Someone else's problem?
In a recent article in the The Forward (link) I state that there are “wicked” forces at work in at least two mainline Protestant churches. That’s pretty close to a “fighting” word – but one carefully chosen – and referring to a “fight” that was joined a long time ago. There is a serious problem in the Mainline Protestant-Jewish encounter. Groups affiliated with the churches, but not speaking officially for the church, have grown so in their hatred for Israel that they have checked their civility at the door. What was once criticism of Israel has morphed into outright anti-Jewish animus. And those in a position to put a check on the problematic forces have taken a pass. Where are the voices of those who are in a position to say that this hatred is not the way?
Here are the specifics. Several months ago, a United Methodist Church group – the General Board of Global Ministries Women’s Division - produced a slick 225-page Mission Study on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The mission study is filth. Zionists are called racist and compared to “Nazis. “ Israelis are repeatedly called “terrorists,” Jews are called “monsters.” Jewish heroes like David Ben Gurion are called “extremist.” Arab rejection of Israel is written out of the history and in its place is woven a narrative of Israelis who wanted to ethnically cleanse the land of Arabs they consider “less than human.” Israel , according to the mission study, is born in “original sin.”
Those of us who work in Jewish communal organizations are often accused of calling the churches on every word that they write. We didn’t do that here. Several months ago, The Forward ran an article calling attention to the mission study. We hoped leaders in the church would take a look at this document and do something. It was raised in conversations. Nothing happened. And while church leaders were silent, the mission study was being used to train Methodists that Israel is the stuff of evil. The mission study is that pernicious.
The other item that triggered the “wicked” label is a PowerPoint that has been posted on the website of a group chartered by the Presbyterian Church (USA) and guided by a senior church professional. That document compares Israel to Apartheid era South Africa, states that Israel is not a democracy and that Arabs living in Israel have no legitimate rights or claims. It says that Israelis care only about security, have no desire to cede land for peace, and want Palestinians to live in Bantustans. It repeats the often told myth that Jews lived in peace under Muslim rule, because that is the solution this group offers. The website calls a two-state solution only “qualified justice.” Preferable to it is a one-state solution. And then comes the clincher – it says “Jews in the Diaspora must get a life.”
I can’t say that I have my head wrapped around why such nastiness is allowed free reign in church life – but I do know it is time to call it what it is: wicked. And to call on those in leadership positions to use their full voices to do the same.
