Presbyterians and Methodists opposed to the existence of Israel at all

[Mediocrates]

From news article:

The United Methodist Church is the major mainline Protestant denomination in the United States. Hillary Clinton, John McCain and Rick Perry, to name just a few, are all Methodists. During its General Conference in late April in Tampa, Florida, the Church will discuss some divestment proposals targeting companies that profit from Israel’s “occupation”, such as Motorola, Caterpillar and Hewlett Packard. The Methodists boycott no other country. But they loudly proclaim a radical anti-Israel policy. The divestment campaign can have severe consequences for the companies targeted. For example, the United Methodist Church’s pension agency reportedly has $5 million in Caterpillar stock out of $15 billion in assets. Methodist bishops have already opposed U.S. arms sales to the Jewish State.

Last November, the Presbyterian Church hold a conference in Louisville and it embraced the “Kairos Document”, which rejects the Jewish State and says that Israeli security policies are “a sin against God”. "Liberal" Church efforts to divest from companies doing business with Israel are part of a bigger trend which demonizes Judaism. At the recent Louisville symposium, Eugene March, professor emeritus of Old Testament at Presbyterian Seminary, said the Jewish right to the land is “invalid”, while Gary Burge, professor of New Testament at Wheaton College, criticized “the territorial worldview of Judaism”.

http://www.israelnationalnews.com/Ar...3#.TzKmLjYXr6S

[Bill Sticker]

I as an Ulster Loyalist who was a Methodist and converted to Presbyterianism sometimes despair of my co-religionists. I can only assure you that the Ulster people are solidly pro Israel and will do everything in our power to change the minds of those sadly misguided members of our faith who are not.

However that said there The PCA Presbyterian Church in America and the PC(USA) Presbyterian Church USA are distinctly different denominations.So I am trying to find out what the formers position is on this. Certainly theres no doubt about our opinion in Ulster

The last time Presbyterians in America fell out they called it the Civil war!!

http://i2.bebo.com/052/3/large/2010/...801267427l.jpg

http://i2.bebo.com/052/12/large/2010...801267614l.jpg

I wonder what Francis Makemie would have made of it all he was the Ulsterman who founded the Presbyterian Church in America
http://www.francismakemie.com/Francis_Makemie_Stamp.jpg
“To the plain hero of a rugged race,
We bring a meed of praise too long delayed,
Thy fearless word and faithful work have made
The path of God’s republic easier to trace
In this New World; thou hast proclaimed the grace
And power of Christ in many a woodland glade,
Teaching the Truth that leaves men unafraid
Of tyrants’ frowns, or chains, or death’s dark face,
Oh. who can tell how must we owe to thee,
Makemie, and to labours such as thine,
For all that makes America the shrine
Of faith untrammelled and of conscience free?
Stand here. gray stone, and consecrate the sod
where sleeps this brave Scots-Irish man of God!”

[Bill Sticker]

I said I would endeavour to answer this question and here is the promised reply:-

Bill,

Greetings! In response to your question concerning the state of Israel, there is an unfortunate confusion in the mind of the general public between the Presbyterian Church in America (PCA) and the Presbyterian Church (USA). This has become especially obvious since the 2004 PCUSA General Assembly adopted a statement in support of the Palestinians in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

The General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in America (PCA) has not taken a position regarding the Israeli-Palestinian issue.

The PCA General Assembly does not make pronouncements on political issues; it does not dictate to its members what or who to vote for.
The General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in the United States of America (PCUSA) has taken a position regarding the Israeli-Palestinian issue.
Just as there are different denominations within Judaism (Orthodox, Conservative, Reform, etc.), there are different Presbyterian denominations as well. The PCA and the PCUSA are two separate and different denominations. You should direct your questions to the PCUSA (www.pcusa.org).

The Presbyterian Church in America
TE Bob Hornick
Office of the Stated Clerk
Presbyterian Church in America

678-825-1028

[Bill Sticker]

Also I understand that the United Methodist is not the only Methodist church in America either.

I suppose its a bit like Othodox and non othodox Jews.

[Aliyah1995]

In all fairness, it would be unfair to say Presbyterian Church (USA) is against the existence of Israel:

http://apps.pcusa.org/ga219/pdf/midd..._final_FAQ.pdf

The General Assembly approved a comprehensive report on the Middle East – its first since 1997.The paper calls for:
 An immediate cessation of all violence, whether perpetrated by Israelis or Palestinians;
 The reaffirmation of Israel’s right to exist as a sovereign nation within secure and internationally recognized
borders in accordance with United Nations resolutions;
 The end of the Israeli occupation of Palestinian territories;
 An immediate freeze on the establishment and expansion of Israeli settlements in the West Bank, and on the
Israeli acquisition of Palestinian land and buildings in East Jerusalem;
 And many other steps toward peace in the region.

This is not to say PCUSA is not one-sided towards the Palestinians, as one can see they only mention Israeli "occupation" and "settlements", but make no demands from the Arabs to stop terrorism (yes, they do call on both sides to stop the violence, but by not saying "terrorism committed against Israeli civilians" they are pulling the moral relativity baloney to make themselves out to be "honest brokers").

[Mediocrates]

So basically the 1949 lines and death or just certain death. To me, they can all scream in hell. But I fully respect international law on that screaming in hell aspect.