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."
Roth is with the National Unity Coalition for Israel, an alliance of 200 Jewish and Christian organizations. She says Israel cannot be occupying the land of a people that never existed.
"The British mandate ruled over Palestine - but there were no Palestinian people," she says. "And Israel is not occupying Palestinian lands. It is all Israel; it is a Jewish homeland." And if Presbyterians only opened their Bibles, she says, they would see that God gave the land to the Jews and divided it according to the twelve tribes of Israel.
Roth, who is a direct descendent of the biblical King David, is urging Christians and Jews to pray that the Presbyterian Church U.S.A. would open its eyes to the truth of God's Word regarding His eternal covenant with the Jewish people.
Presbyterian News Service notes a distinct division among clergy and laity on the issue of divestment. More of those in the pews oppose the plan than support it (by an average of 44 percent to 29 percent). But 48 percent of pastors favor divestiture; 43 percent do not. The report also points out that the percentage of self-described "liberal" ministers and members who favor the divestment process is almost identical to the percentage of "conservatives" who oppose it.
Christian Broadcasters Support Israel
Meanwhile, leaders of the National Religious Broadcasters (NRB) are expressing steadfast support for Israel as well. At an Israel tourism breakfast during their convention in Anaheim, California, NRB board member Michael Little said evangelical Christians believe that God gave Israel to the Jews.
Outgoing NRB chairman Glenn Plummer, an African-American pastor from Detroit, told those at the gathering that black Christians are natural allies of Israel. "It's just some of these other folks, knuckleheads, that are saying that Israel is the oppressor, and Israel is the Goliath and the Palestinians are the David, and so forth," Plummer said. "Listen to me - that's nonsense."
Plummer also noted that in the Bible, "God does not identify himself as the God of Abraham, Ishmael and his descendants." Muslims trace their lineage to Abraham through Ishmael. He said Islam threatens freedom in Israel and other parts of the world, and that "when Islam comes into a place, their intent is to take over everything. Their intent is to take over not only the government, but to take over the business [and] the education."
National Unity Coalition for Israel (www.israelunitycoalition.org)
National Religious Broadcasters (www.nrb.org)
Associated Press contributed to this story.
(c) 2005 Agape Press. All rights reserved. Used with permission.
