Why 'Presbyterian' Will Never Be A Political Party

A Resource Worth Your Time: "Why 'Presbyterian' Will Never Be a Political Party"

The Moderators of the 227th General Assembly including committee moderators, moderator support team, and the Revs. Tony Larson and CeCe Armstrong.

As we mark our nation's 250th anniversary this year, our denomination has offered us a timely gift: a short, accessible resource drawing on "God Alone is Lord of the Conscience," the PC(USA)'s 1988 social witness policy on religious liberty and church-state relations. Prepared by the Advisory Committee on Social Witness Policy (ACSWP), it distills nearly four decades of careful theological reflection into five clear convictions, among them that faith cannot be coerced by human authority, that civil government is a genuine gift from God for the sake of peace and justice, and that our obedience to that government is always conditioned by our first allegiance to God.

At the heart of the piece is a claim our tradition has held for almost two hundred years: no political party or system can embody God's will. We advocate for justice as vigorously as we can, but we do not form a Presbyterian Party, and we do not seek to wield the power of the state to enforce our own vision of faith on others.

This is the same theological ground from which the 227th General Assembly, meeting this summer, spoke clearly against White Christian nationalism by naming it a distortion incompatible with the gospel and calling the church to public witness against it. Read together, the two resources show a tradition that has thought hard, and long, about the difference between prophetic witness and political capture.

We commend both to you for your own reading and reflection. Read the full resource here: pcusa.org/resource/why-will-never-be-political-party

Update on the 227th General Assembly

Presbyteries of the Presbyterian Church (USA) submitted 54 overtures (items of business) for discussion and action at the recent General Assembly held in Milwaukee.

Decisions made at the GA represent the work PC(USA) departments and organizations will implement over the next two years.

The overtures went first to one of the 10 standing committees established for the General Assembly. Each committee was composed of the delegates- clergy and elders- selected by each Presbytery to represent them in the General Assembly. The committees, meeting by Zoom, reviewed the overtures assigned to their committee, prayed, worshipped, discussed, researched, heard relevant testimony and finally decided on the exact recommendation for each overture to the plenary for further discussion and vote.

Delegates addressed a sweeping array of theological, institutional, and social justice issues. Significant actions included:

• creating a commission to investigate the closure of Presbyterian World Mission

• advancing a comprehensive denomination-wide study on modern sexuality, family structures, and relationships

• supporting all individuals in accessing medically necessary evidence-based gender affirming healthcare

• declaring White Christian Nationalism a “theological error” and advancing a constitutional amendment declaring it incompatible with Jesus' teachings

• affirming by a vote of 454-15 an overture declaring Israel's war in Gaza a genocide and calling for an Israeli arms embargo.

• approving a new budget and per capita rates

• taking action on ordination and racial justice issues.

You can find the full text of all overtures at https://myga.pc-biz.org/business/search. Choose the committee you are interested in from the drop-down menu, and all overtures assigned to the committee will display.

-Thanks to Nancy Collins for following the business of the assembly and for providing this summary.

Please pray this week that somehow the PC(USA) overtures have a positive impact on 9-year-old Khalid, his family, and all Palestinians.

People mourn for the Palestinian policemen killed by Israeli bombing at al-Shifa hospital in Gaza City, May 23, 2026. Five Palestinian policemen were killed by Israeli bombing of a police site in the northern Gaza Strip on Saturday, Gaza's General Directorate of Police said in a statement. (Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua via Getty Images)

Please pray for Khalid.

Gracious and Holy God, we come before you seeking your wisdom as the commissioners of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) gather in Milwaukee. We lift up all overtures and business before the 227th General Assembly. We especially lift up the overtures related to addressing the violence in Palestine and Israel. Lord, we pray for a spirit of discernment for committee members and all commissioners as they discuss the overtures wording and content. Pour out your Holy Spirit. Grant the commissioners the grace to listen to one another and to honor the diverse voices in the Presbyterian church. We especially ask that the overtures for Palestine and Israel might in some way work to provide Khalid, his family and all Palestinians with justice, peace and hope in their land. In Christ’s name, we pray. Amen.

Context: Overtures to the 227th General Assembly related to Palestine and Israel.

