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How Presbyterians should relate to people of other faiths — Jews in particular — is a fractious issue before the General Assembly this year.
Commissioners will be asked to address the question: Should the Presbyterian Church (USA) engage in dialogue with people of other faiths — or evangelize them?
The issue moved to the front burner last year with the establishment of Avodat Yisrael, a Messianic congregation in Philadelphia, with new-church development money from Philadelphia Presbytery and the Synod of the Trinity, supplemented with $75,000 from the General Assembly Council. The project has drawn fire from national Jewish leaders who contend that the PC(USA) is evangelizing Jews.
An overture before the Assembly would urge the denomination to re-examine its relationship with Jews, with special attention to the implications for new-church development and evangelism. It also wants to stop funding for any other Messianic congregations until the study is complete. The measure has the backing of four presbyteries.
Another overture requests creation of a task force to decide how it should address religious pluralism and how it should engage people of other faith traditions. A further proposal urges the PC(USA) to develop resources to help Presbyterian members and ministers articulate their faith appropriately in inter-religious dialogue.
Presbyterians have been involved in interfaith dialogue with Jews for more than 40 years. The 1987 General Assembly, approved a research paper entitled, “A Theological Understanding of the Relationship Between Christians and Jews.” It says that Christians and Jews have distinct, authentic covenants with God, and that faithful conversation between the two groups is appropriate witness. It doesn’t say Christians shouldn’t talk about Jesus, but it discourages proselytizing.
Although the paper was adopted for study and reflection, rather than as policy, its purpose is both teaching and pastoral. It was designed to offer guidance to Presbyterians as they enter into dialogue with Jews and to provide the groundwork for continuing discussion on this issue.
Avodat Yisrael has incited old arguments in the church — between evangelical Christians, who feel stifled by the prohibition against witnessing to Jews and contend that it deprives Jewish souls of salvation, and more ecumenical-minded Presbyterians who believe witnessing to Jews for purposes of conversion is inappropriate. Some are puzzled about what is happening at Avodat Yisrael: Is it evangelism to create a Jewish form of Christian worship? Is that truly presenting Jesus? Can a person be affiliated with two faiths? Can people of Jewish background simply gather to study Jesus? And how, if at all, should Presbyterians relate to organizations that evangelize Jews?
Since the 1930s, some Presbyterians have been part of a network that supports the growth of Hebrew/Messianic churches. Philadelphia Presbytery has endorsed such ministries for decades, and ordained the current pastor of Avodat Israel to that call.
Jewish-Christian and interfaith relations will be considered by Assembly Committee 06 — Ecumenical and Interfaith Relations.
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