C012 (Confronting Christian Zionism)

House of Bishops Message #154

The House of Bishops informs the House of Deputies that on Jul 9, 2022 it considered resolution C012 (Confronting Christian Zionism). The house acted to:

Refer to an Interim Body


Resolved, the House of Deputies concurring,

<Amended text as it would appear if adopted and concurred. Scroll below the line of asterisks (******) to see the version showing all deleted and added texts.>  

That the 80th General Convention of the Episcopal Church reject the nationalistic theology of Christian Zionism which provides the ideological basis for Christian Zionist leaders and politicians seeking to influence United States policy in Palestine-Israel; and be it further

Resolved, that this 80th General Convention not only reject the theology of Christian Zionism which is inherently antisemitic but also, critically, condemn the political policy positions that it sponsors and financially supports, which include Israel's expansion across the entire land of Palestine-Israel and the displacement of the Palestinian people,; and be it further

Resolved, that this 80th General Convention, recognizing the extent to which the Prayer Book liturgy including prayers and the lectionary as well as the hymns contain frequent references to the Biblical land of Israel and the Israelites, and that many Episcopalians confuse these with the current State of Israel, a conflation that reinforces the deceptive theology of Christian Zionism ; and that the Episcopal Church commit to making clear in teaching the distinction between the current political situation and the Biblical past.

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<Proposed amended resolution text showing exact changes to be made.>

Resolved,  the House of _______ concurring, That the 80th General Convention of the Episcopal Church reject the nationalistic theology of Christian Zionism which provides the ideological basis for Christian Zionist leaders and politicians seeking to influence United States policy in Palestine-Israel; and be it further

Resolved, that this 80th General Convention not only reject the theology of Christian Zionism which is inherently antisemitic but also, critically, condemn the political policy positions that it sponsors and financially supports, which include Israel's expansion across the entire land of Palestine-Israel and the displacement of the Palestinian people, including our indigenous Palestinian Christian and Muslim brothers and sisters; and be it further

Resolved, that this 80th General Convention, recognizing the extent to which the Prayer Book liturgy including prayers and the lectionary as well as the hymns contain frequent references to the Biblical land of Israel and the Israelites, and that many Episcopalians confuse these with the current State of Israel, a conflation that reinforces the deceptive theology of Christian Zionism ; and that, the Episcopal Church commit to making clear in liturgy and in teaching the clear distinction between the current political situation and the Biblical past.