Methodist Church Renews Drive For Divestment From Israel

Wed. Jan 30, 2008

Washington - Tensions are re-emerging between Jewish organizations and some mainline Protestant churches in the wake of a renewed drive for churches to divest from companies doing business with Israel.

The United Methodist Church opened discussions last Friday on a resolution calling for divestment from Caterpillar, the tractor manufacturer, because the company supplies Israel with bulldozers used in building the separation barrier and in demolishing Palestinian homes. The divestment resolution comes only months after the publication of a church-sponsored report referring to the creation of the State of Israel as the “original sin.”

Relations with the Presbyterian Church (USA) are also strained, following remarks by church officials criticizing Israel because of the Gaza closure. A recent study by an affiliate of the Presbyterian Church called on American Jews to “get a life” instead of focusing on defending Israeli policies.

“This reflects a very disturbing trend in these churches,” said Ethan Felson, assistant executive director of the Jewish Council for Public Affairs. “These developments are a result of work of several very wicked forces that play in the church.”

The divestment campaign, thought by many in the Jewish community to be dormant, is still active among mainline Protestant churches and is re-emerging as a main issue on the agenda of Jewish groups. Attempts to block the divestment drive, which began four years ago, have proved only partially successful. Interreligious dialogue efforts and public pressure managed to mute some churchwide calls for divestment, but other initiatives are still gaining support.

---eoe---

http://www.forward.com/articles/12587/

though realistically Israel isn't going to be that influenced by what the Methodist Church thinks.

However, don't you think it's a slippery slope when they actually describe Israel's existence (not just its policies) as a sin? What if the next thing they do is attack the existence of Muslim groups, countries and organizations? Or Catholic ones for that matter?

I do not think that it is appropriate for a Christian church to describe the creation of Israel as 'the original sin'.

I also think that 'Christian Zionism' is inappropriate; Jews are not in the world to help the Christian Right fulfil its biblical prophecies.

Christian organizations should not be publicly judging Jews - or Muslims - according to whether they conform to aspect of Christian doctrine. At best they are likely to be ignored and treaded as intruders into what is not their business; at worst, it can lead to ugliness and all sorts of tensions.

That's nice, conciliatory dialogue :sarcasm:

the article said the "get a life" statement came from "an affiliate of the Presbyterian Church", with no further explanation.

WHO??? What "affiliate"?

now what the hell does that mean? and what was the context?

I think this article was meant to inflammatory.

A group chartered by the Pres. Church.

This exchange came shortly after a presentation of the Israel/Palestine Mission Network, a group chartered by the Presbyterian Church though not formally speaking for it. In a slideshow presentation calling for “reframing the debate,” the group argued that the “Jewish community in the Diaspora must get a life,” referring to Jewish reactions to Christian groups’ calls for changes in policy toward the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

last paragraph

what did I just give you?

actual person was cited (we still don't know who said it, or what the context was).
It did not seem to be an official statement.

The UMC apparently thinks its fine to invest in companies who profit from war and suffering as long as they don't do business with Israel. They are still invested in Halliburton, for example. How hypocritical is that? Not to mention big oil, big agribusiness...even Walmart. Their own list of proposed divestment targets are replete with weapons manufacturers not even Jesus could love. And yet the only reason they are listed is because the sell weapons to Israel. They would have a bit more moral authority if they would divest themselves of all military related stocks.

Part one of two is here:

http://dreamsendweb.com/2008/02/18/methodist-church-why-are-those-jews-in-our-holy-land/

Second part up later today I hope.

or are we all relying on forward magazine for the details

Can anyone help?

http://www.umportal.org/article.asp?id=3085

I am not sure if anything has been decided yet.

This has the resolution at the beginning and then a report. This is NOT the report by Rev.Stephen Goldstein which is the report found most objectionable by many Jewish groups (the one that calls the founding of Israel the "original sin" etc). That report is not available online but is available for purchase somewhere but I'm not sure where yet.

http://neconference.brickriver.com/files/oFiles_Library_XZXLCZ/NEUMC_Divestment_Report_-FINAL_060407-img_PM2YX4SR.pdf

And again, I would ask, for those who are Methodists: why is it okay to invest in companies that benefit from the Iraq war but not those who benefit from the Israel/Palestine conflict? I.e. why is Caterpillar bad while Halliburton is good?

(Edit: I think I should clarify...this is the full report of the New England conference of the UMC for a larger divestment effort. For whatever reason it looks like the full UMC is only debating divestment from Caterpillar at the moment.)

Brother Amos said that.

Forget the hallow religious acts... we need somethin' real!

I wonder what his take would be on the situation.

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