Front Page

NCC, Islamic Groups Call for Quick End to War

March 25, 2003, NEW YORK - The National Council of Churches and two Islamic organizations have issued a joint statement praying for a "quick conclusion" to the war with Iraq. "We are deeply saddened that military action against Iraq has begun," the March 24 statement began. "We pray now for a quick conclusion to this war, for the loss of as few lives as possible, and for peace. In the darkness of war, let us be guided by faith and hope, and continue to act as responsible citizens and peace-builders."

Opening Worship of the Africa Pre-Assembly Consultation in Nairobi – Kenyan Lutheran Bishop Calls for Biblical, Unambiguous Discussion on 'Healing'

March 27, 2003, NAIROBI, Kenya - Kenyan Presiding Bishop Walther Obare Omwanza has urged Lutheran churches to conduct discussion on the theme of the forthcoming Lutheran World Federation (LWF) Tenth Assembly, in a biblically and doctrinally unambiguous, and precise manner. "There is always a danger looming around our churches - that we are being presented fashionable agendas which are not genuinely biblical, not Lutheran," cautioned Omwanza, head of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Kenya (ELCK), when he addressed representatives of the LWF member churches in Africa, attending the March 23-26 Africa Pre-Assembly Consultation (PAC) in the Kenyan capital Nairobi. "For the Healing of the World," the LWF Tenth Assembly theme is very much exposed to this danger, he noted.

War Brings Congregations Together in Prayer

March 24, 2003 – While United Methodists hold differing views about the war in Iraq, church pastors transcended those differences by offering common words of comfort and pleas for prayer March 23, the first Sunday after the U.S.-led invasion began. The Rev. Jacquetta Chambers focused on "Where Is God in the Middle of this War" in her sermon at McMillan United Methodist Church in Fort Worth, Texas. Several families in the 247-member congregation have been affected by the mobilization and deployment of troops to Iraq. One mother has not heard from her son in weeks. Those families were invited to the altar to pray, and the congregation was asked to stand with them.

General News

Board Approves $114,000 in Ethnic Program Grants

March 26, 2003, HERNDON, Va. - Programs serving ethnic minorities will receive more than $100,000 in grants authorized by the United Methodist Board of Church and Society. Voting directors of the United Methodist Church's social advocacy agency acted on the grants during their March 20-23 meeting. In all, eight grants totaling $114,000 were given for advocacy and justice-oriented programs in the United States and the African country of Ghana. The Ethnic Local Church Fund was created to help the denomination's program boards support local church and annual conference ministries in each board's area of concern.

ELCA Commission Advocates for Peace, Women, Employees

March 26, 2003, CHICAGO - The steering committee of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) Commission for Women took its own advice and studied the church's peace statement when it met here March 14-15. It also challenged the ELCA to honor its commitments to women and to its employees while the church makes budget and planning decisions.

Language about Sexuality Remains an Issue for Agency

March 25, 2003, HERNDON, Va. - Issues about the church's statements on sexuality continue to divide members of the United Methodist Church's advocacy and social action agency, as they divide the denomination. Strongly held opinions on both sides were acknowledged when voting members of the Board of Church and Society, in a March 20-23 meeting, considered recommending a change in a statement about homosexuality now found in the church's Social Principles. Such petitions for change and for new resolutions will be forwarded to General Conference, the church's highest legislative body, which meets April 27-May 7, 2004, in Pittsburgh. Only the General Conference speaks for the denomination, but any United Methodist organization or individual member may submit a petition.

UMC.org Adds Services for Local Churches

March 25, 2003, NASHVILLE - UMC.org, the official online ministry of the United Methodist Church, is providing local churches with free resources for their print and Web publications. The newest offerings include reviews of current films; an audio-feature titled "UMC.org Profiles," highlighting noteworthy United Methodists; and Spanish-language portions of The Book of Discipline, the book of United Methodist law. Once a month, UMC.org reviews a current film in wide release. The featured movie for March is "The Quiet American," starring Michael Caine, Brendan Frasier and Hai Yen Do.

Ecumenical News

Peace with Justice Grants to Help a Variety of Causes

March 26, 2003, HERNDON, Va. - A total of $49,400 in Peace with Justice grants has been awarded to 20 organizations throughout the world. Members of the United Methodist Board of Church and Society who serve on the board's Peace with Justice Work Area approved the grants March 21. The funding comes from a churchwide offering taken on Peace with Justice Sunday, which falls on June 15 this year.

