Presbyterian Staff Involved with Terrorist Meeting Fired
The two top staff members who took part in a controversial meeting with the terrorist group Hezbollah last month was fired with no clear explanation this week
The Presbyterian Church (USA), a longtime advocate of inter-faith dialogues and religious freedom, has found itself in a deepening trench of misunderstandings with Jewish leaders at home and abroad. Beginning with its July 2004 decision to divest from companies profiting from Israel’s occupation of the West Bank and Gaza, and continuing with its funding a delegation visit with Hezbollah – an anti-American, anti-Israeli terrorist group responsible for a slew of attacks that killed hundreds – the Presbyterian-Jewish relationship has accelerated on a downward spiral.
At the wake of such heightened tensions, the PC(USA) announced on Thursday its decision to fire staff members who took part in the Hezbollah visit. While the succinct memo had no clear explanation, longtime observers of the denomination linked the lay-off to the workers’ involvement with the controversial Hezbollah meeting.
The two laid-off members, Kathy Leuckert and Peter Sulyok, Witness Policy (ACSWP), were the two highest ranking staff members on the 22-man “fact-finding” trip to the Middle East last month. Lueckert was deputy executive director of the church's General Assembly Council (GAC), which administers many of the denomination's programs. She was also the direct supervisor of Sulyok, the staff coordinator at the Advisory Committee on Social Witness Policy (ACSWP), which had coordinated the fact-finding trip.
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John Detterick, executive director of the GAC, announced their departures "with sadness" in a memo to staff.
“It is with sadness that I tell you that Kathy Lueckert’s tenure as deputy executive director has come to an end today. Kathy has made contributions to the work of the GAC and for that I will always be very grateful … I am also sorry to tell you that Peter Sulyok is leaving the GAC. Peter, too, has contributed much, especially to the work of ACSWP,” the memo read.
"I know these decisions raise many questions for staff, but please realize that all staff have the right to confidentiality regarding their employment," Detterick wrote. "Therefore, this is all I can say. I am keeping Kathy and Peter in my prayers and hope you will also.”
Detterick declined further elaboration citing legal reasons. However, last month, Detterick was among the three top PC(USA) leaders who renounced the ACSWP-sponsored visit to Hezbollah, which also prompted the Israeli government to cancel a planned meeting with the delegation. In a letter to Jewish leaders, Detterick, along with Stated Clerk Clifton Kirkpatrick and Moderator Rick Ufford Chase, said the meeting with Hezbollah as “misguided, at best,” and explained they had tried to prevent the visit.
The most controversial part of the Hezbollah visit was the statement made by Ron Stone, a retired professor of ethics at Pittsburgh Theological Seminary, and Nile Harper, a retired minister who is the chairman of the ACSWP.
During an interview with a Hezbollah-owned television station, Stone was quoted as saying, “As an elder of our church, I'd like to say that, according to my recent experience, relations and conversations with Islamic leaders are a lot easier than dealings and dialogue with Jewish leaders."
"Also, we praise your initiative for dialogue and mutual understanding," Stone added. "We cherish these statements that bring us closer to you. We treasure the precious words of Hezbollah and your expression of goodwill."
Harper added to the sting by criticizing Israel’s separation/defense barrier as “unhelpful.” He also said products made by U.S. corporations “are being used destructively against the Palestinians. The occupation by Israel in the West Bank and Gaza must end because it is oppressive and destructive for the Palestinian people."
There was no mention in Detterick’s memo of any action that would be taken against Stone or Miller; both are not under Detterick’s authority because they are elected members.
Meanwhile, Detterick said he intends to begin searching for an interim deputy exetuive director to replace Lueckert by the year’s end; staff who had been under Luekert will temporarily report to Detterick. ASCWP staff members meanwhile will report to the Rev. Curtis Kearns, the director of the PC(USA)’s National Ministries Division.
Prior to working in the PC(USA) for 12 years, Lueckert spent 5 years in local government. Sulyok worked in the PC(USA) for twelve years prior to serving as a pastor in Binghamton NY for seven years.
