Issue Discussion. February 7, 2016 Southminster Presbyterian Church Discernment Process

Transcription

1 Issue Discussion February 7, 2016 Southminster Presbyterian Church Discernment Process 1

2 3 Issues to Talk About Oil and Gas Israel/Palestine Same Sex Relationships These are not the only 3 issues to discuss, but they are the most well-known and most discussed in national media and other outlets 2

3 Defining Terms that You ll Hear More About Divestment is the reduction of some kind of asset for financial, ethical, or political objectives or sale of an existing business by a firm. The Board of Pensions administers the pension, healthcare, death and disability, and other benefits of PC(USA) ministers and employees. It is an independent agency of the PC(USA) s General Assembly, the denomination s governing body. The Presbyterian Church (USA) Foundation holds the endowments, planned gifts, and mid- to long-term investments of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) and receives and administers gifts from individuals. It is the Board of Trustees of those holdings 3

4 Oil and Gas PC(USA) has investments in many corporations as part of the holdings of Board of Pensions and the Foundation (over $200 million) Some of these include the stock of ExxonMobil, Chevron, Marathon Oil, Marathon Petroleum, Noble Energy, ConocoPhillips, Phillips 66, Ultra Petroleum and Hess Corporation Groups within the PC(USA) want to fight global warming by dropping investments in the fossil fuel industry. 4

5 Divestment This has happened in the past as the denomination has dropped investments in: tobacco companies, for-profit prisons, makers of some military weapons and companies that do substantial business in countries with records of human rights violations. In practice, but not by policy, the church avoids financial holdings in the gambling industry and producers of alcohol and handguns The reasons behind this movement can be summarized in two websites, both of which are linked to the PC(USA) An advocacy group within the denomination, Fossil Free PC(USA) One of the denomination s standing committees, The Advisory Committee on Social Witness Policy (ACSWP) 5

6 Fossil Free PC(USA) 6

7 Fossil Free PC(USA) Divestment is a moral and prophetic act. It is a refusal to invest in or profit from companies engaging in unethical actions. Burning fossil fuels creates global warming, which in turn creates changes in the environment causing suffering for humans and other living things. It is thus morally wrong to make money from the extraction, processing or sale of fossil fuels. 7

8 Committee on Social Witness Policy 8

9 The Advisory Committee on Social Witness Policy (ACSWP) The Advisory Committee on Social Witness Policy (ACSWP) published The Power to Change, a page document from rt.pdf It calls on Christians to develop a new way of living in harmony with Earth s energy resources and in solidarity with all of God s creatures. This PC(USA) s committee calls for changes to everything ranging from city planning to national security policy to live carbon neutral lives. 9

10 2014 General Assembly The Assembly considered an overture from the Presbytery of Boston seeking divestment. That overture asked the General Assembly to instruct the Board of Pensions and the Presbyterian Foundation to stop investing in fossil fuel companies and to liquidate any investments it already held in those companies within five years. Instead of doing that, the Assembly voted to refer the overture to MRTI Mission Responsibility Through Investment (MRTI) is a committee of the Presbyterian General Assembly. It implements the General Assembly's policies on socially responsible investing (also called faith-based investing) 10

11 2015 Symposium in Houston In response, PC(USA) leaders in Texas, Arkansas, Oklahoma and Louisiana held a symposium on the issue. The result of that meeting was to oppose divestment Divestment is a meaningless protest that does little more than "hurt, humiliate, offend and vilify people of good faith and moral character who work in the fossil fuel industry." "If the Presbyterian church divests its investments in fossil fuels, those shares will be snapped up in seconds. All that will happen is a change in ownership of those shares. It will not have an impact on the climate. It will not impact greenhouse gasses. It is a symbolic gesture that doesn't ask us individually to make sacrifices. 11

12 Report of the MRTI Recommendations ask the assembly to direct MRTI to continue its process of engagement with all corporations, particularly with oil, gas and coal firms, and to report back to the 2018 assembly with divestment as a possible outcome if significant changes aren t made through the process of engagement with MRTI and its ecumenical partners. In other words, don t divest now but maybe, if progress isn t made, consider it down the road. 12

13 2 days ag0 - Presbyterian Mission Agency board approved The [PMA] voted to support a recommendation from the Mission Responsibility Through Investment (MRTI) committee, which asks the 2016 General Assembly to call on all corporations to increase their efforts to address climate change through vigorous action. The PMA is the executive board for all of the PC(USA) committees 13

