PCUSA steps up and represents the batsh*t crazy

With apologies for the post's title but this goes beyond the pale:

The Presbyterian Church in the United States (PCUSA) is about to release a report which denounces Israel as a “racist” nation which has absolutely no historical, covenantal, or theological right to the Holy Land. The report calls for the United States to withhold financial and military aid to Israel and for boycotts and sanctions against Israel. That’s not all. The report also endorses a Palestinian “right of return” and “apologizes to Palestinians for even conceding that Israel has a right to exist.” According to the press release, it also states that Israel’s history begins only with the Holocaust and that Israel is “a nation mistakenly created by Western powers at the expense of the Palestinian people to solve the ‘Jewish problem’.”

In addition, PCUSA has also resolved to divest in companies that supply military equipment to the American Army, e.g. Boeing, Lockheed-Martin, Northrop Grumman, Raytheon, etc.

In 2004, this Church became the first mainline Protestant denomination in America to “approve a policy of divestment from Israel.” This was rescinded, but in 2008 the Church “created a committee dominated by seven activists holding strong anti-Israel beliefs. The lone member sympathetic to Israel, quit in protest when he saw their radical agenda.”

The Simon Wiesenthal Center notes that 46 members of the US Congress and Senate are Presbyterians and fears potentially “significant repercussions in the political domain” as well as a negative “impact on interfaith relations.” They urge us all to protest directly to the top leadership of the PCUSA “to stop this dangerous campaign which denies the legitimacy and security of Israel,” and to “reach out to your Presbyterian friends.”

This is beyond radical... this is ludicrous.  There needs to be a revolt in the PCUSA and her leadership needs to be held accountable.

There is no way that this represents the wider body of Presbyterians.

No. Freakin'. Way.

Comments

[Sara]

Unbelievable!

Although I no longer maintain any affiliation with organized religion, I was raised in the Presbyterian Church. Baptized at 6 weeks, confirmed at age 12, perfect attendance for 12 years of Sunday School, sang in the church choirs from age 5 to age 18, when I went away to school, and I was quite active in Youth Fellowship.

When I was in 7th or 8th grade, we had a full year of Comparative Religion through our Sunday School classes and the same general theme in the pastor's sermons and in Bible study and Youth Fellowship.

We learned about all the world's great religions, but one of the main themes was the sanctity of Israel and the caution from God that those against Israel and the Chosen People are committing an act against God. We watched the movie "Exodus" and guest teachers came in to give talks. We had 2 local rabbis give classes. We had presentations by Holocaust survivors.

What the heck has happened to this church? That sound you hear is my Scots-Irish ancestors rolling over in their graves.

I'm absolutely flabbergasted about this new policy, but it does illustrate why I prefer to sustain my own religious enlightenment and education rather than to step foot inside any church. I came to the conclusion many years ago that I didn't need clueless people telling me what or how to believe and that I was more than capable of having a personal and intimate relationship with God on my own and more than capable of reading and studying my own Bible and the myriad of other writings thruout history and those that archeology has brought to the public discourse.

[Locutisprime]

Presbyterian church USA? You must be confused. This is the Palestinian coalition USA. And this is their manifesto.

[G M Roper]

I never knew that the PCUSA had lost its collective marbles. Sad, really sad. I don't suppose they said anything about Moses taking the Hebrews to say, New Jersey did they? No, it was Israel? Then that kind of busts their own insane ranting doesn't it?

[JT]

The PCUSA is not the only Presbyterian denomination in the US. There are many others which are theologically conservative, and politically conservative on an informal basis, but would never make official political statements such as this. Statements such as this are part of why the PCUSA is hemorrhaging members and is dying. Good riddance.

[allyHM]

As I said on Facebook, this sounds like something the Episcopal cult....er, um...I mean, church would do. I'm so very very glad that our church left TEc and is now under the auspices of the Anglican Church of Rwanda.

[slavetomybulldog]

One has to wonder if this really reflects the church membership at large, or an leadership driven to act on an ideological agenda that has little to do with actual faith. Feel free to check out my own thoughts on this issue on my blog (link below)

[Peter]

Yet another reason I'm PCA (Presbyterian Church in America) rather than PCUSA. It's quite possible that when you include the Orthodox Presbyterian Church, the Reformed Presbyterian Church, etc. there are more Presbyterians *not* in the PCUSA then there are in the PCUSA. So here's hoping The Simon Wiesenthal Center realizes that "Presbyterian" no more menas "PCUSA" than "Jew" means "Hasidic."

[Adam Hrankowski]

I have been in touch with the PCUSA, and they deny that there has been any press release regarding this report, which has yet to be released. I have requested a copy of the press release from the Simon Wiesenthal Center. It should be all be moot shortly, as the actual report is set to be released within the next several days.

[Beloved Spear]

It would be totally freakin' nuts, particularly if the allegations were materially correct. They aren't, though. The report, as it was initially reported and released: 1) does not call for divestment and 2) repeatedly and explicitly endorses the right of Israel to exist, and just as explicitly condemns Hezbollah and Iran.

Is it perfect? Heck no. If you read the thing, there are plenty of bones to be picked. But it's usually better to go after something based on it's merits or lack thereof.