Presbyterian Delegates Take Action at PCUSA General Assembly

St. Louis, MO I Presbyterian Church USA General Assembly

Eyewitness Palestine delegates were at the forefront of organizing to keep the Presbyterian Church USA focused on it's important work putting economic pressure on Israel to abide by human rights standards. Several overtures regarding Palestine were passed in committee at the 223rd General Assembly of the PCUSA and were approved “by consent” at the opening session.

Among the overtures that passed were those that:
- Affirmed the right to boycott by opposing federal and state anti-BDS legislation;
- Called for equality for all citizens of Israel, including 48 Palestinians;
- Urged boycott target RE/MAX to stop facilitating the property sales in illegal settlements; and
- Responded to the National Coalition of Christian Organizations in Palestine call urging the World Council of Churches to “recognize Israel as an apartheid state,” to refuse Christian complicity in Israeli oppression, and to defend and intensify BDS campaigns.

Photographed here are five of the dozens of Eyewitness Palestine delegates active at the General Assembly: Betsy Simpson, Jessie Light, Casey Aldridge, Emily Brewer, Rick Ufford-Chase of the Presbyterian Peace Fellowship (PPF). The work of these delegates, and others, is a testament to the partnerships forged with PPF, Presbyterian denominations, and individual Presbyterian activists.

For more on the overtures that passed at the General Assembly, see this report from the Israel-Palestine Mission Network of the PCUSA.

LINK: http://new.israelpalestinemissionnetwork.org/?id=377