Overture #6 is there to promote truth, righteousness, justice and reconciliation for us as induviduals, local churches, national and bi national levels. The Office for Social Justice has an important practical role to play in coordination with liaisons in the Middle East as it is has been doing for a while. The CRC has sent out a number of delegations to Israel/Palestine which that has all been very beneficial.
But The Banner could do more in letting all our people know the truth in love what is really true rather then some news outlets with tons of editorial bent.
For example when a Michael Lynke , Reporter of the Human Rights branch of the United Nations comes out with a special report on how thing are in Israel/Palestine then that could be studied and reported on through our social justice people and the Banner as well , again in coordination with people of the CRC and RCA in the region that can verify it. We need to go forward with truth somewhere.
There is an excellent report from the CRC Office of Social Justice, I believe by Rev. Shannon Jammal-Hollemans, called
"CRC Engagement in Israel and the Palestinian Territories". It is a MUST read for us all and especially for the Advisory committee of the overture #6. It has a brief history, great suggestions and good statistics up to that date.
The report mentions for example working with groups like Musalaha (Gary's choice), Holy Land Trust and Sabeel ( which I have been involved with).
John, I will attempt to answer your 10 questions now from my own experience in the West Bank and a lot of reading: Question #1 and #2 : I don't think it matters what the land was called except that it was called Palestine in recent history and to this day, well a part is supposed to be the state of Palestine and the other Israel, but as we all know, one was allowed self-determination through a couple of powerful allies and the other not.
And even if Israel is the overall occupying power as is the case: Leviticus 19 : 33 says "When an alien resides with in your land, you shall not oppress the alien. The alien shall be to you as the citizen among you; you shall love the alien as yourself, for you were aliens in the land of Egypt: I am the Lord your God".
It looks like the writers of our modern International Law must have some background from Leviticus when it comes to behaviour of occupying powers! I so wish that modern state of Israel were that light on a hill and I could really revell with the wonderful stirring music of the movie "Exodus"!!
The owning of the land was in the old testament always contingient on Israel's faithfulness; sinfulness resulted in loss of inheritance and so land and righteous are linked.
So, "Is this all about land anyway?" As we already mentioned before in our discussions; No not really, we are to act righteously and love whoever lives in the land. Our Lord was also not interested in establishing a kingdom, his message was simply "to love the Lord your God and your neighbor as yourself".
The taking of land illegally, forcefully and without regard of the welfare of citizens that were deeded owners of the land for many, many generations is in deed an aweful and terrible thing to witness. It is what my fellow Christian Peacemaker Team members and I protested against in the Jarrah neighborhood in East Jerusalem, it was a great feeling that many Jewish people stood along side of us, even those orthodox guys with black hats who were actually Judaists (spelling?) protesting the Zionist ideology. I still receive weekly reports of this and other human rights abuses from the CPT. Sometimes I don't want to open those messages because it is so depressing and I can't always handle it.
Even though this advocating is difficult work, I meet so many wonderful human beings. In our chapter of "Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East" or CJPME we work together sometimes with "Sabeel" which is Christian or the local chapter of "Amnesty International". We hosted a meeting of CJPME recently and we had an Egyptian, a Palestinian (no right of return), a Jewish man, a woman who is an Occupational Therapist who worked with people in Gaza from the World Health Organization, whom we met from across our house! There was also a young moslim woman of Lebanese Palestinian back ground who became quite emotional and said "I did not know that any Canadians cared about us." I just about cried along with her. So there is reconciliation and Christian love shown right in our neighborhood and I thank God for moments such as these!
Well, Doug, as I mentioned earlier the publication "Steadfast Hope: The Palestinian Quest for a Just Peace" an excellent study guide by the Israel/Palestine Mission Network from a reformed perspective from the Presbyterian Church USA still available at $10.
Other churches like the Presbyterian church, Mennonite, Reformed Church of America, Episcopalian have their own version and I don't know how many CRC churches but we did have a study group in our East Hill Community Church in Vernon, BC.
So that is one way and there may be others.
The "CRC Engagement in Palestine and the Palestinian Territories" report mostly compiled our church's history to date on the subject, some suggestions going forward and population statistics.
It is too bad that there should be disagreement about that report, one could learn from talking about it.
My point was just that we should be able to trust our own people going to Israel and those that meet them in the "field" so to say.
