The other overture calls on the denomination to begin a dialogue with General Electric and Palantir Technologies to encourage them to end policies that it says harm Palestinians. Specifically, it contends General Electric sells fighter jet engines used by Israel’s air force. Palantir Technologies provides Israel with artificial intelligence technology that allows Israel to surveil Palestinians. The overture directs a church group to report back to the 2026 General Assembly on whether it would recommend divestment from those companies if they are not moving toward ending their military-related production.
“There is a growing consensus in the church that we shouldn’t be profiting from Israel’s human rights abuses and, frankly, genocide against Palestinians,” said Ross, a layperson from Pittsburgh.
Another resolution that would have encouraged PCUSA-related seminaries to provide transparency around their investments failed. The resolution would have encouraged the 12 PCUSA-affiliated seminaries to follow the General Assembly’s investment strategies. The seminaries are not accountable to the General Assembly, said SueAnn Shiah, a student at Princeton Theological Seminary and an advisory delegate.
The General Assembly has 422 delegate commissioners and 82 advisory delegates.
This article originally appeared here.
