In 1963, the Evangelical Kirchentag of German speaking Switzerland adopted the following Resolution:
"Israel and the Church belong together. God has chosen them both and formed a Covenant with them - first with Israel, then with the Church. The Church has been grafted onto the stem of God's People. Hence: if one member suffers, all the other members suffer with it. We confess our guilt with regard to Israel, that we Swiss people did not suffer with the Jews either, thus betraying our fellowship with God's ancient people. Our hope rests in the fact that we know our sins are forgiven. But for us forgiveness must mean active repentance. Let us make atonement through action. As Swiss people and Christians let us recognize the following tasks as our next step, and transform them into action: 1. We urge all Christians, both individually and collectively, to take part in assisting the Jews and promoting mutual contact and mutual respect. 2. We regard it as our Christian duty to oppose all forms of discrimination against Jewish people, and we expect the same attitude from all our fellow-Christians. 3. Short, inexpensive instructive booklets are needed as soon as possible, so that Christians can remedy their ignorance of Jewish history. 4. We recognize a sub-conscious anti-Semitism here in Switzerland too, with devastating and far-reaching effects. We urge the Church to devote more attention to this question. (Parish evenings, evenings for parents, evenings for mothers, instruction to religious teachers, training of religious teachers). 5. The intercession for Israel, which exists in most liturgies, should be made an integral part of the worship-service." [627] <295>
On February 6, 1967, the Archbishop of Sweden sent a circular letter to the ministers of the diocese, from which we quote the following:
'On various occasions accusations have been made against the Church of Sweden for anti-Semitism. This is especially directed towards the way in which the passion-history is created. From abroad many appalling examples are known in which 'the Jews' are described as a deicide people, as referring not only to the mob in front of the palace of Pilate which wanted Jesus to be crucified but to the whole people and the generations after them. In the Swedish tradition of preaching and teaching this is completely unaccepted. Any feeling of revenge and hatred against Romans and Jews is repudiated and it is emphasized that it is our own sin which has brought Jesus to the cross… The Gospel is against all racial and group discrimination. Each person shall be judged on his own merits according to what he himself is and does. There is no graduation of the value of man; all are called to be children of God and are therefore our brothers and sisters, and Christ died for all. After all, God alone is the Judge, but never we ourselves." [628]
On March 18, 1964, the following Statement was issued by the Archbishop of Canterbury:
"It is always wrong when people try to lay blame upon the Jews for the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. In the event the Roman Governor was no less responsible for what happened. The important fact, however, is that the crucifixion was the clash between the Love of God and the sinfulness and selfishness of the whole human race. Those who crucified Christ are in the true mind of the Christian Church representatives of the whole human race, and it is for no one to point a finger of resentment at those who brought Jesus to his death, but rather to see the crucifixion as the divine judgment upon all humanity for choosing the ways of sin rather than the love of God. We all must see ourselves judged by the crucifixion of Christ." [629]
The General Assembly of the Church of Scotland adopted a statement against anti-Semitism nearly every year. Here follow some examples. <296> 1945 "The General Assembly express their renewed sympathy with the Jews in their present circumstances and assure them of the Church's friendly interest in all that pertains to their future welfare and in particular commend the active steps, which are being taken to restrain Anti-Semitism and promote better understanding between Christian and Jew." [630]
1947 "The General Assembly, aware of the growth of anti-Semitic feeling, condemn anew this attitude as un-Christian and contrary to the mind of our Lord; call upon their faithful people to guard against this grave danger; assure the Jewish people of their deep sympathy in the present uncertainties and remember especially the many Jews in the Displaced Persons Camps in Europe still awaiting some scheme for their settlement in other lands." [631]
1953 "The General Assembly view with concern the renewed outbreaks of anti-Semitism in various countries, renew their condemnation of this evil thing and call upon their faithful people to be on the alert to oppose any signs of it in this country." [632]
1957 "The General Assembly express their concern that the threats of annihilation directed against the State of Israel still continue. They express profound sympathy with the State of Israel in the crisis with which she is confronted and earnestly hope that the United Nations will now direct all possible efforts towards a just and lasting settlement between Israel and the Arab States, so that Israel's future will no longer be in jeopardy." [633]