Aligning our Words
and Actions
For many years, United Methodist resolutions have urged an end to Israel's occupation of Palestinian land and a sharing of the city of Jerusalem, which is holy to three faiths. Yet United Methodist boards and agencies hold stock in companies which sustain that occupation. It is time for the church to align its actions with its words. We need to stop investing in companies whose goods and services enable the occupation to continue.
Are you a United Methodist employee or clergy who believes your church should stop investing in companies that sustain the occupation? Take action by signing the petition today!
This petition is for United Methodist clergy and employees who participate in/benefit from services of the UM General Board of Pension and Health Benefits (GBPHB)
UMC Divestment Endorsements
Archbishop Desmond Tutu's message to the voting delegates at General Conference, published in the Tampa Bay Times, during the United Methodist General Conference:
Archbishop Desmond Tutu's message to the voting delegates at General Conference, published in the Tampa Bay Times, during the United Methodist General Conference:
Read it »
Archbishop Tutu also wrote a letter of endorsement for our divestment goal in April 2012 Read it »
United Methodist Bishop Mary Ann Swenson writes of her experience visiting Israel-Palestine and asks for support of UM divestment Read it »
Rabbis in the US have created a new website www.rabbisletter.org to give their strong support to church divestment efforts. Watch the video and learn more about US Jewish support for UM divestment.
» See the video and letter from 140 Israelis with a personal message for United Methodists, the endorsement statement of GBGM and more...
» See all the organizations who have endorsed the resolution and add your group to the list!
+ Black Methodists for Church Renewal gave overwhelming approval for endorsing the resolution "Aligning UM Investments" at their national gathering in Las Vegas, March 2012.
+ ICAHD-USA, the US affiliate of Israeli Committee Against House Demolitions, has written an open letter supporting Selective Divestment in the UMC, as well as the Presbyterian and Episcopalian churches. » Read their letter
+ The Rabbinical Council of Jewish Voice for Peace has sent us an open letter, urging United Methodists to take a stand for Selective Divestment from the Israeli occupation of Palestinian land. » Read it
+ Rifat Kassis, the Coordinator of Kairos Palestine: A Moment of Truth, has sent a warm letter of appreciation and support to United Methodists working for church divestment from the occupation. » Read it
The Companies
Learn how the companies named in our resolution are involved in the Israeli occupation of Palestinian Land and are sustaining the violations of human rights and international law that occupation entails. » read it
Some people believe that we must stay invested in these companies, to be able to continue our corporate engagement and encourage them to change their policies.
See the history of our advocacy with these corporations, from 2004 to 2011, and their responses to corporate engagement.
Divestment Q & A
Discover the answers to many of your questions about divestment: » Learn more
Who Supports Divestment?
See the Christian and Jewish organizations
that support divestment, as well as businesses and pension funds that have cut their ties to the Israeli occupation: » Learn more
Read and use the brochure, "Who Supports Divestment?" with key quotes from some prominent supporters.
Presbyterian Report
View the recommendation from the Committee on Mission Responsibility Through Investment (MRTI) in the Presbyterian Church-USA. They are recommending divestment from the same three companies named in our UM resolution.
» Read it
Is it Apartheid?
The government of South Africa funded a 15-month study by an international team of legal analysts, and published the results in 2009: Israel is clearly enforcing a regime of apartheid and colonialism in the Occupied Territories. Learn the current reality of Israel's occupation in this authoritative study, as well as their recommendations for action:
Read the summary & download it
Archbishop Tutu also wrote a letter of endorsement for our divestment goal in April 2012 Read it »
United Methodist Bishop Mary Ann Swenson writes of her experience visiting Israel-Palestine and asks for support of UM divestment Read it »Rabbis in the US have created a new website www.rabbisletter.org to give their strong support to church divestment efforts. Watch the video and learn more about US Jewish support for UM divestment.
» See the video and letter from 140 Israelis with a personal message for United Methodists, the endorsement statement of GBGM and more...
» See all the organizations who have endorsed the resolution and add your group to the list!
+ Black Methodists for Church Renewal gave overwhelming approval for endorsing the resolution "Aligning UM Investments" at their national gathering in Las Vegas, March 2012.
