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Can We Talk?
The General Assembly's adoption of the Middle East report was one of the most significant actions it took. And the way the adoption occurred was, in the opinion of many, a true miracle, given the fractious atmosphere surrounding this issue pre-GA.
The miracle was, in part, that persons holding different points of view -- deeply held and passionate points of view that have in the past been extremely polarizing -- came together, talked to one another, and worked with one another to find common ground.
Two things happened this week to further the work done at GA. First, former Moderator Bruce Reyes-Chow and I appointed the Middle East Monitoring Team that was authorized by the Assembly. You can find out more about the team here: www.pcusa.org/news/2010/9/13/bolbach-appoints-middle-east-monitoring-group.
Second, a day-long gathering was held this past Monday in New York City to continue the conversation regarding Israel-Palestine that began at GA. The informal, non-official meeting was convened by Ron Shive, chair of the Middle East Study Committee and a member of the newly-formed Monitoring Team, and Katherine Henderson, President of Auburn Seminary. They brought together persons who had been part of the discussion at GA, and they were kind enough to invite me to take part in this follow-up conversation.
This gathering was not a time to take votes, or adopt a policy paper. It was a time to share with each other thoughts about where the P.C. (U.S.A.) goes from here in dealing with the incredibly difficult issues surrounding Israel-Palestine. Even more important, it was a time to talk face-to-face, rather than debate via e-mail or through op-eds in the Outlook. It was a time to create relationships.
Creating relationships, talking together to discern where we might be headed -- this sounds a lot like the Peace, Unity, and Purity report, doesn't it? We need to reclaim and re-engage with the substance and recommendations of that report. Advocating and arguing on behalf of a particular issue are still needed, don't get me wrong. But we also need to focus on what holds us together: our mutual commitment to carry out the Gospel message prophetically and passionately, and our mutual understanding that we do that most effectively through our connectional system. Even as we debate, discuss, argue, and vote, let's also remember that we are colleagues in Christ. Let's remember what binds us together, rather than always focusing on what drives us apart.
- Posted at 3:08 p.m.
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