Judeo-Christian partnership on hold - by Nicole Neroulias
BURLINGAME — Over the past two years, Rev. Paul Watermulder has had a lot of explaining to do to angry Jewish friends, acquaintances and even strangers.
At the biennial General Assembly in 2004, delegates representing the 2.5- million-member Presbyterian Church USA voted to consider divesting the organization's $8 billion portfolio from companies it believes profit from the Israeli occupation of Palestinian territory. The resolution prompted loud criticism from Jews and church members alike, across the country and around First Presbyterian Church of Burlingame. "Individual Jewish people would come up to me in the stores, in the street and say, 'Why don't Presbyterians like us?'" Watermulder said, as his assistant rifled through drawers to find the church's multiple files on the issue. First Presbyterian convened a 15-member task force to study and ultimately condemn the resolution, which is up for review again in two weeks at the General Assembly in Alabama. The delegates may move forward with divestment, postpone action until the 2008 meeting, or reverse the decision — Watermulder's preference. As an additional show of good faith, First Presbyterian launched Old Testament classes with Peninsula Temple Sholom, led by Rabbi Gerald Raiskin and Watermulder. Last year, Raiskin became the first rabbi to address the church's governing body, and Watermulder returned the favor by speaking to the synagogue trustees. As the two congregations grew closer, Raiskin's failing health prompted them to cancel plans for a combined trip to Israel in May. "The General Assembly made a mistake, I believe, in not recognizing Palestinian terrorism and that the Israeli government is doing some things that are very positive. It does not help the peacemaking process to be judgmental of one side or another," he said, adding, "Christians and Jews ought to recognize that we are brothers and sisters in the faith. We are different parts of the family tree, but it's the same family tree." For information on the 217th Presbyterian Church USA General Assembly that meets June 14-22 in Birmingham, Ala., visit http://www.pcusa.org/ga217.
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