Posted on 10/07/2010 10:47:44 AM PDT by HearMe
A Methodist preacher is preparing to sue his own church over claims it is using charitable donations to pursue a campaign of discrimination against Israeli Jews.
The legal dispute has been prompted by a controversial resolution passed at the Methodist Conference which called for a boycott of some Israeli goods.
If the legal action is successful, it would likely bring to an end all similar campaigns that boycott Israeli goods and services.
David Hallam, who preaches in Methodist churches around Birmingham, has accused his own church of wasting funds to pursue a vendetta against Israel. There are no Methodist churches in either Israel or the Occupied Territories.
Mr Hallam, 62, a former labour MEP, said: "What I object to is money which I am putting on the collection plate on a Sunday being used to fund a political campaign against the Jewish state. This is both discriminatory and a misuse of a charity's funds.
"The Methodist Church seems to think it has a God given right to tell Jews how to run their affairs. It is very disturbing we are getting involved in a territory where we don't have any members or churches."
Mr Hallam has recruited Paul Diamond, a barrister with expertise in human rights law and religious law, to bring the case.
Mr Diamond will argue that the Methodist resolution passed in the summer is in breach of European human rights law and a wide-ranging European Union directive on racism.
By singling out Israel, rather than other countries with often worse human rights records, Mr Diamond will claim the church is being deliberately prejudiced against the Jewish state.
(Excerpt) Read more at telegraph.co.uk ...
An truly honest and decent man of God.
“Righteous among the nations.”
“the Occupied Territories” ?
Sounds like standing .... in particular, showing harm, is going to be a tad difficult. I think the boycott is BS but I’m not sure I would want to have to do the work on this case.
Thought you & your ping list might appreciate the minister’s stand for Israel.
A Methodist preacher is preparing to sue his own church...
Well thank goodness I’m a Baptist. If the Baptist Union of Great Britain ever mandated something like that we could (and would) simply ignore them.
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