The Advisory Committee on Social Witness Policy (ACSWP) has named five people to serve on a study team to report to the 2016 General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) regarding the feasibility of a two-state solution to the conflicts between Israelis and Palestinians in the Middle East.
The study team is being called the “Study Team on Prospects for a Just Peace in Israel and Palestine” – not, as also was considered, a study team on a two-state solution.
In announcing the appointments, ACSWP in a news release said it had determined that the assembly’s request for a “focused study does not ‘re-open’ the whole Middle East policy of the Assembly” as reflected in the 2010 report “Breaking Down the Walls,” nor “does it conflict with the nonviolent economic witness the General Assembly has authorized to support movement toward a two-state solution with peaceful co-existence and full human rights.”
The announcement states that while the PC(USA) continues to support a two-state solution, the possibility of that happening “has been jeopardized by the growth of Israeli settlements on land that was expected to constitute a Palestinian state.”
The announcement also states that the assembly’s decision to authorize a study team came “after a second ‘peace process’ initiated by the Obama administration ended without agreement. Before selecting a group of persons to carry out the study, ACSWP informally consulted several experts in and out of government on how best to accomplish the assembly’s stated purposes. ACSWP was advised that the intent of the assignment was clear and included . . . looking at a range of possibilities consistent with the church’s commitment to justice, peace, self-determination and related values. The committee thus chose to re-label the study team (though not necessarily the eventual report) in a way that would invite conversation with a wide range of parties.”
Those appointed to the study group are “in basic agreement with GA policies, although the final shape of any report” to the assembly will be in ACSWP’s hands, the announcement states.
Those named to serve on the study team are:
- Mark Douglas, professor of Christian ethics, Columbia Theological Seminary in Decatur, Georgia.
- Sam Jones, principal at Third Coast Consulting, formerly of the Carter Center, from Atlanta.
- Leila Richards, a physician and former medical volunteer in Southern Lebanon and Gaza, of Pittsburgh.
- Douglas Tilton, political scientist and Southern Africa Coordinator for the Presbyterian Mission Agency, based in South Africa.
- Steven Webb, economist formerly with the World Bank and a member of ACSWP, from Reston, Virginia.
The study group will receive staff and consultant assistance from:
- Christian Iosso, coordinator of the Advisory Committee on Social Witness Policy, from Louisville.
- Amgad Beblawi, the Presbyterian Mission Agency’s coordinator for Middle East, Europe and Central Asia, from Louisville
- Paul Beran, associate director of academic ventures, Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study, from Cambridge, Massachusetts.
Other PC(USA) staff in New York, Washington, D.C. and the Middle East will also be involved, according to the announcement. Due to limited funding, not all study team members may participate in all the discussions – Douglas and Webb might miss some or all of any Middle East meetings, and Tilton some or all of those held in the U.S., the announcement states.
The statement follows:
PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH (U.S.A.) PRESBYTERIAN MISSION AGENCY ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON SOCIAL WITNESS POLICY
December 19, 2014
ADVISORY COMMITTEE ANNOUNCES NAMES OF STUDY TEAM ON PROSPECTS FOR A JUST PEACE IN ISRAEL AND PALESTINE (aka: STUDY OF ‘TWO STATE SOLUTION’)
The Advisory Committee on Social Witness Policy (ACSWP) has announced its appointment of the following persons to serve on a study team to report to the 222nd General Assembly (2016) on the feasibility of a “two state” solution to the conflict between Israelis and Palestinians. The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) continues to support such an approach, which was affirmed in the Oslo accords of twenty years ago but which has been jeopardized by the growth of Israeli settlements on land that was expected to constitute a Palestinian state.
While the action of the General Assembly did not call for a study team—this was ACSWP’s decision, the Assembly confirmed that the Advisory Committee was the appropriate body to carry out the study. ACSWP determined that the request for the focused study does not “re-open” the whole recent Middle East policy of the Assembly (“Breaking Down the Walls,” 2010), nor does it conflict with the nonviolent economic witness the General Assembly has authorized to support movement toward a two state solution with peaceful co-existence and full human rights. Thus the limited amount budgeted by the Assembly could provide for travel by a small group to meet with governmental and non-governmental leaders to assess the prospects of a two-state solution. The Advisory Committee chose persons in basic agreement with GA policies, though the final shape of any report will be in the full Committee’s hands. For the Assembly action: https://www.pc-biz.org/PC-Biz.WebApp_deploy/%28S%28e2q5xgyah5cznw1rabqgedrw%29%29/IOBView.aspx?m=ro&id=4575
This action and several others were taken by the General Assembly after a second “peace process” initiated by the Obama Administration had ended without agreement. Before selecting a group of persons to carry out the study, ACSWP informally consulted several experts in and out of government on how best to accomplish the Assembly’s stated purposes. ACSWP was advised that the intent of the assignment was clear and included (2.b.(3)) looking at a range of possibilities consistent with the Church’s commitment to justice, peace, self-determination and related values. The Committee thus chose to re-label the study team (though not necessarily the eventual report) in a way that would invite conversation with a wide range of parties.
The team appointed includes the following members of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.):
Dr. Mark Douglas, Professor of Christian Ethics, Columbia Theological Seminary, Decatur, GA.
Mr. Sam Jones, Principal, Third Coast Consulting, formerly of the Carter Center, Atlanta, GA.
Leila Richards, M.D., former medical volunteer in Southern Lebanon and Gaza, Pittsburgh, PA.
Dr. Douglas Tilton, political scientist and Southern Africa Coordinator for the Presbyterian Mission Agency.
Dr. Steven Webb, economist formerly with the World Bank and ACSWP member, Reston, VA.
The group will receive staff and consultant assistance from:
Rev. Christian Iosso, Coordinator, Advisory Committee on Social Witness Policy, Louisville, KY.
Mr. Amgad Beblawi, Coordinator for Middle East, Europe, and Central Asia for World Mission in the Presbyterian Mission Agency, Louisville, KY.
Dr. Paul Beran, Associate Director of Academic Ventures, Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study, Cambridge, MA.
Other PCUSA staff in New York, Washington, DC, and the Middle East will also be involved.
In the case of all non-staff persons, institutional affiliations are only for identification purposes.
Due to cost limitations, Drs. Douglas and Webb may not be able to participate in part or all of the Middle Eastern set of discussions, while Dr. Tilton may not be able to participate in part or all of the US sets. At the same time, the Committee felt their expertise and experience was particularly needed and would seek to combine their perspectives and involve all at every point.
Elder Christine M. Darden, PhD, Co-Chair Rev. Ray R. Roberts, PhD, Co-Chair
