BySimon Rocker, Simon Rocker
A series of readings produced by a church group for Lent has aroused concern over the portrayal of Israel.
The Board of Deputies and the Council of Christians and Jews have taken issue with some of the material published online by Churches Together in Britain and Ireland, an umbrella group for different denominations.
The readings focus on the situation of Christians in the Middle East, with separate entries on "Israel" and "Palestine".
The Palestine reading contrasts the Law of Return allowing Jews to settle in Israel with the plight of a Christian Israeli restricted from bringing her Palestinian husband to live in the country.
It also states: "Palestinian Christians on both sides of the separation barrier have borne the brunt of discrimination, occupation and political instability".
The reading on Israel says its image as a wealthy developed country often "hides" inequality and deprivation.
CTBI cites the hypothetical case of Max, an immigrant from the Ukraine who falls into drug addiction and delinquency in Tel Aviv until he is rescued by Christians and "turns to Christ". It does not say if Max was Jewish.
CCJ director Jane Clements said that the issue of conversion was "particularly problematic". The council, she added, would "be working more closely with CTBI on issues of conversion and antisemitism".
Representatives of the Board and CTBI met this week to discuss the concerns. According to a joint statement released by the two organisations, the Board welcomed a commitment by CTBI to include further material that "will offer other perspectives on the situation of Christians in the complex situation that exists in the Middle East".
The Board "stressed how deeply concerned they are for the plight of Christian communities in the Middle East, and CTBI reaffirmed its opposition to all forms of antisemitism such as are being witnessed in parts of Europe".