The Presbyterian Church U.S.A. has concluded a three-day conference designed to justify its decision to divest from companies that do business with Israel - a nation the denomination's officials have called an "apartheid state."
At their 216th General Assembly last summer in Virginia, PC(USA) officials voted to begin a process of "phased, selective divestment" - meaning selling shares of stock owned by the denomination - in "companies whose actions support the Israeli occupation of Palestinian territories," says the church's website.
According to Presbyterian News Service, a November 2004 survey indicated that practically all Presbyterian ministers were either "very aware" or "somewhat aware" of the Assembly's actions, but 61 percent of members and more than half of church elders were not.
PC(USA) officials say the recent meeting Louisville, Kentucky - titled "Steps Towards Peace in Israel and Palestine" - was a way to inform synods and presbyteries as to why the denomination voted overwhelmingly to divest from the Jewish state.
The PC(USA) maintains it has a long history in standing in support of the Jewish state and its right to exist, but the denomination has repeatedly accused Israel of illegally occupying the West Bank and Gaza - which church leaders describe as "Palestinian lands."
Jewish activist and author Susan Roth says the PC(USA) has taken an anti-Semitic position. While stating her intent is not to insult anyone, Roth says the PC(USA) position is "a stance taken out of ignorance."
"[U]ntil approximately 20 [to] 30 years ago there was no Palestinian people. They didn't exist, [and] the [Palestinian Liberation Organization] didn't exist," Roth exclaims. "Until Yasser Arafat created a PLO, there were no Palestinians."
