Church in Jerusalem and the Middle East.

A BBC News video report about the Congressmen's trip to Gaza is available at http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/7899169.stm?lss.

Episcopal News Service
Diocese of Jerusalem