Resolution On Anti-Semitism

WHEREAS,	When Jesus was asked what was the greatest commandment, he responded quoting Hebrew scripture,"You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the greatest and first commandment. And a second is like it. You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets" (Matthew 22:37-40); and

WHEREAS,	The shootings which occurred at the Hebrew day care center in California shocked us and should be a wake up call for all Christians to denounce anti-Semitism; and

WHEREAS,	Anti-Semitism has been deeply embedded in Christian tradition; and

WHEREAS,	Anti-Semitism violates Christ's call to love our neighbors as ourselves; and

WHEREAS,	Judaism is the foundation of our faith; and

WHEREAS,	the delegates to the 16th General Synod (1987) of the United Church of Christ stated that, "We in the United Church of Christ acknowledge that the Christian Church has, throughout much of its history, denied God's continuing covenantal relationship with the Jewish people expressed in the faith of Judaism. This denial often has led to outright rejection of the Jewish people and theologically and humanly intolerable violence"; and

WHEREAS,	At its annual meeting in 1997, the Connecticut Conference approved a resolution to: a) broaden our understanding of the diversities that have become reality in our society; b) overcome the fears of difference now dividing us; c) learn new ways to work together toward the reign of God, which we all desire.

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED	that we the delegates to the 132nd Annual Meeting of the Connecticut Conference of the United Church of Christ do confess the sin of anti-Semitism and renounce it, knowing that Jews are children of God to be loved as we love ourselves in the way that Christ has commanded us; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED	that we invite the Office of Program and Resources of the Connecticut Conference to utilize all Rapid Response Networks to notify congregations and clergy by e-mail, fax, etc. when there is a need to take action against anti-Semitism in a crisis; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED	that we urge our Conference Minister to speak out against anti-Semitism in all appropriate circumstances; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED	that we request the Conference Webmaster to create a website that broadens our understanding of the diversities among us and offers new ways to work together toward the reign of God; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED	that we encourage all churches of the Connecticut Conference to build relationships of mutual respect and friendship with their nearby synagogues through interfaith exchanges such as church school, youth and adult education programs, cooperative service projects, and social interactions; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED	that this resolution be submitted, in proper form to the 23rd General Synod (2001) of the United Church calling upon the United Church of Christ to actively seek and develop relationships of mutual respect and understanding with our Jewish brothers and sisters in all settings of the church.