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of Local and Global News
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Issue Sections
Published by the Queens Federation of Churches Rev.
N. J. L'Heureux, Jr. Rev.
Pedro Bravo-Guzman |
NCC General Assembly to US: Do All Possible, Without War, to Resolve Iraq Crisis
November 16, 2002, TAMPA, Fla. – "Do all possible, without going to war," to resolve the Iraq crisis, the National Council of Churches General Assembly today (Nov. 16) unanimously urged President Bush and the U.S. Congress. In "After September 11, 2001: Public Policy Considerations for the United States of America," the delegates from the NCC's 36 Protestant, Orthodox and Anglican member communions, which comprise 50 million U.S. Christians, also called for a redoubling of effort to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. They called on President Bush and the Congress to recommit the United States to international institutions like the United Nations and to the development of common security for the world, and committed themselves to work for peace and justice worldwide in the wake of September 11, 2001.
Anglican Church of Canada and Government Ready to Settle Lawsuits
November 21, 2002, OTTAWA – After years of controversy and faced with bankruptcy, the Anglican Church of Canada has agreed to a deal with the Canadian government to share the costs of thousands of lawsuits brought by Native students who claim abuse while attending residential schools. Under the agreement, the church would contribute up to $16 million (US) and the government would pay the rest. Total costs could reach $1 billion.
Religious Leaders a Driving Force Behind Campaign for Fuel–Efficient Cars
November 20, 2002, DETROIT – Full of post-modern irony and a touch of Madison Avenue sass, the "What would Jesus drive?" campaign launched in November by the Evangelical Environmental Network (EEN) has already captured the attention of the media – and a broad coalition of religious leaders hopes they can capture the attention of the U.S. auto industry at the same time.
Structure and Process Study Group Presents Recommendations for American Baptists
November 15, 2002 – The Structure and Process Study Group (SPSG), which has been charged with developing a proposal for denominational structure, today presented a report and recommendations to the American Baptist Churches USA General Board, meeting in semiannual sessions. The General Board unanimously affirmed the SPSG's proposed action by the board: "To affirm the direction of these recommendations as having sufficient validity to proceed with denomination-wide discussions, additional development and specific action proposals to be brought back to the General Board for First and Second Readings at subsequent meetings."
ELCA Church Council Elects Board, Committee Members
November 18, 2002, CHICAGO – The Church Council of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) elected clergy and lay individuals to fill vacancies on boards, steering and advisory committees of the church. It also acted to forward a resolution to the 2003 ELCA Churchwide Assembly to elect the Rev. David L. Miller to serve a second four- year term as editor of The Lutheran magazine.
November 22, 2002, Rev. Dr Konrad Raiser, General Secretary, World Council of Churches – Once again we approach Christmas. Yet particularly this year, people all over the world are struggling with fear and anxiety: fear of a possible war in the Middle East and its unpredictable consequences far beyond the region; fear of deadly terrorist attacks like those that occurred in Bali or in Moscow recently; fear of loss of livelihood and destitution, as in Argentina; fear of a long-drawn-out illness and death among those living with AIDS, especially in sub-Saharan Africa; fear of becoming a victim of bigotry, hatred and violence among ethnic or religious minority groups in countries like India; or simply fear of natural disasters, like hurricanes, floods, earthquakes or volcanic eruptions, and the consequences of climate change. The list could continue, indicating a widespread sense of insecurity and powerlessness.
Presiding Bishop's Christmas Message for December 2002
November 19, 2002 – Jesus' birth is God's declaration that embodiment is the way of divine dealing with our disordered and darkened world. Through this divine act of incarnation, Jesus became an actor in the particular time and place in which he was born. And, his personhood became a sign to us about the meaning of our own personhood in our own day and time.
Taiwan Christians Discuss The Ancestor Question
November 24, 2002 – A seminar held at Aletheia University in Tam-sui, Taiwan on November 16th brought together scholars and clergy to seek Christian way to face the common Taiwanese practice of ancestor veneration. The program was sponsored in part by the Northern Synod of the Presbyterian Church in Taiwan (PCT) which is celebrating 130 years of ministry in 2002. A cursory survey of church practices in Taiwan finds Roman Catholics and Anglicans relatively open to some forms of ancestral veneration by their members, but 60% of Presbyterian clergy adamantly opposed.
WCC Announces Measures to Save Costs and Enhance Effectiveness
The World Council of Churches (WCC) announced plans today to reorganize its Geneva- and New York-based staff around the five "historic" themes of the Council's work.
