Posted on 02/23/2005 5:23:43 AM PST by SJackson
An organization representing up to half a billion Christians worldwide has encouraged its member churches to divest from companies that participate in "illegal activities" in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.
The central committee of the World Council of Churches, which represents more than 340 Protestant and Orthodox churches in more than 120 countries, announced the decision on Monday, toward the conclusion of the governing body's meeting in Geneva.
It specifically noted the "process of phased, selective divestment from multinational corporations involved in the occupation" now being implemented by the Presbyterian Church (USA). "This action is commendable in both method and manner, [and] uses criteria rooted in faith," the group said in a statement.
While that campaign angered segments of the American Presbyterian community, the WCC's international affairs expert Peter Weiderud told The Jerusalem Post on Tuesday that its own statement was the result of a "grassroots initiative" from its membership, and was not merely the view of a limited number of senior clergy. The WCC itself noted in another statement that it had chosen to follow a "consensus decision-making model."
The central committee "reminded the council's member churches that 'with investment funds, they have an opportunity to use those funds responsibly in support of peaceful solutions' to the Israel-Palestine conflict," the statement said.
"Multinational corporations have been involved in the demolition of Palestinian homes, and are involved in the construction of settlements and settlement infrastructure on occupied territory, in building a dividing wall which is also largely inside occupied territory, and in other violations of international law being carried out beyond the internationally recognized borders of the State of Israel determined by the Armistice of 1949," the statement continued.
"The WCC governing body encouraged the council's member churches 'to give serious consideration to economic measures' as a new way to work for peace, by looking at ways to not participate economically in illegal activities related to the Israeli occupation. In that sense, the committee affirmed 'economic pressure, appropriately and openly applied,' as a 'means of action.'"
Weiderud noted that the committee had taken into account recent positive developments in the peace process, but, as the body itself stated, "illegal activities in occupied territory continue as if a viable peace for both peoples is not a possibility."
Apparently seeking to preempt criticism of the move as anti-Semitic, the WCC's central committee "framed" its recommendation by "recalling" its statement in 1992 that "criticism of the policies of the Israeli government is not in itself anti-Jewish."
Moshe Fox, minister for public and interreligious affairs at the Israel Embassy in Washington, DC, disagreed.
"While maintaining that this recommendation is neither one-sided nor anti-Jewish, it is clearly both," Fox told the Post on Tuesday.
"At a time when Israelis and Palestinians are engaged in a political process, returning to negotiations, this decision is utterly ill-timed. The WCC is apparently seeking to dovetail on the Presbyterian Church's campaign. But, while the Presbyterian Church is still deliberating, the WCC is charging forward... [but] a boycott of Israel will not bring the Israelis and Palestinians any closer to the path of peace," he added.
Weiderud also said the WCC was unaware of any intimidation of Palestinian Christians by Palestinian terrorists or desecration of Christian holy sites. No churches under Palestinian control were large enough to qualify for membership in the WCC, although the body had indirect contacts with several churches there, he said.
Although the World Council of Churches comprised mostly American and European churches when it was founded in 1948, the WCC's expansion since then has primarily been in South America and southern Asia, Weiderud said.
Tithing specifically to a local fund does no good. Cash is "fungible" meaning that your offering allowed someone elses offering to be sent to the national Methodist Church. I left the Methodist Church over this.
Exactly.
...correctamundo maximus, pabianice.
http://zenit.org/english/visualizza.phtml?sid=57860
~~~~~~~~~~ Quote:
Date: 2004-08-20
Progress Seen in Ties With World Council of Churches
Holy See Publishes Joint Document
VATICAN CITY, AUG. 20, 2004 (Zenit.org).- The preparation of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity has led to a new stage in collaboration between the Holy See and the World Council of Churches.
For the first time, the text that will inspire the Week of Prayer has been published jointly by that council's Faith and Constitution Commission and the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity.
The decision was announced by Bishop Brian Farrell, secretary of the pontifical council, and by Samuel Kobia, general secretary of the World Council of Churches.
