Daphne Anson: Dipping into the Trough of Antisemitism: The Methodist Church of the UK

Eretz Israel is our unforgettable historic homeland...The Jews who will it shall achieve their State...And whatever we attempt there for our own benefit will redound mightily and beneficially to the good of all mankind. (Theodor Herzl, DerJudenstaat, 1896)

We offer peace and amity to all the neighbouring states and their peoples, and invite them to cooperate with the independent Jewish nation for the common good of all. The State of Israel is ready to contribute its full share to the peaceful progress and development of the Middle East. (From Proclamation of the State of Israel, 5 Iyar 5708; 14 May 1948)

With a liberal democratic political system operating under the rule of law, a flourishing market economy producing technological innovation to the benefit of the wider world, and a population as educated and cultured as anywhere in Europe or North America, Israel is a normal Western country with a right to be treated as such in the community of nations.... For the global jihad, Israel may be the first objective. But it will not be the last. (Friends of Israel Initiative)

Saturday, 7 May 2011

Dipping into the Trough of Antisemitism: The Methodist Church of the UK

The British Methodists, hijacked by leftists into a political agenda that is marginal to its mission and anathema to many of its members, and seduced by Sabeel into infection with Boycott Derangement Syndrome, has thought fit to comment on the death of that odious monster of our time, Osama Bin Laden. Its politically-charged statement begins :

“We cannot rejoice in the death of another, even if that person is regarded by many as a threat. Proverbs 24:17 says ‘Do not rejoice when your enemies fall, and do not let your heart be glad when they stumble’".

In his blog http://www.methodistpreacher.co.uk/, the pro-Israel Methodist preacher David Hallam outlines what is objectionable about this statement in the context of the Methodists' obsessions.

But there is far, far worse.

In a background document "Jewish and Muslim Perspectives on the Land of Israel-Palestine" (http://pdfcast.org/pdf/methodist-church-jewish-and-muslim-perspectives-on-israel-palestine) the British Methodists appear to be dipping into the trough of antisemitism.

The esteemed Elder of Ziyon has the grubby details and a masterly critique: http://elderofziyon.blogspot.com/2011/05/outrageous-uk-methodist-church-document.html

Update: The Methodists have been shamed into removing the document (hat tip: reader Ian G.) See David Hallam's blog for details.

3 comments:

David Sucher8 May 2011 at 02:47
I fail to see anti-Israel sentiments in the Methoists' document. Some errors but hardly cause or concerned.

I don't get it.

The Methodists may well be anti-Israel but I don't see the evidence on th one you link to, above.
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SecondComingOfBast8 May 2011 at 02:49
That's not even the worst of it. In Germany, Angela Merkel is being criticized for expressing her happiness at Bin Laden's demise, and a judge is even openly talking about charging her with a crime for doing so.
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Daphne Anson8 May 2011 at 03:15
David, thanks for your comment - I see the document as another sign that the Methodist leadership have a mindset that's supercessionist and lacking in empathy with Israel's security needs - something that's become evident to keen readers of a few pro-BDS Methodist blogs emanating from the UK, which in some instances sail close to the wind of antisemitism.
Interesting comment Pagan Temple - thanks!
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