wfn.org | [PCUSANEWS] Clerk issues statement on GA actions on Israel

[Deeanna Alford <dalford@CTR.PCUSA.ORG>]

04329
July 21, 2004

Clerk issues statement on GA actions on Israel

Criticism from Jewish groups prompts 'clarification' of PC(USA) policy

by Jerry L. Van Marter

LOUISVILLE > Responding to widespread public criticism from a number of
Jewish groups, the Rev. Clifton Kirkpatrick, stated clerk of the Presbyterian
Church (USA), has issued a statement to "clarify the actions of (the recent
216th) General Assembly" on Israel and on the PC(USA)'s commitment to
dialogue with people of other faiths.

     Most of the criticism has concerned the Assembly's condemnation of the
"security wall" being constructed between occupied Palestinian territories
and Israel; its call for selective divestment of stock in companies doing
military and security business with Israel; and its decision not to suspend
funding of a controversial "Messianic" Jewish congregation in Philadelphia
Presbytery.

     The full text of Kirkpatrick's July 20 statement:

	A Statement from the Stated Clerk of the General Assembly of the
Presbyterian Church (USA) concerning actions of the 216th General Assembly
(2004) of the Presbyterian Church (USA) regarding Israel and Palestine and
outreach to Jewish people.
	One of the deep and abiding commitments of the Presbyterian Church
(USA) is to reconciliation and good relationships with people of all faith
communities. In light of this, some people have raised concern about certain
actions taken by the 216th General Assembly, held June 26-July 3 in Richmond,
Virginia, related to both outreach to Jewish people and Israeli and
Palestinian relations. Therefore, I am sending this message to both
Presbyterian leaders and to ecumenical partners and colleagues from other
faith communities with the hope that it will clarify the actions of this
assembly and the ongoing commitments of the Presbyterian Church (USA).
	As Christians, we experience the transforming power of God's love in
Jesus Christ. Therefore, we do not hesitate to make joyful witness to the
hope that is in us, and to work and pray for the restored and reconciled
creation to which we and all people are called. We make every effort to
discern God's presence in the world and to "let justice roll down like
waters, and righteousness like an everflowing stream" (Amos 5:24). It is out
of this faith and commitment, and with careful reflection, that the
commissioners to the 216th General Assembly took a number of actions
concerning our relations with the Jewish community, as well as the situation
of Israel and Palestine.

1.	Presbyterians' concerns about appropriate forms of Christian witness
to Jewish people in general and to the new church development project, Avodat
Yisrael, in Philadelphia in particular led to a two-part action.

7     First, in response to overtures from four of our presbyteries *
regional governing bodies * the General Assembly mandated a study to "examine
and strengthen the relationship between Christians and Jews and the
implications of this relationship for our evangelism and new church
development." The focus of this action is to re-examine our theological
understanding of Christian-Jewish relationship and to discern whether this
particular form of outreach contradicts that understanding or violates our
intention to do evangelism in a spirit of respect, openness, and honesty.

7     Second, the Assembly did not adopt a proposal to suspend the
availability of national funding for any other such projects. Here it is
important to note that primary decisions regarding the funding of new church
developments are made at the presbytery (regional) level of our denomination;
in nearly all cases, national funding for such work is made only to
complement funds already committed by presbyteries and synods with the
understanding that presbyteries take the lead in determining the appropriate
projects.

2.	The Assembly declared that Christian Zionism is not consistent with
the basic values of Reformed theology because it makes use of idiosyncratic
interpretations of scripture to undergird a certain reading of current
events, and to generate support for specific political goals that do not
bolster work toward peace and potentially endanger Palestinian and Israeli
people.

3.	The assembly called for an end to Israel's construction of the
"separation barrier."

7     While fully aware of our interest in Israel's security, the major
reason for this action was the Assembly's concern of the impact of the
structure on the economic, social, and religious life of Palestinians.

7     The Assembly action used the word "wall" because it has become a
general reference for the physical structure being put in place.

7     It raised legitimate questions, corroborated by Israel's Supreme Court
and the International Court of Justice, regarding the route of the wall.

7     In previous Assemblies, the church has called for an end to the
occupation, as the principal cause of the conflict.

Presbyterians are calling for an end to this barrier in the belief "that the
best hope for security for both Israelis and Palestinians may be found in
laying down all forms of aggression on both sides, ending the Israeli
occupation, and finding ways to build bridges of peace rather than walls of
separation. Good neighborly relations, rather than mutual isolation and
suspicion, are urgently needed between Israel and its neighbors in Palestine
and the Middle East."