Overture RIW-04 proposes five actions. If approved, it would:

• condemn the Israeli government’s violation of the UN Genocide Convention, citing a January 2024 ruling by the International Court of Justice finding “plausible” evidence of genocide and ordering Israel to stop;

• encourage members to contact Congress and the president to block military sales to Israel until it complies with international human rights law;

• encourage boycotts of Israeli company products;

• stand against both antisemitism and Islamophobia; and

• affirm explicitly that “standing up for basic human rights is not antisemitism.”

Overture RIW-06 proposes nine actions. If approved, GA would:

• call on the church to not remain silent to the “wanton killing that has taken place in Gaza and the Middle East”;

• condemn “unequivocally” the October 7, 2023, attack by Hamas on Israel that killed 1,200 people, a majority of whom were civilians;

• condemn “unequivocally” Israel’s war in Gaza and the assault on Palestinians in the West Bank, reasserting the 225th GA’s labeling of Israel’s action as apartheid;

• call Israel’s war in Gaza against the Palestinian people a genocide;

• call on the U.S. president and Congress to stop military sales to Israel;

• express a commitment to justice and lasting peace for both the Israeli and Palestinian peoples;

• condemn and stand against all forms of antisemitism/anti-Jewish hate and Islamophobia/anti-Arab racism, as evil, while also affirming that standing up for the denomination’s values is not antisemitism.

• encourage PC(USA) congregations to preach and teach on these critical issues; and

• publicize the overture’s passage on the PC(USA) website and other print or digital formats.

Historical Context: These proposals represent the strongest actions proposed by the denomination since the Israeli Palestinian conflict began, building on prior 2024 General Assembly actions that included divesting from Israel bonds and reaffirming previous designations of Israeli policies as apartheid.

Additional reading:

https://pres-outlook.org/2026/05/overtures-seek-israel-embargo-genocide-declaration/

For the full RIW overtures, click on the link below, then click on the overture name of interest.

https://myga.pc-biz.org/business/committees?event=3000005&committee=3000131

Please pray this week that 9-year-old Khalid receives humane treatment according to International Humanitarian Law

Please pray for Khalid, his siblings and all the children of Gaza for protection from conflict.

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God of justice and peace We bring before you the children of the land we call holy. Those whose laughter is silenced by fear, whose dreams are interrupted by night raids, hand-ties and weapons and whose childhood is taken in the shadow of conflict. You know each name, each face, each story. Hold them close when they are far from home, comfort them when they are alone or afraid, and shield their hearts from despair. God of hope, we pray that justice will roll down like waters in Gaza, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream, so that all who call the land of the Holy One home can live without fear. Amen.   (https://embraceme.org/our-prayers/israel-palestine-urgent-prayer-for-peace )

Context: Principles of International Humanitarian Law

International Humanitarian Law (IHL), or the "law of armed conflict," is a set of rules seeking to limit the effects of armed conflict for humanitarian reasons. It protects people who are not or are no longer participating in hostilities and restricts the means and methods of warfare. Key foundations are the Geneva Conventions. The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) acts as the "guardian" of IHL and works to ensure it is respected.

Core Principles

• Protection: IHL protects civilians, medical personnel, aid workers, and combatants who are wounded, sick, or prisoners of war.

• Limits on Warfare: It prohibits weapons and methods that cause unnecessary suffering or fail to distinguish between civilians and combatants.

• Humanitarian Relief: Parties to a conflict must permit and facilitate rapid, unimpeded access to humanitarian aid for civilians.

• Application: It applies strictly to armed conflicts and does not address whether a war is legal or not.

• War Crimes: Grave breaches of IHL, such as willful killing, torture, or attacks against civilians, are considered war crimes, which the international community (via the International Criminal Court) or nations must punish.

International humanitarian law in Gaza is widely reported as being under systemic failure. Findings from the UN indicate that IHL obligations—such as the protection of civilians and unhindered access to aid—are being severely violated.