The theme proposed for the Week in 2005 is "Christ, the One Foundation of the Church," a reference to 1 Corinthians 3:1-23.
On this occasion, the texts were prepared by members of the Theological Committee of the Ecumenical Council of Churches in Slovakia and pose three questions: "1. What is the foundation on which the new 'existence' of their churches is being built? 2. Is there a space to grow in unity as the respective confessional communities grow? 3. What are the means for strengthening the service of the church?"
The Week of Prayer for Christian Unity is usually held Jan. 18-25. In the Southern Hemisphere, other dates are usually chosen, for example, around Pentecost.
The full text of the materials for the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity and for the rest of the year may be read on the Web page of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity.
The Faith and Constitution Plenary Commission, the only entity of the World Council of Churches that has a Catholic representation, met in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, from July 28 to Aug. 6. Since 1968, a dozen Catholic theologians have been full members of the commission's Theological Department.
"There are still many questions we need to explore together, but we became aware of reaching a moment of hope, having identified a framework which might enable churches to move forward in terms of mutual recognition," stated the meeting's final message.
The commission has carried out a study on ecclesiology entitled "The Nature and Mission of the Church."
"The divisions within and among our churches reflect not only theological and ecclesiological differences, but also strife within the human community," the final message continues.
The meeting was opened by Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi, who said: "We cannot stand before a compassionate God while there is so much we have left undone because we are disunited."
The World Council of Churches is a fellowship of ecclesial communities, now 342, in more than 120 countries. The Catholic Church is not a member Church but works cooperatively with the WCC.
End Quote ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
>>World Council of Churches
which speaks for no one but communist.<<
Every time I see that name I think "A rose by any name..."
You can call it whatever you want. It doesn't have the word "Christian" in it. And there is a reason...
I'm no longer a Methodist so it doesn't matter anymore. At the time I felt it was the best route because I knew the Lord wanted me to tithe. My heart was in the right place and hope my money was, too (smile)! M
I need to send Israel money.
Jeeze, the communists have even inflitrated the churches.
Reds in Christian clothing. Real Christians support Israel.
Right-on, Luke21! Thanks!
I wonder if they consider terrorism, "illegal activities" ?
I just made a call to the Archdiocese which knows nothing of this and does not support this sort of activity. The party I spoke to also opined that the WCC had some real nutcases in it and he wasn't surprised if they tried to use the membership of the Orthodox Churches in the WCC as some kind of validation for this stuff. They have done that before.
WCC does not represent 500 million Christians. It has members who are members of churches which represent 500 million Christians. BIG DIFFERENCE!
HAHAHAHAHA! Half a billion leftist Christians, That's a laugh.
HAHAHAHAHA! Half a billion leftist Christians, That's a laugh.
The WCC has failed to learn that one cannot serve both God and mammon....and those Commie scumbags are mammon's best friend.
"We should ignore the World Court, the World Churches, the UN, the world anything. "
what about the World Wrestling Federation? oh nevermind,
that's back to the World Wildlife Federation again.
Out of your 300 million the Baptists are the overwhelming majority, I would think. Then you have the Anglicans, who aren't so liberal outside of the US and England. They total about 80 million, with the ECUSA comprising less than 2 mill of that total.
World Council of (Communist) Churches
I figured there was just absolutely no way in God's green Earth that the Orthodox were involved in this.
So, I expect that under proper analysis, their "500 Million Christians!" dwindles to about 13 million Christians, all concentrated in the United States.
In the interests of full disclosure, I think that most Orthodox Churches are members of the WCC. In fact, I seem to remember that they were among the founders. That said, it seems we fight with them and refuse to participate in their little programs far more than we join in them. A few years ago the WCC was publicly and loudly condemned by the EP and the MP over their interactions with pagans.
The Presbyterian Church USA should lose it's TAX-EXEMPT status. I grew up in this church before it merged and became liberal. I've been thinking all along that they were taken over by Democrats, but it's even worse than that.
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