4.	The Assembly authorized exploration of a selective divestment of
church funds from those companies whose business in Israel is found to be
directly or indirectly causing harm or suffering to innocent people,
Palestinian or Israeli. It did not approve a blanket divestment from
companies that do business in Israel, as is being reported in some places.
This action was taken in response to an overture from the Presbytery of St.
Augustine, representing the churches in northeast Florida.

7     The Assembly asked the Mission Responsibility Through Investment
Committee, the denomination's permanent committee that develops socially
responsible investment guidelines, to initiate a process to look into
companies investing in Israel and to bring recommendations re: phasing in
selective divestments to the General Assembly Council for action in March
2005.

7     Although the decision to "initiate a process of phased, selective
divestment in multinational corporations operating in Israel" may be presumed
by some to invite comparison of Israeli policies with those of apartheid
South Africa, the Assembly has not asserted any moral equivalency between the
two. The two situations are distinct. The focus of this action is to explore
use of a proven tool of economic pressure to motivate real change in Israeli
policies and movement toward peace.

7     Again, the Assembly's action calls for a selective divestment, and not
a blanket economic boycott, keeping before us our interest in Israel's
economic and social well-being where these do not inflict suffering on
Palestinian or Israeli people.

5.  These actions are rooted in a longstanding commitment to the secure
existence of Israel and the Israeli people, in a similar commitment to the
security and existence of Palestinians in their own state, and in a
passionate vision of negotiated peace as the only viable way forward. The
Presbyterian Church (USA) has consistently supported the existence of Israel
within legitimate and secure borders, and prayed for its security and
well-being. It is, however, the conviction of the Presbyterian Church (USA)
that "the security of Israel and the Israeli people is inexorably dependent
on making peace with their Palestinian neighbors, by negotiating and reaching
a just and equitable solution to the conflict that respects international
law, human rights, the sanctity of life, and dignity of persons, land,
property, safety of home, freedom of movement, the rights of refugees to
return to their homeland, the right of a people to determine their political
future, and to live in peace 
 a!
nd prosperity."

6.	It should be noted that this action was taken as part of a larger
commitment of the PC(USA) to human rights and social justice all around the
world. It should be further noted that the Presbyterian Church (USA) is not
singling out Israel and Palestine alone for observation and critique. The
PC(USA) regularly publishes an annual report regarding human rights around
the world, and has spoken specifically about issues of justice related to
North and South Korea, Rwanda, Taiwan, Central American states, and many
others, including the United States. Assembly actions regularly make comment
on issues of religious liberty in many countries, including other Middle
Eastern countries. The PC(USA) believes that, through such actions, important
perspectives and informed glimpses of difficult situations are made available
to the church and the wider community to inform responsible engagement with
the world.

7.	All of these actions are consistent with the commitment of the
Presbyterian Church (USA) made in 1987 in A Theological Understanding of the
Relationship between Christians and Jews, "never again to participate in, to
contribute to, or (insofar as we are able) to allow the persecution or
denigration of Jews." That document also reminds us "both Christians and Jews
are called to wait and to hope in God. While we wait, Jews and Christians are
called to the service of God in the world." This calling includes "ceaseless
activity in the cause of justice and peace."

As I made clear in a statement of May 28, 2002, "Palestinians are called,
once and for all, to cease striking terror in the hearts of Israeli Jews by
stopping attacks on noncombatants while they are carrying out the activities
of their daily lives or the celebrations of their peoplehood. Israelis are
called, once and for all, to cease striking terror in the hearts of
Palestinians by stopping military operations that assault harmless people and
disable Palestinian infrastructures. It is time to stop activities that
increase hatred and mutual recrimination and that destroy hope, security and
trust. ... Acts of hate and terror inflicted on innocent children and youth,
women and men of Israel and the larger Jewish community must be unequivocally
condemned and vehemently abhorred. This is in no way inconsistent with
speaking out about the political and military violence of the Israeli
government or the militant activities of Israeli settlers."
I encourage Presbyterians to maintain their relationships with people of
other faiths, with sensitivity to the fragility of trust in the present
climate of violence and terror. I also encourage all of us to seek
opportunities for respectful conversation with Jewish neighbors about
disagreements regarding Israeli policy and forms of public policy advocacy
for Israeli-Palestinian peace.

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