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It has been about one week since the top bishop in the ELCA called for the destruction of the Jewish state by, in essence, saying she wants over 5 million "Palestinians" to be imported into Israel. (see here) Now she is preaching the propaganda of Hamas and their cronies, placing blame on Israel, which is typical of the ELCA, regarding the violent riots and attempt to infiltrated Israel on the Gaza/Israeli boarder, in this new declaration called “ELCA presiding bishop's pastoral message on situation in Gaza.”
The ELCA Presiding Bishop writes: “Like so many here in our country and around the world, I am appalled and saddened by yesterday's escalation of Israeli military action against protestors in Gaza. Many reports indicate that at least 60 Palestinians, including six children, have died and more than 2,000 have been injured as a result of Israel's disproportionate use of force.” She claims the the protesters are "Palestinian civilians." And then Eaton declares her endorsement of a Lutheran bishop in Israel: “I endorse Bishop Sani-Ibrahim Azar's call ‘upon the Israeli government to show restraint and to pursue negotiations with Palestinian leaders rather than choosing violent action against unarmed protestors.’" She also shared her displeasure with the U.S. Embassy being moved to Jerusalem. And at the end of the message ELCA Presiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton reiterated her call for a divided Jerusalem and for it to be a capital for Israel and Palestine. (see here) ELCA Presiding Bishop Eaton is not being truthful when she claims the Palestinian protesters are "unarmed." See the links below, some of which document gunfire toward nearby Jewish cities, powerful slingshots, grenades, bombs, etc. used by the Palestinians. There are also credible reports that many of the Palestinians protesting are being paid by their government to be there. A few news articles below also report at least 53 of those killed by the Israeli Defense Forces were members of terrorists groups (Hamas and Islamic Jihad), that Israel dropped leaflets telling everyone to stay away from the boarder fence, and that there have been attempts to break down the fence. Notice too, that Bishop Eaton did not call on the Palestinians to end their violent actions against the Jewish State. If you support Israel, it is time to leave this left-wing, radical denomination that pushes anti-Israel propaganda. Does the Media Really Understand the Gaza Violence? Australian PM: Hamas is to blame for Gaza deaths Israel Has the Right and Obligation to Defend Its Border with Deadly Force Hamas official: 50 of the 62 Gazans killed in border violence were our members
Hamas, an anti-Israel terror group, is enjoying a huge propaganda boost from the Gaza protests Here’s why Israel used lethal force during mass protests in Gaza Monday Timeline: Elite Maglan Unit Foils Hamas Border Attack, Kill 8 Terrorists [Video] The real headline: IDF saves thousands of Israeli lives
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The ELCA is wrong on many things, and their continued badgering and condemnation of Israel is one of them. The ELCA has chosen to side with people who have a vile hatred for Jews.
A few weeks ago the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America signed a statement condemning Israel for some imagined violation against the “Palestinians.” It is almost always a fabricated, biased, or deceptive claim. The ELCA holds Israel to standards that they hold no other nation. One must question their motivations. The ELCA has a history of disgusting anti-Semitism that dates back to Martin Luther. In this latest statement of demands and condemnation of Israel, the ELCA has even taken up the cause called the “Right of return” saying, “Palestinian refugees have the right to return to their homes, and to compensation for loss of property, as laid out in UN General Assembly resolution 194.” (see here) So the ELCA is calling for anyone claiming to have been in Israel, just before 1948, and all of their offspring, to be able to go and dwell in Israel. This is an outrageous demand that would destroy Israel. Advocating this position shows that the ELCA leadership does not know history and again, is an example of how the ELCA holds Israel to different standards than they do the rest of the world. For instance, the ELCA is not making these same demands for all displaced persons of war who have been allies with losing aggressors, such as the Palestinians, demanding that they be able to return to that land and be compensated. In the case of Israel, the land was won in battle 70 years ago. In 1948, Israel, a brand new nation who just wanted to live in peace, was attacked by their Arab neighbors. Around that time, “the Jews of Palestine urged Arab inhabitants to remain in the area and become part of the nascent state. Despite these pleas, however, the majority of Arabs fled, many heeding their own leaders' promises that they could return after the Jews were driven into the sea.” (see here) The 150,000 that did stay became Israeli citizens after Israel defeated the coalition of Arab countries. But now the ELCA and many others are demanding that Israel import around 5 million “Palestinian refugees,” most who hate Jews, insisting they be given land, money and housing. It would destroy Israel, a land that has a current population of just over 8 million people.