Additional reading: https://www.hrw.org/news/2023/10/27/how-does-international-humanitarian-law-apply-israel-and-gaza

Please pray this week that 9-year-old Khalid does not suffer from lack of supplies in Gaza

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Pray that Khalid and all his family members are able to access food, clean water, and medical supplies. Pray for swift and unhindered access into Gaza of desperately needed medical equipment, water and sanitation supplies, shelter, and construction materials so that Khalid does not fear for medical care, for sanitation, for exposure and for lack of schooling. Pray that our compassionate God who loves the oppressed clear the logistical paths and open the hearts of leaders and decision-makers globally to prioritize human life, ease suffering, and work toward a just and lasting peace. Pray for protection and resilience for the aid workers, medical professionals, and local communities who are working to sustain life. Pray that God comfort the grieving, heal the injured, and bring an end to the violence.

Context: Goods restricted from entering Gaza

Goods restricted from entering Gaza primarily fall under items classified by Israel as "dual-use"—civilian products that could potentially be repurposed for military or tunnel-building activities.

The exact items face fluid, frequently changing restrictions, but documented bans and delays broadly cover the following categories:

• Medical Equipment & Supplies: Anesthetics, oxygen cylinders, ventilators, X-ray machines, surgical materials, orthopedic drills/screws, and crutches.

• Water, Sanitation, & Logistics: Water filtration systems, water purification tablets, generators, solar panels, large water pumps, and armored vehicles.

• Shelter & Field Gear: Tarps, portable toilets, sleeping bags (frequently rejected if they are military green), and specialized cold-weather items.

• Construction & Industrial Materials: Portland cement, structural steel, aggregates, steel cables, industrial resins, and thick timber beams.

“The extensive scope of items that Israel classifies as “dual-use,” the ongoing delays in approving their entry, and the lack of transparency over its policy have harmed and continue to harm the civilian population.”

https://gisha.org/en/dual-use-items/

If you wish to comment/react to the prayer blog, please go to the Southminster facebook page, Facebook.com/SouthminsterTulsa.

Please pray this week that 9-year-old Khalid might receive any needed advanced medical care

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Pray that Khalid and all his family members might receive any specialty medical care they need. Please pray that there isn’t an outbreak of hantavirus in the rat-infested Palestinian displacement camps. Pray that global advocacy might allow a change to Israeli policy currently preventing Palestinians from reaching specialized medical facilities in East Jerusalem. Please pray for the thousands of children and adults waiting for medical evacuation from Gaza. Pray that the oppressed, sick and destitute experience God’s love and peace. Pray for peace with justice in Israel and Palestine.

Context: Access needed to East Jerusalem Hospital Network (EJHN) from Gaza

The East Jerusalem Hospitals Network (EJHN), a critical pillar of the Palestinian healthcare system, is a collective of six specialized medical facilities that serve as the primary referral centers for radiation therapy, pediatric hemodialysis, pediatric intensive care, eye care, rehabilitation for children with disability and other complex procedures unavailable elsewhere in the West Bank and Gaza.

Key Issues & Challenges

• Blocked Medical Corridors: The EJHN, located just 45 miles from Gaza, has been largely cut off from Gaza because Israeli authorities have prevented the movement of Palestinians to the hospitals. This has resulted in tens of thousands of Palestinians requiring urgent medical evacuation who are unable to receive the advanced treatments these facilities offer.

• Severe Financial Strain: EJHN hospitals are grappling with significant cash-flow problems. A major factor behind this is the Palestinian Authority’s inability to regularly cover patient bills — a situation that is largely driven by Israel’s frequent withholding of Palestinian tax revenues. In addition, international donors, including the U.S. and the EU, have historically provided multi-million-dollar assistance packages. Continued international support is required, especially in the face of rising costs and the loss of USAID funding.

 https://lutheranworld.org/news/gaza-every-delay-puts-lives-risk

https://www.americamagazine.org/politics-society/dispatches/2026/05/13/aid-for-palestine-christians/

Please pray this week that 9-year-old Khalid in Gaza might experience God’s peace, love and justice during the annual Nakba commemoration

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Pray that, during this time commemorating the Palestinian Nakba (1948 catastrophe) that Khalid in Gaza and all in Palestine and Israel might experience God’s justice and peace, that they might know healing and wholeness. Pray for a resolution to the ongoing conflicts. Pray for wise, just and committed leaders who can find the way forward.

