The Palestine Israel Ecumenical Network in partnership with APAN was pleased to support the Uniting Church of Australia’s National Assembly in July 2015.
Many delegates accessed our stall to get information and resources from Palestinian Christians and the work of other churches around the world to stand in solidarity with Palestinians.
PIEN members Dr Rev Andrew Williams and Jessica talk with the UCA President Stuart McMillan following the passing of the resolution
On the final day of the conference, PIEN’s Executive Officer was invited to be a resource to the conference, and joined Rev Prof Andrew Dutney and Rev Felicity Amery as they presented a resolution for Palestine. The resolution recognised that the World Council of Churches and Palestinian Christians have been calling on churches internationally to act. In response it pledged to establish an awareness raising campaign including regarding boycotts of settlement goods. It also pledged to support a further church leader’s trip and to receive further requests for help from Palestinian churches. The resolution was passed without dissent and can be found here.
The motion being presented to conference
This resolution is a very significant milestone in Australia, in that it is the first time that a church membership has endorsed any economic boycott of Israel.
