Pondering Pastor

I suppose I shouldn’t be surprised.  While I’ve not allowed but one comment related to the Israel-Palestinian Conflict on my reports of the ELCA Churchwide Assembly, I receive a steady stream of comment requests and even chastisement for not allowing the comments through (I have this blog set to only allow comments to be posted after I have reviewed them and determined whether or not to “approve” them.)

The perspectives couldn’t be more different.

“I’m disappointed that you did not publish my previous response…did I include any statements that were hateful or false? Was it my assertion of persecution of Christians by Palestinians? Or statements on the legality Israel’s “occupation” of various plots of real estate? Or was it simply that I did not address the “boycott”?  Please note that it is not possible to avoid products made in illegal settlements, because (as I mentioned previously) Jews have the legal right to settle anywhere in the Mandate territory. They may not have a moral right…it is arguable whether or not they have a divine right…but they DO have a legal right…which is the basis for much of the text of my previous response.  I apologize if my attempts at disseminating truth are offensive, but the legitimacy of Israel is important. If the ELCA (I am a baptized Lutheran, btw) chooses to boycott Israel for ejecting a Christian pastor accused of missionary work, I would support that…but one based on misunderstandings of legality of settlements and territories is hard to swallow. I hope you take the time to consider this post. Respectfully, ~GdB”

His blog has more.

Then, just hours later.

It’s interesting to read what Palestinians have asked of us. In July 2005, 171 Palestinian NGOs called: “… upon international civil society organizations and people of conscience all over the world to impose broad boycotts and implement divestment initiatives against Israel similar to those applied to South Africa in the apartheid era. We appeal to you to pressure your respective states to impose embargoes and sanctions against Israel. We also invite conscientious Israelis to support this Call, for the sake of justice and genuine peace. These non-violent punitive measures should be maintained until Israel meets its obligation to recognize the Palestinian people’s inalienable right to self-determination and fully complies with the precepts of international law by:

1. Ending its occupation and colonization of all Arab lands and dismantling the Wall;
2. Recognizing the fundamental rights of the Arab-Palestinian citizens of Israel to full equality; and
3. Respecting, protecting and promoting the rights of Palestinian refugees to return to their homes and properties as stipulated in UN resolution 194. ” http://www.bds-palestine.net

The blog has more, with disturbing photos.

This is why I don’t open the debate in the comment field.

Pondering Pastor

I knew when I posted it that my previous note would not be my last about the ELCA Churchwide Assembly. What I did not predict was the topic on which I’d be compelled to write.

Of the pages and pages of notes and debate topics I summarized, the one getting the most comments has to do with the ELCA Assembly action on the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict. I’ve chosen not to authorize those comments to appear on this blog for a variety of reasons. Most who have posted comments have been very passionate about their perspective. I’ve been told that God will only bless those nations protecting Israel. I’ve been told that the ELCA position with respect to Israel and Palestine is the primary cause of conflict in all matters within the ELCA. I’ve been told that the ELCA supports terrorism, the destruction of the United States, and teaching children to prefer death over life. I’ve been told that we need to consider the spiritual implications of boycotts of Israel.

So that we know what is being discussed, here is the recommendation from the Memorials Committee:

Recommendation for Assembly Action

• To receive the memorials from the Pacifica Synod, Metropolitan New York Synod, Northern Texas-Northern Louisiana Synod, New England Synod, Southeast Michigan Synod, and Metropolitan Chicago Synod and to thank them for their support of efforts by the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America to promote peace with justice in the Holy Land;
• To note the participation of the ELCA in ecumenical and inter-religious forums where religious extremism is addressed;
• To acknowledge the Churchwide Strategy for Engagement in Israel and Palestine, including its call for “increased engagement with conservative Christians and a clearer and more forceful expression of Lutheran theology in the public debate . . .”; and
• To call upon the ELCA, in all of its expressions, to recommit itself to the Churchwide Strategy for Engagement in Israel and Palestine through awareness-building, accompaniment, and advocacy activities, including pilgrimage visits, sustained financial support, and other forms of economic stewardship.

This was amended to include the following

• To call upon the ELCA to underscore the call for economic initiatives by this church and its members in the peace not walls campaign. Such initiatives, in consultation with the Evangelical Lutheran church in Jordan and the Holy Land could include purchasing of products of Palestinian providers and exploration of the feasibility of refusing to buy products produced in Israeli settlements. Also to be explored is the entire investment activity activity by this church. Examination of investment would exclude the option of divestiture.

Nowhere is a boycott of Israel mentioned.  People are encouraged to learn about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.  For instance, did you know that not all Palestinians are Muslim … many are Christians, and some of those are Lutheran?  How does a Christian church address injustice directed toward other Christians?  I would encourage readers of this blog to visit the ELCA Peace Without Walls pages to learn something about the conflict and what we are encouraged to do in promoting peace.

Pondering Pastor