The Acts of Convention

House of Bishops

The House of Bishops Committee on Social Justice and International Policy presented its Report #16 on Resolution D006 (Rejecting the Theology and Politics of Christian Zionism) and moved adoption of a substitute.

Original Text of Resolution:

(D006)

Resolved, the House of Deputies concurring,

That the 81st General Convention reject the theology of Christian Zionism, a politicized Christian theology distinct from the Jewish Zionism underpinning the Israeli state, that believes the establishment of Israel as an exclusively Jewish state in the whole land of Palestine-Israel, denying the legitimacy of any Palestinian Arab existence there, was mandated by God and must be completed before the Second Coming of Jesus Christ can occur; and be it further

Resolved, That the Episcopal Church recognize and publicly acknowledge the grave fear long expressed by our Palestinian Christian brothers and sisters that the indigenous Christian presence in the land of Christianity’s birth is diminishing dramatically because Israel’s anti-Palestinian policies are actively supported politically and financially and propagated by Christian Zionists; and be it further

Resolved, That the General Convention affirm Resolution 2022-A216, which expressed alarm at the threat to the Christian presence in Jerusalem presented by Israeli radical groups; and be it further

Resolved, That the Episcopal Church through its Office of Government Relations speak out publicly to challenge the U.S. tax exemptions granted to Christian Zionist institutions and organizations, and condemn Christian Zionism’s support for oppressive Israeli policies and practices.

Committee Substitute:

Resolved, the House of Deputies concurring,

That the 81st General Convention condemn the practical and political effects of that collection of theologies popularly known as ‘Christian Zionism,’ which, distinct from historic Jewish Zionism, in its many manifestations, promotes an eschatology in which the Second Coming of Christ is contingent upon the existence of the modern State of Israel, wrongly conflates that State with biblical Israel, and denies both the legitimacy of Palestinian existence and right to statehood in the Holy Land; and be it further

Resolved, that The Episcopal Church, having embraced Resolution 2022-A216 acknowledging the threat to the Christian presence in the Holy Land from “Israeli radical groups who are actively seeking to undermine the Christian communities of the Holy Land,” and who “seek to change fundamentally the historic multi-cultural, multi-ethnic, and multi-religious character of the region,” recognize the significant contribution of Christian Zionism to that threat; and be it further

Resolved, that The Episcopal Church affirm its long-standing commitment to stand in solidarity with our Palestinian Christian sisters and brothers in the Holy Land, sharing their deep distress regarding the dramatic diminishment of that community, which is due in large part to the pressures of Israeli governmental policies and practices of a discriminatory nature, and to the effects of military occupation, which are supported and promoted by Christian Zionist organizations in the U.S.; and be it further

Resolved, that the Episcopal Church, through the work of the Office of Government Relations, and in all appropriate forums, challenge the granting of tax-exempt status to religious organizations engaged in Christian Zionist advocacy and activity that contribute to the oppression of Palestinians in the Holy Land.

Voice vote was taken on D006 and was inconclusive, so an electronic vote was taken.

Motion defeated

Resolution rejected

(Communicated to the House of Deputies in HB Message #8)

The Rt. Rev. Peter Eaton, Southeast Florida made a motion to reconsider action previously taken.

Motion carried

The Rt. Rev. Peter Eaton, Southeast Florida moved an amendment to the resolution (FA034) to delete everything after the word community in the third Resolve clause and to delete the fourth Resolve clause entirely.

A vote was taken on the amendment.

Motion carried

Amendment adopted

A voice vote was taken on Resolution D006 as amended.

Motion carried

Substitute resolution adopted with amendment

(Communicated to the House of Deputies in HB Message #72)