The United Church of Christ voted today to divest from and boycott companies profiting from the Israeli occupation of Palestine. The vote was 508 in favor, 124 against, with 38 abstentions.
From their press release:
The United Church of Christ Palestine-Israel Network (UCC PIN) is pleased to announce that today the plenary of the 30th General Synod taking place in Cleveland passed Resolution #4, calling for boycotts and divestment from companies that profit from Israel's occupation of Palestinian lands.
"As disciples of Jesus, we hear and seek to heed his call to be peacemakers, responding to violence with nonviolence and extending love to all," said Rev. John Deckenback, Conference Minister of the Central Atlantic Conference of the UCC, which submitted the resolution to the synod. "It is in that spirit of love for both Israelis and Palestinians, and a desire to support Palestinians in their nonviolent struggle for freedom, that the United Church of Christ has passed this resolution.”
"In approving this resolution, the UCC has demonstrated its commitment to justice and equality,” said Rev. Mitri Raheb, a Christian Palestinian and Pastor of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land, who travelled to Cleveland for the synod. “For Palestinians living under occupation or facing systematic discrimination as citizens of Israel, enduring the destruction of their homes and businesses, the theft of their land for settlements, and living under blockade and siege in Gaza, this action sends a strong signal that they are not alone, and that there are churches who still dare to speak truth to power and stand with the oppressed.”
The UCC joins other mainline Protestant denominations trending in the same direction. Last year the
Presbyterian Church (USA) and the United Methodists passed
similar resolutions after years of unfruitful constructive engagement with Israel. The Quaker Friends Fiduciary Fund has been
steadily divesting from companies that profit from the occupation since at least 2012.
Kudos to another Protestant church taking a principled stand against the oppression of the Palestinians.
10:18 AM PT: The Church also passed a resolution calling for the Washington DC football team to stop using the name "Redskins" and the associated logo.
http://www.cleveland.com/...