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Session Acts on Israeli-Palestinian Peace Issue
Prompted by a simple request at an October Session meeting, Nassau Church embarked
on a four-month study of the role of the Presbyterian Church (USA) in the Middle East,
culminating with the passage of a Session motion in February.Last July, the 216th General Assembly passed a resolution dealing with the Israeli-
Palestinian conflict that repeated its consistent call for peace for the Israelis and justice
for the Palestinians. But this latest resolution also included a new provision for “phased
selective divestment” of PC(USA) investment funds from international corporations
engaging in actions judged by PC(USA) not to be supportive of the peace process.
Although the provision was intended primarily to promote a dialogue with such
companies with final specific divestment actions to occur only as a last resort and only
after General Assembly approval in 2006, the reaction to this GA resolution was
immediate and wide ranging. Some members of the American Jewish community were
highly critical of the GA resolution although many of them misinterpreted the action as
being more comprehensive than it actually was. The GA resolution was not, as some
people have charged, a call for divestment from investments in Israel or a boycott of
Israeli products.The study of this issue at Nassau Church has included an 11-page overview prepared by
the Mission Committee, an adult education class, and Session discussions at both
regularly scheduled meetings as well as the Session Retreat in January. The resulting
Session motion:
- acknowledges the unique history of the Presbyterian Church in the Middle East
- condemns all violence against innocent civilians
- supports the GA resolution and the subsequent clarifications of the process by the
responsible investment committee- calls for complementary investments by PC(USA) in economic development projects
in the region- expresses regret for the strain caused to interfaith relationships as a result of this
General Assembly resolution- encourages the pastors and Session representatives of Nassau Church to reach out to
the Princeton area Jewish community for dialogue on this and related issues.In this final regard, conversations with both The Jewish Center on Nassau Street and the Center for Jewish Life at the University are ongoing.
The overview and the Session motion noted above are available for viewing. Questions
or further comments on this topic are welcomed by the staff and Tom Charles, Bob
Duncan, and John Thurber (co-chairs of the Mission Committee).