14 Not Good Enough for Advocates for Divestment trying again at 2016 GA However, advocates for the Oil and Gas Divestment movement are not in agreement with the recommendations of the MRTI For the 2016 assembly, the Presbytery of San Francisco has submitted an overture seeking divestment from fossil fuel companies, and other Presbyteries have agreed, or concurred, to push for this new Overture: Heartland, East Tennessee, Atlanta, Cascades, Giddings Lovejoy, San Jose, Boston, Hudson River, Newton, Twin Cities, Western North Carolina, Geneva, Sacramento 14

15 The Middle East 15

16 Israel/Palestine Map The nation of Israel is the red section on the map The area that is the dark green section labeled West Bank and Gaza are the areas that are currently called Palestine Palestinians an ethnic group of modern descendants of the peoples who have lived in Palestine over the centuries, and who today are largely culturally and linguistically Arab They are overwhelmingly Muslim but have a minority of Christians. Almost none are Jewish 16

17 Very Brief History of the Conflict An independent Palestinian state has not exercised full sovereignty over the land in which the Palestinians have lived during the modern era. Palestine was administered by the Ottoman Empire until World War I, and then overseen by the British Mandatory authorities. Israel was established in parts of Palestine in In the wake of the 1948 Arab-Israeli war, the West Bank was occupied by Jordan, and the Gaza Strip by Egypt, with both countries continuing to administer these areas until Israel occupied them in the Six-Day War in Palestinian sovereignty over the areas claimed as part of the Palestinian state remains limited, and the boundaries of the state remain a point of contestation between Palestinians and Israelis. 17

18 The View of the PC(USA) According to the denomination s Presbyterian Mission Agency: Since 1948 General Assemblies have repeatedly addressed the Middle East and particularly Israel and Palestine. The Presbyterian position has consistently been to affirm the right of Israel to exist as a sovereign state within secure, internationally recognized borders and the right of the Palestinians to self-determination, including the right to the establishment of a neighboring independent, sovereign state toward the end of establishing a just and durable peace. 18

19 Past General Assembly Actions The PC(USA) has had long-standing voices within it that advocated for various initiatives regarding Israel/Palestine. Prior General Assemblies reflected this advocacy. To wit, 2004 General Assembly (GA), which instructed MRTI to initiate a process of phased, selective divestment related to corporations doing business in Israel GA approved: withholding of U.S. government aid to the State of Israel relocation by Israel to the 1967 border end of the Israeli occupation of Palestinian territories Israel and Palestine [to negotiate] a two-state solution In 2012, the GA approved an additional layer of corporate engagement: the boycott of all Israeli products produced in the occupied Palestinian Territories. 19

20 221st General Assembly (2014) But the majority of focus on Israel/Palestine came from the 2014 GA. It approved a measure (by a slim margin) recommending that the Board of Pensions, the Foundation, and its members divest from three corporations whose products it believes contribute to the Israeli occupation of Palestine. 20

21 221st General Assembly (2014) On the other side of the equation, this GA stepped back from supporting two of the more controversial advocacy groups in this debate. The General Assembly measure said that this action does not indicate an alignment with the overall global Boycott, Divest and Sanctions (BDS) movement, a controversial pro-palestinian pro-arab advocacy group 56-zionism-unsettled It also passed a resolution declaring that the controversial booklet Zionism Unsettled does not represent the views of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). zionism-unsettled 21

22 3 Companies The companies Caterpillar, Hewlett-Packard, and Motorola Solutions are used by the Israeli government in the occupied territories and are not in compliance with the General Assembly s policy on socially responsible investing. The combined holding of these stocks were around $21 million. According to the GA: Caterpillar provides bulldozers used in the destruction of Palestinian homes and for clearing land of structures and fruit and olive tree groves in preparation for construction of the barrier wall. Hewlett-Packard has extensive involvement with the Israeli army and provides electronic systems at checkpoints, logistics and communications systems to support the naval blockade of the Gaza Strip, as well as business relationships with illegal settlements in the West Bank. Motorola Solutions provides military communications and surveillance systems in illegal Israeli settlements. 22

23 What has happened since 2014? After the vote, many news outlets reported the story, with attendant interviews and quotes. One of the most widely-reported responses was that of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu He called the vote was misguided and unfair and wondered why Israel had been singled out. When the Middle East is fragmented in this horrible war, this savage, savage war between militant Shiites and militant Sunnis the only place where you have freedom, tolerance, protection of minorities, protection of gays, protection of Christians and all other faiths is Israel," "Let's arrange a bus tour for (Presbyterians) in the region. Let them go to maybe Syria, Lebanon, Iraq. And my only suggestion for them... it be in an armor-plated bus". In the last 18 months, very little has been happening on this issue. A few other denominations have passed similar resolutions (Methodist, Episcopal and UCC) Advocacy groups on both sides have referenced the 2012 GA action as part of their on-going narratives The 3 companies have been listed on the Divestment List of the denomination s website 23

24 24 Same sex relationships Probably the simplest summary of the denomination s debate on this issue was that given by the Presbyterian Mission Agency: The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) has been engaged in discussion and debate about sexuality and faithful sexual relationships across the last several decades; much of this debate has been focused on the morality of samegender relationships. Men and women of deep faith and honest intelligence can and do differ on how they understand Scripture and hear the vibrant voice of the Holy Spirit on this subject.

