By Finance and Archives Committee

Thanks to all of your generous donations totaling $93,630.41 to the UTO Jerusalem Challenge/Matching Grant, UTO will be sending a grant of $187,260.82 to the Diocese of Jerusalem for them to distribute to previous UTO grant recipients who are working to spread the message of love and ease human suffering throughout the war-ravaged holy land. This money will provide food, medical care, and other support for many people whose lives have been devastated by the Palestine-Israeli conflict, and we thank you all for making this grant possible. The UTO Board set a very high goal of $100,000 for this challenge grant—our previous challenge grant goal in 2019 was only $60,000—because we knew many people wanted to do something to help Israel and Palestine but didn’t know what to do. We are very happy to have received many donations from new donors to UTO in addition to the offerings from faithful UTO participants, and we thank the Good Friday Offering for helping to publicize this grant to their contacts. Your generous response to this grant is overwhelming, and I know the Diocese of Jerusalem and the people who benefit from this grant will be so grateful for your gifts, as is the UTO Board.

The history of the Good Friday Offering reaches back to 1922 when, in the aftermath of World War I, The Episcopal Church sought to create new relationships with and among the Christians of the Middle East. From these initial efforts, which focused on a combination of relief work and the improvement of ecumenical and Anglican relations, the Good Friday Offering was created.

Through the years many Episcopalians have found the Good Friday Offering to be an effective way to express their support for the ministries of the three dioceses of the Province of Jerusalem and the Middle East. Pastoral care, education, and health care continue to be primary ministries through which the reconciling spirit of the Christian faith serves all in need. Participation in this ministry is welcome. The generous donations of Episcopalians help the Christian presence in the land of the Holy One to be a vital and effective force for peace and understanding among all of God’s children.

For 101 years, Episcopalians have generously shared their love, compassion, and financial gifts to support the ministry of the Anglican Communion Province of Jerusalem and the Middle East. These gifts have made an astounding difference in the lives of many people in the homeland of Jesus and beyond. Check out our history of the Good Friday Offering to learn more about this life-changing ministry.

For more information about the Good Friday Offering, please email Archdeacon Paul Feheley, partnership officer for the Middle East.