Learn more about the current situation happening in Israel that inspired this latest, bias, hateful ELCA statement - March of Return nothing more than terrorists’ plaything
And, Below is a Facebook post by the ELCA's, Metropolitan Chicago Synod containing a link to the recent ELCA statement. The ELCA is Just an Extreme Social Policy and Political Organization that Cloaks Itself in Religion12/19/2017 God's Word in Matthew 4:17 tells us that Jesus preached the message, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near.” You will not hear ELCA leadership preach repentance of sin (unless it has to do with "Global Warming" or lack of being inclusive). They must believe Jesus was naive to think that people needed to repent or that hell awaited those that reject Christ as their Savior. Instead ELCA leaders succumbed to Satan's directives and are preaching their liberal social and political policies. Here are some examples: - The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America stands against the Congressional tax cut being voted on this month. They are spewing leftist propaganda saying it is a bill that "benefits corporations and the wealthy over lower and middle-income families." (See here and below.)  - Today the ELCA's Metropolitan New York Synod shared a post from a pro-LGBT organization about the case of the Christian baker from Colorado who was sued by two gay men because the baker would not use his artistic talents to make them a wedding cake. The article features an ELCA pastor condemning the Christian baker's claim of religious freedom (see here and below). In the case of gay men vs. a Bible-believing Christian, it is not a surprise with whom the ELCA synod is siding.  - Next is an article co-written by ELCA bishop William Gohl Jr. of the Delaware-Maryland Synod, ELCA. It condemns "current immigration policies" of the United States and says the "repeal of DACA would be morally reprehensible." He even says, "If we are to truly live out our faith, then we must...advocate that those who (are in the United States)...through DACA be allowed to stay." (See here) - Gun regulations and laws are a favorite topic of many ELCA leaders. Here is some of what ELCA bishop Steven L. Ullestad of the Northeastern Iowa Synod is using to fill up his Facebook page:
(See here) - News from the Church Council of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America has them adopting the Israel-inspired (anti-Israel) investment screen that was passed at the ELCA Churchwide Assembly in 2016. (read the summer blog here) They also “declined the request for the ELCA to declare itself a sanctuary denomination, yet supported the spirit of the sanctuary movement by encouraging congregations to serve and support the protection of migrants in their communities.” (see here) - Finally, I will end this with what is truly one of the most morally reprehensible positions held in the ELCA, the support of abortion. After someone posted this abortion-supporting article on an ELCA Clergy Facebook page, some challenged the thought. Then ELCA pastor Russell L. Meyer wrote the comment below:  The State of Israel passed a new law this year. The law denies entry of anti-Israel activists, those who support the boycott, divestment and sanctioning of Israel. The authors of the bill explain its purpose saying, "Over the past few years, calls for boycotts against Israel have grown louder. It seems to have become a new battlefront against Israel and the State has yet to be able to duly counter it. This bill seeks to prevent private individuals or those representing companies, associations or organizations that support boycotting Israel from promoting their agenda on Israeli soil." (see here)
ELCA leaders and even members of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) should be very concerned that they will be denied entry into the Jewish State. They are members of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America which has been actively working to harm Israel. (see here and here) Last year the ELCA approved two resolutions aimed at Israel. One calls on the United States government to end all aid to Israel until a list of ELCA demands are met. The other resolution is titled “Justice for the Holy Land through Responsible Investment.” The resolution’s main aim is to stop investments in Israel and select companies that do business with Israel. (See here and here) An article titled “Evangelical Lutherans Divest from Israel over 'Settlement' Activity” speaks to last year’s votes by the ELCA. (see here) During an interview in 2014, before the 2016 resolutions, the ELCA’s highest bishop outlined the different actions the ELCA had taken concerning Israel. This is what she said: - “We've urged our government not to engage in grants to the state of Israel while the settlements are going on.” - “We also support that the blockade of Gaza be lifted.” - “We also engage in selective purchasing. So we not only try to trade with the Palestinian Authority, but we do not purchase products made in the illegal Israeli settlements.” - “...We