RSV Bible 50th Anniversary, Awards, Resolutions Conclude NCC Assembly
November 16, 2002, TAMPA, Fla. – Joy and reverence marked the National Council of Churches General Assembly's celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Revised Standard Version of the Bible, as translators shared what it means to them to work so closely with the Bible's sacred texts. "Translation is a serious business," Dr. Walter J. Harrelson reflected at the dinner celebration in Tampa, Fla., Nov. 16, which concluded the assembly's Nov. 14-16 annual meeting.
22 de noviembre de 2002, por el Rev. Dr. Konrad Raiser, Secretario General del Consejo Mundial de Iglesias – Ya estamos cerca de Navidad otra vez; pero este aqo, en especial, los pueblos de todo el mundo estan luchando con miedo y ansiedad: miedo a una posible guerra en el Oriente Medio y a sus imprevisibles consecuencias, que repercutiran mucho mas alla de la regisn; miedo a los ataques terroristas que provocan muertes, como los ocurridos recientemente en Bali o en Moscz; miedo a la pirdida de los medios de subsistencia y a la miseria, como en Argentina; miedo a la larga enfermedad y a la muerte, como el que sienten quienes viven con el SIDA, especialmente en el Africa subsahariana; miedo de ser vmctimas del fanatismo, el odio y la violencia, como el que sienten las minormas itnicas o religiosas en pamses como India; o simplemente miedo a los desastres naturales, como los huracanes, las inundaciones, los terremotos o las erupciones volcanicas, y a las consecuencias del cambio climatico. Y la enumeracisn podrma seguir, lo que indica un sentimiento general de inseguridad e impotencia.!
El CMI anuncia medidas para reducir costos y aumentar la eficiencia
El Consejo Mundial de Iglesias (CMI) anuncis hoy planes para reorganizar su personal basado en Ginebra y en Nueva York en torno a cinco temas "histsricos" de los trabajos del Consejo.
South Africa's Sinikithemba HIV+ Choir and Tim Janis Ensemble Slate East Coast "Give Us Hope" Concert Tour – World AIDS Day In New York, Harvard Medical School Event Highlight Church World Service AIDS Fundraiser Series
November 14, 2002, New York, NY – 28.5 million people in sub-Saharan Africa infected with HIV/AIDS and approximately 165,000 more people infected each month (according to USAID) are statistics difficult to relate to on a human scale. But when South Africa's HIV+ Sinikithemba Choir performs in the U.S. in December, they'll be putting a human face on the African AIDS pandemic and giving voice to hope.
Lutherans Focus on Connection Between Poverty, Wealth
November 18, 2002, CHICAGO – The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) held a special forum to examine the connection between poverty and wealth here Nov. 7-9 at the Institute of Cultural Affairs Conference Center. Through a series of presentations the forum was meant to set direction for the ELCA's future work related to poverty and wealth.
Decrying ‘Sweatshops in the Fields'
PC(USA) Support of Taco Bell Boycott Has Made a Difference
November 15, 2002, IMMOKALEE, Fla. – The workers who pick tomatoes for Six L's Packing Company near here have been as invisible as the fields in which they work. Six miles from the nearest store and telephone, these migrant workers – mostly Mexicans, Guatemalans and Haitians – live in simple, company-owned compounds and toil away for below-poverty level wages that haven't changed in 20 years. They have no benefits, no collective-bargaining rights, and virtually no legal protections. Now, however, they have hope.
IRS Is Subverting Immigration Controls, says Report
November 18, 2002, WASHINGTON – While Americans anxiously avoid the attention of the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), that agency is providing cover to 9 million illegal aliens in the United States. By providing illegal aliens with a government-issued identity number, used in lieu of a Social Security number, the IRS is subverting the immigration law, undermining national security, and thwarting efforts by other federal agencies to cooperate in homeland security efforts. These are among the conclusions of "Giving Cover to Illegal Aliens: IRS Tax ID Numbers Subvert Immigration Law," a new report by Ms. Marti Dinerstein, president of Immigration Matters, a public-policy analysis firm in New York, and a fellow at the Center for Immigration Studies.
November 20, 2002, NICHOLSON, Pa. – On Sunday, November 10, 2002, visitors attending the final service of the Trinity Assembly of God missions convention here may have been a bit surprised by a most unique offering experience. After the usual preliminaries of greetings and announcements, Pastor John M. Lanza stated with some deep satisfaction that it was now time for the missions offering. But instead of ushers coming with offering plates, wheelbarrows were rolled down the aisle.
