 Two more overtures would change strategy for divestment policy By John H. Adams The Layman Online Wednesday, March 15, 2006 Two more overtures have been added to the growing number of proposed changes in the resolution by the 216th General Assembly (2004) that called for divestment of Presbyterian Church (USA) funds in corporations that do business with Israel. The additions increase the number of overtures on the issue to 14 that directly address the controversial divestment issue. In addition, a number of overtures call for reshaping Presbyterian policy in the Middle East without mentioning divestment. The latest divestment overtures are from the presbyteries of Kendall and Giddings-Lovejoy. Kendall's proposal is in the form of a concurrence with a proposal from the Presbytery of Mississippi, which was the first of more than 100 overtures that have been submitted to the 217th General Assembly. The Mississippi overture is one of the most critical proposals before the General Assembly on the divestment issue. The Kendall proposal adds to that criticism by appending additional rationale for the overture. Kendall said the 2004 resolution created "an erosion of trust … in the General Assembly process itself." "These actions of the 216th General Assembly were initiated by a committee of the General Assembly," Kendall says. "The actions proposed therefore reflect the intent of the committee that developed them. This is entirely within the procedures provided for by the General Assembly. However, bringing forward an action of this magnitude through that process makes it ripe for breeding mistrust … Commissioners who must cope with a voluminous assembly docket within severe time limitations can neither adequately grasp the implications of, nor fully comprehend the consequences of the decision they are asked to make. Add to that the support of staff and emotionally laden appeals from proponents of the actions. It is not an unreasonable perception that the assembly's decisions were made in response to one-sided orchestrated advocacy." The Giddings-Lovejoy overture was more mildly phrased. Rather than a divestment policy that penalizes Israel alone, the proposal calls for "strategies that promote peace between the Israeli and Palestinian people and seek prosperity for peoples of both nations." It asks the General Assembly to give "special consideration to investment in companies 1) that create equitable employment for both Israelis and Palestinians; 2) whose business is to the mutual benefit of both Israeli and Palestinian societies; 3) whose business in the region builds capacity in the Palestinian and Israeli economies; and 4) that introduce joint ventures between Palestinians and Israelis or companies that supply and support them." The texts of the Kendall and Giddings-Lovejoy overtures follow: Concurrence to Overture 1-From the Presbytery of Kendall (with additional rationale). The Presbytery of Kendall is grateful for the historic commitment of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) to support the things that make for peace between Israelis and Palestinians, and for her continuing desire to serve in the role of peacemaker. However, we believe that the actions taken by the 216th General Assembly (2004) neither make for peace nor contribute to constructive peacemaking. We believe that the church would have been better served had it followed a process similar to the one outlined in the work of the Task Force on Peace, Unity, and Purity before proposing or taking any action in the matter. For decisions that have a significant impact on the life of the church, particularly those that are complex or potentially divisive, time is needed for corporate study of Scripture, gathering of information, prayerful reflection, mutual questioning, careful listening, and collective weighing of options. For clearer discernment of the mind of Christ, and for the sake of the unity of the church, all voices should be heard, including those who may be affected by the potential outcome of a decision. (The Final Report of the Task Force on Peace, Unity, and Purity of the Church to the 217th General Assembly (2006), page 30, lines 855-860). There is no more complex or potentially divisive issue in our time than that of the conflict between the state of Israel and the Palestinian Authority. These actions of the 216th General Assembly were initiated by a committee of the General Assembly. The actions proposed therefore reflect the intent of the committee that developed them. This is entirely within the procedures provided for by the General Assembly. However, bringing forward an action of this magnitude through that process makes it ripe for breeding mistrust. Unlike overtures to amend the Book of Order, awareness of the content or scope of the committee's proposed actions is limited until they are published at the time of the assembly. Commissioners who must cope with a voluminous assembly docket within severe time limitations can neither adequately grasp the implications of, nor fully comprehend the consequences of the decision they are asked to make. Add to that the support of staff and emotionally laden appeals from proponents of the actions. It is not an unreasonable perception that the assembly's decisions were made in response to one-sided orchestrated advocacy. The result is an erosion of trust, not in the commissioners, but in the integrity of the GA process itself. With respect to the corporate study of Scripture, no thoughtful study guides were developed in consultation with the Office of Theology and Worship for use across the church prior to taking such action. Such a study should focus, among other scriptures, on the Apostle Paul's wrestling in the Book of Romans with the complexities of the identity and role of Israel in the unfolding of God's purposes With respect to the gathering