are contacting the Congress, the President and saying that the illegal settlements must stop. We’re hoping that people are listening to us. I'm not sure that the government of Israel is listening to the United States when we ask for these settlements be stopped. But we have to keep trying.” (see here) In 2017 the ELCA, by way of its top bishop, signed a letter to congress stating its opposition to the "Israel Anti-Boycott Act." It said "we collectively affirm and defend the right of churches and organizations to use economic measures in the specific case of Israel-Palestine." (see letter here) The ELCA, which boycotts (they use the words "selective purchasing") parts of Israel, is defending churches and organizations that boycott Israel. The letter is advocating for the United States Congress to reject the “Israel Anti-Boycott Act” which "prohibit support of international state-sponsored boycotts of Israel by U.S. citizens engaged in interstate or international commerce." (see article here) As you can see, the ELCA is involved in and supports divestment, boycott and sanctions against Israel. Anyone associated with the ELCA should be prime candidates to be denied entry into the Jewish State. ELCA leadership and bishops should be forbidden entry into Israel. ELCA pastors and missionaries should be denied. And anyone who is an ELCA member should be denied entry to Israel, because they have chosen to be part of an organization that actively seeks to harm Israel. There is a precedence for this. In 2016, an Israeli government directive resulted in an “Associate General Secretary for the World Council of Churches (WCC)” being “blocked from entering Israel because of her work with the group to malign Israel and damage it through an economic boycott.” (See here) There is also this, “Presbyterian Official Denied Israel Entry Amidst Divestment Tension.” (See here) Top it all off with the fact that the ELCA sends “missionaries” to “the Holy Land” who take part in the Ecumenical Accompaniment Program in Palestine and Israel (EAPPI) (see here, here and here) “which brings activists to the Jewish State to create publicity material alleging that Palestinians are oppressed.” (read more about EAPPI here) The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America pushes policies that are harmful to Israel. ELCA employees should no longer be allowed to come to Israel until the denomination rescinds all their anti-Israel policies, actions and rhetoric. Additional information: Rev. Khader El-Yateem, an ELCA pastor says, “I support BDS. And I will say this publicly, I say it to everyone.” (See here) The ELCA's Peace Not Walls program is an initiative of the ELCA to implement their Anti-Israel agenda. (See here) Here is an excellent response to an article about the two anti-Israel ELCA resolutions: “How does one distinguish between the ELCA’s actions as being anti-Semitic as opposed to merely anti-Israel? Well, because in presenting and arguing the proposed boycott the major proponent, an organization called Isaiah 58, characterized the history of Israel’s presence in the Middle East as nothing but a land grab. They characterized the history of Israeli-Palestinian relations as nothing but apartheid. They said nothing about why Israel came to exist, i.e. the Holocaust; they said nothing about the fact that Israel has had to defend against four wars from hostile Arab neighbors; they said nothing about the constant threat of terrorism that plagues Israel on a daily basis. They invited no one to speak to the Israeli side of the issue. From an ELCA standpoint, Jewish Lives Don’t Matter. When an organization cherry picks facts in order to support a position of discrimination as the ELCA did in this case, goes out of its way to not hear any evidence or meaningful argument which doesn’t support its agenda; when an organization fails to consider that the BDS movement undoes 50 years of engagement between Lutherans and Jews; and when an organization fails to realize the…BDS movement serves as a justification for hate crimes against Jews everywhere from Portland and Los Angeles to Brussels and Marseilles; that probably qualifies the organization’s actions as unambiguously anti-Semitic.” (See comment section here) Exposing the ELCA has compiled an enormous amount of information about the ELCA and their harmful work against the Jewish State. (See here and scroll down here) As you look through these links you will find that the ELCA continually takes the Palestinian position on the conflict, uses the Palestinian talking points, calls for Israel to divide Jerusalem and never condemns the Palestinians for their violence, terrorism and hatred toward Israel. From Portico Benefit Services, the ELCA’s largest institutional investor we learn that “New SIF Investment Creates Jobs and Housing in the Holy Land.” No, they are not investing in Israel, they are investing in Palestine. (See here)