Uniqueness of Pre-Assemblies Women's Gathering Paves Way for First LWF Assembly in 21st Century
November 17, 2002, MONTREUX, Switzerland – There is a new impetus about every Lutheran World Federation (LWF) Assembly, "but Winnipeg will not be unique unless the pre-assemblies are unique." The LWF General Secretary, Rev. Dr Ishmael Noko made these remarks when he addressed participants in the first gathering in preparation for the Federation's Tenth Assembly that will take place in Winnipeg, Canada, July 21-31, 2003.
Once-Deported Missionary Returns to South Korea for Honor
November 20, 2002 – The Rev. George Ogle left South Korea in tears some 30 years ago, deported by the country's dictatorship for his work on behalf of poor factory workers and eight men facing execution because of false accusations they were communists. The country now has welcomed back the United Methodist missionary and honored him. Ogle returned to South Korea in September to receive the Korean Human Rights Award, given annually to both a Korean and foreigner by the country's Institute for Human Rights.
November 18, 2002, LONDON – At a special high-level interfaith gathering held in honor of the Golden Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II, Baha'i representatives joined with the leaders of nine other major world religions to celebrate the significant role that religions can play in caring for the environment. Held November 13, 2002 in London's historic Banqueting House in Whitehall and titled "Our Place in Creation," the event featured the presentation of a series of environmental projects to Her Majesty the Queen and her husband HRH Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh, as well as a program of sacred artistic, musical, and dance performances by representatives of each religion.
Outreach Offers Baseball Players Spiritual Training
November 20, 2002, SANTO DOMINGO – When Baseball Chapel was created in 1973 for major-league baseball teams in the United States, services were held in hotels prior to games and not every team had a chapel program. Within two years all major-league teams had chapel services. In 1978, a minor-league program was established, extending chapels to winter-league baseball in Latin America.
Missionaries Safe after Rescue
November 20, 2002, IVORY COAST – Assemblies of God missionaries Phil and Robin Malcolm returned safely to the United States in late September after prolonged fighting by government troops and rebel soldiers in Côte d'Ivoire (Ivory Coast) prompted the evacuation of foreigners.
Archbishop of Canterbury Will Have Rich and Varied Ministry
November 13, 2002 – When the Most Rev'd Rowan Williams is enthroned at Canterbury Cathedral on Thursday 27 February 2003, as the 104th archbishop in St Augustine's succession, he will have a rich and varied ministry unlike few bishops in the Anglican Communion. Dr Williams will be bishop of the Canterbury diocese. In that position under a decision taken in 1978, he will delegate many of his duties to the suffragan Bishop of Dover, but he will remain bishop of the diocese of Canterbury with ultimate pastoral authority.
Church Agency Explores Global, Faith-based Investment
November 19, 2002, LONDON – The United Methodist Church's pension agency is working alongside Catholics, Protestants, Jews, Sikhs, and other faith-based investors to put hundreds of billions of dollars worth of global corporate wealth to work for good. Drawing on decades of experience in the area of ethical investment, the United Methodist Board of Pension and Health Benefits is playing a key advisory role in the formation of the International Interfaith Investment Group, dubbed "3iG."
United Methodist Pastor Remains under Arrest in Israel
November 18, 2002, NEW YORK – A United Methodist pastor from Washington state was still being held Nov. 18 at the Massyahu Prison in Ramle, Israel, after being arrested during a protest in a Palestinian village. The Rev. Gordon "Gordy" Hutchins, pastor of Highland United Methodist Church in Tieton, Wash., was arrested Nov. 15 in Jayyous, near the border with Israel, with eight other international protestors and one Israeli protestor. The group had joined Palestinians who were trying to stop Israeli bulldozers from proceeding with the building of a "separation wall" that they say will illegally annex much of their fertile farmland into Israel.
American Baptist General Board Addresses Iraq Crisis
November 18, 2002, Valley Forge, Pa.– The General Board of American Baptist Churches USA, meeting here yesterday, issued a statement urging the pursuit of peace and calling for prayer for the United Nations, the people of Iraq, our military personnel and all others affected by the crisis.
Meeting the Troops: Episcopal Bishop Packard Visits Armed Forces in Asia and Kuwait
November 20, 2002 – Bishop George Packard, who returned from a tour of U.S. armed forces troops in Asia and Kuwait last month, said he was impressed by how well-trained, how alert and especially how young the men and women were who are serving their country overseas. The bishop for the armed services spent three weeks touring Guam, Japan, Korea and Kuwait as part of his responsibility to maintain contact with Episcopal chaplains, support their work and conduct confirmations.