Privilege and Responsibility

Boy! Have I been out of circulation. The last three weeks have been so hectic that I didn't even have time to place a tribute to Stan Techin who went to be with Messiah on 4 June. I'll post something soon but in the meantime, here's the fourth of my series of videos 'The Jewish People and You'.

Dinnae confuse me wi’ facts

I'm still in Scotland and, Boy, am I depressed. In my last blog I reported that I had been warmly received by the Free Church of Scotland and the Free Church (Continuing). Both churches are very supportive of CWI’s ministry to the Jewish people and many are supportive of Israel and the Jewish people.

I wish the same could be said of Scotland’s national Church. Last week, its General Assembly approved a motion that the Church of Scotland will no longer consider the Israeli perspective when campaigning on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

A report in the Jewish Chronicle says delegates at the General Assembly of Scotland’s largest church, which has over 450,000 members, voted overwhelmingly against a motion to ‘ensure a proper balance between the Israeli and Palestinian perspectives’ at a session on Gaza.

It followed the adoption of a special report and vote instructing the church to lobby the British government to ‘end the inhumane blockade of Gaza and related violence.’ The report suggested the church may stop support for a two-state solution, but also condemned rocket attacks on Israel.

When urged by a delegate to reverse the one-sided approach at last Monday’s assembly meeting of the Church and Society Council, convenor Rev Ian Galloway said: ‘There could never be a truly balanced view between Israel and Palestine.’

The vote means future reports and resource material produced by the church for its members would not present an Israeli narrative.

A Church of Scotland spokesperson said: ‘After debate the Assembly agreed overwhelmingly that the [Gaza] report was balanced as it stood. The thrust of the report was not to inform commissioners or congregations about the political explanations of either side but to report on the experiences shared by people living and working in Gaza.’

I’m appalled. If this isn’t a case of a church saying, ‘I’ve made up my mind; don’t confuse me with the facts,’ I don’t know what is.

And now for something completely different. My fourth video about how Christians should view the Jewish people is online. If you agree with me, don’t forget to click ‘Like’. And please let others know about it.



Shabbat shalom.