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PROGRESSIVE CHRISTIANS OPPOSE THE "CHRISTIAN ZIONISM" OF THE RELIGIOUS RIGHT Protestant Network Calls for Justice for Palestinians and Peace for the Middle East October 11, 2002 Washington, DC--Protestant Justice Action, a national network of justice and peace organizations within mainline Protestant denominations, today expressed its strong opposition to the "Christian Zionism" of the Religious Right. "When it comes to the Middle East, the Religious Right does not speak for all Christians," said Kathryn Johnson, executive director of the Methodist Federation for Social Action. "Many Christians in this nation and in the Middle East seek a peaceful solution to this conflict, one that includes justice for the Palestinian people as well as security for Israel." These statements came as a response to a "pro-Israel" rally held today by the Christian Coalition in the nation's Capitol. The rally, which is part of the Christian Coalition's annual "Road to Victory" conference, urges the US government to give unqualified support to the Sharon government, to declare Palestinian leadership a "terrorist" organization and to abandon its publicly stated support for a Palestinian state. Many leaders and activists in the Religious Right believe that Israel plays a central role in the events that will lead up to the end of the world and the second coming of Jesus. According to this scenario, the Jewish people must reclaim all of the land that is said to be theirs in the Bible. Then, and only then, can the end-time drama begin, a drama in which the majority of Jews will be killed and a small remnant will finally convert to Christianity. "The leaders of the Religious Right are so motivated by their end-time ideology that they fail to see the pain of this tragic situation," said Rev. Charles Harvey Lord, coordinator of Disciples Justice Action Network (Disciples of Christ). "They not only demonize Muslim Palestinians and turn right-wing Israelis into saints; they also totally ignore the fact that many of the Palestinians they seek to destroy are actually their brothers and sisters in Christ." Many mainline Protestant denominations have strong relationships with Palestinian Christians who live under Israeli occupation. These relationships have contributed to the official stance of these Protestant churches, expressed in public statements that call for a continuation of the peace process, a sharing of the land and justice for all parties. "We strongly support the right of Israel to exist with safe borders, free of violence," said Dr. Eugene Teselle, a leader of the Presbyterian Witherspoon Society who teaches theology at Vanderbilt University. "But we also insist that the God of Abraham requires justice for all peoples living in the Holy Land." ### Protestant Justice Action (PJA) is a national network of peace and justice groups within the mainline Protestant denominations. Member organizations include: the Methodist Federation for Social Action, the Lutheran Human Relations Association, the Baptist Peace Fellowship of North America, the Witherspoon Society (Presbyterian), Christians for Justice Action (United Church of Christ), Disciples Justice Action Network (Disciples of Christ) and various Episcopal peace and justice activists. PJA will address the Middle East situation, among other issues, at its first national conference, March 28-30, 2003, in St. Louis, MO. Protestant Justice Action For more information, contact: For more information on PJA's upcoming national conference: |