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Victory!
The Presbyterian Church Changes Course on Divestment.
But the struggle to improve Jewish and Christian Relations has just begun.
At its meeting in Birmingham the 2006 General Assembly voted to reverse its 2004 divestment policy as well as to withdraw its blanket condemnation of the security barrier between Israelis and Palestinians.
The Assembly delegates voted by a margin of 483-28 to affirm a policy of investing exclusively in peaceful pursuits and to handle questions regarding investments in Israel and the occupied territories through its "customary corporate engagement process."
This vote returns our denomination to where we were two years ago.
"We acknowledge that the actions taken in 2004 caused hurt and misunderstanding among many members of the Jewish community and within our Presbyterian communion," the assembly said in its resolution. "We are grieved by the pain that this has caused, accept responsibility for the flaws in our process, and ask for a new season of mutual understanding and dialogue."
Still the work of PCJCR, and others who share our goals, has only just begun. First and foremost, we recognize that our relationships with Jews as well as our understanding of Judaism are far from perfect; otherwise the 2004 divestment debacle would not have been approved in the first place.
Also, pro-divestment activists and some denominational officials are committed to pursuing divestment under cover of the MRTI committee as though the recent vote of the General Assembly had not happened. For example, during a press conference following the vote, Stated Clerk Clifton Kirkpatrick, said that this year's action "does not overturn" the divestment policy. How one can reasonably conclude that a new policy designed to "replace" a prior policy in no way alters that policy defies any reasonable interpretation of this year's overwhelming vote.
Good News
The Committee on Peacemaking and International Issues voted Saturday night, June 17, to "replace" language calling for phased, selective divestment approved by the 216th General Assembly (2004).
The committee's actions could be amended Sunday when the committee meets again before concluding its business.
Divestment Update: June 2006
The General Assembly is now in session. If you are in Birmingham, please visit our booth. Delegates will be considering a number of overtures, the preponderance of which call for reversal or modification of the divestment policy. Stay tuned.
Divestment Update: February 2006
Several members of the PCJCR Steering Committee are traveling to the Middle East, Feb. 19-27, to meet with Israeli and Palestinian peacemakers and explore the positive and constructive alternatives to divestment. Look for a full report of our trip here no later than March 1.
Divestment Update: January 2006
Numerous Presbyteries are framing overtures that offer constructive alternatives to divestment that will be considered at the upcoming General Assembly. Some of these overtures, while not calling for outright reversal of the divestment policy, urge more positive action that we believe will be more likely to encourage peacemakers in the region. Other Presbyteries have approved overtures, such as the one we are commending, that call for reversal of the divestment policy and encourage investment in not-for-profit organizations, diplomatic efforts, and businesses in the region that tend to support the peace process.
For the draft overture recommended by PCJCR
Divestment
Update: October 2005
Citing the work of PCJCR, Reuters reports that major
US denominations are backing away from divestment. The news story quotes The Rev.
William Harter, co-chair PCJCR: "As people look at this with clear heads and understand
what's really involved, there's a growing awareness that this was a major mistake.
It won't work. There's no way what's being proposed is going to have an impact
on decisions that the Israelis or Palestinians make about peace and certainly
not the U.S. government," he said.
For the full Reuters
article Divestment Update: August 2005 The Mission
Responsibility through Investment (MRTI) Committee of the Presbyterian Church
(U.S.A.) announced that it will move forward with the denomination's divestment
policy by naming five companies that it believes are contributing to the ongoing
violence in the Middle East. PCJCR continues to believe the this policy is ill-advised,
and we are circulating the attached press release, approved by our steering committee
on August 22nd. For
the full text of our August 22nd press release. As
indicated below, we are working to reverse the divestment policy, urging concerned
Presbyterians nationwide to support "overtures" that will call upon
the 2006 General Assembly to replace divestment with constructive investment in
companies, not-for-profit programs, and diplomatic efforts that encourage peace
and reconciliation in the region. For
a draft "overture" that we are commending and circulating among the
Presbyteries. Presbyterians Challenge PCUSA Divestment Decision Presbyterians
Concerned for Jewish & Christian Relations (PCJCR) is calling on all Presbyterians
to work toward the reversal of the decision of the Presbyterian Church, U.S.A.(PCUSA)
to divest its funds from certain companies doing business with Israel.
