wfn.org | NCC Statement on Arson Threats Against Presbyterian Churches

["Carol Fouke" <cfouke@ncccusa.org>]

NATIONAL COUNCIL OF CHURCHES ISSUES STATEMENT 
CONDEMNING ARSON THREATS AGAINST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCHES

Note to Editors and Reporters: Apologies -- this 11/17/04 statement is
getting to you late.  It got delayed in the post-annual General Assembly
"catch up."

Jovember 17, 2004, New York City - The National Council of Churches today
issued the following statement:  

With deep distress we have learned of arson threats against Presbyterian
churches, in response to action by the General Assembly of the Presbyterian
Church (USA) in July to engage in a process to consider selective divestment
from corporations whose business in Israel causes harm to innocent
Palestinians or Israelis.  

We are grateful that, despite their disagreement with the Presbyterian
action, several Jewish organizations immediately condemned this arson threat
and affirmed that dialogue is the only way to resolve our differences. In
this we stand together.  

Our abiding commitment is to deal with divisions and controversies through
non-violent means. To this end, the Interfaith Relations Office of the
National Council of Churches has coordinated an on-going Jewish Christian
dialogue bringing together a high-level delegation from the Christian
ecumenical community to a conversation with representatives of the major
Jewish organizations in the United States.

-end-

National Council of Churches
475 Riverside Drive
New York, NY 10115

Contact:  Carol Fouke, Media Liaison, 212-870-2252, cfouke@ncccusa.org 
	       Shanta Premawardhana, Assoc. General Secretary for Interfaith
Relations, 212-870-2560, shanta@ncccusa.org