MFSA
Letter to Board of Pensions
November 15th, 2004
To:
Barbara A. Boigegrain, General Secretary
General Board of Pensions and Health Benefits of the
UMC
1201 Davis Street
Evanston, IL 60201
Dear Ms. Boigegrain,
The board of directors of the Methodist Federation
for Social Action (MFSA) met in Chicago on October 14-16. The Middle
East Network of United Methodists (MENUM), a subgroup of MFSA focusing
on Middle East issues, proposed some actions for consideration
as a follow up to the Middle East resolution passed at General
Conference in May, 2004 (enclosed).
The MENUM proposal as found below was received, perfected,
and adopted enthusiastically by the MFSA board of directors.
a. MFSA/MENUM request the General Board of Pensions
and Health Benefits and the Board of Global Ministries and Women's
Division to research and identify companies that profit from sales
of products or services that cause harm to Palestinians or Israelis.
b. MFSA/MENUM request that the above named General
Boards continue to work with the Interfaith Center on Corporate
Responsibility, including organizations such as the Jewish
Voice for Peace, to persuade Caterpillar Corporation to halt their sales
of bulldozers to Israel.
c. Upon lack of significant progress within the next
year, MFSA/MENUM request the General Boards and Agencies of the
UMC join the ecumenical partners within other denominations in
divesting of assets in Caterpillar and other selected companies.
We are not asking the UMC as a whole to divest - a decision that
could only be made by General Conference. Instead, we are asking
individual boards and agencies to divest selectively, a decision
that can be made by their boards of directors.
Please be assured that MFSA has not made this request
lightly. We are deeply committed to supporting true justice and
peace for all of the peoples of Israel/Palestine. We believe that
the cycle of violence in Israel/Palestine must end. We ask that
you join us in this commitment by exploring how the investments
of the General Board of Pensions and Health Benefits might be used
to support peace.
We expect and trust that your Corporate Relations Department will inform
us of their findings and suggest ways we may help in bringing these actions
of social justice to fruition.
Sincerely,
Kathryn J. Johnson
Executive Director
Cc: Vidette Bullock Mixon, Director of Corporate Relations