Editing Presbyterian Church (USA) (section)

===Israeli–Palestinian conflict===
{{Main|Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) disinvestment from Israel controversy}}
{{See also|Disinvestment from Israel}}

In June 2004, the General Assembly met in [[Richmond, Virginia]], and adopted by a vote of 431–62 a resolution that called on the church's committee on Mission Responsibility through Investment (MRTI) "to initiate a process of phased, [[selective divestment]] in multinational corporations operating in Israel". The resolution also said "the occupation ... has proven to be at the root of evil acts committed against innocent people on both sides of the conflict".<ref name='Overture 04-32'>{{cite web|url=http://archive.pcusa.org/ga216/business/overtures/ovt0432.htm |archive-url=https://wayback.archive-it.org/3822/20160614105635/http://archive.pcusa.org/ga216/business/overtures/ovt0432.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=June 14, 2016 |title=Urging Israel and Palestine to Implement the Accord |access-date=February 9, 2007 |date=June 26, 2004 |publisher=Presbyterian Church (USA)}}</ref> The church statement at the time noted that "divestment is one of the strategies that U.S. churches used in the 1970s and 80s in a successful campaign to end [[apartheid]] in South Africa".

A second resolution, calling for an end to the construction of a wall by the state of Israel, passed.<ref name='Israeli Wall'>{{cite web |url=http://archive.pcusa.org/worldwide/israelpalestine/wallresolution.htm/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160614001048/http://archive.pcusa.org/worldwide/israelpalestine/wallresolution.htm/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=June 14, 2016 |title=General Assembly Action on the Israeli Wall |access-date=February 9, 2007 |date=June 26, 2004 |publisher=Presbyterian Church (USA)}}</ref> The resolution opposed to the construction of the [[Israeli West Bank barrier]], regardless of its location, and opposed the United States government making monetary contribution to the construction. The General Assembly also adopted policies rejecting [[Christian Zionism]] and allowing the continued funding of [[Jews for Jesus|conversionary activities aimed at Jews]]. Together, the resolutions caused tremendous dissent within the church and a sharp disconnect with the Jewish community. Leaders of several American Jewish groups communicated to the church their concerns about the use of economic leverages that apply specifically to companies operating in Israel.<ref>{{cite web |title=Letter Regarding Divestment sent to Mainline Protestant Denominations From Leaders of Five Major Jewish Organizations |url=http://www.globalministries.org/mee/jointsanctions.pdf |publisher=American Jewish Committee, Anti-Defamation League, Jewish Council for Public Affairs, Union for Reform Judaism, United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism |first1=David |last1=Elcott |first2=Rabbi Gary |last2=Bretton-Granatoor |first3=Ethan |last3=Felson |first4=Mark |last4=Waldman |first5=Mark |last5=Pelavin |date=November 29, 2004 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070622012243/http://www.globalministries.org/mee/jointsanctions.pdf |archive-date=June 22, 2007 }}</ref> Some critics of the divestment policy accused church leaders of [[anti-Semitism]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Presbyterian Church defames Christianity|url=http://www.jewishworldreview.com/0704/prager_presbyterians.php3|work=Jewish World Review|last=Prager|first=Dennis|date=July 20, 2004|access-date=June 4, 2006|archive-date=May 29, 2006|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060529010807/http://www.jewishworldreview.com/0704/prager_presbyterians.php3|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=The Presbyterian Church Boycotts Israel|url=http://www.jewishmag.com/94mag/presbyterian/presbyterian.htm|work=The Jewish Magazine|last=Hecht|first=Shea|date=September 2005|access-date=June 4, 2006|archive-date=March 18, 2006|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060318141256/http://www.jewishmag.com/94mag/presbyterian/presbyterian.htm|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Citation |url=http://expresbyterian.blogspot.com/2007/12/curious-silence.html |title=A Recovering Presbyterian |contribution=A Curious Silence |date=December 2007 |access-date=December 14, 2007 |archive-date=January 23, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080123154250/http://expresbyterian.blogspot.com/2007/12/curious-silence.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

In June 2006, after the General Assembly in [[Birmingham, Alabama]] changed policy ([[PC(USA) Divestment from Israel#Change to policy in 2006|details]]), both pro-Israel and pro-Palestinian groups praised the resolution. Pro-Israel groups, who had written General Assembly commissioners to express their concerns about a corporate engagement/divestment strategy focused on Israel,<ref>{{cite web |title=Letter from 12 National Jewish Agencies to Presbyterian Church USA General Assembly Commissioners Regarding Upcoming Decision on Phased Selective Divestment Related to Israel |url=http://www.adl.org/Interfaith/Letter_commissioners.asp |first1=Rabbi Gary |last1=Bretton-Granatoor |first2=David |last2=Elcott |first3=Ethan |last3=Felson |first4=Lewis |last4=Grafman |first5=Shelley |last5=Klein |first6=Eugene |last6=Korn |first7=Avram |last7=Lyons |first8=David |last8=Michaels |first9=Sammie |last9=Moshenberg |first10=Mark |last10=Pelavin |first11=Carl |last11=Sheingold |first12=Robert |last12=Zweiman |publisher=Anti-Defamation League |date=June 4, 2004 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060615023206/http://www.adl.org/Interfaith/Letter_commissioners.asp |archive-date=June 15, 2006 }}</ref> praised the new resolution, saying that it reflected the church stepping back from a policy that singled out companies working in Israel.<ref>{{cite web |title=Statement from 15 National Agencies Welcoming Presbyterian Church USA General Assembly Return to 'Customary Corporate Engagement Process' |first=Ethan |last=Felson |url=http://www.e-guana.net/organizations/org/JointStatementpostPCGA2006.doc |website=E-guana.net |date=June 4, 2004 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160828213616/http://www.e-guana.net/organizations/org/JointStatementpostPCGA2006.doc |archive-date=August 28, 2016 }}</ref> Pro-Palestinian groups said that the church maintained the opportunity to engage and potentially divest from companies that support the Israeli occupation, because such support would be considered inappropriate according to the customary MRTI process.

