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When the United Church of Canada began nearly 100 years ago (2025 is the centenary) there were lots of compromises in amalgamation, including a rather unwieldly governance system. Local congregations were part of Presbyteries which were then formed into regional Conferences. The overarching body was and still is the General Council made up of representative commissioners who nonetheless vote on issues according to their own consciences and the movement of the Holy Spirit. Got that? Now we have one less level of governance, lots of people aren't sure who is responsible for what, and with declining membership congregations are becoming more locally focussed -- who has time and energy for the wider church?
Still, General Council comes together, albeit less often, and now virtually because of the pandemic. This year GC44 began yesterday with global partners and will continue through the gathering in August. I don't really understand what's transpiring but I'll trust that someone does and hopefully I'll become better informed along the way.
An important component of this first phase of General Council is the report called Just Peace in Palestine and Israel: A Call to Costly Solidarity. The United Church has been reflecting on this important justic issue for the better part of fifty years, often receiving criticism for what some feel is unfair condemnation of Israel and even anti-semiticism. Some of this has come from outside the denomination but there has been internal division as well.
I've never felt that this is an accurate portrayal of the UCC and have written and spoken about the displacement and growing oppression of Palestinians by the state of Israel. The United Church has always supported the right of Israel to exist and to protect its citizens but the plight of the Palestinian people can't be ignored. Some Palestinians are Christians and they have sought the support of the Christan community elsewhere. Often they feel ignored and their numbers dwindle as many have left for other countries.
I do feel that it is important that the United Church continues to respond to what is a complicated and emotional reality. Certainly peace efforts and proposed solutions for a two-state compromise have been confounded again and again and the wider region continues to be volatile.
I haven't gone through the report yet, although I've read the introduction and the stated goals:
1. How we understand our task
Based on partner requests, the team decided to address three specific issues, which have proven to be challenging in the existing policy:
• the Boycott Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) Movement;
• the use of the word or term apartheid in relation to Israel; and,
• the use of the term Jewish state to refer to Israel.
I hope that there can be meaningful discussion without the confusion and furor which emerged a few years ago. We do hope and pray for a just peace in the land where Jesus was born, lived, died, and was raised to new life.
You might want to take a look at the report for yourself:
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