“Not to take sides is to
effectively weigh in on the side of the stronger.”
-William Sloane Coffin
Today, we,
as a representative body of the global United Methodist Church at the General
Conference, voted to not support divestment. United Methodists across the connection
have passionately devoted time and energy these past four years to work towards
realizing and calling for divestment this General Conference.
As the
United Methodist Kairos Response states:
“Divestment
is a form of nonviolent moral action to change unjust practices,” and in doing
so, it can:
“1.
…provide hope to Palestinians who see their freedom denied every day;
2. …raise
the level of awareness about how profitable Israel’s occupation has become for
companies around the world;
3. …ensure
that we as investors are not profiting from this;
4. …put companies on notice that their support
for Israel’s occupation may turn away investors;
5.
…stimulate public discussion about the realities of occupation, which have
largely been hidden from Americans, and can lay the groundwork for changing US
policy;
6. ….send a
message to Israeli leaders that we view the occupation as immoral and we will
actively oppose it; [and]
7. …show
the world that we believe in the equality of all God’s children, and that our
faith requires our commitment to justice and peace.”[1]
Well,
engaging in divestment could have had
these impacts….
In
discussing the investments and divestment of the United Methodist Church’s
finances and stock-holdings, the UM Kairos Response movement of the church had
petitioned to, hoped for, and envisioned a divestment from Caterpillar, Hewlett
Packard, and Motorola, the three major companies invested in the Israeli occupation
through the implication of the use of their products in home demolitions, the
construction of settlements, biometric monitoring of checkpoints, and surveillance
systems for settlements, military bases, and the wall. The major issues of
divestment, for those represented here and opposed to such action, included the
financial implications of such action for the General Board of Pensions and
Health Benefits (thinking, first, of ourselves), Israel, and (lastly)
Palestinian Christians. Discussion of this and another petition regarding
Israeli settlements was charged with negative, hateful language, particularly
directed at ‘the Muslims’ and ‘all the Arabs,’ who ‘pose a threat to the
security in our backyard.’
Having been
in Israel and Palestine in 2010, I have witnessed that the movement to divest
and the seeking of peace in the Holy Land moves beyond these concerns.
Having
broken bread with, lived with, and worked with Muslims in Palestine, Turkey,
and Germany, I am outraged and personally offended by such hateful speech
against Muslims on the plenary floor of a Christian
organization, to which I am a member. Three years ago, I joined the United Methodist
Church, impassioned through and empowered by the denomination’s commitment to
justice, but have never questioned my membership in this institution more than
I have in the last ten days.
This
afternoon, the United Methodist Church has chosen to do nothing. To remain
silent. To remain complacent.
Although
Wesley stood on the principles of social holiness and the belief that there is no
religion but social religion;
Although
the United Methodist Church has a tradition of standing with marginalized
peoples; and
Although the
Palestinian Christians have asked us to stand in solidarity with them and have
submitted a concrete call for us to act to bring peace and justice,
We, as a
church, remain silent.
We turned
from the UM Kairos Response’s call that ,“The Church should lead with prophetic
action by publicly and promptly aligning its investments with longstanding
church policies opposing the Israeli occupation.”
We failed
to give voice to the voiceless. We failed to align our actions with our words.
We quiver in fear, failing to stand brave together as a church.
In doing
so, we fail to work towards peace and justice for Israelis and Palestinians
suffering under occupation.
We fail to
be the change that Christ calls us to be in this world.
Our
Palestinian sisters and brothers in Christ empowered us in the Bethlehem Call, Here We Stand – Stand with us, “The pain
will pass soon if we act now.”[2]
How long
will we now need for this pain to pass? When will our Christian actions align
with our doctrine and Jesus’ example of justice? When will peace and justice
prevail?
“First
they came for the Jews and I did not speak out because I was not a Jew.
Then they came for the Communists and I did not speak out because I was not a
Communist.
Then they came for the trade unionists and I did not speak out because I was
not a trade unionist.
Then they came for me and there was no one left to speak out for me.“-Martin Niemöller
When will we, as a denomination, speak out
against and act in the face of injustice?
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