In August 2011, the American National Middle Eastern Presbyterian Caucus (NMEPC) endorsed the [[Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions|boycott, divestment, and sanctions]] (BDS) campaign against Israel.<ref>{{cite web |work=Religion News |url=http://www.religionnews.com/index.php?/pressreleases/nmepc_support_boycott_campaign_against_the_israeli_occupation_of_palestine/ |title=National Middle Eastern Presbyterian Caucus Supports and Endorses the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions Campaign Against the Israeli Occupation of Palestine |access-date=October 16, 2011 |archive-date=December 16, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111216180915/http://www.religionnews.com/index.php?/pressreleases/nmepc_support_boycott_campaign_against_the_israeli_occupation_of_palestine/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

In January 2014, The PC(USA) published "Zionism unsettled", which was commended as "a valuable opportunity to explore the political ideology of Zionism".<ref name="pcusa">{{cite web|url= http://www.pcusa.org/news/2014/1/21/presbyterian-network-opens-new-dialogue-zionism/ |title=Presbyterian network opens new dialogue on Zionism |work=PCUSA website |date=January 21, 2014 |access-date=February 2, 2016 | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20140625134245/http://www.pcusa.org/news/2014/1/21/presbyterian-network-opens-new-dialogue-zionism/ |archive-date=June 25, 2014 |url-status=live }}</ref> One critic claimed it was [[anti-Zionist]] and characterized the Israeli–Palestinian as a conflict fueled by a "pathology inherent in Zionism".<ref name="hartz">{{cite news |url=http://www.haaretz.com/jewish-world/jewish-world-news/1.575067 |title=Presbyterians reject church group's anti-Zionist study guide |quote=The guide, 'Zionism Unsettled', posits that the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is fueled by a 'pathology inherent in Zionism'. |newspaper=Haaretz |date=February 19, 2014 |access-date=June 29, 2014 |archive-date=June 25, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140625052443/http://www.haaretz.com/jewish-world/jewish-world-news/1.575067 |url-status=live }}</ref> The [[Simon Wiesenthal Center]] described the study guide as "a hit-piece outside all norms of interfaith dialogue. It is a compendium of distortions, ignorance and outright lies – that tragically has emanated too often from elites within this church".<ref name="SWC">{{cite web |url= http://www.wiesenthal.com/site/apps/nlnet/content.aspx?c=lsKWLbPJLnF&b=8776547&ct=13645707 |title= Presbyterian's 'Zionism Unsettled' – Theological Twin of UN's Infamous 'Zionism is Racism' Resolution |work= Simon Wiesenthal Center website |date= February 6, 2014 |access-date= August 11, 2015 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20150802052507/http://www.wiesenthal.com/site/apps/nlnet/content.aspx?c=lsKWLbPJLnF&b=8776547&ct=13645707 |archive-date= August 2, 2015 |url-status= dead }}</ref> The PC(USA) subsequently withdrew the publication from sale on its website.<ref name=pcusa2>{{cite web|url= http://www.pcusa.org/news/2014/6/27/zionism-unsettled-no-longer-sold-pcusa-website/ |title= Zionism Unsettled No Longer Sold on PC(USA) Website |work=PCUSA website |date= June 27, 2014 |access-date=June 29, 2014 | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20140630140652/https://www.pcusa.org/news/2014/6/27/zionism-unsettled-no-longer-sold-pcusa-website/ |url-status= live |archive-date=June 30, 2014}}</ref>

On June 20, 2014, the General Assembly in Detroit approved a measure (310–303) calling for divestment from stock in Caterpillar, Hewlett-Packard and Motorola Solutions in protest of Israeli policies on the West Bank. The vote was immediately and sharply criticized by the [[American Jewish Committee]] which accused the General Assembly of acting out of anti-Semitic motives. Proponents of the measure strongly denied the accusations.<ref name="Presbyterians to divest as protest against Israel">{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/religion/presbyterians-to-divest-as-protest-against-israel/2014/06/20/8cf2b6b2-f8de-11e3-af55-076a4c5f20a0_story.html?wp_login_redirect=0 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20140621172417/http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/religion/presbyterians-to-divest-as-protest-against-israel/2014/06/20/8cf2b6b2-f8de-11e3-af55-076a4c5f20a0_story.html?wp_login_redirect=0 |url-status=dead |archive-date=June 21, 2014 |title=Presbyterians to divest as protest against Israel |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=June 21, 2014 |access-date=June 21, 2014 }}</ref>

In June 2022, at its 225th General Assembly, the church's Committee on International Engagement voted to [[Israel and apartheid|declare Israel an apartheid state]] and designate [[Nakba Day]]. The committee also called for an end to Israel's [[blockade of the Gaza Strip]] and affirmed the "right of all people to live and worship peacefully" in Jerusalem.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://english.alaraby.co.uk/news/us-presbyterian-church-declares-israel-apartheid-state|title=US Presbyterian Church declares Israel 'apartheid state'|author=The New Arab Staff|date=June 30, 2022|website=english.alaraby.co.uk|access-date=July 7, 2022|archive-date=October 21, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221021163713/https://english.alaraby.co.uk/news/us-presbyterian-church-declares-israel-apartheid-state|url-status=live}}</ref>
[[File:East Liberty Presbyterian Church (High Church Presbyterianism).jpg|thumb|355x355px|East Liberty Presbyterian Church (High Church Presbyterian)]]