My experience is that no matter what persuasion of the Christian faith you are whether free evangelical or reformed or whatever coming back from Hebron or Gaza they have pretty much the same story of abuse of human rights and international law.
I am also not saying any party is blameless.
I do recommend going and spending time in Hebron or Gaza, people will not be the same again (not that everybody can just do that).
It is really hard coming back from a place like those (just Hebron for me) and driving home the oppressive conditions people endure for generations now!
So the reason I mentioned Michael Lynke as the Special Reporter for the UN Human Rights organization is because it is not part of any faith group or party and internationally recognized, not because any one mentioned before is more or less righteous.
# 3, Interpretations regarding “Waqf”: Mostly what I found on the internet was that it means an “endowment” which could be on a small personal scale or on important mosques, or other significant buildings. Some are very significant and others not so much, I did not find anything about declaring war, etc. You would have to let me know where to find other explanations?
Probably Islamic laws might vary greatly from let say Pakistan, Indonesia or Palestine; just like there are many laws for orthodox Jews I would think as they are all about laws.
Again overture #6 is not about land and buildings as much but rather the great commandment to love God and your neighbor.
# 4 and # 5, Who has the corner on enmity or antisemitism? It is just as likely Europeans or North Americans, just think of the years of the nineteen thirties and forties or even today.
Actually there were times in Palestine and also Spain where the Jewish, Moslem and Christian societies prospered together.
It is in the forties, fifties and to this day when the Zionist ideology took over that started major discrimination against the local people whether they be Bedouin, Christian, Moslem.
There are Israeli Jews who are not Zionist and just wanted Palestine as before but alas this group is quite small. They are living a bit more like the prophets called for and they were the ones that stood alongside us in protesting house demolitions of Palestinian homes.
Are there no prophets in the land? if anything was missed in the writing of the overture it is like the following:
I should mention prominent groups like “Peace Now” or “Shalom Achshav” in Israel
or in the USA “America Peace Now” This group of mostly Jewish people has organized huge rallies for peace and for a state for Palestinians. Peace Now has extensive maps of illegal settlements and great resources. Prof. Gary Burge: ”When I have been feeling overwhelmed and depressed by the tremendous weight of the injustices in this land, it has been Jewish activists who have given me new inspiration. I believe that the reason of such extensive Jewish effort is because of the prophetic tradition itself. Deep in the heart of Jewish faith is what is ethical and just. This Israeli national harm to their Palestinian neighbors is profoundly offensive to what it means to be Jewish. Orthodox Jews and liberal Reform Jews alike can be seen marching in a city like Jerusalem calling out with the voice of Jeremiah and Amos as witnesses to the crimes they see. Are there prophetic voices in the land? Is Elijah’s still heard? Indeed!”
The Dispensationalist Christian Zionists, I find, are all about the end times and seem to care little of what is going on in Israel/Palestine and is what we of reformed faith should reject.
Preachers like John Hagee seem to have an undying heart for Israel, without any regard of the documented sufferings of Palestinians.
Prof. Marvin Wilson, a specialist on Judaism from Gordon College an evangelical institution says it well: ”The number one obstacle to peace is nationalism, because so often it insists on the denial of the other guy. A biblical view can’t be anti -Arab and pro -Israel, or anti -Israel and pro-Arab. God’s heart is where justice is”.
Christian Palestinianism? A new label, but not mine as I care for all peoples of the land.
“World Vision” the biggest evangelical charitable organization in the world with “the mission to follow our Lord and saviour Jesus Christ in working with the poor and oppressed to promote human transformation, seek justice and bear witness to the good news of the Kingdom of God.”
Unlike other Christian charitable organizations they are not involved in politics but network with the local Palestinian churches like Catholics, Orthodox, Evangelical Lutheran and Aglican.
But secondly their Jerusalem office has become an outspoken, high profile advocate for human rights in Israel because they are in the midst of what is going on.
In much the same way does “Sabeel” works with the local churches to improve the lot of both Christian and Moslem peoples. Rev Naim Ateek is himself a pastor with the Anglican church, their focus is very much encouraging congregations, to minister with women, youth, etc.
But also have an international arm like World Vision.
