EDITOR'S NOTEBOOK

Presbyterians In Conflict

jr

"Divestment is bad
for the Palestinians
as well as for Israel."

ews must mobilize to fight anti-Zionism born from
a rush to judgment when the Presbyterian Church
(USA) called for "selective phased divestment in
multinational corporations" doing business in Israel. This
call came in protest to the Jewish state's military occupation
of the Palestinian territories.
Rev. Harter
But Presbyterians who oppose divestiture, a dumb tactic
that has caused the worst fissure in Jewish-Presbyterian rela-
Conference for Israel and a chief author of the landmark
tions in 50 years, also must speak up. Minds can be
1987 Presbyterian Church (USA) statement affirming God's
changed. Ministers can see the light. Church enlightenment
eternal covenant with the Jews. Hadassah, the Anti-
is lacking.
Defamation League and the Jewish Community Council
Ignorance was bliss among Presbyterian
co-sponsored his May 12 breakfast talk.
clergy who, at the 2004 General Assembly
The tsouris sparked by the Presbyterian Church (USA)'s
of the Presbyterian Church (USA), became
pro-divestment
resolutions followed a 2003 vote by the
swept up in the winds of religious fervor to
Philadelphia
Presbytery
to take in and fund a "Messianic
de-legitimize Israel as a peacemaker and
Jewish" congregation, Avodat Yisrael. National Presbyterian
promote it as an autocracy ripe for global
funding automatically kicked in, igniting a firestorm within
sanctions.
the Presbyterian community. The PCJCR exerted enough
A minority of Presbyterians, convinced
pressure
to convince the Philadelphia Presbytery to end
ROBERT A. that Israel is terrorizing the territories
funding
of
the Christian-oriented congregation as of July 1.
SKLAR
instead of being victimized by Jew haters, is
During
this
victory march, divestiture bubbled up at the
Editor
swaying too many fellow congregants. The
2004
General
Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (USA).
Palestinians not only have destroyed their
Says Rev. Harter: "The price of liberty is eternal vigilance."
economy, but also have crippled Israel's in the wake of their
PCUS.Ks pro-Palestinian resolutions obviously tilted
56-month intifada. Palestinian-incited terror has left more
toward Israel as the aggressor. They didn't spotlight
than 4,000 people dead and thousands more maimed on
Palestinian terror nor did they denounce terror-mongers like
both sides.
Syria, Saudi Arabia and Sudan. Until then, the Presbyterian
Winning over ministers neutral about divestiture is key to
Church (USA) had backed a negotiated settlement to
reversing the 2004 Presbyterian Church (USA) resolutions
Israeli-Palestinian
peace and a two-state solution. To his
championing divestment, questioning Zionism and brand-
credit, the Rev. Dr. Clifton Kirkpatrick, the stated clerk of
ing Israel's West Bank security fence a human rights viola-
the General Assembly, has condemned Palestinian terror
tion. Having Christians speak out against divestiture negates
against Israel and has tried to maintain perspective despite
the perception that only Jews believe the boycott is wrong.
the anti-Jewish leanings of his governing body.
The Methodists and the United Church of Christ also are
I can't fathom Palestinians liking divestiture. It would dry
working on divestment calls. Refreshingly, the Evangelical
up
their Israeli jobs and halt the flow of badly needed Israeli
Lutheran Church in America is playing up investment — in
goods
into the territories. While the Presbyterians eye the
Israel and the territories. The Vatican has done far more
Illinois-based company Caterpillar as a possible divestment
than Protestants to strengthen ties with Jews.
"This not only is a matter of healing our relationship with target, the Palestinians must be cringing because they deploy
Caterpillar tractors through a U.S. Navy contract for con-
Jews, which is essential, but also is a battle for the soul of
struction
use on the West Bank.
the Christian church," the Rev. Dr. William Harter told a
"We
really
look like fools when it turns out the
small interfaith audience at a rush-hour breakfast meeting at
Palestinians
don't
want this either," Rev. Harter says.
Hadassah House in West Bloomfield. "If Christians are
"Divestment
is
bad
for the Palestinians as well as Israel."
going to be what God intends us to be, we must deal with
Dr. Harter was in Oakland County last week to receive
this issue. We cannot avoid it. We cannot neglect it."
the James R. Lyons Award in Christian-Jewish Relations
That is why the Presbyterians Concerned for Jewish and
from the Dove Institute, formerly the Ecumenical Institute.
Christian Relations (PCJCR) is prepared to essentially call
He's a beacon of interfaith discourse.
for ditching divestiture at the 2006 General Assembly and
He's a Christian who not only hears
urge investment in companies that
the
Jewish community, but also is sen-
"promote a just and lasting peace in
sitive
to its beliefs.
Points to Ponder
the region." Ministers and lay leaders
His ending words rang loudest:
heretofore unconvinced about censur-
American Jews can't be meek in
ing Israel and alienating Jewish friends
How would you respond if
defending Israel, whatever their com-
now are galvanizing against divest-
Protestant friends chastised
fort zone on this side of the Atlantic.
ment. The Louisville-headquartered
Israel
in
your
presence?
Just
like gentiles like Rev. Harter do,
Presbyterian Church (USA) hasn't
Jews
must confront Christians who
actually divested, but it is looking into
savage
Zionism.
To
what
degree
should
which pension holders do business
Take
it from Rev. Harter: "If Jews
with Israel.
Detroit Jewry mobilize against
are not going to be for Israel, then the
Dr. Harter is pastor of Falling Spring
Christian divestiture?
gentiles will think, 'Well, the Jews
Presbyterian Church in Chambersburg
don't think it's that important so why
in southern Pennsylvania, co-founder
should
we?" El
of the National Christian Leadership
More on the Presbyterians

Concerned for Jewish and
Christian Relations:
www.pcjcr.org

271 WEST MAPLE

5/19

2005

5