If you doubt the truthfulness of Mr. Van Zile's statement watch the following news discussion: Because of some racial incidences on campus (from what it sounds like, it was directed at black students), a group of St. Olaf students have published a “list of demands” they want to see implemented at the school. (see a news article about it here)
The first demand, coming even before demands such as “college must meet the financial needs of students of color through merit and need-based scholarships” and “create visible and easily accessible gender neutral housing on all residence halls” was this: “We demand the removal of Arne Christenson from the Advisory Board of The Institute for Freedom & Community. Given Mr. Christenson’s political views and values as a Christian Zionist, St. Olaf College risks his influence upon the speakers brought to the school, the educational offerings, faculty development workshops, and scholarships sanctioned by the Institute through financial means.” How Arne Christenson, or the support of Israel, has anything to do with the racial incidents at St. Olaf, is a question St. Olaf leadership should “demand” the signers of this “list” answer. Using racial incidents on campus, to further their completely unrelated ideals, is shameful. Trying to remove and silence an influencer and leader, whose views apparently differ from their own, is disgraceful and un-American. The ELCA (St. Olaf is a school of the ELCA) has a long history of demonizing Israel and attacking those who support the Jewish state, Christian Zionism. (see here) Below are the St. Olaf students involved in writing the “list of demands.” “The Drafting Committee includes the following individuals: AL-Masrafi, Nouf ‘19 Avalos III, Junior ‘18 Brown, Demetrius ‘18 Chakravarty, Udeepta ‘17 Cathro, Dillon ‘17 Fuentes, Tamira ‘19 Gayles, Lamar ‘19 Gowdy, Khadijah M. ‘19 Ismail, Precious ‘17 Lewis, Nikki ‘18 Loza, Brenda ‘17 Mendis, Prabana ‘18 Ramirez Jr, Efren ‘18 Smith, Ashley P. ‘18 Schaffer, Tia ‘20 Soler, Natalia ‘17 Wake, Abdul ‘19 Wetzel, Krysta ‘18 Whirl, Jabri ‘18 Williams, Don ‘18 Wells, Samantha ‘17 Vyas, Shivani ‘17" -- Please prayerfully consider supporting the ministry of Exposing the ELCA. Click here to find out how. The ELCA’s Western Iowa Synod is publicizing a "White Privilege Conference" to synod members, saying, "All are encouraged to participate." (see below) The conference is sponsored in part by the Transgender Training Institute. (see here)  Ron Havick is an ELCA pastor at St. Mark's Lutheran Church in Chula Vista, California. In one of his Facebook posts, he seems to be advocating for women to be able to walk around topless in public and chiding Christians for not agreeing. Here is his post and more of his comments below. Here is the news article Pastor Havick posted.   The vast majority of Pastor Ron Hovick's Facebook posts contain anger at Republicans and President Trump. However, once in a while, he posts something nonpolitical like this quote from heretic, John Dominic Crossan, about Bible stories being symbolic. What?!?! An ELCA pastor who doesn't believe the accounts of Scripture actually happened? Unbelievable!  It's hard to come across a raging liberal Evangelical Lutheran Church in America pastor without finding that they also demonize Israel. Pastor Hovick is no exception. The post below shows his support of an extremely biased report which calls Israel an apartheid state.  And finally, here is ELCA Pastor Hovick swearing and name-calling.  In a recent letter by Elizabeth Eaton, the Presiding Bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, the ELCA continued its anti-Semitic crusade by requesting President Obama allow for the “Palestinian State” to become a Full Member of the United Nations. (see here) Presiding Bishop Eaton writes, “I request that the U.S. further demonstrate its support for self-determination and freedom by allowing the State of Palestine’s application for full membership in the United Nations to proceed before you conclude your term of office… it is reasonable that the Palestinians and others are turning to the international forum of the UN to realize the goal of an independent Palestinian state.” This lobbying effort by Bishop Eaton seeks to reward the Palestinians who continue their terrorist attacks on Israelis; the Palestinians have shot 20,000 rockets at the Israeli population and refuse to meet and fairly negotiate with Israel. Joseph Puder of FrontPage Mag writes, “receiving UNSC recognition will enable (the Palestinian Authority President) to demand that the UNSC set a deadline for Israel’s withdrawal to the 1967 line. At the same time, he’ll avoid having to negotiate peace with Israel, or make any concessions to the Jewish state.” The U.S State Department responded to previous attempts by the Palestinians to become full members in the U.N. saying Palestinian Statehood “can only come through a negotiated outcome, a resolution of final status issues and mutual recognition by both parties. I don’t think that we’ve seen evidence that they’re willing and able to either at this point in time.” (see here) Consider this, in 2016 alone, the United Nations General Assembly passed 20 resolutions against Israel and