In the mid-90s, the UMJC embraced a vision for a council of reconciliation between the church and the Messianic Jewish community. With the endorsement and support of the UMJC delegates, this vision has grown into an effort called Toward Jerusalem Council II (TJCII), working toward an eventual council and statement by church leaders recognizing the Messianic Jewish community. This council will be a mirror image of the Jerusalem Council of Acts 15, which welcomed Gentiles into the believing community. TJCII is seeking a council that will welcome Jewish believers in Messiah, as Jews, into the believing community.

As a step toward this goal, TJCII held its first North American meeting, in Dallas, May 12 - 13, 2003. TJCII invited a number of North American Christian and Messianic Jewish leaders "to honor God for His healing work that unites Jew and Gentile as one in Messiah," according to the conference brochure. This conference was endorsed by the UMJC, the Messianic Jewish Alliance of America, and Christian leaders Jack Hayford, Bill McCartney, and Michael W. Smith.

Marty Waldman says, "So many historic church decrees have called for a complete disavowal of Jewish roots and identity among Jewish believers, and we are asking the church to recant from those. We are dialoguing with high-level church leaders, especially in Europe, and have received tremendous acceptance." Often in these European meetings, the spirit moves on Christians to repent for attitudes of anti-Semitism, Marty added.

In the United States, TJCII has cooperated with the Promise Keepers in recent years, which has resulted in a strong emphasis on Messianic Judaism and support for Israel at recent Promise Keepers events.

Please visit the TJCII web site at www.TJCII.org.