House of worship target of misplaced anger

  Unfortunately, we live in times when houses of worship have become targets of misplaced anger. Tragically, churches are now made suspect if, through acts of prophetic witness, they have empathy for the "wrong" ethnicity. Wesley United Methodist Church has been so impugned in three letters to this newspaper. Each has been filled with half-truths, innuendo and labeling.

  Since its founding in 1832, our congregation has been an advocate for those who suffer from oppression and discrimination. The abolitionist movement found support in our membership prior to the Civil War.

  More recently in response to the needs of the growing Jewish community in DuPage County, our church invited Congregation Beth Shalom to share our building as their worship center over the period of a decade.

  Our church has also sought to promote nonviolent resolution to conflict. The cycle of violence and reprisal which characterizes life in Israel-Palestine has weighed heavily on our hearts.

  Consequently, several of our church members decided to address a primary source of that conflict — Israel's occupation of the West Bank and Gaza. That occupation and the escalating placement of Israeli settlements in those territories provides a breeding ground for turmoil and terrorism.

  Furthermore, Israel's action on the placement of settlements are contrary to the expressed policies of our current government's administration, as well as the four which preceded it. Additionally, Israel is in violation of many long-standing U.N. resolutions, including 242 and 462. Those resolutions carry the same authority as those for which our brave service persons are currently giving their lives in Iraq.

  A group, End the Occupation, was formed in June of 2001. It is ecumenical in nature, includes Christians, Muslims, Jews and secular humanitarians, and meets in our church on a monthly basis for a potluck. The group's intent is to educate the public on the circumstances in Palestine and to encourage our government to hold Israel accountable for its decades-long violations of U.N. mandates. The end sought is peace through justice.

Rev. H. Jason Reed, pastor
Wesley United Methodist Church
Naperville