General Board of Church and Society: Caterpillar

Moral choice




General Board of Church and Society Resolution on Caterpillar and Divestment

Add new resolution to the Book of Resolutions as follows:
 
“What does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness and to walk humbly with your God.” Micah 6:8

“Truly I tell you, just as you did it to the least of these who are the members of my family you did it to me.” Matthew 25:40 

Nation-states aspire to and exist with permanent, recognized and secure borders within the community of nations. These aspirations stem from the self-determination and viability of every nation state, including equally Israel and Palestine. 

In 2004 the General Conference, by a vote of 877 to 19, voted to resolve that, "The United Methodist Church opposes continued military occupation of the West Bank, Gaza, and East Jerusalem, the confiscation of Palestinian land and water resources, the destruction of Palestinian homes, the continued building of illegal Jewish settlements, and any vision of a ‘Greater Israel’ that includes the occupied territories and the whole of Jerusalem and its surroundings;" [Book of Resolutions, 2004, #312]. 

We have a special concern for our fellow Christians living in the Holy Land of Christ’s birth. Severe hardship and economic deprivation mark daily life under the Israeli occupation of Palestinian territory. Many thousands have emigrated, reducing the crucial Christian presence almost to a faithful remnant. 

Bulldozers and other heavy equipment manufactured and sold by Caterpillar, Inc., as well as equipment supplied by others to the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) have been, and are still used for the illegal destruction of Palestinian homes, orchards and olive groves in the Occupied Territories, and to clear Palestinian land for illegal Israeli settlements, segregated roads and the “Separation Barrier.” Despite years of corporate engagement by investors to change its policies, Caterpillar continues its role in the occupation. 

Equipment sold by Caterpillar is known to be refitted for use in the destruction of property that has resulted in the loss of life. We call upon all Christians of good conscience to join us in applying every peaceful form of economic, political and social pressure at their disposal, including but not limited to divestment, product avoidance or boycott, moral suasion and shareholder action, to persuade Caterpillar to cease and desist such sales. 

The United Methodist Book of Resolutions states our policy on "Avoidance by Divestment" to wit: "This policy prohibits investment in enterprises that have policies or practices that are so morally reprehensible that investment in these companies is not tolerated by the church. Our denomination traditionally has avoided investments in liquor, tobacco, and gambling. Historically many church investors have refused to invest in major military contractors, companies with nuclear weapons contracts, or companies when they were doing business in South Africa under apartheid. In some cases, they have divested of such companies, making public their action as a moral statement." 

We are committed to ensuring that our denomination’s finances are used in a manner consistent with Christ’s teaching, our beliefs, multi-lateral agreements and international law. Therefore the General Conference directs general agencies, annual conferences, local churches, Conference Boards of Pensions, United Methodist Foundations and all others who invest United Methodist funds to divest of all equity and debt holdings of Caterpillar, Inc. by January 1, 2009.

We ask every United Methodist to prayerfully consider taking the same action with the personal and pension assets under their control, and request that other investment managers such as mutual fund companies, pension plans and bank trustees do the same. 
____________________________________________________________

Bishop Beverly J. Shamana, President
James Winkler, General Secretary
100 Maryland Avenue NE
Washington, D.C. 20002
jwinkler@umc-gbcs.org 202.488.5636





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