of information, the message communicated to the assembly was that the proposed actions were consistent with previous General Assembly actions taken on the Middle East conflict. The leveraging of economic power through a process of phased, selective divestment was declared an effective strategy for bringing about positive change in the face of continued injustice. There were allusions to other places, including South Africa, where this strategy has been effective. The information not presented to the assembly was that these actions are contrary to the conclusions of every major fact-finding commission and the reports of other major religious communities involved in the conflict. Offering unilateral support to either side of the conflict is not an effective strategy for bringing about positive change, as subsequent events on the ground have shown. The book, Obstacles to Peace – A Reframing of the Palestinian-Israeli Conflict, authored by a Jewish professor at Ben Gurion University in Jerusalem, Jeffrey Halper, and sponsored by the Israeli Committee Against House Demolitions (ICAHD), concludes with the following:
With respect to mutual questioning, we cannot equate floor debate in an assembly gathering with the thorough vetting that a complex divisive issue like this deserves. Further, by calling on the assembly to declare that Christian Zionism is inconsistent with Reformed Theology, the innuendo is that anyone objecting to these actions is therefore, espousing Christian Zionism. The assembly action describes Christian Zionism as making use of "idiosyncratic interpretations of scripture to undergird a certain reading of current events…and to generate support for specific political goals…." This is a theological straw man. It is a technique to label opposition to these actions with a theological pejorative. Most importantly, this characterization minimizes the theological complexity of the question of the mystery of Israel in God's purposes. This complexity is reflected in the writings of prominent Reformed theologians.
With respect to collective weighing of options, the univocal message was that phased selective divestment has been and therefore will become a proven, responsible strategy to address injustice. Apparently little consideration had been given to the possible unintended consequences that would result from the assembly's actions. The denomination and its highest officials have been in crisis management mode, reacting after the fact to the flood of concern and criticism from within the church and the broader community that has arisen since news of the assembly's action first became public. Our prayer is that the actions of the Presbyterian Church (USA) might once again become a witness to God's love in Jesus Christ, and of God's longing for justice for all peoples affected by this conflict, and that its actions might never again be so demonstrably biased toward either side. Overture 107. On Pursuing Investment Strategies to Promote Peace Between the Israeli and Palestinian People, While Affirming the Importance of Maintaining Healthy Relationships – From the Presbytery of Giddings-Lovejoy. The Presbytery of Giddings-Lovejoy therefore overtures the 217th General Assembly (2006) of the Presbyterian Church (USA) to continue investment strategies that promote peace between the Israeli and Palestinian people and seek prosperity for peoples of both nations by doing the following: 1. Affirm that peace in the Middle East will come when all governments recognize the sovereignty of all nations in the region. Specifically, there must be recognition of the rule of law and the right of the nations of Israel and Palestine to exist and govern themselves and bear arms to defend their countries from internal and external threats, especially the threat of terrorism. Terrorism has no moral basis and must be condemned by all nations in word and deed. It is our belief that basic principles of reciprocity and mutuality are the necessary foundations for the pursuit of investment strategies. 2. Direct the Mission Responsibility Through Investment Committee (MRTI) to ensure that its strategies for engaging corporations with regard to Israeli and Palestinian territories are consistent with the following principles: a. They should reflect the application of fundamental principles of justice and peace common to Christianity, Judaism and Islam that are appropriate to the practical realities of Israeli and Palestinian societies. b. They should reflect commitment to positive outcomes. c. They should reflect awareness of potential impact upon the stability, future viability, and prosperity of both the Israeli and Palestinian economies. 3. Urge the Board of Pensions and the Presbyterian Foundation, as changes are made in their investment portfolios pursuant to directives of the 216th General Assembly, to consider the following opportunities for positive impact upon peace in the region: a. Explore profitable investments that involve multi-national companies working cooperatively in both the Palestinian and Israeli economies or that involve cooperation between Palestinian and Israeli companies. b. Give special consideration to investment in companies 1) that create equitable employment for both Israelis and Palestinians, 2) whose business is to the mutual benefit of both Israeli and Palestinian societies, 3) whose business in the region builds capacity in the Palestinian and Israeli economies, and 4) that introduce joint ventures between Palestinians and Israelis or companies that supply and support them. 4. Urge governing bodies and individuals within the PCUSA to express their commitment to peace and justice for Israelis and Palestinians by considering these principles when investing their own funds, while continuing to engage in dialogue with similarly-committed Jewish, Christian and Muslim partners. 