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This story located at: http://www.pcusa.org/pcnews/2006/06531.htm
06531 October 19, 2006
Pennsylvania church to host Presbyterian-Jewish dialogue
Oct. 30 event will focus on 'what we have learned together'
by Jerry Van Marter
MEDIA, PA * Participants in a National Presbyterian-Jewish Dialogue that began three years ago will gather at Media Presbyterian Church [http://www.mediapresbyterian.teamministry.net/home-ctr l.do] here on Oct. 30 for a public forum entitled "What We Have Learned Together: Presbyterian and Jewish Leaders Reflect."
The dialogue began shortly after the 2004 Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) General Assembly voted to "initiate the process of selective, phased divestment" from multinational corporations the 2.3 million-member denomination believed were unduly profiting from violence surrounding the Israeli government's occupation of Gaza and the West Bank and from construction of the "security barrier" between Israel and the Palestinian Territories.
That decision * and the assembly's support of a Messianic Jewish new church development in Philadelphia Presbytery * was met by a firestorm of criticism from Jewish groups and Presbyterian opponents of the assembly's actions.
The dialogue * which included a series of three consultations and this concluding forum * was planned as part of the PC(USA)'s subsequent response "to review and strengthen its understanding of the Jewish-Christian relationship."
Last June, the 2006 General Assembly reframed the divestment action with instructions "to have those financial investments of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) as they pertain to Israel, Gaza, East Jerusalem and the West Bank, be invested only in peaceful pursuits and affirm that the customary corporate engagement process of the Committee on Mission Responsibility Through Investment of our denomination is the proper vehicle for achieving this goal."
The Rev. Jay Rock, the PC(USA)'s coordinator for interfaith relations, spearheaded the dialogue for the denomination and will introduce the evening's program, which will include presentations and perspectives on the dialogues that have unfolded at local and national levels over the past three years. There will also be time for questions and answers and an opportunity to explore and discuss relevant biblical texts.
Presbyterian participants in the forum include Rock; the Rev. Joe Small, associate director for theology and worship; the Rev. Charles Wiley, associate for theology; and the Rev. William Borror, pastor of Media Presbyterian Church and professor of church history at Palmer Theological Seminary.
Jewish participants are Rabbi David Strauss of the Main Line Reformed Temple, Wynnewood, PA; Rabbi Gil Rosenthal, Executive Director, National Council of Synagogues; and Rabbi Shira Lander, Ecumenical Institute of St. Mary's Seminary and University and The University of Maryland-Baltimore County, Baltimore, MD.
PC(USA) staff will draw upon the dialogue as they prepare revisions to what is expressed in a paper approved by the 1987 General Assembly entitled "Toward a Theological Understanding of the Relationship Between Christians and Jews." The revised paper is tentatively scheduled to go to the 2008 assembly.
For more information, contact Rebecca Ayars at Ayars Communications, 610-566-4013; or Media Presbyterian Church at 610-566-3944. The forum is free.
Much information for this story was furnished by Rebecca Ayars.
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