The 81st General Convention of the Episcopal Church
Photo: Janet Kawamoto/Episcopal News Service
by Jonathan Kuttab
The 81st General Convention of the Episcopal Church, held this past weekend in Louisville, Kentucky, was a virtual emotional roller coaster for those concerned with peace and justice in Palestine/Israel.
Months and months of hard work, thoughtful discussions, and determined advocacy led to the submission of around 17 Resolutions on Palestine/Israel to be presented to the convention. These initiatives ran the full gamut: recognizing the situation as apartheid; combatting the theological heresy of Christian Zionism; calling for a ceasefire (actually including the word “genocide”); affirming Palestinian Arabs as Indigenous peoples of the land between the Mediterranean Sea and the Jordan River; restricting arms sales to Israel and conditioning them on human rights criteria; and supporting BDS while calling for divestment of church funds from corporations complicit in the oppression of Palestinians.
Yet even before the convention began, some troubling signs began to appear. An article in the Jewish Forward warned of “antisemitic resolutions” being considered by the convention, and reports were leaked that influential “conversation partners” to a number of bishops were pressuring the bishops to refrain from passing, or even debating, many of these issues at the risk of causing tensions with the Jewish community.
In accordance with Episcopal Church procedure, these resolutions required approval from the House of Bishops, even when passed unanimously by various committees like the Social Justice and International Policy Committee, before they could be presented to the House of Deputies—representing the various dioceses—and then onto the Convention itself.
The first group of resolutions were presented on Sunday during the first session of the House of Bishops. It was a bloodbath. As each resolution came up for discussion, Bishop Eaton of Florida stood up, stated that the resolution was problematic, and emphasized that it should not be passed. Or, he objected to the use of a certain word in the resolution (apartheid, for instance), suggesting that it be tabled or that it required further discussion. Amazingly, almost no Bishop stood up in support of the resolutions, as they were summarily defeated without discussion. Even a resolution declaring Palestinians to be an indigenous people and another opposing Christian Zionism as a dangerous and toxic theology were summarily dismissed. One milquetoast resolution calling for humanitarian assistance to Gaza was passed, but only after being gutted of substantive content and the addition of a condemnation of Hamas for “hiding behind hospitals, schools and other civilian structures” (an assertion used by Israel to blatantly justify the targeting of civilians and civilian institutions.)
The results of that first session were so disappointing that the Palestinian Archbishop of Jerusalem walked out in disgust. Many other activists stated that something needed to be done and that some parliamentary method must be sought in order to present the views of the House of Deputies, whose 800 members were definitely concerned about Gaza and incredibly disappointed that the House of Bishops gave the issue such short shrift. The Archbishop of South Africa, who had followed the proceedings by Zoom, expressed his dismay both at the positions taken by the House of Bishops and the fact that there was so little reflection or discussion before the votes were taken.
As a result of much backstage activity, the second session of the House of Bishops turned out to be a bit better. The resolution discussing Christian Zionism was revisited, and after a couple of amendments it was in fact passed, as was another resolution lamenting the administrative detention of Layan Nasir, a 23-year-old Anglican Palestinian woman who was kidnapped at gunpoint from her home and is being held without charge or trial by the Israeli authorities. A resolution calling for the conditioning of US military aid to Israel on the basis of its adherence to basic human rights was passed, and another resolution calling for a ceasefire was to be voted upon. Attempts to amend the resolution, by taking out words referring to a possible genocide or removing the offending word “genocide” were defeated, suggesting that the House of Bishops was aware of the criticism against its previous positions and was attempting to better reflect the sentiments of others at the convention.
Generally speaking and without fully understanding the complicated church politics involved, it was clear that the Episcopal Church was indeed in a quandary. The Palestinian case brought forth both the best and the worst of the Church in its response.
There is no doubt that those in positions of influence and power are under great pressure to refrain from overt deviation from the official line when it comes to Hamas, Israel, or Israeli violations of human rights and war crimes. Words like “genocide,” “apartheid,” and “ethnic cleansing” would not be tolerated, and a repeat of standard refrains against Hamas was mandatory. In addition, the threat of angering the Jewish establishment and risk being labeled antisemitic was not to be permitted by most of the bishops, even if it resulted in shameful silence in the face of ongoing genocide and the church’s failure to proclaim a prophetic message.
