Posted on 06/22/2006 4:16:32 AM PDT by Pharmboy
The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) voted yesterday to back off from a decision it made two years ago to pursue divestment from companies that profit from Israel's involvement in the Palestinian territories.
The resolution, passed overwhelmingly at the church's general assembly in Birmingham, Ala., responded to outcries by some church members and Jews who accused the church of insensitivity to Israel. The resolution apologized for "the pain that this has caused" among "many members of the Jewish community and within our Presbyterian communion."
Church leaders said it still permitted divestment as a "last resort," but emphasized positive, not punitive, steps the church can take to support Middle East peace efforts.
The church also sought to reassure Palestinians by including in the resolution a call for an end to Israel's involvement in Gaza and the West Bank, along with criticism of the Israeli security wall where it encroaches on Palestinian territory and "fails to follow the legally recognized borders of Israel" before the 1967 war.
"The resolution makes clear that we're not targeting Israel, we're not abandoning our commitment to peacemaking, we're not abandoning the Palestinian Christians," said Jay Rock, coordinator for interfaith relations.
The Presbyterian Church never reached the point of divesting from companies that it said provided military equipment or technology for Israel to use in the territories. Church officials had begun to press four corporations — Caterpillar, ITT, Motorola and United Technologies. Divesting would have required a vote by the entire general assembly, which meets every two years.
Yesterday, the church's Peacemaking and International Issues Committee drafted the resolution after nearly 12 hours of testimony from church members and three invited guests, an American Jew, an American Muslim and a Palestinian Christian.
After a brief debate, the general assembly adopted the resolution, 483 to 28. The compromise
(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...
I guess he had the info...
Disregard my post. Eye's are deceiving me this morning.
Presbies still blasting Jewish state for its "illegal" wall, though. They can't let it rest, can they? Can't wait till the minister down the block rings me up for the next capital campaign. He'll get ANOTHER earful from me.
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I can't keep track of the various Presbyterian churches...anyone have a primer?
This is the PCUSA the liberal, apostate branch of US Presbyterianism. Not to be confused with the PCA (Presbyterian Church in America) which is the reformed, conservative branch that holds to the Inerrancy and infallibility of the scripture, the deity of Christ, salvation by grace through faith, and other precepts of reformed theology. I belong to a PCA church here in Virginia.
Here is more info on the PCA. There are other branches of Presbyterianism in the United States, but I don't feel qualified to discuss their beliefs.
Thank you! I know many people don't know the difference, and I always get the names confused.
You're welcome
As a former Presbie, I am appalled at the church. For nearly 40 years , it has pursued the Angela Davis brand of spirituality. It has disgraced the Biblical injunctions on sin, the Saviour, grace and salvation. It has licensed gay pastors, changed the Book of Order to allow any new cultural agenda coming down the lane. It has supported America's enemies. Conservative Presbies have been dissed and driven out of the denomination. Liberalism has murdered the historic church. Calvin and Witherspoon would gag!
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