montelatici
Gold Member
- Feb 5, 2014
- 18,686
- 2,107
- 280
Episcopals voted against BDS
Only because they feared Israeli retaliation against their members under Israeli control.
"Presiding Bishop Jefferts Schori has maintained a covenant with the Archbishop of Jerusalem, Suheil Dawani, a Palestinian, who also has publicly voiced opposition to the ECUSA joining the BDS campaign. Archbishop Dawani is opposed to the church adopting BDS against Israel reportedly because he fears reprisal from the Israeli authorities in threatening his travel and residence in Jerusalem. Hence rejection by the ECUSA of imposing non-violent BDS protest of Israel’s occupation ostensibly secures status quo for Archbishop Dawani whose archdiocese includes Palestine, Lebanon, Syria and the relatively safe haven of Jordan. This issue was directly addressed in the debate as reported by the Episcopal News Service:
Although the resolution didn’t use the word “divestment,” some bishops expressed concern that it was heading in that direction. Others reminded the house that Archbishop Suheil Dawani of the Episcopal Diocese of Jerusalem has urged the Episcopal Church not to adopt a policy that would make it more difficult for him to manage his congregations and the more than 30 social service institutions throughout Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria and the Palestinian Territories. Those institutions include schools, hospitals, clinics and centers for people with disabilities and serve people of all faiths.
“Any hint of divestment will hamper the ministry of Archbishop Suheil Dawani and his priests and congregations in the Middle East,” said Bishop Jay Magness, bishop suffragan for Federal Ministries who served on the Legislative Committee on Social Justice and
- See more at: Episcopal Church rejects BDS resolutions citing fears divestment would hamper church in Jerusalem Mondoweiss