Our overture to the General Assembly is being recommended, as ammended, for approval by the General Assembly from the Committee on Peacemaking and International Issues. The vote to resommend he overture was 68 in favor, 3 opposed, and 3 abstentions. The ammended overture, which will come to the floor of the Assembly on Friday evening, is below:
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11-11 |
On Addressing the Violence and Suffering Inflicted on Iraqi Women During the Current Prolonged War. |
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Source: |
Presbytery |
Sponsor: |
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Committee: |
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Type: |
General Assembly Full Consideration |
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Topic: |
Unassigned |
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COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION
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On this Item, the Peacemaking and International Issues Committee, acted as follows: |
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Approve as Amended |
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Counted Vote – Committee
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Final Text: That the recommendation be approved as amended:
1. Amend Recommendations 1.—2. as follows: [Text to be deleted is shown with a strike-through and with brackets; text to be added or inserted is shown with an underline and with brackets.]
“1. Communicating to the Iraqi government[, through their ambassadors in Washington and the United Nations,] our concern for equal rights and justice for women in Iraq; deploring the dramatic increase in abuses since [the changes to the Iraqi Constitution in] 2004; and urging [immediate and speedy correction of these inequities of oppressive radical abuses of basic human rights be taken to improve women’s status in all areas of Iraqi society] [steps be taken to improve women’s status in all areas of Iraqi society];
“2. Communicating to the United States government, through letters to the president, the members of Congress, and to the secretary of state, our concern for equal rights and justice for women in Iraq and urging that the U.S. government [devote significant attention to working] [work]with the Iraq government toward correcting inequities and lost civil rights by Iraqi women1;”
2. Amend Recommendation 4. as follows: [Text to be deleted is shown with a strike-through and with brackets; text to be added or inserted is shown with an underline and with brackets.]
“4. Expressing our [concern][solidarity] [through communications with our partner churches in Iraq as well as within the World Council of Churches, the Middle East Council of Churches, and the World Association of Reformed Churches, seeking their active participation in support for Iraqi women] [with our partner churches in Iraq as well as with the World Council of Churces, the Middle East Council of Churches, the fellowship of Middle East Evangelical Churches, the World Alliance of Reformed Churches, and leaders of the Muslim world assisting them in attempts to adddress the issue and the difficult conditions under which they are living.”
3. Strike Recommendation 7. and its corresponding footnote as follows:
“[7. Appealing to leaders of the Muslim community in the U.S.A. and in the world that they intervene in Iraq by standing against those who are oppressing women and who deny them basic human rights.3
“[3Gen. 21:14-19. God provided safety for Hagar and Ishmael.]” |
The original oveture is below:
1. Communicating to the Iraqi government, through their ambassadors in Washington and the United Nations, our concern for equal rights and justice for women in Iraq; deploring the dramatic increase in abuses since the changes to the Iraqi Constitution in 2004; and urging immediate and speedy correction of these inequities of oppressive radical abuses of basic human rights be taken to improve women’s status in all areas of Iraqi society;
2. Communicating to the United States government, through letters to the president, the members of Congress, and to the secretary of state, our concern for equal rights and justice for women in Iraq and urging that the U.S. government devote significant attention to working with the Iraq government toward correcting inequities and lost civil rights by Iraqi women1;
3. Encouraging all sessions and presbyteries, as well as women’s and men’s organizations within the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), to engage in study, prayer, and dialogue about the issues of violence against and suppression of women in Iraq;
4. Expressing our concern through communications with our partner churches in Iraq as well as within the World Council of Churches, the Middle East Council of Churches, and the World Association of Reformed Churches, seeking their active participation in support for Iraqi women;
5. Affirming our belief in the value, dignity, and rights of every human being;
6. Asserting our conviction that demands for justice by Iraqi women require efforts to bring their situations before fair tribunals, especially when extreme actions silence those who are oppressed2;
7. Appealing to leaders of the Muslim community in the U.S.A. and in the world that they intervene in Iraq by standing against those who are oppressing women and who deny them basic human rights.3
Grace and peace,
Mark
Providence Presbytery 