Last fall, it was reported that a statement issued in Jerusalem by the worldwide Anglican Peace and Justice Network (APJN) about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict had urged the Anglican Church to follow the American Presbyterian Church's lead to vote to divest from Israel.

In a letter earlier this year to Canadian Jewish Congress, Archbishop Hutchison said that the AJPN document was not urging divestment and that his church will not consider the issue for the time being. He added that the APJN statement doesn't reflect the views of the Canadian church.

At last week's dinner, Archbishop Hutchison explained that the Anglican bishop in Jerusalem, Riah Abu El-Assal, a Palestinian, had called on his sister churches in the Anglican Communion to disinvest from Caterpillar Inc., the maker of equipment the Israel Defence Forces uses to bulldoze houses of suspected terrorists in the territories.

He said the divestment call came before the synod (a council of church officials) of the Church of England, and the resolution it adopted called on the Episcopal Church in Jerusalem and the Middle East "to heed the call... to disinvest from companies profiting from the illegal occupation, such as Caterpillar Inc., until they change their policies."

Archbishop Hutchison said the resolution was meant as a call for further study of the issue, and "is a long way from either a decision to disinvest from Caterpillar, or from the State of Israel."

He also stressed it was not meant as an attack on Judaism or Jewish people.

"We have always maintained the freedom to criticize government policies we perceive to be unjust... But we must be clear in saying that criticism of a policy or action of the State of Israel is not a criticism of Judaism or the Jewish people," he said.

He acknowledged, however, that "given the legacy of Christian anti-Semitism," church officials need to be more mindful of how their statements might be interpreted.

Archbishop Hutchison also said during his talk that he wanted to send a message of respect, appreciation and tolerance to the leaders and members from 11 churches and synagogues in Toronto who were in attendance.

Archbishop Hutchison, a recipient of the Jerusalem Prize and the Alan Rose Award for his leadership in interfaith dialogue, said it's unclear what impact members of the religious community can have in international politics, but he added that "it is here at the local level that our faith communities have the best opportunity to meet one another in ways that promote the deep shalom that is the divine hope for us all."

He described the friendships he has made over the years with members of the Jewish community, such as Victor Goldbloom, chair of the Canadian Jewish Congress' national executive, and philanthropist Charles Bronfman, before ending his address on an inspiring note.

"As people of faith, we must do all in our power to find a common voice to speak to the powers of this world in the name of the Holy One who calls us to justice and peace."

He added that if it's true that there is only one God, "then what we do here can only draw us closer to the one truth that binds us together in the divine love and give us courage to be witness to that love in the world."

END