News in Christian-Jewish Relations: July 2004
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| 216th General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (USA) votes to study issue of "messianic synagogues" and to divest from selected Israeli companies. |
Individuals and organizations of the Jewish community, Presbyterians, and others are raising many questions and concerns about some of the actions taken at the latest General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), June 26-July 2, in Richmond, VA.
Emotions are running high, especially in reaction to the decision to “initiate a process of phased, selective divestment in multinational corporations operating in Israel,” and to the rejection of a proposal to suspend national-level funding for any further “messianic” new church developments until this form of evangelization can be evaluated in light of the Presbyterian understanding of Christian-Jewish relations.
For details, visit these webpages:
Statement from the Anti-Defamation League, July 13, 2004
Statement from the Stated Clerk of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), July 20, 2004
B’nai B’rith Calls for the End of Interfaith Dialogue With the Presbyterian Church (USA), July 21, 2004 [Webmaster's Note: B'nai B'rith's call for a dialogue moratorium has not received support from other Jewish agencies. See below.]
ADL Urges Dialogue With Presbyterian Church to Address Concerns With Church Policy On Jews And Israel, July 22, 2004
Union for Reform Judaism expresses "disappointment and alarm" to Presbyterian Church (USA), July 27, 2004
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Statement from "Presbyterians Concerned for Jewish Christian
Relations," Presbyterians Disagree on Israel, August 11,
2004
| International Catholic-Jewish Liaison Committee meets in Buenos Aires |
The 18th meeting of the
International Catholic-Jewish Liaison Committee was held in Buenos Aires, from
July 5-8, 2004, focusing on the theme of Justice and Charity. The ILC
consists of delegates from the Pontifical Commission for Religious Relations
with the Jews and the International Committee for Interreligious Consultation,
a collaboration among several Jewish agencies.
A joint communiqué from the meeting has been issued, the first of a number of
expected statements from the meeting. Among other items, while condemning
antisemitism it acknowledges that anti-Zionism can be a manifestation of
it.