Posted in: ‘Palestine’ and Overture 6: Ten Questions to Consider
Overture #6 is there to promote truth, righteousness, justice and reconciliation for us as induviduals, local churches, national and bi national levels. The Office for Social Justice has an important practical role to play in coordination with liaisons in the Middle East as it is has been doing for a while. The CRC has sent out a number of delegations to Israel/Palestine which that has all been very beneficial.
But The Banner could do more in letting all our people know the truth in love what is really true rather then some news outlets with tons of editorial bent.
For example when a Michael Lynke , Reporter of the Human Rights branch of the United Nations comes out with a special report on how thing are in Israel/Palestine then that could be studied and reported on through our social justice people and the Banner as well , again in coordination with people of the CRC and RCA in the region that can verify it. We need to go forward with truth somewhere.
There is an excellent report from the CRC Office of Social Justice, I believe by Rev. Shannon Jammal-Hollemans, called
"CRC Engagement in Israel and the Palestinian Territories". It is a MUST read for us all and especially for the Advisory committee of the overture #6. It has a brief history, great suggestions and good statistics up to that date.
The report mentions for example working with groups like Musalaha (Gary's choice), Holy Land Trust and Sabeel ( which I have been involved with).
Posted in: ‘Palestine’ and Overture 6: Ten Questions to Consider
John, I will attempt to answer your 10 questions now from my own experience in the West Bank and a lot of reading: Question #1 and #2 : I don't think it matters what the land was called except that it was called Palestine in recent history and to this day, well a part is supposed to be the state of Palestine and the other Israel, but as we all know, one was allowed self-determination through a couple of powerful allies and the other not.
And even if Israel is the overall occupying power as is the case: Leviticus 19 : 33 says "When an alien resides with in your land, you shall not oppress the alien. The alien shall be to you as the citizen among you; you shall love the alien as yourself, for you were aliens in the land of Egypt: I am the Lord your God".
It looks like the writers of our modern International Law must have some background from Leviticus when it comes to behaviour of occupying powers! I so wish that modern state of Israel were that light on a hill and I could really revell with the wonderful stirring music of the movie "Exodus"!!
The owning of the land was in the old testament always contingient on Israel's faithfulness; sinfulness resulted in loss of inheritance and so land and righteous are linked.
So, "Is this all about land anyway?" As we already mentioned before in our discussions; No not really, we are to act righteously and love whoever lives in the land. Our Lord was also not interested in establishing a kingdom, his message was simply "to love the Lord your God and your neighbor as yourself".
The taking of land illegally, forcefully and without regard of the welfare of citizens that were deeded owners of the land for many, many generations is in deed an aweful and terrible thing to witness. It is what my fellow Christian Peacemaker Team members and I protested against in the Jarrah neighborhood in East Jerusalem, it was a great feeling that many Jewish people stood along side of us, even those orthodox guys with black hats who were actually Judaists (spelling?) protesting the Zionist ideology. I still receive weekly reports of this and other human rights abuses from the CPT. Sometimes I don't want to open those messages because it is so depressing and I can't always handle it.
Even though this advocating is difficult work, I meet so many wonderful human beings. In our chapter of "Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East" or CJPME we work together sometimes with "Sabeel" which is Christian or the local chapter of "Amnesty International". We hosted a meeting of CJPME recently and we had an Egyptian, a Palestinian (no right of return), a Jewish man, a woman who is an Occupational Therapist who worked with people in Gaza from the World Health Organization, whom we met from across our house! There was also a young moslim woman of Lebanese Palestinian back ground who became quite emotional and said "I did not know that any Canadians cared about us." I just about cried along with her. So there is reconciliation and Christian love shown right in our neighborhood and I thank God for moments such as these!
Posted in: ‘Palestine’ and Overture 6: Ten Questions to Consider
Well, Doug, as I mentioned earlier the publication "Steadfast Hope: The Palestinian Quest for a Just Peace" an excellent study guide by the Israel/Palestine Mission Network from a reformed perspective from the Presbyterian Church USA still available at $10.
Other churches like the Presbyterian church, Mennonite, Reformed Church of America, Episcopalian have their own version and I don't know how many CRC churches but we did have a study group in our East Hill Community Church in Vernon, BC.
So that is one way and there may be others.
The "CRC Engagement in Palestine and the Palestinian Territories" report mostly compiled our church's history to date on the subject, some suggestions going forward and population statistics.
It is too bad that there should be disagreement about that report, one could learn from talking about it.