ELCA Presiding Bishop Meets Pope John Paul II

March 25, 2003, VATICAN CITY - The Rev. Mark S. Hanson, presiding bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), called for the possibility of "limited interim Eucharistic sharing" between Lutherans and Roman Catholics in a brief meeting here March 24 with Pope John Paul II. Currently, it is not possible for Lutherans to commune in most Roman Catholic congregations. ELCA congregations generally welcome all who believe in Jesus Christ and are baptized to participate in Holy Communion. Hanson, who is visiting here for the first time, made his comment in a 15-minute audience with the pope in a meeting room near St. Peter's Basilica. Hanson and 20 other leaders and representatives of the ELCA met with the pontiff and shared formal statements.

Italian Methodists Express Solidarity with U.S., Urge Peace

March 25, 2003 – Italian Methodists reaffirmed their "solidarity with the American people" while calling for a peaceful resolution to the war with Iraq. The statement about the Iraq war was adopted during a March 23 special session of the synod of the Waldensian/Methodist Church of Italy, meeting in Torre Pellicle, Italy. Synod members noted the "vast opposition" to a war and the resulting damage to international relations, but did express solidarity with Americans themselves. "We have not forgotten Sept. 11, 2001, the day of profound injury that so profoundly touched the Western world," the statement said. "We have not forgotten June 6, 1944, when thousands of young men gave their lives on the beaches of our continent for the liberation of everyone."

War, Church Unity Themes for ELCA Ecumenical Meetings

March 24, 2003, GENEVA - In the 50-year history of the World Council of Churches (WCC), there has never been such unanimity across all church traditions on a matter of public concern for Christians, said the Rev. Konrad Raiser, WCC general secretary. Raiser made the comment about WCC member churches' opposition to war with Iraq in a meeting here with an 18-member delegation from the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). The ELCA delegation includes bishops, pastors, members and staff who are involved in an "ecumenical journey," scheduled months before war with Iraq became a probability. The purpose of the trip is to meet with international Christian leaders in Europe. Leading the delegation is the Rev. Mark S. Hanson, ELCA presiding bishop, who is here in his role as the church's chief ecumenical officer.

Worship in Nashville Cathedral Explores 'Sacred Soul Space'

March 25, 2003 – The climate in early March was Lenten to the bone at Christ Church Cathedral in Nashville - darkened stone sanctuary, penitential prayers - but the music for this particular service carried the pulse of synthesizers, filling the 109-year-old nave with the dusky syncopations of minor-key dance music. Last time the worship music was all medieval. Next month it may be Hank Williams Sr. or an African drum corps, Ghana-style. No one knows what to expect.

National News

U.S. Lutherans Hear of Conflicts and Challenges in Palestine, Africa

March 24, 2003, WASHINGTON - About 300 U.S. church members, including 80 members of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), took part in "Advocacy Days," an ecumenical gathering here Feb. 23-26, sponsored by Christian advocates working for just U.S. policies in Africa and the Middle East. Participants sought to encourage the U.S. Congress to develop more just and peaceful policies in those critical parts of the world. The Rev. Mitri Raheb, Christmas Lutheran Church, Bethlehem, questioned the theme he was assigned: A Hopeful Vision. "How can we speak of a hopeful vision, when (Prime Minister) Sharon has just been reelected in Israel? When settlements are expanding throughout the West Bank like mushrooms, when an eight-meter high wall is being built as we speak around Bethlehem, transforming the little town into a big prison for 170,000 people? How can we speak of hope at a time when pre-emptive war is becoming a legitimate option and tool in international politics?"

International News

People Affected by HIV/AIDS Need Justice, Not Sympathy

March 26, 2003, CATIA LA MAR, Venezuela - The head of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Venezuela (IELV), has urged Lutheran churches in Latin America to face the challenges posed by the HIV/AIDS pandemic. "AIDS is a humanitarian disaster, and the churches should not close their eyes to it," IELV President, Rev. Akos Puky said. He was speaking at a March 18-21 HIV/AIDS consultation for the Lutheran World Federation (LWF) member churches in Latin America, held in Catia la Mar near the Venezuelan capital Caracas.

