FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
The Executive Committee of the National Christian Leadership Conference for Israel, meeting in Detroit, October 2004, adopted the following statement:
The National Christian Leadership Conference for Israel (NCLCI) is a coalition of Protestants, Catholics and other Christians that exists to encourage and develop understanding and support for the people, land and state of Israel in the North American Christian community.
This past summer a number of Protestant denominations issued statements and resolutions that denounced “Christian Zionism.” These did not take into account the long history of Protestant and Catholic statements affirming Jewish aspirations regarding Israel.
It has become fashionable to speak generally of Christian support for Israel as “Christian Zionism.” This is a simplistic view that does not take into account Christian support for the various types of Zionism, which may be based upon social, historical and political, as well as theological foundations. Any references to “Christian Zionism” should not be used to intimidate or silence Christian support for Israel.
Christians in Israel are free to worship and pray in a state that safeguards the freedom of all religions – in stark contrast to the surrounding Arab Muslim countries. Persecution in those countries is intensifying. It is short sighted to criticize Christian support for Israel, the one country in the Middle East that is a true friend to Christians.
We, the members of the NCLCI Executive Committee, will not be intimidated or silenced in our commitment to and advocacy for the people, land and state of Israel.
Approved in Detroit, October 24, 2004
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