Posted on 09/28/2004 5:35:59 AM PDT by Pharmboy
Leaders of the Presbyterian Church U.S.A. and the country's largest Jewish groups are meeting in New York today to discuss a rift touched off by resolutions that the church adopted this summer regarding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, most notably one that calls for selective divestment in companies doing business in Israel and the occupied territories.
Protestant leaders believe that no other churches in the United States have taken such a step. But others may be considering similarly stringent measures, according to a Presbyterian spokesman and representatives of other mainline Protestant churches.
"There have been some expressions of interest for finding out more about what we've done," said Jay Rock, coordinator for interfaith relations at the Presbyterian Church U.S.A. "Some of the American Protestant churches have talked to us about this and indicated that they may be beginning to consider doing the same."
The possibility that the Presbyterian decisions could inspire others is among the gravest threats that Jewish leaders see, coming at a time, they contend, when Israel has become more isolated internationally. "When they ask me what I'm concerned about, part of it is that it will be creating a momentum that will not be good for anybody," said Rabbi Jerome Epstein, chief executive officer of United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism, an association of about 800 congregations nationwide.
The controversy stems from policy statements that the Presbyterian Church U.S.A.'s general assembly passed at its biennial meeting in June and July in Richmond, Va. One called for Israel to halt construction of its security barrier in the West Bank. Another authorized the church's investment committee to initiate possible divestment in companies "whose business in Israel is found to be directly or indirectly causing harm or suffering to innocent people, Palestinian or Israeli," according to a statement July 20 by Clifton Kirkpatrick, stated clerk of the church's assembly.
A third resolution, while not related to Israel, upset Jews because it continued the national church's financial support for a church in Philadelphia, Avodat Yisrael, that Jewish leaders say evangelizes among Jews under false pretenses.
Other Protestant churches have condemned the security barrier at their national conferences over the last two years. And there has been friction with the Presbyterians and others over Israeli policy in the past, said Rabbi Eric Yoffie, president of the Union for Reform Judaism. Moreover, while the church has about $7 billion in investments, Rabbi Yoffie said he did not think the amount affected by the divestment moves would be significant.
But Jewish leaders say they were stunned by what they saw as the one-sided language and focus of the resolutions, particularly the fact that only Israel was singled out for economic sanctions.
"Our people were deeply appalled by the message," Rabbi Yoffie said. "And I've heard from the local level that Presbyterians, regardless of where they fall on these issues, were surprised by the intensity of the Jewish reaction. It's an example of the fact that we didn't know each other as well as we thought we did, or should have."
The Presbyterian decision to explore divestment may be the starkest example so far of the frustration among many Protestants with the crumbling of peace efforts, a fact worsened, they believe, by Israel's decision to build the barrier in the West Bank, Protestant leaders said. In fact, interfaith dialogue between Jews and American Protestants has waned over the last few years, in great part because of tension over Israel's policies, said Dr. Antonios Kireopoulos, assistant general secretary for international affairs at the National Council of Churches, an umbrella group for 36 churches.
The mainline Protestant churches have close ties to Arab Christians in Israel, and those links clearly shape their perception of who bears greater responsibility for the conflict and what would be the best route to peace, Protestant leaders and scholars said. There is an assumption among many moderate and liberal Christians that "Israel is the government in power, so it has more control over the situation," said Ben Witherington, a professor of New Testament at Asbury Theological Seminary in Wilmore, Ky.
As a dyed-in-the-wool Southern Baptist, I can tell you OUR denomination isn't about to abandon Israel. As far as I am concerned, the Presbyterians, Methodists and some other "protestant" denominations have gone so far to the left in recent years they hardly resemble Christians. Advocating homosexual marriages, etc., have driven a wedge in their memberships and I think this move will exacerbate the problems they face even more.
This is sad, especially since Israel needs our support now more than ever.
Do not fear, as it is written our Heavenly Father looks out for His own. Some need chastisement every so often, and we are not going to change what is in His plan.
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