Presbyterians Vote to Battle Bigotry Against Muslims, Arabs

Presbyterians ended their nine-day annual meeting this week, voting “to identify, expose and counteract the bigotry and prejudice” against Muslims and Arabs in the United States.

The 199th General Assembly of the 3-million-member Presbyterian Church (USA) closed on Wednesday after completing work on papers setting out guidelines for relations between Christians and Jews and Christians and Muslims.

The assembly also selected Louisville, Ky., as its new headquarters; refused to change its generally “pro-choice” position on abortion; and called for a new study on human sexuality.

The assembly also adopted a study of Central America that calls on the U.S. government “to stop all direct or indirect assistance” to organizations or governments seeking to overthrow the Sandinista government of Nicaragua.

The denomination’s Islamic study, prepared for three years by a 13-member task force and adopted by the General Assembly, said Christian attitudes toward Muslims and Arabs are often “distorted by ignorance and prejudice.”

Islam is in “a phase of vigorous revival, a significant fact in our world today,” said Frank Cooley, who worked with the task force. The paper, adopted without discussion or dissent, sets out how Christians can undertake a “more faithful witness to and among Muslims,” Cooley told the 650 commissioners.

In other action, the commissioners:

Voted to undertake a study on sexuality without prohibiting it from recommending the ordination of homosexuals. The denomination now refuses to ordain “unrepentant” homosexuals as elders or ministers but allows them church membership.

Refused to scuttle a controversial study on “Presbyterians and Peacemaking,” but extended the comment period before recommendations on the document are presented to next year’s assembly as already scheduled. The paper, which includes discussion of tax resistance and civil disobedience, has angered conservatives who say it is one-sided and divisive.