My point was just that we should be able to trust our own people going to Israel and those that meet them in the "field" so to say.
My experience is that no matter what persuasion of the Christian faith you are whether free evangelical or reformed or whatever coming back from Hebron or Gaza they have pretty much the same story of abuse of human rights and international law.
I am also not saying any party is blameless.
I do recommend going and spending time in Hebron or Gaza, people will not be the same again (not that everybody can just do that).
It is really hard coming back from a place like those (just Hebron for me) and driving home the oppressive conditions people endure for generations now!
So the reason I mentioned Michael Lynke as the Special Reporter for the UN Human Rights organization is because it is not part of any faith group or party and internationally recognized, not because any one mentioned before is more or less righteous.
Posted in: ‘Palestine’ and Overture 6: Ten Questions to Consider
Comments on Questions 3, 4 and 5:
# 3, Interpretations regarding “Waqf”: Mostly what I found on the internet was that it means an “endowment” which could be on a small personal scale or on important mosques, or other significant buildings. Some are very significant and others not so much, I did not find anything about declaring war, etc. You would have to let me know where to find other explanations?
Probably Islamic laws might vary greatly from let say Pakistan, Indonesia or Palestine; just like there are many laws for orthodox Jews I would think as they are all about laws.
Again overture #6 is not about land and buildings as much but rather the great commandment to love God and your neighbor.
# 4 and # 5, Who has the corner on enmity or antisemitism? It is just as likely Europeans or North Americans, just think of the years of the nineteen thirties and forties or even today.
Actually there were times in Palestine and also Spain where the Jewish, Moslem and Christian societies prospered together.
It is in the forties, fifties and to this day when the Zionist ideology took over that started major discrimination against the local people whether they be Bedouin, Christian, Moslem.
There are Israeli Jews who are not Zionist and just wanted Palestine as before but alas this group is quite small. They are living a bit more like the prophets called for and they were the ones that stood alongside us in protesting house demolitions of Palestinian homes.
Are there no prophets in the land? if anything was missed in the writing of the overture it is like the following:
I should mention prominent groups like “Peace Now” or “Shalom Achshav” in Israel
or in the USA “America Peace Now” This group of mostly Jewish people has organized huge rallies for peace and for a state for Palestinians. Peace Now has extensive maps of illegal settlements and great resources. Prof. Gary Burge: ”When I have been feeling overwhelmed and depressed by the tremendous weight of the injustices in this land, it has been Jewish activists who have given me new inspiration. I believe that the reason of such extensive Jewish effort is because of the prophetic tradition itself. Deep in the heart of Jewish faith is what is ethical and just. This Israeli national harm to their Palestinian neighbors is profoundly offensive to what it means to be Jewish. Orthodox Jews and liberal Reform Jews alike can be seen marching in a city like Jerusalem calling out with the voice of Jeremiah and Amos as witnesses to the crimes they see. Are there prophetic voices in the land? Is Elijah’s still heard? Indeed!”
The Dispensationalist Christian Zionists, I find, are all about the end times and seem to care little of what is going on in Israel/Palestine and is what we of reformed faith should reject.
Preachers like John Hagee seem to have an undying heart for Israel, without any regard of the documented sufferings of Palestinians.
Prof. Marvin Wilson, a specialist on Judaism from Gordon College an evangelical institution says it well: ”The number one obstacle to peace is nationalism, because so often it insists on the denial of the other guy. A biblical view can’t be anti -Arab and pro -Israel, or anti -Israel and pro-Arab. God’s heart is where justice is”.
Christian Palestinianism? A new label, but not mine as I care for all peoples of the land.
“World Vision” the biggest evangelical charitable organization in the world with “the mission to follow our Lord and saviour Jesus Christ in working with the poor and oppressed to promote human transformation, seek justice and bear witness to the good news of the Kingdom of God.”
Unlike other Christian charitable organizations they are not involved in politics but network with the local Palestinian churches like Catholics, Orthodox, Evangelical Lutheran and Aglican.
But secondly their Jerusalem office has become an outspoken, high profile advocate for human rights in Israel because they are in the midst of what is going on.
In much the same way does “Sabeel” works with the local churches to improve the lot of both Christian and Moslem peoples. Rev Naim Ateek is himself a pastor with the Anglican church, their focus is very much encouraging congregations, to minister with women, youth, etc.
But also have an international arm like World Vision.