Religion News Service reports today that the Episcopal Church USA is taking some important proactive steps to address Christian-Jewish relations:

Almost unnoticed amid its clamorous debate over human sexuality, the Episcopal Church has directed an internal committee to address "anti-Jewish prejudice" in Christian Scriptures and liturgical texts.

A majority of lay and ordained delegates to the church's triennial meeting in June voted to ask a church committee to "collect and develop materials ... to address anti-Jewish prejudice expressed in and stirred by portions of Christian Scriptures and liturgical texts."

Hailed by members of the Jewish community but questioned by conservatives in the 2.2 million-member Episcopal Church, the measure is part of long pattern of mainline churches taking a hard look at Christian texts, said Rabbi A. James Rudin, senior interreligious affairs advisor for the American Jewish Committee.

Since the Roman Catholic Church issued "Nostra Aetate" ("In Our Time") in 1965 -- a ruling that condemns anti-Semitism and any use of Scripture to support it -- Protestant churches, including the United Church of Christ, the United Methodist Church, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and the Presbyterian Church (USA) have followed suit, Rudin said....

Particularly during Holy Week, when biblical texts about Jesus' death are read in church, there can be "misunderstandings in the pews" about the role of Jews in Jesus' crucifixion, Epting said.

"The texts without explanation can lead people to an anti-Semitic point of view," according to Epting. "Commentary and education material will help people understand the context in which these things were said."

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