African Pre-Assembly an Opportunity to Share Visions of Community – LWF Contributes to the Healing of Africa, Says LWF General Secretary Noko

March 27, 2003, NAIROBI, Kenya - The United States-led war against Iraq could have been avoided, declared the Lutheran World Federation (LWF) General Secretary, Rev. Dr Ishmael Noko, when he addressed participants in the Africa region preparatory meeting for the forthcoming LWF Tenth Assembly. There were sufficient possibilities for the United Nations weapons' inspectors to continue to do an effective job, according to Noko. The war against Iraq not only divides the world into a "coalition of the willing" and "unwilling," but it also splits Europe into an "old" and "new" Europe, the general secretary told the 110 representatives of LWF member churches attending the March 23-26 Africa Pre-Assembly Consultation (PAC), held jointly with the All Africa Lutheran Leadership Conference, a meeting for all leaders of LWF member churches on the continent.

Taiwan's Churches Cry for Peace

March 30, 2003 – Congregations of the Presbyterian Church in Taiwan (PCT), in response to the onset of the American led war against Iraq, were all asked to lift prayers for justice and peace during public worship on March 23rd. The prayers implored the Almighty to grant mercy and love and called on people to support humanitarian relief. The General Assembly of the PCT also appropriated 350,000 Taiwan Yuan (9,730 Euros) for humanitarian aid, to be administered through the office of Taiwan's Vice President, Lu Siu-lian.

WCC Seeks to Maintain Momentum of Negotiations on the Cyprus

March 27, 2003 – A desire to learn more about the aspirations of Cyprus' Greek and Turkish communities, including the Church of Cyprus - in order to build on peace negotiations - is the reason for a planned 31 March - 3 April visit there by a World Council of Churches (WCC) staff delegation. As the two sides failed to reach agreement under the Comprehensive Settlement of the Cyprus Problem put forward by UN secretary-general Kofi Annan, the visit will help the WCC give guidance to the global ecumenical fellowship as it continues to accompany the peace process. The WCC delegation will meet with members of the Holy Synod of the Church of Cyprus, Greek and Turkish Cypriot political leaders, United Nations (UN) and European Union representatives, and members of civil society.

Middle East News

Archbishop: Pastoral Letter to Forces Chaplains

March 23, 2003, LAMBETH PALACE - Lambeth Palace has released the text of a pastoral letter sent by the Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, to UK military chaplains serving in the Gulf as part of the current operations. In his letter, written before the start of the military campaign, Dr Williams said that they and those serving with them would be in his thoughts and prayers and he paid tribute to their difficult role.

Episcopalians Respond to Beginning of War with Iraq

March 26, 2003 – As the American-led offensive against Iraq began, Episcopalians joined Christians around the world in praying for a quick end to the war and the safe return of troops. In the meantime church doors across the nation are open, candles are lit, and voices raised in earnest petitions for peace. Writing to Episcopal and Anglican bishops, Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams said in a statement, "We have entered on a time of acute suffering for some and of anxiety for all peoples and nations round the world." He called for church leaders to pray that "the military action now being undertaken may help to bring about a more stable future for the whole region, with justice for all." He expressed special concern for the Christians of the Middle East that they and their neighbors of other faiths "will find the strength and vision to go on working for a shared future of understanding and respect."

Muslims and Christians Unite in Prayer and Concern

March 24, 2003, NEW YORK - The General Secretary of the National Council of Churches, Secretary General of the Islamic Circle of North America and Secretary General of the Islamic Society of North America today issued the following joint statement: We are deeply saddened that military action against Iraq has begun. We pray now for a quick conclusion to this war, for the loss of as few lives as possible, and for peace. In the darkness of war, let us be guided by faith and hope, and continue to act as responsible citizens and peace-builders. We pray for the people of Iraq, and grieve for those who may now bear more tragedy in addition to the severe hardships and loss of loved ones suffered over the last twelve years. We pray as well for all those serving in the armed forces, that they may return home to their families safely and soon.

World Methodists Pray for Peace

March 26, 2003 – The World Methodist Council has called upon its 132 member church bodies to pray for an end to the war in Iraq. A statement released March 25 by His Eminence Sunday C. Mbang of Nigeria, council president, said it was "unfortunate" that the United States, United Kingdom and others had begun the war without the consent of the U.N. Security Council. "The public opposition to the war demonstrates the non-regard for the principles of fairness and justice by the forces of coalition," the statement continued. "We are more disturbed that nonviolent positions were not exhausted before the mad rush to armed conflict.