The "International Messianic Jewish Alliance" has undergone a number of name changes of late. It started out as the "International Hebrew Christian Alliance". Then via the name mentioned in the preceding paragraph it dropped "Hebrew Christian" in favour of "Messianic Jew". However, only the name has changed, the underlying association remains the same.
The IMJA is a Christian association and mission to the Jews that discriminates on racial grounds with respect to access to membership and in the treatment of its "non-Jewish Christian" associate members (See the reference section below for more details).
It is the opinion of the "Commission for Racial Equality" (CRE) that the IMJA is a "Jewish association" under the provisions of the Race Relations Act 1976! Most Jews would profoundly disagree with this opinion, which was made despite the great weight of contrary evidence submitted. Unlike the IMJA, Jewish associations are not racist (lawfully or otherwise) and typically grant full membership to any person born of a Jewish mother or who has converted to Judaism and is not a member of another religion.. Membership is always granted or refused without prejudice to "race", ethnicity or gender.
Because of the CRE's decision the IMJA continues to discriminate on racial grounds under an exemption in section 26 of the 1976 Act (NB this does not necessarily mean that it is a lawful Christian racist association of "Christian Jews" as this has never yet been tested in law). This also means that any publisher can lawfully publish a racially discriminatory IMJA advertisement under another exemption to the 1976 Act in section 34 (i.e. the publisher does not need section 26 exemption itself).
The Charity Commission was asked two questions. Firstly, by publishing a racial discriminatory advertisement (albeit lawful) was the PWMT acting outside its charitable objects? Secondly, was publishing the advertisement consistent with a British legal understanding of what it is to be charitable? Generally, that which benefits society is said to be charitable in law. Publishing a racially discriminatory advertisement hardly benefits society.
In other words Mr. Kilby confirmed that in the opinion of the CC the IMJA is a racially discriminatory "Christian" mission to the Jews.
Concerning the PWMT, he wrote, "Provided that they do not thereby infringe the 1976 Act, it is for the charity trustees of PWMT to decide whether to carry advertisements for the IMJA, in the exercise of their discretion."
In other words, although the PWMT was not breaking the 1976 Act, it was up to its leadership whether it wanted to give support to a racist "Christian" association. To my knowledge the PWMT has never since given advertising space to the IMJA. In this the PWMT has apparently decided to act according to its Christian conscience, which dictates that racial discrimination is never an acceptable option for a Christian.
"We offer associate membership to non-Jewish Christians (i.e. on racial grounds they are denied the benefits of full membership - my comment). ... Otherwise we would have the possibility of the organisation being run by non-Jewish Christians and would lose credibility." This is "Jewish" credibility for a Christian mission to the Jews bought at the cost of defaming both Judaism and Christianity.
How many contributors to registered charities like the IMJA and the PWMT, in support of Christian mission, know that in addition to what they might consider a worthy cause they might also be supporting racial discrimination? This is what I referred to elsewhere as the "package deal" nature of some charities.
Surprisingly in view of the widespread Christian support that the IMJA gets and irrespective of the legal issues, I have yet to meet one Christian theologian, clergyman or teacher who supports the notion that racial discrimination is ever justified in Christian theology or ethics. As Mr. Kilby so rightly indicates, support for the IMJA is entirely at the discretion of the individual. Neither surely would anyone other than a racist wish to claim that racial discrimination benefits society. So is it not time that some Christians used their discretion and either stop supporting racist Christian associations like the IMJA (and MJAGB) or actively oppose them? This way they could be true to both their anti-racist rhetoric and their Christianity at the same time.
Finally, this affair gives an interesting insight into the wider negative social ramifications of granting an association s.26 exemption from the provisions of s.25 of the Race Relations Act 1976
To gain the background necessary for a better understanding of the foregoing
I recommend you also read the following articles.
A Constructive Criticism of the "Race Relations
Act 1976"
The "International Messianic Jewish Alliance"
The Concept "Jew" in Nazi "Race" Legislation
You might also wish to read of a second racist Christian association,
similar to the IMJA and also based in the UK: The
"Messianic Jewish Association of Great Britain"