The gift, which includes collections gathered on Good Friday 2007 from the Episcopal Church's parishes, congregations, cathedrals and missions, is intended to serve mission priorities of the Episcopal Church in Jerusalem and the Middle East.

The Presiding Bishop, who is visiting the Holy Land March 16-24 at Dawani's invitation, said it is a great privilege to be able to present the offering in person.

"This offering expresses our own commitment to walk with the Church of Jerusalem and the Middle East as they continue to work toward justice, reconciliation, and peace," the Presiding Bishop said in a January 6 letter to the congregations of the Episcopal Church. "Through our support of these churches we are helping to realize God’s vision of shalom."

Dawani said that part of the gift would go toward completing construction on St. Andrew's Daycare Clinic in Ramallah, which Jefferts Schori visited March 18 as part of a tour of the Episcopal Diocese of Jerusalem's institutions in the West Bank.

"At this time of the year, when we try to help so many needy Palestinians, we've already issued checks for more than 250 families in the Episcopal Diocese of Jerusalem," said Dawani, who was consecrated bishop in January 2006.

Dawani expressed his appreciation to Episcopalians for their support through the Good Friday Offering. "It's a mutual ministry," he said, "because what we are doing here in the Middle East is on behalf of our brothers and sisters in America and around the world. This is a joint ministry and we thank God that we have this partnership."

Brother James Teets, manager of partnership services in the Episcopal Church's Office of Anglican and Global Relations, describes the Good Friday Offering as "an opportunity for Episcopalians in the United States and the overseas dioceses to participate in the life of the church in the Middle East."

Dating back to 1922, the Good Friday Offering is now in its 86th year.

"The use of the funds is as varied and as widespread as the needs," says Teets. "It could be theological education, it could be putting a roof on a church building, it could be starting a new church, it could be salaries for a hospital or for a school."

Further information about the Good Friday Offering is available here.