Title: Petition to General Conference 2016 regarding Aligning
UMC Investments with Resolution on Israel and Palestine
Budget Implications: None for either Annual Conference or
General Conference.
Rationale: The Book of Discipline discourages investment in
companies “that directly or indirectly support the violation of
human rights.” We should not profit through our investments in
companies that sustain Israel’s illegal settlements, segregated
roads, checkpoints, the separation wall, home demolitions and
other realities of occupation in Palestinian territory.
Submitted by: Natalia Cuadra-Saez (Old Otterbein UMC,
Baltimore, MD), Rev. Kenneth B. Hawes (Hughes UMC,
Wheaton, MD), David Hosey (Metropolitan Memorial UMC,
Washington, DC), Chett Pritchett (Dumbarton UMC, Washington,
DC), Rev. Shannon Sullivan (Presbury UMC, Edgewood, MD) and
endorsed by the Steering Committee of the Baltimore-Washington
Chapter of the Methodist Federation for Social Action
Resolution:
Be it resolved that the Baltimore-Washington Conference submit
the following Petition to General Conference 2016.
Total Number of pages: 4
Suggested Title: Aligning UMC Investments with Resolution on
Israel and Palestine
General Church Budget Implications: None
Global Implications: Yes
Rationale: The Book of Discipline discourages investment in
companies “that directly or indirectly support the violation of
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human rights” (¶ 716, The Book of Discipline). We should not
profit through our investments in companies that sustain Israel’s
illegal settlements, segregated roads, checkpoints, the separation
wall, home demolitions and other realities of occupation in
Palestinian territory.
Desired Action: We seek passage of the following resolution to
align our investments with resolutions which have already been
passed and reaffirmed by previous General Conference sessions.
In Resolution 6111, the 2012 General Conference of The United
Methodist Church reiterated their opposition to Israel's occupation
of Palestine “ask(ing) all companies that profit from and/or support
settlements through their business activities to examine these and
stop any business that contributes to serious violations of
international law, promotes systemic discrimination or otherwise
supports ongoing military operation” (Resolution 6011:
“Opposition to Israeli Settlements in Palestinian Land.” 2012 Book
of Resolutions of The United Methodist Church). However, the
church has spent years merely asking companies to stop their
support of the occupation on their own when Palestinian Christians
have implored Christians everywhere to put their actions behind
their words to end Israel's occupation of Palestinian land, which is
destroying their lives. Palestinian human rights are violated by
companies that sustain illegal settlements, segregated roads,
checkpoints, the separation wall, home demolitions and other
realities of the occupation.
The UMC Book of Discipline discourages investment in
companies “that directly or indirectly support the violation of
human rights” (¶ 716, The Book of Discipline) and requires
consideration of divestment when companies do not respond to
corporate engagement with changed practices (¶ 717, The Book of
Discipline).
The General Board of Pension and Health Benefits (GBPHB),
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which manages an investment portfolio of over $20 billion, has
divested from G4S, due in part to concerns about the company's
involvement in human rights violations in the Israeli prison system
and the military occupation of Palestinian territories (United
Methodist Kairos Response, “Largest Mainline Protestant Church
in U.S. Divests from Company Involved in Israeli Occupation,” 12
June 2014,
https://www.kairosresponse.org/uploads/UMKR_PR_UMC_Divest
s_G4S.pdf, Web, January 2015).
Seven United Methodist annual conferences--- New England,
Minnesota, Upper New York, Pacific-Northwest, New York,
Northern Illinois and West Ohio--- have divested their conferenceheld stock in companies invested in the occupation of the West
Bank, and have suffered no losses to their portfolios or accusations
of fiduciary impropriety. The Presbyterian Church (USA) also
voted to divest from Caterpillar, Hewlett-Packard and Motorola
Solutions in 2014.
Divestment, as a non-violent moral action, seeks to strengthen
the Church's support from non-violent means of securing peace for
the peoples of Israel and Palestine. The church should lead with
prophetic action by publicly and promptly aligning its investments
with long-standing church policies opposing the Israeli occupation.
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that The United Methodist
Church will end our financial involvement in Israel’s occupation
by:
· Divesting from companies that sustain the occupation,
specifically, Caterpillar, Motorola Solutions, and Hewlett
Packard, with whom we have repeatedly engaged with on
this issue.
· instructing United Methodist general boards and agencies to
immediately engage with other companies in their
portfolios that have been identified by researchers in
United Methodist general boards and agencies and annual
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conferences as being involved in the occupation (United
Methodists’ Holy Land Task Force, “Companies of
Concern,” November 2010,
http://www.umhltf.org/Companies_of_Concern.html,
Web, November 2010). If these companies do not change
their involvement within two years, they should be
removed from United Methodist portfolios.
· Requiring all United Methodist general boards and agencies to
provide updates on their Web sites regarding the process of
corporate engagement with and/or divestment from
companies that support the Israeli occupation.
· Directing all United Methodist general boards and agencies to
provide a report to the 2020 General Conference regarding
their progress toward complying with this resolution.
· Calling on United Methodist general boards and agencies,
annual conferences, local churches and individuals to
prayerfully consider corporate involvement in Israel’s
occupation when making investment decisions.
· Encouraging United Methodists to partner with Jews,
Christians, Muslims and other people of conscience
working for corporate accountability, human rights and an
end to the occupation.
Date:
Signature of the Petitioner:
Identification of the Petitioner:
Phone:
Fax:
Email:
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