Posted on 08/15/2007 1:29:49 PM PDT by West Coast Conservative
The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), which has almost five million members in the US, took a step toward a partial boycott of Israeli goods at its 2007 Churchwide Assembly in Chicago last week.
On Saturday, the assembly, the church's top legislative authority, passed a resolution calling to work toward a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and urging investment in the Palestinian Authority.
The assembly then urged "consideration of refusing to buy goods or invest in activities taking place in Israeli settlements, and a review of other economic options," according to Bishop Christopher Epting, the presiding bishop's deputy for ecumenical and interfaith relations," according to the Episcopal Life Online Web site.
The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America's own news service did not provide information on the content of that motion.
According to the Pondering Pastor blog, Saturday's debate on the resolution picked "up with an amendment to call upon the ELCA to underscore the call for economic initiatives by this church and its members in the ['Peace not Walls'] campaign. Such initiatives, in consultation with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land could include purchasing of products [from] Palestinian providers and exploration of the feasibility of refusing to buy products produced in Israeli settlements. Also to be explored is the entire investment activity by this church."
The amendment passed by a vote of 385 to 368.
The assembly rejected a call for divestiture from Israel.
The Simon Wiesenthal Center blasted what it called the "mixed message" of the assembly - rejecting divestiture but "studying" a boycott.
"This marks the first time a mainline American Protestant church has moved toward a possible boycott of Israel," said the center's Associate Dean Rabbi Abraham Cooper. "While we note that the ELCA delegates have now joined the Presbyterian Church (USA) in explicitly rejecting divesting from companies doing business with Israel, they have decided to embrace one of the anti-Israel tactics adopted by United Kingdom trade unions and others in Europe. ELCA delegates would have made a stronger contribution to the quest for peace and justice in the Holy Land had they also raised the ransacking of Christian places of worship and [the] recent forced conversion of a Christian professor in Gaza, as well as the unrelenting targeting of Israeli civilian communities by Palestinian Kassam rockets."
What a bunch of fools!
I doubt the accuracy of that membership figure.
From what I am reading, I think they should plan for a homo erotic boycott.
High Volume. Articles on Israel can also be found by clicking on the Topic or Keyword Israel. or WOT [War on Terror]
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I guess they would prefer the Islamic Republic of Palestine?
What products does the average American buy from either Isreal or Palestinian?
What a great buncha folks. They decided to do nothing about same sex unions amongst clergy in ELCA,but Israel, well shame on them so let’s boycott. What a bunch of hypocrits!
I’m not Lutheran, but I know one when I see one...and this ain’t them.
Now they have the time to dabble in global politics.
Might check here:
http://www.israelexport.org/
I agree. Name me one nation that has stood the test of time like Israel. Are the Egyptians, Romans, Nazi’s, etc etc around.... no. But Israel still stands and I believe it is because they are God’s chosen people.
Better to learn from history than be steam rolled under it.
“urging investment in the Palestinian Authority.”
Why not bypass the middleman and just send them dynamite, rat poison and nails?
The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America is obviously not a Christian church.
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If they really want to boycott Israel they should do it right. Do not use, purchase ar have anything tgo do with anything made in Israel
The list is too long to post here however it is very impressive. I’m Jewish and believe me I saw a partial list and almost didn’t believe it.
These people are fruit loops
This is simply stunning in its stupidity.
If they did that I would not even SPEAK to a Lutheran.
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