
NCCA Forum
votes in support
of Palestine
The National Council of Churches in Australia's (NCCA) Forum on 26th June 2016, passed a resolution in support of Palestine and Palestinian Christians. The resolution noted the work of the Uniting Church in highlighting the plight of Palestinians and invited the UCA to share this campaign with other member churches. It also agreed to a visit of Australian Church Leaders to Palestine-Israel in 2017, a reciprocal visit from a Palestinian Church Leader to Australia and the commissioning of Lenten studies on Palestine.
Rev Prof Andrew Dutney (pictured above) moved the motion on behalf of the Uniting Church of Australia, highlighting, "the direct request from our Palestinian Christian sisters and brothers for this expression of solidarity. It was a request that has been conveyed through official inter-church and ecumenical channels (as well as) personally - Christian to Christian."
Dr Dutney noted his involvement in the Uniting Church's Jerusalem conference in 2014 and commented, "In a limited way we felt some of the daily humiliation, intimidation and danger experienced by our brothers and sisters there."
The motion was seconded by the Religious Society of Friends.
You can read more about the resolution and Dr Dutney's remarks here
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Church Campaigns
The last month has seen some interesting developments on campaigns related to boycotts and economic strategies targeted at Israel and its unjust policies towards Palestinians.
Of particular note are the following:
- The United Congregational Church of Southern Africa (UCCSA) has issued a statement in support of Palestinian people, noting "the Palestinian struggle is not simply a conflict, but an asymmetric struggle between an oppressor and the oppressed. The oppression entails a decades' long institutionalized discrimination against Palestinians ...". More details here.
- The Mennonite Church Canada Assembly supported a resolution on Palestine, including the request, “We ask the Mennonite Church Canada General Board, along with regional churches, congregations, and members—to avoid investing in or supporting companies that do business with Israeli settlements and the Israel Defense Forces, and companies that are profiting from the occupation of the Palestinian territories." More details here.
- The Presbyterian Church (USA) has successfully influenced the real estate company RE/MAX to stop selling properties in Israeli settlements built on occupied Palestinian land in violation of international law and official US policy. More details here.
- Palestinian Fair Trade! If you would like to positively support Palestinian products click here. These would be wonderful gifts for Christmas .... Orders can be made via email; however, they hope to set up an on-line shop in the near future. The products look fabulous

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