United Church General Council

I heard a thoughtful, well crafted sermon this past Sunday in which the minister prepared his congregation for the beginning of General Council, the triennial gathering of commissioners from across the country. Council begins tomorrow, the 11th and continues through the 18th.

I have to name my bias because the sermon was delivered by our son Isaac, from the pulpit of his church in the Eastern Townships of Quebec. His message was excellent, and he let his congregants know that whatever else was happening during GC41 they would probably only hear about a report which has become controversial, calling for a boycott of products made in the illegally settled areas of the West Bank and of the companies which do business in those communities. http://www.gc41.ca/news/israel-palestine-report-now-available

 We are not the only denomination to be wrestling with the issue of Israeli settlements and the United Nations already declared them illegal. Just recently author Alice Walker refused permission for the novel The Colour Purple to be translated into Hebrew because of Israel's policies. Yet the United Church has been decried as anti-Israel, despite decades of public statements supporting Israel's existence and ground-breaking efforts for Jewish-Christian dialogue. Are we expected to support Israel at all times, no matter what occurs?

I encourage you to follow General Council daily at http://www.gc41.ca/. Don't count on the secular media to give you a balanced or clear picture of what is unfolding.

Have you heard much about the report? Will you follow the General Council news?