Of all the failings of the church – and there are so many – perhaps the greatest is its historical attitude to the Jews. In 2019 the Church of England for the first time set out guidance on how its members should think theologically and practically about Jews and Judaism, in a document entitled God’s Unfailing Word. The document, available here, sets out five general principles.
1.The Christian-Jewish relationship is a gift of God to the church, so we may learn more fully about God’s purposes for us and all the world.
2.Truthful thinking and right acting with regard to Christian-Jewish relations follow from our notion of truth. They do not undermine it.
3.Christians have been guilty of promoting and fostering negative stereotypes of Jewish people that have contributed to grave suffering and injustice. They must be alert to such stereotyping and resist it.
4.Careful discernment is needed as to where Christians should be able to agree on clear affirmations based on their faith, where a range of positions that may be held with integrity can be identified, and where there is a responsibility to challenge views expressed by some people within the church.
5.Christians have a responsibility to ensure that whatever they may say about Judaism is informed by continuing dialogue with Jewish people listening to the range of voices of Jewish people themselves.
Since moving to London, I’ve got to know Rabbi Daniel Epstein, who now leads Western Marble Arch Synagogue. At his suggestion, and in the spirit of the fifth principle above, he and I are going to spend three Sunday evening sessions exploring the six chapters of the document, two chapters at a time.
The pandemic has absorbed so much of our imaginative energy: this is a chance to step back and consider an issue that pervades Christian theology and practice but seldom gets the detailed attention it deserves. I hope you will join our conversations.
Revd Dr Sam Wells