just 4 against all other countries. How is this happening except for a demonic effort against a population that God calls His chosen people? (see here) The ELCA’s call to allow Palestinian full-membership in the U.N. is one of many measures President Obama may yet take. Last week the President of the United States worked for and allowed a harmful anti-Jew resolution to pass in the U.N. Security Council. Here are a number of excellent videos and articles about the situation. The Prime Minister of Israel’s response to the recent U.N. vote:  - Israel plans to defy United Nations resolution after Obama admin. abandoned its ally (see here) - Obama's Betrayal of Israel Is a Black Day for American Diplomacy (see here) - Obama's Disgraceful and Harmful Legacy on Israel (see here) - Ted Cruz backs DEFUNDING U.N. in SCATHING statement against Obama’s betrayal of Israel (see here) - Dutch leader tells Israel to 'ignore UN and continue building' (see here) - All bets are off after UN infamy (see here) - Dershowitz: Trump was right to try to stop Obama (see here) - UN Special Envoy Recommends UN Be Dissolved in Response to Recent Vote Against Israel (see here) - Roseanne Barr: Obama’s Anti-Israel UN Action Like ‘Nazis Who Enacted Anti-Jewish Laws on the Eve of Jewish Holidays’ (see here) Once again the ELCA shows its Jew-hate. In August, the ELCA passed two vile anti-Israel, anti-Semitic resolutions. (see here) This time, the ELCA’s hatred for the Jewish nation comes in the form of a completely biased joint letter from the ELCA and other denominations to the major candidates for President of the United States of America. The letter contains lies, fallacies, distortion of the truth and inaccurate situational realities. Here are a number of them: - Calling the situation an Israeli military “occupation” of “East Jerusalem, the West Bank and Gaza…” which is completely false. Israel is not an “occupier.” (see video at the bottom of this blog) - Complaining of “Ongoing settlement expansion…” as if Israel has no right to build in land that they won when they were attacked by Arab countries. - Saying “The blockade of Gaza has led to immense human suffering.” And here the ELCA and other churches are fabricating the “immense human suffering” due to the blockade when the reality is that Israel’s blockade is to prevent weapons and materials, used to harm Israel, to be brought into Gaza. Of course the denominations make no mention of the terrorist leaders of Gaza who are the actual source of “immense human suffering” or that the Palestinians are constantly smuggling weapons and committing violence and terrorism against the Jews. - Then the letter signers say “This status quo is clearly contrary to global security interests, including those of the U.S., and a source of violent extremism throughout the region.” Labeling Israel’s situation as “a source of violent extremism throughout the region” shows their bias because they lay the blame at Israel's feet, as well as justify the Muslim hatred for Jews. Hatred for the Jewish people was in existence, in the Muslim communities which make up most of the region, long before Israel came into being and won additional land in a defensive victory. - They go on, “the daily indignities and stresses of the occupation foster human suffering and have led to emigration from the small but vital Palestinian Christian community.” False again. The Muslim extreme-ism is the cause of the dwindling Palestinian Christian community in Gaza and the West Bank. (see here) - Finally the church leaders say this in their letter, “To ease tensions, we urge you to support people-to-people exchanges and the end of practices under the occupation that result in major human rights abuses, such as home demolitions, systematic land seizures, travel restrictions, the blockade of Gaza, and indefinite administrative detention, including detention of persons under eighteen.” Seriously? The actual situation: the homes being demolished are those of terrorists and those of squatters. The travel restrictions mentioned are a protective measure and would not be implemented if not for the Palestinians constant attacks on Israeli men, women and children. (read letter here) Again, you should notice that this letter only addresses the signer’s grievances against Israel, many of them fabricated. They make no list of grievances perpetrated by the Palestinians. That is par for the course and an obvious sign of the ELCA’s and other participating church’s anti-Semitism.
The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America has long been an enemy of the Jewish State. (see here) Earlier this week, at the ELCA’s Churchwide Assembly, the ELCA voted in favor of a resolution that calls on the United States government to end all aid to Israel until a list of ELCA demands are met. (Note that they did NOT call for the stoppage of U.S. aid to “Palestine” which takes foreign aid money {see here}, intended for humanitarian causes, and uses them for weapons, military terror tunnels, etc., in their quest to kill Jewish men, women and children.)
