Dinner with benefits, Sunday March 25
Andrea Whitmore
Dear Friends of Peace,
This email will at first seem to be about a strictly United Methodist project, but if you read on, you’ll see the political ramifications of how it can help forward peace in Palestine-Israel.
United Methodists send delegates from all over the country--actually from around the world--to what we call a General Conference every
four years. About a thousand delegates—an equal number of lay and clergy--meet
to vote on social justice and other issues that then become policy for our
church. This year General Conference is in April.
The UM Church through General Conference and its various Boards has long had a strong stand against the occupation and appropriation of Palestinian lands, the destruction of houses and so many of the horrors of occupation. However, our General Board of Pensions and Health Benefits has stock in Caterpillar, Hewlett-Packard, and Motorola Solutions, three American companies that profit directly from the occupation and that, hence, so does the Church.
Hundreds of grassroots Methodists are urging alignment of our investments with our stated policies. It seems so logical. Jesus said, “Where your treasure is, therefore also is your heart.” He also chased the money-changers out of the temple for further oppressing an already overburdened and then, as now, occupied people.
The group pushing a Resolution for alignment is United Methodist Kairos Response (www.kairosresponse.org). Our Resolution, to divest pension funds from those three AMERICAN companies (this is NOT a divestment from Israel by any means) is the same one being proffered by Presbyterians for their General Assembly this summer.
If the United Methodists can pass the resolution, that will help the Presbyterians.
Why is it important? Most mainstream churches have stands against
the occupation. Divesting is a peaceful
way of protesting. The Christians in Palestine-Israel have asked us--pleaded with us, actually--to peacefully but firmly act as well as speak against the sin of occupation, which affects not only Christians, but also their Muslim sisters and brothers and yes, our Jewish ones too. Many Jewish groups have endorsed the Resolution, as you'll see from the website. Divesting will not hurt the companies—others will buy up the stock.
But it will send a powerful message to politicians that the churches are
finally waking from their slumber and actually doing something. That, in turn,
will give political wind at the backs of those in government and elsewhere who might wish to speak out
against occupation but are politically fearful of doing so. There are other
reasons this Resolution should pass, not least the moral ones. I urge you to read
more about it at the website.
I need two things: The first is for you to read the Resolution and, if you would, to endorse it online (www.kairosresponse.org). You don't need to be a United Methodist to endorse it!
The second—I need your help to get to Tampa for General Conference in April to help with this effort. I've somehow been appointed to help coordinate United Methodist Kairos Response volunteers in Tampa. It's a two-week General Conference, so very expensive. You can help, if you would, either by donating online at the website--even $5 will help-- or by coming to join Citizens for Justice in the Middle East for a delicious Moroccan feast on Sunday evening, March 25, at 6 PM at Marrakesh Café, 4116 Broadway in Westport, Kansas City, Missouri. There is parking across the street in the bank lot. We’ll ask $32 per person or $60 for a couple to enjoy appetizers, a main dish, and baklava for dessert. We’re thinking also of serving wine by the glass for an extra fund-raiser while we’re there (still to be decided).
Can you come? This is the menu:
Appetizer:
Harira Soup (tomato based with rice, lentils, chickpeas and Moroccan spices)
Or
Beet salad (marinated beets in vinaigrette with parsley, topped with green beans, eggs, and capers)
Main dish:
Marrakech couscous (braised chicken over couscous with chickpeas and caramelized onions and raisins
Or vegetarian couscous.
Or chicken kebob with rice and veggies
Dessert:
Baklava
And of course, a lot of fun with some very smart, informed people.
If you cannot come, please consider donating at www.kairosresponse.org
Every little bit--$5, whatever--will help!
Let me know what you think. And also if you're coming to dinner so we can tell the restaurant.
And thanks for all you do. I hope to hear from you.
Best regards,
Andrea Whitmore
United Methodist Kairos Response (www.kairosresponse.org)
Citizens for Justice in the Middle East (http://www.facebook.com/groups/6152447378/ )