Uniting Church changes policy on Jewish issues

[Ognir]

http://jewishnews.net.au/2009/11/09/uni ... ssues/9332

PETER KOHN

IN a landmark reversal, the Uniting Church in Australia has dropped its longstanding policy of supporting conversion of Jews to Christianity.

At its 12th conference held recently in Sydney, the Uniting Church's National Assembly -– the church's supreme decision-making body -– issued a statement setting out new principles on Jews and Judaism.

The change was driven by a small group headed by the Reverend Dr Lorraine Parkinson, chair of the church's working group on Christian-Jewish relations, and her husband, the Reverend Dr John Bodycomb.

The new policy states the church "does not accept Christian teaching that is derogatory towards Jews and Judaism [or] the belief that God has abolished the covenant with the Jewish people".

It also rejects "supercessionism, the belief that Christians have replaced Jews in the love and purpose of God". It repudiates "relationships with Jews that require them to become Christian, including coercion and manipulation that violate their humanity, dignity and freedom".

The document encourages church members to "seek opportunities to meet with Jews and to learn about modern Judaism".

It urges them to visit synagogue services where possible, invite rabbis to speak, and become involved with the Council of Christians and Jews (CCJ).

"Christianity emerged from Judaism of the first century and cannot be understood apart from it," the policy states.

"The Uniting Church acknowledges with repentance a history of interpretation of New Testament texts, which has often failed to appreciate the context from which these texts emerged."

The statement laments the historical rift between the two faiths, as well as "bitterness and antagonism, resulting in deeply rooted anti-Jewish misunderstandings".

It speaks of "an anti-Judaism which developed in Christianity, creating fertile ground for the spread of anti-Semitism culminating in the Shoah (Holocaust)".

Rev Bodycomb said the new direction, promoted by "pluralists" within the church, might disturb "exclusivists" who "believe they and no others are right with God", and "inclusivists" who tend to see Jews as "anonymous Christians".

Rabbi John Levi, a founding member of the CCJ, told The AJN: "Jews will be astonished to know that this resolution is the end result of many years of hard work by a small group of people who appreciate Judaism."

[Father Brown]

This is unreal. This is an ongoing saga in the Catholic Church and this same kind of story  seems to be in the news on a weekly basis. I have no proof, but it seems possible to me that the Zio-Bankers may have these institutions by the short and curlies. Of course they always exert "righteous" pressure, but this seems a bit coincidental considering the current financial mileau.

By the way, does anyone here have a pulse on how big this Uniting Church is Down Under?