In
addition, we are urging the PCUSA General Assembly Council (GAC) to impose a moratorium
on shareholder actions and other steps related to the divestment decision until
the Church's next full General Assembly meeting in 2006. We
are circulating a petition, inviting congregations, pastors and lay people nationwide
to join us in this effort to reverse what we believe to be a counter productive
and ill considered policy. (Click here to read and sign
the petition.) While affirming the use of divestment
as a social justice strategy in some situations, we believe that the General Assembly's
action broke with the PCUSA's even-handed approach toward the situation in the
Mideast. We believe it is wrong to single out Israel as the object of a "divestment"
policy…."
Instead of divestment, we propose selective investment of time,
talent and financial resources in companies, not-for-profits, NGOs and diplomatic
efforts that are likely to promote a just and lasting peace in the region. Click here for PCJR's
Mission Statement as approved, November 30, 2004. Where We Stand Committed
to a positive, constructive and respectful relationship with Jews, our involvement
in this issue reflects deep personal conviction, and is mindful of the 1987 statement
of principles approved by the General Assembly of our church: "A Theological Understanding
of the Relationship Between Christians and Jews." That statement outlined a foundation
for such positive relationships. For a summary of
the 1987 document.
For
the full document. At the same time we are deeply
style concerned about actions recently taken at the General Assembly of our denomination
that have provoked alarm within our own church as well as within many sectors
of the Jewish community. These actions pertain to the conflict in the Middle East,
to the possibility of our denomination's adoption of a policy of selective divestment
of stocks of companies doing business with Israel, and with continued funding
of "messianic" congregations that appear to involve the denomination in a strategy
of targeting Jews for conversion. For an article
summarizing the General Assembly actions published by the denomination's office
of Interfaith Relations. In
response to these actions we have issued a press release, expressing our own opposition
to several of these actions. In this, we emphasize that our denomination is not
one governed from the top down, nor one that speaks with a single, authoritative
voice on controversial social issues. Rather, we are a diverse body with a long
history of ecumenical and interfaith activity taking place at all levels. Our
own members remain deeply committed to pursuing policies of constructive dialogue
as well as joint action with our Jewish friends and colleagues who are as eager
as we are to continually improve our long established and extensive relationships.
For the full text of our earlier press release on this
and other issues relating to the relationship of Jews and Christians, the conflict
in the Middle East, and our denomination's funding of so-called "messianic" congregations
that we believe are an offense to both Christians and Jews:
A Statement from Presbyterians
Concerned for Jewish and Christian Relations. "Everlasting Covenant,"
a sermon by the Rev. Jon Walton, Senior Minister, First Presbyterian Church, New
York City. For
a Washington Post article covering the General Assembly actions and widespread
reactions to them. (Registration necessary.) For
an editorial by Alan Dershowitz originally published in the Los Angeles Times:
"Presbyterians' Shameful Boycott."
Careful readers will note that
Dershowitz has some of the facts wrong, but his article has been widely distributed
and echoes the views we are hearing from others who are concerned about the General
Assembly actions. With respect to the funding of messianic
congregations, while some denominational officials have argued that this does
not represent an attempt to convert Jews, other reports suggest exactly the
opposite. Here
is how many Jews may see this effort. Talking
with Presbyterians About Israel
Article by Rabbi Daniel Brenner who directs
the multifaith program at Auburn Theological Seminary. An
Associated Press account of the controversy. Sermon
by The Rev. Cindy Jarvis: "The God Who Keeps Covenant" Article by The
Rev. Dr. William H. Harter: "De-Triumphalizing the Gospel" from The Presbyterian
Outlook What others
say about Jewish Christian Relations
For further information about PCJCR please
email Charles Henderson.
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