The ELCA Twitter page announced:
Here is the list of demands the ELCA has for Israel, whereby they say aid from the United States to Israel may be reinstated:
“…To urge this church’s members, congregations, synods agencies and presiding bishop to call on their U.S. Representatives, Senators and the Administration to take action requiring that, to continue receiving U.S. financial and military aid, Israel must comply with internationally recognized human rights standards as specified in existing U.S. law, stop settlement building and the expansion of existing settlements in East Jerusalem and the West Bank, end its occupation of Palestinian territory, and enable an independent Palestinian state;" The ELCA also wants: "To encourage this church’s members, congregations, synods, and agencies to call on the U.S. President to recognize the State of Palestine and not prevent the application of the State of Palestine for full membership in the United Nations.” (see here, page 100) Then yesterday the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America voted in favor (over 90%) of another resolution aimed at hurting Israel called “Justice for the Holy Land through Responsible Investment.” This resolution will be used by the ELCA to divest from Israel and select companies that do business with Israel. Their "recommendation" is astounding: “Recommendation for Assembly Action” “To reaffirm the actions of the 2005, 2007, 2011 and 2013 Churchwide Assemblies regarding responsible investment in Israel-Palestine; To direct the ELCA’s Corporate Social Responsibility review team to develop a human rights social criteria investment screen based on the social teachings of this church and, in the case of Israel and Palestine, specifically based on the concerns raised in the ELCA Middle East Strategy; To encourage ELCA members, congregations, synods, agencies and institutions to increase positive investment in Palestine and other under-resourced areas where human rights abuses materially impact the well-being of all people; and To encourage ELCA members, congregations, synods, agencies and institutions to engage in shareholder advocacy in support of human rights, exercising the right of a shareholder to submit resolutions at a corporation’s annual meeting.” (see here, page 105) When the ELCA says “Investment screen” what they mean is “divestment” from Israel. The BDS haters (the Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions movement against Israel) are applauding this move. The ELCA already has a boycott policy, as detailed by ELCA’s leader Elizabeth Eaton, who said, “We also engage in selective purchasing. So we not only try to trade with the Palestinian Authority, but we do not purchase products made in the illegal Israeli settlements.” (see here) The ELCA is a stooge of Hamas and Jew-hating parties. The ELCA makes declarations aimed at hurting Israel for the “imaginary” speck but is complicit in their silence of the huge log of evil and atrocities perpetrated by the “Palestinians.” That is anti-Semitic. In a time where anti-Semitism is even occurring at the Olympic games (see here) we have a supposed-Christian denomination seeking to harm Jews on trumped up charges. Israel is surround by countries with horrific human rights violations and by “Palestinians” who kill and celebrate the killing of Israeli children. And the ELCA demonizes Israel and wants land won by Israel, in defensive wars, to be given to those who will do everything possible to destroy the Jewish state? The ELCA has taken a stand with Satan. It is time for Bible-believing Christians to get out of this demonically-inspired denomination. Last weekend the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America’s South Central Synod of Wisconsin held its synod assembly. On the docket to be voted on were three anti-Israel/anti-Semitic resolutions. One resolution asked for an end to U.S. financial aid to Israel until Israel stops building homes, etc. on land that is rightfully Israel’s land. Another asking the ELCA churchwide, the whole denomination, to also call on the U.S. government to stop financial aid to Israel. The last resolution asked the denomination to screen and disinvest from companies that do business in Israel “such as Caterpillar, HP Inc., Hewlett Packard Enterprise, Motorola Solutions, and G4S, until such time as those companies no longer profit from the occupation or cease operations in the illegal settlements.” (see the bottom of this article for more details) All three of these anti-Israel resolutions passed.  