Press Release posted 6/30/08:

THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH (USA) OPTS FOR ACTIVE INVOLVEMENT IN ISRAEL AND PALESTINE RATHER THAN NEUTRALITY.

The Presbyterian Church (USA) adopted several overtures on Israel and Palestine at the General Assembly Friday, June 27.  The first, from the Presbytery of Greater Atlanta, calls upon the denomination to affirm the obligation of the church to speak to the governments of the United States and all other nations where it sees those governments violating the commandments of God.  In the words of the Theological Declaration of Barmen, which speaks to the dependence of the Church on the Word of God and its independence from any state or ideology, “we reject the false doctrine, as though there were areas of our live in which we would not belong to Jesus Christ, but to other lords….The state has by divine appointment the task of providing for justice and peace…[The church] calls to mind the Kingdom of God, God’s commandment and righteousness, and thereby the responsibility both of rulers and of the ruled….” (The Book of Confessions, 8.15, 8.22).

It endorsed the “Amman Call” regarding Arab-Israeli peace, issued by the World Council of Churches’ conference, “Churches Together for Peace and Justice in the Middle East,” at Amman, Jordan, June 18-20, 2007, including its affirmation of the UN resolutions that are the basis of a projected “two-state” solution, a shared Jerusalem, and the human rights of refugees and occupied peoples, its call to resist extremism and push for reconciliation, and its commitment to imperatives of ecumenical solidarity in action for Just Peace, directing that the Amman Call be printed in the Minutes of the General Assembly and considered in any study processes of the church.

It directed appropriate offices of the General Assembly Council to provide video, cyber, and print resources on the church’s historic concern for justice and peace in Israel and Palestine, such as those proposed by the Presbytery of Atlanta, using existing materials whenever possible, including back issues of Church & Society as suggested, to interpret such matters as Mission Responsibility Through Investment, the status of Jerusalem, the impact of the security barrier (or “wall”), etc.

It commended the nonviolent witness of the Christians in Palestine and Israel with whom we share membership in the one Body of Christ, joining them in prayer and mutual remembrance, advocating for fair treatment for them and their neighbors.

It encouraged Presbyterian individuals, congregations, and councils to take pilgrimages and trips to Israel and Palestine that are in harmony with our principles, specifically that include: significant time visiting local Christians and church leaders, significant time in the Occupied Territories (witnessing conditions, helping sustain isolated and impoverished local economies), opportunities to meet Israeli and Palestinian peacemakers, and opportunities to engage in interfaith discussion of a range of perspectives; such travel to be assisted and resourced as feasible by the General Assembly Council, mission personnel, the Israel/Palestine Network, and our ecumenical partners in the region, as outlined by the Presbytery of East Iowa, all with the goals of helping the church grow in solidarity, mercy, and peacemaking.

It called for a guide that would help Presbyterian congregations and members seek out and live into intentional friendships with Jews, Muslims, and Middle Eastern Christians in their communities, and to continue to lift up the plight of the dwindling Christian community throughout the Middle East.

Regarding the continuing process of corporate engagement with companies supporting or profiting from the occupation of Palestine and/or other violence in the region, it instructed the Committee on Mission Responsibility Through Investment (MRTI) to report regularly to the General Assembly Council on its communication and the compliance, or lack thereof, by Caterpillar, Motorola, and other corporations involved with regard to General Assembly guidelines and concerns for justice and human rights.

Finally, it requested that the full texts of all overtures submitted on the Middle East be considered in the report on the Middle East recommended by the General Assembly Council to be prepared for 2010.

An overture from National Capital Presbytery was adopted which called upon the church to be a voice for the victims of violence in Israel and in Palestine, focusing on peacemaking activities.  It also condemned all acts of violence against innocent civilians.

An Overture from Santa Barbara Presbytery worried the assembly because it called for the church to ask PC(USA) members, congregations, and committees to become nonpartisan advocates for peace, and to require all overtures concerning Israel and Palestine be answered with the following statement:

"The Arab/Israeli conflict presents an unprecedented level of complexity amid constantly changing political conditions in the region.  Thus, the best course of action for the PC(USA) is to defer from positions or policy statements that appear to favor either side in the conflict."

It was clear that those considering the overture did not want any appearance of siding with one over the other.  One section "appealed to the General Assembly Council to ensure that employees, entities, affiliated organizations, and networks abide by these directives [to not side with one or the other]."

Did this mean the Israel Palestine Network was to be silenced?  World Mission Director Hunter Farrell explained that the many networks we have "support the church but they are not controlled by the church." 

A minority report was filed that killed the overture.  In presenting the minority report, a commissioner  from Salem Presbytery commented that this overture was not a stand for love and justice in the Middle East.  "Are we to do nothing?  Are things really so complex we are paralyzed?"   Several commissioners spoke against this section.  It was deleted.

The debate continued.  A commissioner from Winston-Salem commented that this statement goes against partnerships with our Christian brothers and sisters in the Middle East.  As questions began to flow, it soon became apparent that the plenary would throw out the entire overture, and they did.

Ironically, the overture from Chicago Presbytery calling for a “Culture of a Just Peace for Israel and Palestine” as defined by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights was defeated.  Committee 11 decided it was “one-sided” because it blamed the U.S. and Israel for the violation of human rights. Further, the rationale documented these violations.

In another action, the Presbytery of San Francisco overtured the assembly to “instruct MRTI to report to the General Assembly Council on the compliance, or lack thereof, by the Caterpillar and Motorola corporations with regard to General Assembly guidelines on responsible investment…” and to authorize the General Assembly Council to act on this information by implementing divestment procedures.  The overture failed, largely because the MRTI committee reported they are in the midst of “corporate engagement” with both companies and they believe they are making progress.

The overture from the Presbytery of Newark began by affirming Israel’s right to exist, deploring suicide bombings and other terrorist attacks, urged Arab nations and the United States to do all possible to prevent arms smuggling into the Palestinian occupied territories, and called for the U.S. government to temporarily suspend military aid to the State of Israel until the Israeli government complies with the requirements of the U.S. Arms Export Control Act, which prohibits using U.S. weapons against civilians or civilian infrastructure, and the U.S. Foreign Assistance Act, which prohibits giving assistance to the government of any country which engages in a consistent pattern of gross violations of internationally recognized human rights.  The overture came under heavy attack from several commissioners and was defeated. 

For more information, you may contact
Pauline Coffman, Secretary for the Israel Palestine Mission Network, at p.coffman@sbcglobal.net or by phone:
708-710-4288 (cell)
708-524-5444 (home)

Submitted by  Kathleen Matsushima  (847-707-9130)
                    Moderator of the Israel/Palestine Mission Network
                    Presbyterian Church U.S.A.