Arson threat has Presbyterian churches around the country on high alert

ABC 7 ^ | 11/14/2004

[yonif]

November 14, 2004 — An arson threat was delivered to the Kentucky headquarters of America's Presbyterian Church. Now churches across the country are on high alert.

Parishioners at Fourth Presbyterian Church in downtown Chicago are going to receive an unwelcome message today. The pastor will use his sermon to inform the congregation of a threat that was received by the Presbyterian headquarters in Louisville, Kentucky late Friday.

The handwritten letter was delivered anonymously and had a Queens, New York postmark. The letter promised arson against Presbyterian churches nationwide in retaliation for their "anti-Israel and anti-Jewish attitudes." The threat had a November 15 deadline.

Relations between Jews and Presbyterians have been somewhat strained, especially after last June when the Presbyterian Church committee announced it would divest itself of its holdings and companies that support the Israeli occupation of the Gaza Strip and the West Bank.

Pastor John Buchanan at the Fourth Presbyterian Church addressed the letters, saying they were concerned, of course, and he hopes this will not strain relations between Presbyterians and Jews in Chicago.

"We're concerned, of course. We take any threat like that seriously. It would appear that this is somebody from the fringe, a disturbed individual. We've talked to the Chicago police about it. They have said they want to take it seriously. We will be under a little more careful surveillance today and the days ahead," said Pastor John Buchanan, Fourth Presbyterian Church.

For it's part, one of the major Jewish organizations in the country has already condemned the letter. They went as far as to say, "They will go up in flames." You can bet that is a terrorist threat. The FBI is now trying to investigate the source.

[First_Salute]

A youngster, now grown up, but then on her first trip by air to Chicago, looked out over the starboard wing, as its flaps opened, and she yelled out about the large hole opening in the wing!

[joesnuffy]

Great opportunity for Muslims to burn down (alleged) Christian chruch and blame it on 'the jooos'

Also a great way to collect on your fire insurance...and buy some of that new furniture you've been coveting...;)

imo

[processing please hold]

Could it be muslims that sent the letter? Could they be trying to turn Americans against the Jews for their own agenda?

[ken21]

let me guess, they're waiting for an attack by the mossad?

(/sarcasm)

[processing please hold]

I'm glad I'm not alone in my thinking.

It would be the perfect example to cause rifts.

[Tired of Taxes]

especially after last June when the Presbyterian Church committee announced it would divest itself of its holdings and companies that support the Israeli occupation of the Gaza Strip and the West Bank.

Isn't this new Presbyterian position contrary to their beliefs?

[jer33 3]

What source says it is all the Presbyterian churches? I find that hard to believe.

[Tired of Taxes]

Found this online:

http://pcusa.org/pcnews/2004/04497.htm

It appears there's a national Presbyterian committee that made this decision??

[jer33 3]

Thanks for the link and I apologize for my laziness.

[rbg81]

Obviously, the Presbyterians have made the Jews feel oppressed. Therefore, the Jews are perfectly entitled to burn down their Churches or send suicide bombers to kill the parishoners during services. In fact, it would be a sin not to. Isn't that how the Presbyterians justify the Palestinian terrorism against the Israelis? If correctly applied, moral relavitism can be a real b!t&h, huh?

[STD]

Considering that all that's in the PCUSA these days is furniture, go right ahead.

The faithful remnant is still alive in the PCA.

[bushisdamanin04]

Odd that a "church" which is officially pro-abort would have the time to worry about corporations and investments in Israel.

[Piranha]

Pastor John Buchanan at the Fourth Presbyterian Church addressed the letters, saying they were concerned, of course, and he hopes this will not strain relations between Presbyterians and Jews in Chicago.

This letter, which obviously was written by a nut, will not strain the relationship as far as Jews are concerned.

Anyway, the relationship already is in the gutter thanks to the politically correct anti-Semitism of the PCUSA and its policy of kicking the Jews when it thinks that they are down.

[Siobhan]

As a Catholic, I should be careful here, but I do know some astoundingly faithful folk in the EPC.

[Piranha]

Very well put. I hadn't even considered this point.

[Siobhan]

I'd also note that PCUSA is all for murdering babies in the womb.

No doubt others will note that bizarre yoking with the kingdom of death...

[Guenevere]

You do know there are Presbyterian USA churches....which is what this article is about....

...and there are Presbyterian PCA churches, which is not what this article is about.

While I don't want any Presbyterian church burned, or any other kind, for that matter....

..We, the Presbyterian PCA are absolutely divorced from any actions the USA might take.

We broke fellowship with them over 30 years ago!!!!!

[Siobhan]

Bump to your post No. 11.

[VOA]

The letter promised arson against Presbyterian churches nationwide
in retaliation for their "anti-Israel and anti-Jewish attitudes."

YO!
HOLD your fire on PCA (Presbyterian Churches in America).
Even if their theology might not be your "cup of tea", the PCA are the good guys.

Unlike the liberal, anti-Israel weasels in the PCUSA.

I'm not a Presbyterian, but that's my understanding of the situation. An example of
the PCA is The Coral Ridge congregation on TV (D. James Kennedy) and the
Knox Seminary. Conservative and right-wing in political outlook.

http://www.pcanet.org/