5. Direct the Stated Clerk of the PCUSA to work with our international ecumenical and interfaith partners in Europe and the United States to press countries that provide financial support to Palestinians and/or Israelis to use their assistance to encourage progress towards a long-term peace and to discourage acts of terrorism and violations of human rights. Transparent accounting of this support should be required of all recipients. 6. Direct the General Assembly Council to coordinate PCUSA initiatives related to future investment in development in the region and to provide support for the Task Force assigned by the 216th General Assembly in action 12-09 to create a Palestine Mission Network and to authorize a feasibility study for the future development of Palestine. In addition, direct the Council to provide wide visibility for these efforts and for other accomplishments in the work of peace through development. 7. Direct the Council to engage in active dialogue with other Christian denominations and faith traditions that have taken similar actions to end violent conflict and to promote peace between Israelis and Palestinians. Rationale 1) The Palestinian election in January of this year raised grave concerns, which intensify the need to find ways to halt violence and promote peace. The actions of the 216th General Assembly presupposed both Israeli and Palestinian governments denouncing terrorism in word and deed. 2) Continuing violent conflict between Israelis and Palestinians profoundly affects believers in three of the world's major faith traditions - Christianity, Judaism, and Islam. 3) The situation of hostilities between peoples with whom Presbyterians have established steadfast bonds compels us to respond. 4) Presbyterians have witnessed acts of aggression, terrorism, and threats of terrorism by Palestinians against innocent Israelis. At close range, Presbyterians also have witnessed the suffering of innocent Palestinians as the result of war, displacement, expansion of settlements by Israelis and the recent introduction of a separation barrier onto Palestinian territory with far-reaching consequences for the future of the region. 5) Presbyterians abhor and condemn terrorism and violence carried out by individuals, groups, and governments on both sides of this conflict. Each incident inflicts injury upon a group with whom Presbyterians have special connection. 6) Presbyterians deplore expressions of anti-Semitism, both anti-Semitism directed against Jews and anti- Semitism directed against Arabs. 7) Presbyterians of the PCUSA cherish our long and faithful commitment to our Jewish partners. We acknowledge God's irrevocable covenant relationship with the people of Israel and affirm our unwavering support for the secure existence of a viable and prosperous state of Israel, a position that has been reiterated over the decades since 1948. 8) Similarly, Presbyterians have enduring connections with Palestinians, including longstanding bonds of faith with Palestinian Christians and committed relationships with Palestinian Muslims. These derive from continuous Presbyterian mission presence in the Middle East since 1823, including medical, educational and religious programs. PCUSA's concern for the plight of Palestinian Muslims flows from our commitment to Christian-Muslim interfaith relationships. PCUSA consistently has affirmed the hope for a viable, just, secure, and prosperous Palestine. 9) In response to God's calling to believers, Presbyterians are compelled to discern where their actions might promote healing between Israelis and Palestinians. 10) Consequently, Presbyterians have struggled over how we might contribute to ending hostilities between Israelis and Palestinians. Actions of the 216th General Assembly were designed to apply the good offices and resources available to the PCUSA to halt violence. Now we are calling for active measures to promote peace. 11) The efforts of the 216th General Assembly of PCUSA to address the Palestinian- Israeli crisis resulted in great consternation and a sense of betrayal among our Jewish partners, drawing attention to the importance of sustaining and deepening the dialogue between Presbyterians and Jews. The actions also launched a moral discourse regarding the positive role of the church in critical situations, highlighting what actions are appropriate and might be effective in influencing the situation toward peace in the region. 12) Presbyterians living in the United States are called to communicate with partners who practice Christianity, Judaism, and Islam to express and experience the kind of mutual respect envisioned among all people of the Abrahamic faiths, i.e., deepening dialogue, growing tolerance of distinct practices in worshipping God, and a keen awareness of the vital links all believers share with co-religionists around the world. 13) We share with our Jewish and Muslim brothers and sisters a common vision for the future of the Middle East and a hope for peace and prosperity throughout the region. Specifically, we should pursue positive investment strategies in order to achieve: o a reaffirmation of respect and affection for one another and respect for one another's faith; o an end to violence and conflict in the land that is precious to Jews, Muslims, and Christians; and o a vision of two nations, Israel and Palestine, co-existing peacefully within mutually respected borders, both nations thriving and participating fully in the world economy and community. 14) Actions taken by the PCUSA at the 216th General Assembly were crafted to help realize this vision. Strategies suggested here presume that continuing steps toward peace should be carried out in sustained dialogue with Jewish, Christian and Muslim partners as events unfold and new opportunities arise. |
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