Sometimes a resolution comes down the pike whose wisdom and beauty is almost breathtaking. This is how the whole House of Bishops felt about a resolution sent to us by the legislative committee on public policy. It concerned Israel and Palestine. Very often such resolutions come across as one-sided and polarizing, even when they don’t intend to be. Not this one. It was all about how the Episcopal Church could help the Diocese of Jerusalem in its work of bringing Jews, Muslims and Christians together in pursuit of peace, and could pursue policies that would favor dialogue over division. This resolution didn’t skirt the profound challenges that face the two-state solution embraced by our church, nor did it avoid naming concrete actions we can take, including positive investment in Palestinian businesses to build up the economic infrastructure that is crucial to any future viability of Palestine as a state. But there was no rancor in this resolution — rather a clearly articulated care for the people on both sides of the Israeli-Palestinian divide. Bishops across the whole political spectrum were able to rally around this piece of legislation — not because it offered no challenges, but because it challenged everyone to the hard work of peace-making. This resolution would not have been possible apart from a growing commitment to peace-making within our own church, as we learn to gather at one altar despite our differences.
What resolution is he referring to specifically?
Barry Beisner’s resolution on positive investment in Palestinian territories.
Do you have a resolution number? I can’t find it on the GenCon website.
The Diocese of Jerusalem is not interested in Jews other than for process.