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One local pastor complained to me that the resolution was only a symptom of the problem he sees as a Presbyterian—a church that is supposed to be taking its cues from the churches on the front, instead become top-heavy with hierarchy.

Dissatisfaction with leadership that leans to the left of many parishioners is partly behind the growth of the Confessing Church Movement, some 1,300 congregations strong, and approaching a half million members.

I hope that many Jews will find solace in the knowledge that there are cracks in the edifice of the demonizers of Israel, and that they have some good friends in the Presbyterian Church, once they get past an administration that does not always speak for its constituency. I also hope that Christians of all stripes who are truly interested in furthering a just peace in the Holy Land will soon learn that the Presbyterian Church as a whole was somewhat less than resolute in its resolution.

Rabbi Yitzchok Adlerstein is director of Project Next Step, an educational outreach program The Simon Wiesenthal Center in Los Angeles. Views expressed in Speaking Out do not necessarily represent those of Christianity Today.

Copyright © 2004 Christianity Today. Click for reprint information.

Christianity Today's Weblog earlier covered the controversy over the divestment resolution (second item).

Another article on our site today focuses on a separate controversy during the General Assembly: the debate over actively homosexual ministers.

Other coverage of the divestment controversy includes:

Jews, Presbyterians at odds—The Journal News, White Plains, N.Y. (Aug. 4, 2004)

Presbyterians' shameful boycott—Alan M. Dershowitz, Los Angeles Times (Aug. 4, 2004)

An interfaith friendship frayed | Presbyterians and Jews face off over votes at the Presbyterian General Assembly—Time (Aug. 2, 2004)

A prayer for Presbyterians to reach out to Jewish people | We are stunned, shocked and outraged—God Squad, South Florida Sun-Sentinel (July 31, 2004)

Scholars for Peace criticizes Presbyterians—The Patriot-News, Harrisburg, Pa. (July 30, 2004)

Presbyterians ignite divestment uproar—The Jewish Journal of Los Angeles (July 30, 2004)

Statement on Israel-Palestine spawns backlash v. backlash—The Layman (July 28, 2004)

PCUSA is divesting itself—Uwe Siemon-Netto, UPI (July 28, 2004)

Presbyterians or prostitutes?—Joseph Farah, WorldNetDaily (July 27, 2004)

Presbyterians lead the irreligious left—Adam Sparks, SFGate (July 26, 2004)

Tension divides Jewish, Presbyterian leaders | Israel, conversion issues spur debate—The Courier-Journal, Louisville, Ky. (July 26, 2004)

Presbyterians try to mend damaged ties with Jews—Religion News Service (July 23, 2004)

ADL blasts Presbyterians' anti-Israel vote—Associated Press (July 23, 2004)

Presbyterians under fire over divestment vote | Jewish organizations are arguing over whether to end all contact with the Christian denomination—The Forward (July 22, 2004)

Assembly endorses Israel divestment | Palestinian says merely issuing another statement is not enough—Presbyterian News Service (July 2. 2004)

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August (Web-only) 2004, Vol. 48