New York-based group asks GAC to defer shareholder actions

by Evan Silverstein, Presbyterian News Service
[12-14-04]

LOUISVILLE -- December 10, 2004 -- A group of Presbyterian ministers and laypersons is urging members of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A,) to work toward reversing last summer's controversial General Assembly action to begin a process of phased, selective divestment from certain companies doing business in Israeli-occupied Palestinian territories.

In a statement released Wednesday, the New York-based Presbyterians Concerned for Jewish and Christian Relations (PCJCR) called on the denomination's General Assembly Council to impose a moratorium on shareholder actions and other steps related to divestment until the PC(USA)'s General Assembly convenes again in 2006.

Last July, the church's 216^th General Assembly voted 431 to 62 to initiate a process of a phased and selective divestment from corporations contributing to the more destructive aspects of Israel's occupation of the West Bank and Gaza, such as the bulldozing of Palestinian homes and farm lands and the construction of a "security wall."

The Assembly's action quickly sparked intense controversy, angering much of the U.S. Jewish community and straining relations between a number of Jewish groups and the PC(USA).

Many Presbyterians opposed the move as well, asserted the PCJCR, which describes itself as an organization with members nationwide committed to building "positive, constructive, respectful and meaningful relationships with Jews."

Valerie Munson, a lifelong Presbyterian from Philadelphia and co-convener of the PCJCR, said the group's statement is "really in response to a lot of contact we had from Presbyterians across the country trying to find out how to have a voice and express their concern and opposition to the divestment decision."

The PCJCR claims the divestment decision goes against the PC(USA)'s historically "even-handed approach" of favoring a two-state solution to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.

The PCJCR wants Presbyterians to help build support for overtures challenging the divestment decision that would be submitted to the denomination's 217^th General Assembly in 2006.

The PCJCR also seeks for congregations, pastors and lay leaders to sign onto its statement, finalized last month with the title "Toward a Just and Lasting Peace in the Middle East." The statement goes on to say "because we believe that our church can play a positive role in fostering Middle East peace, we call upon the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) to pursue faithfully and consistently its historic vision of peace and security for all the peoples of the region."

While the PCJCR said it believes divestment can be a useful tool for bringing about social change, it added that it views making Israel the object of a divestment policy as being counterproductive.

"I think that anytime one party is singled out inappropriately and unjustly it's bound to have a negative impact towards a just and peaceful solution," Munson said. "I think that whenever Christians seek to bear witness in the world, being evenhanded, objective investigators and reporters is crucial."

PC(USA) leaders strongly denied the PCJCR's charges Thursday.

"The General Assembly has not diverged from its long-standing policies of opposing violence on both sides in the search for peaceful and just solutions," said the Rev. Marian McClure, director of the PC(USA)'s Worldwide Ministries Division (WMD). "The approach to divestment that is being developed does not single out Israel. It is a principled approach."

McClure was referring to a set of six criteria drafted early last month by the PC(USA)'s committee on Mission Responsibility Through Investment to guide the process of phased, selective divestment.

She said the divestment guidelines "allow us to look at any company profiting from the violation of human rights and international law, whether Israeli, Palestinian or anyone else."

McClure noted that the church's GA has approved numerous resolutions pertaining to Israel and Palestine, "repeatedly affirming, clearly and unequivocally, Israel's right to exist within permanent, recognized and secure borders."

She said the Assembly has deplored the cycle of escalating violence by both Palestinians and Israelis.

"We simply want to divest of the things that make for war and invest in the things that make for peace," said the Rev. Marthame Sanders, missionary in residence with WMD.

Meanwhile, the PCJCR said in its statement that it supports "proactive engagement and selective investment of time, talent and financial resources in companies, not-for-profits, NGOs and diplomatic efforts that are likely to promote a just and lasting peace in the region."

Munson, who also serves as moderator of the Ecumenical and Interfaith Relations Committee of the Presbytery of Philadelphia, said the PCJCR formed in the early 1980s around theological discussions that took place in the denomination around Christian-Jewish relations.

She said the organization recently transformed from a small informal group of pastors and lay leaders to a membership-based structure in the process of adding about 300 people to its rolls.