The Rt Revd Suheil Dawani, Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Jerusalem and the Anglican Bishop in Jerusalem, on behalf of the St. George’s College Foundation and the Episcopal Diocese of Jerusalem has announced the appointment of the Revd Dr. Graham Smith as Dean of St. George’s College.
Bishop Dawani stated that “God has indeed delivered to us the right man at this time for this ministry.”
Fr. Smith has been ordained in the Episcopal Church for over thirty seven years and most recently served as rector of St. David’s Episcopal Church, Glenview, Illinois for the past nineteen years. His previous service included parishes in Lyndhurst and Lakewood, Ohio. Fr. Smith’s extensive experience in church development, outreach and hospitality in the parishes he has served will find good use in his new post as Dean of St. George’s College. The College is a centre for adult continuing education for members of the Anglican Communion, though is open to all who wish to register for the College’s courses.
The College is located on the grounds of the Cathedral Church of St. George the Martyr and is only a few minutes walk from the Old City of Jerusalem. Offering study pilgrimages throughout the year, the College welcomes anyone with a serious interest in the rich heritage of the Holy Land. Fr. Smith follows the successful ministry of the Revd Dr. Stephen Need who served as Dean for nearly six years.
The College is one of over thirty institutions of education and health care which are sponsored by the Episcopal Diocese of Jerusalem throughout the Middle East in Gaza, Israel, Palestine, Jordan, Syria and Lebanon.
Fr. Smith is married to Sherry and they are the parents of two adult grown children, a son Ryan Smith who is married to Krista and a daughter Trina Smith as well as having three grandchildren. Fr. Smith will take up his new assignment in September of 2011.