November 23, 2015
Media Coverage:
The B’nai B’rith Anti-Defamation Commission and Member for Caulfield David Southwick have denounced the anti-Israel stance adopted by the leadership of the Uniting Church in Australia. (UCA), the third largest Christian denomination in Australia. In a letter to Mr Southwick, Stuart Macmillan, President of the UCA stated that although the church has not endorsed the BDS as a policy, they have “encouraged our members to be informed and to consider personally boycotting products produced in the illegal settlements within the occupied territories.” Furthermore, Mr Macmillan noted that “Our Church does have concerns for Palestinian people, particularly Christians living under the current policies Israel has implemented, which we believe are oppressive and unjust”.
The ADC has also learned that during the UCA’s 14th National Assembly, The Palestine Israel Ecumenical Network (PIEN) which supports the BDS movement and is headed by former UCA president The Reverend Gregor Henderson, had a stall that contained information and resources for the delegates to the assembly. On the final day of the National Assembly, PIEN’s executive officer and UCA’s immediate Past President Rev Andrew Dutney and member of the Standing Committee Rev. Felicity Amery, presented a resolution, which amongst other things, established “an awareness-raising campaign throughout the Church on the plight of Palestinian Christians and the Palestinian people, including promotion of the boycott of goods from the illegal settlements in the West Bank as part of the campaign.” The resolution was passed unanimously.
The resolution also agrees to received requests from “the Heads of Churches in Jerusalem, the Kairos Palestine movement and the World Council of Churches to act in response to the plight of the people of Palestine.” The 2009 Kairos Palestine document, labels terror a form of legal resistance and endorses boycotts and divestment against Israel. According to PIEN, “This resolution is a very significant milestone in Australia, in that it is the first time that a church membership has endorsed any economic boycott of Israel.”
Dr. Dvir Abramovich, Chairman of the ADC, and member for Caulfield David Southwick issued the following statement:
“We are greatly disappointed and saddened by the UCA leadership’s anti-Israel stance. This is the wrong way to promote greater respect and understanding between Christians and Jews. At a time when Christians are beheaded, forcibly converted, expelled and persecuted in the Middle-east and around the world, the Uniting Church of Australia has chosen to single out the only democracy in the region which provides a safe haven and freedom of worship for Christians. The endorsement of this punitive and grossly one-sided resolution, made under religious pretences, will only demonise and further vilify Israel. It is a pity that the UCA has turned its back on efforts to cultivate positive and constructive initiatives that properly address the complexities of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. This vote sends a very hurtful message to Australian Jews and foments an atmosphere of hostility. The UCA should know that by promoting the boycott, divestment and sanctions movement to their members that they are threatening the relationship between the Jewish community and their church. It is morally reprehensible for the UCA to single out Israel for censure while turning a blind eye to the killing of Jews by Hamas, a terrorist organization whose openly declared goal is the destruction of Israel, and the incitement by President Abbas which has led to the deaths of scores of Israelis. We call on the leadership and members of the UCA to acknowledge that endorsing such an unfair resolution was entirely counterproductive and damaging, and to act responsibly by withdrawing their support for this anti-Israel activism.”
For more information, please contact Dr. Dvir Abramovich on 03 9272-5677