At the same time, it became clear that there are powerful voices within the Church that were willing to speak prophetic truth, to proclaim a strong testimony in the face of the church hierarchy, and to call their own bishops to a truer manifestation of the witness of the church. At one point, our dear friends with the Episcopal Peace Fellowship Palestine Israel Network (EPF PIN) and Palestinian Anglicans and Clergy Allies (PACA) held a mini demonstration, holding placards within the convention hall calling on their bishops to take a proper stand for justice. These efforts, coupled with numerous speaking engagements and conversations of my own, were not in vain. Several bishops later lamented that they had not spoken up and expressed willingness to reexamine the positions taken by the House of Bishops.
There is certainly much room for education and advocacy within the church as well. EPF PIN is working with FOSNA to arrange for a trip for a number of bishops to Jerusalem to observe the reality of the situation themselves. The Episcopal Church had actually led the way in the fight against Apartheid in South Africa and the divestment movement then. There is every reason to hope, and we can work for a change whereby the Church can once again play a similar role and avoid the embarrassing position of being the last to see the light on the Palestine/Israel problem.
In contrast to the above, the Unitarian Universalists at their convention this past weekend passed a bold Action of Immediate Witness on Palestine, calling for an immediate ceasefire and the suspension of arms sales to Israel, and boldly denouncing the ongoing genocide. FOSNA was proud to offer our endorsement of the measure. The Presbyterians (PCUSA) are also beginning their proceedings leading up to their General Assembly and are expected to debate and pass a number of similar overtures and resolutions, having overwhelmingly passed their initial committee stages this week. Next week, I am looking forward to speaking at the Friends General Convention.
Of course, we are still celebrating the passage of the United Methodists Resolution from last April, “Excluding Government Debt of Countries Involved in Prolonged Occupations” and endorse the United Church of Christ Palestine Israel Network (UCC PIN) declaration, “It’s Past Time: Naming Israel’s Genocide.”
Rev. Munther Isaac has correctly lamented the silence and timidity of the American churches in the face of the ongoing genocide. However, strong and faithful groups in each of these denominations have been vocal and forthright in calling each denomination to take a bold and prophetic stance for justice and truth. FOSNA and its members are proud to be involved in many of these efforts and to partner with the activities of the denominational Palestine/Israel Networks (PINs) and solidarity groups who are undertaking amazing work.
In Memoriam
Written by Joe Roos, Chair of the FOSNA Finance and Development Committee and former Co-Chair of FOSNA Board of Trustees
It is with great sadness that FOSNA announces the passing of one of the beloved members of our Board of Trustees – Nahida Halaby Gordon. Nahida served FOSNA in an exemplary manner, offering not only her insights and experience as a Palestinian American woman, but also for her expertise in finance and management. She chaired the FOSNA Finance and Development Committee and once was the Co-Chair of the FOSNA Board.
Nahida was born in 1939 in Jerusalem, Palestine, the same year that ended the first Palestinian uprising against their British occupiers. During her secondary school years, she was not able to walk to school by herself, even though she lived only two blocks away, because the precursors of the Israeli military would periodically pepper the streets of her home with live ammunition. Nahida once reflected that, “as a preteen in late 1947 and early 1948, I watched my country and community collapse around me. We lost all—our home, belongings, community and friends…The image I have of my father arriving home with blood all over his head and clothes remains with me to this day.”
Her family moved to the United States to escape the violence of the Nakba, hoping to return to their homeland, but the newly formed state of Israel refused their return. Nahida married, became a grandmother and Professor Emerita of mathematics/statistics. She published numerous articles and books, but her heart was always with the people of Palestine, for the end of the occupation and for freedom and justice for all Palestinians.
Nahida, your generous heart and your many gifts will be deeply missed by all of us at FOSNA. We are stronger because of your loving and giving presence.