During his sermon on Sunday Joel Call talked about the “Response to Ongoing Suffering in Palestine Resolution,” passed unanimously by Central District Conference delegates in June. Among other things, the resolution calls on CDC congregations to “commit to divesting ourselves financially from the U.S.-backed Israeli genocide and theologically from Christian Zionism.”
The resolution names two important preceding documents. The first is the 2017 “Seeking Peace in Israel and Palestine” resolution passed by Mennonite Church USA delegates. This was our denomination’s attempt to name the historical injustices experienced by both Jews and Palestinians, along with our commitment to countering antisemitism and anti-Jewish readings of the New Testament, as well as pursue justice for Palestinians.
The second document is titled “Kairos II: A Moment of Truth: Faith In A Time of Genocide.” (Strangely, my internet says “this site can’t be reached” when I try to link to it. Try your own google search). This was written in November of last year by a diverse group of Palestinian Christians calling on Christians around the world to heed their call for solidarity and advocacy.
This new CDC resolution affirms and builds on both of these.
The resolution underwent a number of amendments in the delegate discussion. One addition denounced the October 7 Hamas attacks against Israelis. If we’re choosing sides, we want to be clear we’re against the side of terrorizing violence and oppression, whoever might be experiencing it. Another amendment was within the quote above, confessing that the genocide is “US-backed,” and calling out “Christian Zionism” as an especially damaging theological orientation.
The resolution encourages study of the prior documents, gives a few examples of what divestment might look like, and names some organizations working for a better future in the region. I’m hopeful CMC can provide a forum for engaging with the resolution within the upcoming year. At the very least, it is our attempt to say to the Palestinian Christians who called out to us, “We hear you and we won’t look away.”
Joel