***NEWS RELEASE***
For Immediate Release
January 13, 2017
CONTACT:
Beth Harrison, 610.584.1096, ext. 104, Media@HamiltonStrategies.com, or Deborah Hamilton, Hamilton Strategies, 215.815.7716, 610.584.1096, ext. 102
Tennessee Pastors Network Calls Out
Churches ‘Unequally Yoked’ with
Those Who Are Anti-Israel
Leaders from 70 Nations Meeting About Middle East
Peace Process in Paris This Weekend
NASHVILLE, Tenn.—The United Nations vote in December was shocking and dismaying to many, especially Christians, who feel strongly about a continued U.S. alliance with Israel.
Leaders from 70 nations, including Secretary of State John Kerry, will gather again in Paris on Sunday to talk about the Middle East peace process. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will not attend.
Israel-U.S. relations continue to be strained since the December United Nations Security Council resolution that “condemned Israeli housing projects on land in East Jerusalem and the West Bank where Palestinians hope to establish a capital for a state,” reported USA Today. “The United States abstained from the unanimous anti-Israel vote, allowing it to pass without a U.S. veto.”
Now, in advance of the upcoming Paris gathering, the Tennessee Pastors Network (TNPN, www.tnpastors.net) is calling on churches here in the U.S. to cut ties with organizations that include members who continue to be in opposition to Israel.
TNPN President Dale Walker said that many are unaware of the Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) initiative against Israel, a Palestinian-led movement for “freedom, justice and equality,” according to the group’s website, www.BDSmovement.net, which adds, “BDS upholds the simple principle that Palestinians are entitled to the same rights as the rest of humanity.”
According to the International Middle East Media Center, many large-denomination U.S. churches are advancing BDS initiatives. And many of these, Walker said, are members of the same associations, such as the Church Benefits Association, as pro-Israel churches, which is concerning.
“First of all, it is despicable that many mainline denominations in America are advancing the initiatives of anti-Israel movements,” Walker said. “But just as concerning is the fact that pro-Israel churches are unequally yoked through their membership in organizations that also welcome members who are anti-Israel. Christians in America should be outraged that their denominations would even want to be a member of an organization that does not have a stance of standing with Israel in such a critical time.”
Denominations, he added, should pull their membership immediately from any organization to which they are paying dues where they are unequally yoked with those who are anti-Israel and/or part of the BDS movement.
Walker specifically brought out the National Association of Free Will Baptists, a member of the Church Benefits Association. Walker said he grew up in a Free Will Baptist church and is concerned that this pro-Israel denomination would be part of an association that also includes members who are not.
“With 70 nations coming together this weekend to address the peace process in the Middle East,” Walker concluded, “the time is ripe for Christians to demand that their denominations cut ties from those who stand against Israel. If we expect our government to stand with Israel, our churches should not only follow suit, but set the standard and lead the way.”
TNPN is a state chapter of the American Pastors Network (APN, www.americanpastorsnetwork.net), the largest national network dedicated to equipping pastors to be a voice for truth in the public square.
TNPN and APN offer pastors numerous online resources that help clergy choose sermon topics and find information for other church ministries. With some free and some paid resources, topics include abortion, apologetics, creation, the culture crisis, economics, education, the environment, history, homosexuality, Islam and marriage, along with many others.
The Tennessee Pastors Network encourages pastors to bring together biblical and constitutional principles in their sermons and provides resources to pastors throughout the state. For more information on TNPN, visit its web site at www.tnpastors.net or call (931) 267-0816.
TNPN is a group of biblically faithful clergy and church liaisons whose objective is to build a permanent infrastructure of like-minded clergy who affirm the authority of scripture, take seriously Jesus’ command to be the “salt and light” to the culture, encourage informed Christian thinking about contemporary social issues, examine public policy issues without politicizing their pulpits and engage their congregations in taking part in the political process on a non-partisan basis.
The American Pastors Network is the largest, national network of pastors who believe in the authority of scripture; who boldly preach the whole counsel of God with a disciplined application of a biblical worldview to public policy; who are building a permanent infrastructure of biblically faithful pastors and lay leaders; and who are mobilizing congregations to participate in the political process on a non-partisan basis. For information on APN, visit www.americanpastorsnetwork.net, its Facebook page or follow APN’s Twitter feed, @AmericanPastors. Those interested in forming a chapter in their state may contact amy@americanpastors.net.
The American Pastors Network is a Ministry Program Affiliate of Capstone Legacy Foundation (a 501(c)(3) non-profit Christian Public Community Foundation registered nationwide). APN’s daily short radio feature, “Stand in the Gap Minute,” airs on approximately 290 stations, “Stand in the Gap Weekend” airs on nearly 180 stations and the live one-hour show, “Stand in the Gap Today,” airs on about 425 stations nationwide.
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To interview Dale Walker from the Tennessee Pastors Network, contact Deborah Hamilton at 215-815-7716 or 610-584-1096, ext. 102, or Beth Harrison at 610-584-1096, ext. 104, Media@HamiltonStrategies.com.