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Overture 49
On the Sale of Divested Holdings—From the
Presbytery of Chicago.
The Presbytery of Chicago overtures the 217th
General Assembly (2006) to approve that if—as a result
of the alternate resolution of the 216th General Assembly (2004)
taken July 2, 2004, on Item 12-01, (Minutes, 2004,
Part I, p. 66, Paragraph 7), referring to Mission Responsibility
Through Investment Committee (MRTI) with instructions to initiate
a process of phased, selective divestment in multinational corporations
doing business in Israel—the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)
should sell any of its holdings in any corporation doing business
in Israel, whatever proceeds are realized from the sale of those
holdings be reinvested in corporations or other entities in
Israel and Palestine whose work reflect the Hebrew injunction
of “tikun olam"—to repair the world.”
Rationale
“How very good and pleasant it is when
kindred live together in unity” (Ps. 133:1).
The Session of the Fourth Presbyterian Church of Chicago has
adopted a resolution expressing its intention to propose through
the Presbytery of Chicago that should the Presbyterian Church
(U.S.A.), as a result of the General Assembly’s action,
sell any of its holdings in any corporation doing business in
Israel, whatever proceeds are realized from the sale of those
holdings be reinvested in corporations doing business in the
region whose activities benefit the human condition.
The Fourth Presbyterian Church of Chicago advocates the positive
approach of investing for peace in entities doing business in
Israel and Palestine, using an investment criterion that can
be embraced by all people, being guided by the prophetic injunction
for justice (Amos 5:24: “... Let justice roll down like
waters ...”) and the Talmudic concept of “tikum
olam”—to repair the world.
The human mission to repair the world articulated in Jewish
scriptures is also of a piece with the theological views of
other faiths, including our own Christian faith, regarding humankind’s
responsibilities for justice and peace.
Numerous opportunities to help carry out and encourage this
mission abound in Israel and Palestine.
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