Dissident Veteran For Peace

Headline in the Chicago Tribune: "Presbyterians won't divest over firms' ties to Israel"

I am reminded of the words of William Sloane Coffin:

Q. What should churches be doing in the face of what’s going on in [the United States] right now?

A. I think the bright flames of Christianity are now down to smoldering embers, if not ashes, of feeling comfortable. The church is pretty much down to therapy and management. There’s really little prophetic fire. ... And the poor rabbis have a problem being critical of Israel ... If [American Jews] said to Bush, "We have to change," that would be it. But they’re not saying it audibly, and not in concert, that’s for sure.

The churches are a reflection of the truth of Plato’s statement, "What’s honored in the country will be cultivated there." ...

... we have mediocre politicians, and the clergy is pretty mediocre also. But what’s honored in a country will be cultivated there. The greatest recession in this country is not economic; it’s spiritual. And so the great biblical mandates of pursuing justice and seeking peace are shortchanged.

–Interview with Paul Raushenbush. "Advice to a Young Minister". Beliefnet.com. June, 2004.

But, then again, consider two excerpts from an article entitled "GA overwhelmingly approves Israel/Palestine recommendation" on the Presbyterian Church web site:

By a vote of 483 in favor, 28 opposed and 1 abstention today, the Assembly set as church policy that "financial investments of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), as they pertain to Israel, Gaza, East Jerusalem, and the West Bank, be invested in only peaceful pursuits." The recommendation was an alternate resolution to an overture that sought to repeal and rescind the actions of the 2004 General Assembly relating to "phased selective divestment in multinational corporations operating in Israel."

... During a press conference following the vote, Stated Clerk Clifton Kirkpatrick, said today's action does not overturn the actions of the 216th General Assembly (2004), and newly elected moderator Joan Gray emphasized the church's longstanding focus on peacemaking. (emphasis added)

So, it appears, the Presbyterians have offered some conciliatory language but refused to adopt an "alternate resolution" repealing the 2004 divestment resolution. The Zionist spin machine may say otherwise but it seems the Presbyterians have resisted Zionist pressure and stood firm in the face of specious charges of anti-Semitism.

Related
"Open Letter to the Presbyterian Church" by Jews Against the Occupation at Electronic Intifada