wfn.org | [PCUSANEWS] Under the radar

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Note #8662 from PCUSA NEWS to PRESBYNEWS:

05128
March 7, 2005

Under the radar

Lack of knowledge of Assembly's Israel/Palestine votes no surprise, leaders
say

by Toya Richards Hill

LOUISVILLE - Some Presbyterian pastors and presbytery leaders say they're not
surprised that a recent survey found that PC(USA) members and elders didn't
have a clue about the 216th General Assembly's controversial actions
concerning Israel and Palestine.

	"Typically, members of congregations don't know what is happening in
presbyteries, synods or GA - unless their pastor is upset about it," said the
Rev. Edward D. Gehres Jr., executive presbyter of Philadelphia Presbytery.

	The Research Services office of the Presbyterian Church (USA) found
in its November 2004 Presbyterian Panel survey that 51 percent of elders and
61 percent of members were not aware of the GA's decision to begin a process
of "phased selective divestment" of stock in companies that support the
Israeli occupation of the West Bank and Gaza or profit from either Israeli or
Palestinian violence.

	Despite widespread media attention, only 14 percent of members and 19
percent of elders said they were "very aware" of the Assembly's divestment
action.

	Thirty-five percent of members and 43 percent of elders said they
were either "somewhat aware" or "very aware" of the Assembly's decision to
oppose Israel's construction of a "separation barrier" between Israel and the
occupied Palestinian territories.

	The results of the survey - based on questionnaires mailed to 3,000
ministers, elders, members and specialized clergy - became public just before
the Feb. 10 start of a Louisville conference titled "Steps Toward Peace in
Israel and Palestine." Conference organizers said one of its aims was to help
synods and presbyteries deal with questions about the Assembly's actions.

	The General Assembly Council (GAC) and the Office of the General
Assembly (OGA) paid for the conference, which had an $80,000 budget. The GAC
portion came from funds unspent in 2004, and the OGA funds came from its
"emerging issues" budget line, according to the Rev. Marthame Sanders, one of
the organizers.

	"We organized our event in response to that desire by the church
leadership at the middle governing body (levels) to have more information,"
Sanders said. After the 2004 Assembly, he said, "It became clear that we
needed to do some work to interpret that (Assembly action) within our own
constituency."

	The Presbyterian Panel survey clearly showed, however, that any
questions being raised about the matter aren't coming mainly from
Presbyterian lay people.

	"Principally it's been the Jewish community" that has raised
concerns, said Gehres, the Philadelphia executive. 

	The Rev. Anne Fisher, interim executive presbyter of Milwaukee
Presbytery, said she has heard some comments from members of the interfaith
community and from a small, select group of PC(USA) members.

	The survey results are "probably pretty accurate," Fisher said. "The
people in the pews have little relationship (to an issue) unless it affects
them."

	The survey found that Presbyterian ministers were well-informed about
the Assembly's actions on Israel and Palestine.

	Sixty-five percent of pastors and 50 percent of specialized clergy -
ministers not serving congregations - were "very aware" of the Assembly's
divestment decision.

	The ministers apparently neglected to pass the word along to
parishioners.

	Pastors are "overloaded" with work and have too few staff, so "it
becomes a matter of, 'There is so much on my plate, I have to prioritize,'"
Gehres said, adding, "Usually, the priority is for their local community." 

	"What the denomination needs is a way to get the attention of pastors
of churches," he said. 

	It was only after Jewish rabbis started calling that "it became an
issue" for many pastors, Gehres said, "but even then, I'm not sure they
passed it on to the members of their churches."

	The Rev. Allen D. Timm, executive presbyter of Detroit Presbytery,
said members of the Jewish community in his area were calling pastors as
early as last August to complain about the Assembly's actions. As a result,
he said, "We started being proactive and trying to study the situation."

	The presbytery's interfaith committee "mobilized early" and made a
statement in the fall that was posted on their Web site and that could be
used in churches, Timm said. 

	"I think that (information) helped the pastors have something for
their conversations," he said.

	In Detroit Presbytery, Timm added, "I'm not sure that I'd agree that
the elders are not aware of the issue."

	Fisher said Milwaukee Presbytery is considering using the "Open
Doors, Open Minds" curriculum to help educate its lay members. The material,
created jointly by the Union for Reform Judaism and the PC (USA), is a guide
for Jewish and Christian dialogue.

	"I think education ... and also partnership with the Jewish faith
communities" is crucial, she said.

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