Overture 04-68. On Re-Examining the Relationship Between Christians and Jews and the Implications for Our Evangelism and New Church Development—From the Presbytery of Hudson River.

The Presbytery of Hudson River overtures the 216th General Assembly (2004) of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) to do the following:

1. Direct the Office of Theology and Worship, the Office of Interfaith Relations, and the Office of Evangelism to “reexamine the relationship between Christians and Jews and the implications of this relationship for our evangelism and new church development in continuing response to the 211th General Assembly (1999) mandate to guide the church in ‘bearing witness to Jesus Christ in a pluralistic age.’”

2. Suspend funding of any additional proposals for “Messianic Judaism” new church developments until such time as the General Assembly may hear the results of this study and approve a policy governing and funding such requests.

Rationale

The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) is committed to “make joyous witness to persons of other faiths in the spirit of respect, openness, and honesty and has implemented a policy encouraging the formation of new churches around distinct ethnic and cultural identities. In respect to our Jewish brothers and sisters, their ethnic and cultural distinctiveness are historically and theologically inseparable from their religious identity. “Messianic Judaism,” by self-definition, therefore, syncretizes two theological identities, thereby imperiling the integrity of both Judaism and Christianity.

Paul and the early church were clear that the covenant established by God with Sarah and Abraham was not superceded by the coming of Christ, “…for the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable” (Rom. 11:29); yet misunderstanding of this central New Testament truth has led to injustices by Christians toward Jews.

In recent times, Presbyterians have joined with Roman Catholics and other Christians in acknowledging the church’s role in fostering anti-Semitism, and in accepting responsibility and making amends for the wrongs that have been committed. In 1987, the study document by our General Assembly, “A Theological Understanding of the Relationship Between Christians and Jews,” calls us to engage one another in ways that promote peace, understanding, and justice while simultaneously honoring the distinctive blessings entrusted to each community. Therefore, we view the launching of Avodat Yisrael by the Presbytery of Philadelphia, with endorsement and financial support by the Synod of the Trinity, as calling into question the basic understanding of the relationship between Presbyterians and Jews.

Concurrence to Item 06-09 from the Presbytery of New York City.