Conservatives. Bible believers. People with common sense. Why are you funding this wickedness? The ELCA elites, in past German-like fashion, make proclamations and rules against the Jewish people that are based on falsehoods while not saying one word about the violence against Israelis, the intolerance for Israel and the Jew-hatred dominating the Palestinian situation. This is madness. Have you ever seen the video of a guy in California, waving the Israeli flag, and the anger directed at him, but when the same guy is waving an ISIS flag, he gets indifference, support and acceptance? That is what the ELCA is doing, as is the world in general. (below is the video – please check it out) Some more information on the anti-Israel resolutions the ELCA synod passed - South-Central Synod of Wisconsin, 2016 Assembly, Resolution #2 U.S. Aid to State of Israel as a Tool for Peace - “RESOLVED that the South-Central Synod of Wisconsin ELCA Assembly ask the bishop of this synod to urge the members of Wisconsin’s Congressional delegation who serve citizens living in our synod to make U.S. financial and military aid for the State of Israel conditional on the halting of settlement building and the halting of the expansion of existing settlements in East Jerusalem and the West Bank, and to follow the directives of the Foreign Assistance Act and the Arms Export Control Act, which require that a country receiving U.S. financial aid and military arms not engage in human-rights violations of another people; and be it further RESOLVED that South-Central Synod of Wisconsin ELCA Assembly, seeking a just peace for Israel and Palestine, encourage this synod’s congregations and members to pray for Israelis and Palestinians, to learn about the current situation in the Holy Land, to read the 'Kairos Palestine' document, and to advocate the aforementioned conditions on U.S. aid to Israel to their Congressional representatives.” South-Central Synod of Wisconsin, 2016 Assembly, Resolution #3 Memorial to the 2016 ELCA Churchwide Assembly Regarding U.S. Aid to the State of Israel - “RESOLVED that the South-Central Synod of Wisconsin ELCA Assembly memorialize the 2016 Churchwide Assembly of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America to ask the United States Congress to follow the directives of the Foreign Assistance Act and the Arms Export Control Act, which require that a country receiving U.S. financial aid and military arms not engage in human-rights violations of another people and to urge congressional action requiring that, to continue receiving U.S. financial and military aid, Israel must stop settlement building and the expansion of existing settlements in East Jerusalem and the West Bank.” South-Central Synod of Wisconsin, 2016 Assembly, Resolution #4 Justice for the Holy Land through Responsible Investment - “RESOLVED that the South-Central Synod of Wisconsin ELCA Assembly request that the Congregational and Synodical Mission Unit of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America direct the Corporate Social Responsibility Team to develop guidelines that will screen out investments in companies profiting from, or complicit in, human rights violations arising from the occupation, , and provide a report with possible recommendations to the November 2016 meeting of the ELCA Church Council, and forward the guidelines to the separately incorporated ministries, agencies, and institutions of the ELCA for implementation as appropriate; and be it further RESOLVED that the South-Central Synod of Wisconsin ELCA Assembly encourage its members and congregations to learn about their own investments and to intentionally invest in ways that are consistent with their faith and goals, including examining divestment from companies profiting from, or complicit in, human rights violations arising from the occupation, such as Caterpillar, HP Inc., Hewlett Packard Enterprise, Motorola Solutions, and G4S, until such time as those companies no longer profit from the occupation or cease operations in the illegal settlements.” (see here) The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America is wading into the political realm and once again placing their own fanciful and dubious dreams above the safety and security of the Jewish people. Last week the ELCA sent out an advocacy action alert asking readers to “(t)ell your elected officials: Support a negotiated deal with Iran.”
Many in the United States and Israel are saying the current deal with Iran is bad, but here we have the ELCA calling for a negotiated nuclear deal with them. Let's look at and respond to some of the statements from the ELCA's action alert:
That is not true. I bad deal is worse than no deal for the Israelis (who Iran constantly threatens to destroy), the Palestinians and all of Iran's neighbors. An armed conflict is better than allowing the evil regime to obtain nuclear warheads and make good on their threat to wipe out the Jewish state.
Wrong again. A deal that allows Iran to get nuclear weapons or a deal that can not guaranty that Iran abides by the rules, makes for a terrifying world. Iran is the number one supporter and purveyor of terrorism. They call the United States “the great Satan.” They call for our destruction. They are developing missiles that can reach America. A bad deal is worse than no deal.
That is a big assumption. Can you say “North Korea?” And thinking that Iran will comply with the rules is naive at best. They have a long history of breaking the rules with the United Nations regarding their quest for nuclear power (weapons).
Seriously? Get on with the Iran deal so we can focus on the main problem of the Israeli-Palestinian issue? That issue is so important to the ELCA that they have to insert it into the conversation about stopping Iran from getting nuclear weapons? To be frank, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America is not an honest broker when it comes to Israel. (see here and here) The ELCA view of a deal between Israel and Palestinians has the Palestinians getting most all of their demands and Israel getting a “promise” of peace.