Let us join with Rabbi Brant Rosen in his Jewish Prayer for Nakba Day:

Receive with the fullness of your mercy the hopes and prayers of those who were uprooted, dispossessed and expelled from their homes during the devastation of the Nakba. Sanctify for tov u’verakhah, for goodness and blessing, the memory of those who were killed in Lydda, in Haifa, in Beisan, in Deir Yassin and so many other villages and cities throughout Palestine. Grant hesed ve’rakhamim, kindness and compassion upon the memory of the expelled who died from hunger, thirst and exhaustion along the way. Shelter beneath kanfei ha’shekhinah, the soft wings of your divine presence, those who still live under military occupation, who dwell in refugee camps, those dispersed throughout the world still dreaming of return. Gather them me’arbah kanfot ha’aretz, from the four corners of the earth, that their right to return to their homes be honored at long last. Let all who dwell in the land live in dignity, equity and hope so that they may bequeath to their children a future of justice and peace.



Ve’nomar, and let us say, Amen.

https://ritualwell.org/ritual/jewish-prayer-nakba-day/

Context: Commemorating the Palestinian Nakba

The Nakba ("Catastrophe"), marking the 1948 displacement of 700,000+ Palestinians, is remembered annually on May 15 as an ongoing reality rather than just history.

• Commemoration Activities: Palestinians participate in widespread marches, vigils, and educational events to honor the over 700,000 refugees displaced in 1948. Sirens sound for 75 seconds (corresponding to the number of years since 1948) or more, and oral histories are shared from survivors to younger generations.

• Symbolism of the Key: Many Palestinians hold onto the physical keys of homes destroyed or lost in 1948, which remain a powerful symbol of their demand to return to their original cities and villages.

• Ongoing Nakba: Many Palestinians today, particularly in Gaza, refer to the current war, home demolitions, and land confiscation as a continuation of the 1948 Nakba.

• Narrative and Identity: The Nakba is central to Palestinian national identity. It is remembered as a time of forced expulsion, massacres, and the destruction of over 500 villages.

https://www.jewishvoiceforpeace.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/JVP-Nakba-Fact-Sheet.pdf

Please pray this week that Khalid in Gaza and his cousins in the West Bank might live in safety

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Pray that Khalid in Gaza remains safe from continuing air strikes, from disease caused by rodent infestations and from lack of sanitation. Pray that he and his family are able to find sufficient food and water and decent shelter. Pray that Khalid’s cousins in the West Bank remain safe from settler attacks, that they are not displaced through home demolition, that they are able to attend school, and that road blockades and checkpoints inside the West Bank do not prevent their parents from going to work or obtaining medical care. Pray that the leaders of Gaza, the West Bank and Israel might choose dialogue rather than violence, and a future where security is not built on fear, but on justice and dignity for all who live there.

Context: Current Situation in the West Bank of Palestine

The Palestinian territories consist of the West Bank (including East Jerusalem) which borders the west bank of the Jordan River  and the Gaza Strip, along the Mediterranean, both occupied by Israel since 1967. The Palestinian population is roughly 4.8 million (2.9M in the West Bank, 1.9M in Gaza).

• Legal Status: The international community and the ICJ regard the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, as occupied territory. Israel officially refers to the area as "disputed" rather than "occupied" and calls it Judea and Samaria.

• Control and Administration: Israel retains security control over the entire territory. The Palestinian Authority (PA) has limited self-rule in fragmented areas.

• Settlements: Israeli settlements are considered illegal under international law. The settler population has grown to over 670,000, including around 220,000 in East Jerusalem.

• Security and Humanitarian Situation: Life in the West Bank continues to deteriorate amid a sustained increase in settler violence, operations by Israeli forces, and movement restrictions. From 14- 20 April UN figures show 37 Israeli settler attacks against Palestinians that resulted in casualties, property damage, or both. Attacks since the beginning of 2026 average 6 per day- 680 in over 200 communities.

• Annexation Concerns: There is significant international opposition to Israeli annexation plans, with many nations emphasizing the need to preserve the territory for a future Palestinian state.

https://www.ochaopt.org/content/humanitarian-situation-report-1-may-2026