25 25 Where Major Denominations Stand on Same-Sex Marriage The Survey concludes: Among the Protestant churches, the same-sex marriage debate has not been simple.

26 26 Deacons and Elders Here is the current rule regarding Ordination in the Book of Order: Each session and presbytery determine the suitability of individuals seeking ordination within its bounds. Persons in a same-gender relationship may be considered for ordination and/or installation as deacons, ruling elders, and teaching elders within the PC(USA). Ordaining bodies (sessions and presbyteries) are permitted but not required to ordain lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender persons.

27 27 Same-sex Marriage Here is the current rule regarding (Same-sex) Marriage in the Book of Order: Pastors and sessions are empowered to make decisions about their own participation and the use of a church s property. Pastors are permitted but not required to officiate at any wedding, including same-sex weddings, based either on conscience or the pastor s discernment of the couple s readiness to take on the responsibilities of marriage. Sessions are permitted but not required to authorize use of the church s property for a wedding, including same-sex weddings, for reasons of conscience or other reasons.

28 General Assembly Following years of back-and-forth debate, the General Assembly declared that [t]he PC(USA) has no consensus in the interpretation of Scripture on issues of same-sex practice It voted to remove language from the Book of Order that prohibited gays and lesbians from being ordained to ministry, citing our long-standing Presbyterian commitment to freedom of conscience and mutual forbearance.

29 General Assembly This GA voted to change the denomination s definition of marriage from "a man and a woman" to "two people, traditionally a man and a woman. It did grant pastors discretion in determining whether or not to conduct same-gender marriages in civil jurisdictions where such marriages are legal.

30 30 Response to the Decision was both Negative and Positive By approving this change we are disregarding the clear teaching of Scripture, the wisdom of those who have lived and died for the faith before us, and the continuing consensus of the contemporary church around the world. To do this is both disobedient and unwise. We know this particular change was intended by its proponents to extend the grace and the good news of Jesus Christ, and to further the witness of his Kingdom. We believe it accomplishes neither. Our objection to the passage of this redefinition is no way anti-gay. Our concern is that the church is capitulating to the culture and, in so doing, is misrepresenting Scripture. The Fellowship Community "No church has the right to change the Word of God PCUSA "deliberately" voted to change the Word of God and the interpretation of marriage between one man and one woman. "This is why we must break fellowship with them and urge the entire Christendom to do so as well. National Black Church Initiative

31 31 Response to the Decision was both Negative and Positive The change aligns the church s constitution with a reality that has long been true: Both same-gender and opposite-gender couples have been living in relationships that demonstrate covenant faithfulness, shared discipleship, and mutual love. We rejoice that all couples can now see those relationships solemnized before God and the Christian community in marriage, at the discretion of ministers and sessions. Covenant Network of Presbyterians Today, the Presbyterian Church (USA) took a bold step to fully include samesex couples in the life of the church. More Light Presbyterians

32 32 Obergefell v. Hodges On June 26, 2015, the United States Supreme Court held in a 5 4 decision that the fundamental right to marry is guaranteed to same-sex couples by both the Due Process Clause and the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution

33 33 Obergefell v. Hodges However, in the decision, the Court did allow for a significant exception for churches and pastors. It stated that pastors and churches cannot be compelled by a court to solemnize, host, or perform a same-sex marriage ceremony. "Finally, it must be emphasized that religions, and those who adhere to religious doctrines, may continue to advocate with utmost, sincere conviction that, by divine precepts, same-sex marriage should not be condoned" "The First Amendment ensures that religious organizations and persons are given proper protection as they seek to teach the principles that are so fulfilling and so central to their lives and faiths, and to their own deep aspirations to continue the family structure they have long revered."

34 34 The Impact of this Decision This is a landmark decision, which changed the law across the US in one fell swoop President Barack Obama praised the decision and called it a "victory for America." That evening, the White House was lit up in a rainbow color scheme

35 35 Does it apply to us? As of October 2, 2015, 99.9 percent of Americans live in counties that issue licenses to same-sex couples This includes Fort Bend County, which will (has?) issue same-sex marriage licenses.

36 Now it s your turn 36