Again the ELCA is wrong. The threat of new sanctions will increase the likelihood of a “good” deal with Iran, as will the need of congressional approval for a deal. The ELCA and President Obama need to step back and let the nation at most risk of being attacked by a nuclear Iran (Israel) have the ultimate say on whether a deal should be made. Because sadly, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and the president do not have Israel's best interest or survival in mind. Just one week ago a delegation from the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, which included ELCA Presiding Bishop Elizabeth A. Eaton, held a meeting with a Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) Executive Committee member. The ELCA delegation sat with the Palestine Liberation Organization representative listening to the outright fabrications the PLO is famous for creating about Israel. The PLO issued a press release afterward summarizing the meeting. Here is a segment from the press release; please note the sinister lies many of the statements contain -
(The PLO Executive Committee member) “briefed the ELCA delegation on the latest political developments, including current Palestinian initiatives and political options for the future; Israel’s ongoing violations of international law and human rights, including the escalation in Israel’s illegal settlement enterprise, the expansion of the apartheid wall and checkpoints, the annexation and political, geographical and cultural transformation of Jerusalem, the targeting of the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound and its worshipers and Israel’s efforts to incite a holy war in the region, Israel’s most recent horrific war in Gaza, the superimposition of ‘Greater Israel’ on historical Palestine, and Israeli policies of ethnic cleansing, particularly in Jerusalem, Area C and the Negev; the substantial diminishment of Christians from Palestine due to Israeli policies of military occupation; Israel’s withholding of Palestinian tax revenues; and the domestic situation and rift in Palestine, as well as issues of mutual interest and cooperation.” (read here) So far there has been no press release from the ELCA about this meeting. Last week I reported on actions the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) is actively taking against the state of Israel (read here). The ELCA's Presiding Bishop outlines two of these steps in a recent interview this way, “We also engage in selective purchasing. So we not only try to trade with the Palestinian Authority, but we do not purchase produces made in the illegal Israeli settlements.” And “We've urged our government not to engage in grants to the state of Israel while the settlements are going on.” In other words, the ELCA is boycotting products made by Jews living in Judea and Samaria (or what the ELCA calls the West Bank and Gaza) and stopping financial aid to Israel. Earlier this year, a speech was given during a UCLA Undergraduate Students' Association Council meeting. The council was considering a resolution which called for the university to divest from businesses that, in their words, “profit from the Israeli occupation of Gaza and the West Bank.” The following speech could have been and should be given to the leadership and members of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. Here it is - “My name is Ben Shapiro. I'm an alumnus of this university. I'm also a local talk show host on 870 [AM] in the morning, and I got out of bed and left my one month old baby there when I saw what was going on here tonight. I've never been more ashamed to be a Bruin. I've never been more ashamed to be an alumnus of this university than to see this divestment petition being considered at this level. To pretend this is about occupation, to pretend this is about peace, to pretend that this anything other than vile, spiteful Jew hatred is a lie! There is only one reason we are discussing Israel and not discussing Saudi Arabia. There is only one reason we are discussing Israel and not discussing Iran. There is only one reason we are discussing Israel and not discussing Palestine. There is only one reason we are discussing Israel and not discussing the vast bevy of human rights violations that happen every day in the Middle East, exponentially worse that what happens in Israel. Any gay or lesbian that is targeting Israel in this room seems to have forgotten how high they hang gays from cranes in Iran. Every person of liberal bent who suggests that Israel is the problem in the Middle East seems to have forgotten that there is only one country in the Middle East that actually has any sort of religious diversity in it. The countries that are apartheid countries are those that are Judenrein (a Nazi term that means 'clean of Jews.') -- like, for example, Palestine. So, for us to sit here and pretend that Israel is somehow on a lower moral plane is a direct manifestation of anti-Semitism. And to hold Jews to a different moral standard than any other country or group on the face of the earth represents nothing but an age-old and historic hatred for the Jewish people. All the folks here who are pretending that the B.D.S is about anything other than that, I would like to see a poll of those folks, and see how many of them actually believe in the existence of a Jewish state, qua-Jewish state, not as a state like any other, but as a Jewish state. They don't. They don't acknowledge that existence. They don't believe in that existence. They don't believe in peace. All this is about, pure and simple, is a desire to target the Jewish people.” Here is a video of the speech - The Presiding Bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America recently was interviewed on a Pro-Hezbollah TV station (see article here) and during the interview she outline the different actions the ELCA has taken to hurt the Israeli democracy and the Jewish people:
It should be noted that the term "illegal settlements" is a false notion but it is useful for those anti-Israeli actors who are trying to garner sympathy as they try to remove Israel from Israeli land. (read more about that in an excellent article here) Here is the Presiding Bishop's television interview: |
Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.
1 Thessalonians 5:21 Dan Skogen
Former ELCA seminary student and former ELCA member who is fed up with the ELCA's consistent mockery of God's Word. If you have been helped and blessed by Exposing the ELCA's ministry, please help us continue to proclaim the truth of God's Word to ELCA members who need to hear it.
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Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. - Ephesians 5:11
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