TORONTO – Christian Zionist support for Israel may soon be under attack by two major Christian denominations.

Reports to be tabled this summer at national conferences held by the United Church of Canada (UCC) and the Presbyterian Church in Canada both call for an official rejection of the theological basis for Christian Zionism; the United Church also recommends that the doctrine be actively countered.

The report by the UCC Working Group on Israel/Palestine Policy, to be submitted to the church’s General Council this August, brands the theological foundation for Christian Zionism a false doctrine. “ Christian Zionist organizations such as Christians United for Israel...raise millions of dollars for constructing settlements and relocating Jews from around the world,” the report continues. “These organizations lobby governments in support of Israel’s occupation and settlement projects.”

Charles McVety, president, Canada Christian College, and chair, Christians United for Israel (CUFI) – Canada, said, “As Christians we must be Zionists if we’re going to worship the G-d of Zion. How can we not be Zionists? It’s nonsensical.” Besides, “How can a church pray to the G-d of Israel and at the same time attack Israel theologically and with their finances?”

Frank Dimant, CEO, B’nai Brith Canada, slammed the reports. “It’s absolutely shameful that Christian denominations would now engage in rabble-rousing against the Jewish people and the Jewish homeland. We hope that this new anti-Jewish hostility, which may emanate from these two churches, will not take root in this country. We hope that Christian Zionists will be strengthened and we certainly will stand together with them in this new fight in Canada.”

Dimant added, “Considering the cruelty inflicted upon Christians in Islamic states and the murder of thousands of people in Syria, it becomes clear that these church groups are ignoring gross violations of human rights in favour of fixating on the democratic Jewish state of Israel.”

The Very Rev. David Guiliano, past moderator, UCC, who chaired the working group, said the UCC has stated, “that G-d’s covenant with the Jewish people continues and has in no way ended.”

However, “when you link covenant of G-d with the people of Israel in respect to the West Bank, and say that the Palestinians have no right to any of the land because all of it belongs to Israel, we do not support that as a belief that can be justified by Scripture.”

If the report is accepted, Guiliano said, the UCC’s national committee on theology and faith would determine how the recommendations would be implemented. The wording of the report suggests the message would be directed at a broader audience than the UCC. It states, “The impact of Christian Zionism must be countered by those in the Christian community who hold different interpretations.”

Guiliano couldn’t anticipate the scope of the undertaking but agreed that, since any Christian Zionists who sit in their pews “would be considered more on the margins,” there wouldn’t be much need for disputing the doctrine within the UCC.

Although in the past its predecessor, Canadian Jewish Congress, took a differing stance regarding the UCC, a recent statement to the National Post by Shimon Fogel, CEO, Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs, indicates that the organization’s new iteration is now onside with B’nai Brith Canada’s position. “They’re saying that Israel should be punished because it’s a democracy,” Fogel told the National Post. “Throughout the Middle East there are millions of Christians in grave danger by repressive regimes, but there are no calls for boycotts of those countries. This is just idiocy.”

A report to be submitted to the Presbyterian Church in Canada at a five-day General Assembly in June echoes the UCC’s stance on Christian Zionism and asks the church to issue an official rejection of the doctrine. The report, Christian Zionism – Implications for Peace and Justice between the Jewish and Palestinian Peoples, was prepared by the church’s international affairs and church doctrines committees.

It states, “Regrettably, Christian Zionist organizations have not demonstrated a commitment to supporting and working for peace with justice between Israelis and Palestinians. The present and future consequences of the policies advocated by Christian Zionist organizations are potentially disastrous, not only for Palestinians but also for the Jewish population of Israel itself.”

It recommends, “That Christian Zionism be rejected because leaders in the Palestinian Christian community have stated that Christian Zionism is detrimental to a just peace between Israelis and Palestinians and because Christian Zionism is inconsistent with Reformed doctrine.”

Rev. Don Muir, deputy clerk of the church’s general assembly office, who was not involved in the creation of the report, explained, “There’s no guarantee the report will be adopted” by the church.

While the Presbyterian report only recommends a rejection of Christian Zionism, the UCC has several, more wide-ranging, recommendations, including boycotting products from Judea and Samaria (West Bank). The UCC report also states that it “believes that Israel can and should be held to a higher standard than surrounding non- democratic countries or authoritarian regimes.” Copyright©2012 Jewish Tribune