Israeli/Palestinian Conflict & The United Methodist Church

Yesterday, I received a couple of correspondences from folks related to a recommendation that will be addressed at our West Ohio Annual Conference (June 5 - 9) regarding the divesting of funds with three companies (Caterpillar, General Electric, & Hewlett Packard) that are providing equipment/services that are helping Israel to expand Jewish settlements in occupied Palistinian land.

Recommendations like this one were approved by several annual conferences and sent to the 2008 General Conference for approval and were all rejected.  In 2008, the UMC did affirm its stance against Israel's expansion beyond its 1967 borders and against the settlements established on occupied Palestinian land.

Here are some of my thoughts on this recommendation, the Israeli/Palestinian conflict in general as they relate to the UMC, and a few observations about our UMC polity as it pertains to recommendations:

• Annual conferences such as West Ohio can not speak for the UMC as a denomination.  Only the General Conference which meets every four years can speak for the denomination.  If the West Ohio Conference approves the divestment recommendation, it will be sent to the 2012 General Conference for action.
• The Annual Conference and the General Conferences are evenly represented by both laity and clergy.  Local churches elect lay representatives to vote at annual conference.  Annual conferences elect lay and clergy representatives to vote at General & Jurisdictional Conferences which meet every four years. 
• Part of the debate on divestment from companies included the need for the UMC to address our concerns directly with these companies regarding their participation in the Israeli occupation of Palestinian land before formal divestment action would be made.  Of course, whether these companies respond or not has no bearing on the UMC divesting until there would be approval by General Conference to take such action.
• From a personal perspective, I find it interesting that the people who are sponsoring this West Ohio recommendation represent a wide spectrum of theological views (liberal/conservative theologically and politically.)  Their common ground is a desire to see the rights of Palestinians protected.
• The present stance of the UMC regarding the Israeli/Palestinian conflict recognizes that additional Jewish settlements on Palestinian land is an injustice.   The unlawful bulldozing of peoples' homes is not in accordance with the biblical understanding of justice.  The debate centers around if the UMC should financially benefit from companies that provide equipment/services that are used for those unlawful purposes by Israel.
• Regardless of our opinions on the divestment recommendation, what is important to know is that Israel has been bulldozing homes since the start of Israel's occupation of the West Bank in 1967 which totals approximately 10,000 homes.  75-100 homes are torn down each month and this number continues to escalate.  Palestinian home owners need to have permits that are often not issued to them due to a questionable bureaucratic system.

Concluding Thoughts:

     The Israeli/Palestinian conflict is obviously very complex.  The US has historically supported Israel because of our democratic ties and because Israel is surrounded by non-democratic countries.  We also share a Judeo/Christian heritage which is also complicated by the fact that there are many Palestinian Christians.

     Many Jews were not permitted to seek asylum during the holocaust and without a homeland, they were left with no options.  In 1948, they were given a homeland but the problem was there were already people living there.  This situation of Israel needing a homeland and Palestinians losing their homes and being forced to live in occupied areas that are overcrowded and lack the basic necessities for life has led to a very volatile situation.  Palestinian terrorism and Israeli oppressive policies have been the news headlines for as long as we can remember.  What is the answer?

     Should Israel continue to bulldoze Palestinian homes?  As Christians in the UMC, should we be profiting from companies who provide equipment and services to Israel that promote their expansion of homes and territory at the expense of the Palestinian people?

     Next week when our West Ohio Conference meets to consider this recommendation and other recommendations as well, I will carefully listen to both sides of the issue before making a final decision. One of the gifts of our denominational polity is the opportunity for a large representation of our churches to discuss, pray, wrestle with very complicated issues, and make formal decisions.  Regarding the Israeli/Palistinian recommendation, remember that even if this would be approved, it would be submitted to the 2012 General Conference for consideration.  Again, only the General Conference which consists of 500 lay and 500 clergy representatives from the US and around the world can officially speak for the UMC.

     There have been many times when the person sitting next to me during a debate on an issue says to me, "I thought I had my mind made up on this issue, but after hearing what he/she said, I think I'm going to change my vote." 

     One of my prayers before attending annnual conference is, "Lord, help me to have an open mind and open heart regarding these recommendations."  Knowing that people in my church are also praying for those who are attending annual conference is also a great source of support.

     For information related to other recommendations that will be considered at our West Ohio Conference, go to this link.
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