+ ICAHD-USA, the US affiliate of Israeli Committee Against House Demolitions, has written an open letter supporting Selective Divestment in the UMC, as well as the Presbyterian and Episcopalian churches. » Read their letter
+ The Rabbinical Council of Jewish Voice for Peace has sent us an open letter, urging United Methodists to take a stand for Selective Divestment from the Israeli occupation of Palestinian land. » Read it
+ Rifat Kassis, the Coordinator of Kairos Palestine: A Moment of Truth, has sent a warm letter of appreciation and support to United Methodists working for church divestment from the occupation. » Read it
The Companies
Learn how the companies named in our resolution are involved in the Israeli occupation of Palestinian Land and are sustaining the violations of human rights and international law that occupation entails. » read it
Some people believe that we must stay invested in these companies, to be able to continue our corporate engagement and encourage them to change their policies.
See the history of our advocacy with these corporations, from 2004 to 2011, and their responses to corporate engagement.
Divestment Q & A
Discover the answers to many of your questions about divestment: » Learn more
Who Supports Divestment?
See the Christian and Jewish organizations
that support divestment, as well as businesses and pension funds that have cut their ties to the Israeli occupation: » Learn more
Read and use the brochure, "Who Supports Divestment?" with key quotes from some prominent supporters.
Presbyterian Report
View the recommendation from the Committee on Mission Responsibility Through Investment (MRTI) in the Presbyterian Church-USA. They are recommending divestment from the same three companies named in our UM resolution.
» Read it
Is it Apartheid?
The government of South Africa funded a 15-month study by an international team of legal analysts, and published the results in 2009: Israel is clearly enforcing a regime of apartheid and colonialism in the Occupied Territories. Learn the current reality of Israel's occupation in this authoritative study, as well as their recommendations for action: Read the summary & download it
UMKR Leader Receives National Award from US Campaign read more »
Images of the Occupation and more, from United Methodists' visits to the Holy Land
» visit the gallery
» visit the gallery
Our RSS feeds provide highlights of economic advocacy to end the occupation and a spectrum of opinion and action around the world. » read the news
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BOYCOTT ACTIONS
The Boycott Sodastream Letters
to the CEOs of 14 companies
that carry SodaStream products:
learn more and send your own »
____________________________________
Learn more about the
Interfaith Boycott Coalition
and the SodaStream Campaign
http://sodastreamboycott.org
The Boycott Sodastream Letters
to the CEOs of 14 companies
that carry SodaStream products:
learn more and send your own »
____________________________________
Learn more about the
Interfaith Boycott Coalition
and the SodaStream Campaign
http://sodastreamboycott.org
____________________________________
Boycott Settlements Products
Use our groundbreaking resource
for information and action
on the settlements boycott:
for information and action
on the settlements boycott:
"Seizing the Mandate"
Use the UMKR Boycott Flyer
for United Methodists
See it and download it »
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Dean of Students at Bethlehem Bible College
and GBGM missionary,
sends a powerful letter to United Methodist Annual Conferences
read and download it »
_______________________________________________________
UMKR Supports
15 Christian Leaders
Fifteen leaders, representing many major faith groups in the US
and including Bishop Rosemarie Wenner, President of the UMC Council of
Bishops, have written a letter to Congress seeking to make U.S. military
aid to the State of Israel contingent upon its compliance with
applicable U.S. laws and policies.
Read the UMKR press release
and take action »
Founded in October 2010, UMKR's work in 2011 and early 2012 was focused on two campaigns:
• a petition to our General Board of Pensions asking them to divest of companies that sustain and profit from the Israeli occupation of Palestinian land
See the left hand column for more info about
the petition and who should sign it!
the petition and who should sign it!
• a resolution for the United Methodist General Conference that would instruct all church agencies to divest from the occupation. Read the resolution »
Read about the unexpected results of General Conference 2012:
UMKR Materials
Our video on the Israeli Occupation and three companies from which our church must divest "UMKR - Answering the Call from Holy Land Christians" go there »
Our materials on the Boycott of Settlements Products:
• "Seizing the Mandate" - learn about the settlements, the products they export that come to the US, how to participate in a boycott of those products, and more! go there »
• Short powerpoint presentation for the holiday season, on the boycott of settlements products
go there »
We also have:
• Brochures about UMKR, The Settlements,
Who Supports Divestment...
• information about the companies that are sustaining the occupation and how we have engaged in advocacy with them,
• why investing cannot replace divesting from the occupation,
and more.
Find materials also in French and Swahili.
Go to UMKR Materials »
Investing replaces divestment?
Some United Methodists are recommending replacing the call for UM divestment from the occupation with something that sounds more 'positive' - investing in the Palestinian economy.
Learn why this approach cannot help the Palestinians, while they live under a crushing occupation - according to World Bank reports and other authoritative sources. » Read it
Kairos Palestine Document
Kairos Palestine: A Moment of Truth -
engage with this profound statement of faith, a call for action that has mobilized Christians globally, including United Methodists. » Learn more
