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Rev. N. J. L'Heureux, Jr., Publisher & Editor
Rev. Pedro Bravo-Guzman, Editor-in-Chief
An Ecumenical Report of Local and Global News
in God's Household
Published by the Queens Federation of Churches
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April 2, 2005, ROME – Pope John Paul II died late on Saturday night, April 2, (9.37 p.m. local time – 2:37 p.m. EST) ending one of the longest and most influential pontificates in the history of the Catholic Church. The Holy Father remained "extraordinarily serene" during his final illness, according to his spokesman, Joaquin Navarro-Valls. He had suffered heart failure the previous evening while being treated for an infection of his urinary tract. As his condition deteriorated rapidly during the day on Friday and then Saturday, with his body wracked by septic shock and kidney failure, the Pope remained in prayer with his closest aides, losing consciousness only late in the evening before his death. Schiavo Case Underscores Need for End-of-Life Discussion March 31, 2005 – The past few weeks have been rough for me. The spectacle surrounding the Terri Schiavo case has evoked personal memories that cut deeply. I've thought about this intensely, prayed about it and tried to put it in perspective. Four years ago this July, my spouse, our daughters and I, sat for three excruciating weeks at the bedside of our dying son and brother. It was an experience I would not wish for anyone. To be clear, our circumstances were different from Ms. Schiavo's. Matt had prepared an advance directive. We followed his wishes. March 31, 2005 – Christ is Risen, He is Risen indeed........Happy and Holy Easter to you all! Though our Churches celebrate Holy Week and Easter at different times this year (on the 1st of May and on the 27th of March), we are equally invited in these blessed days of penitence and Paschal joy, to the "supreme knowledge" of which St. Paul speaks, when he says: ‘because of the supreme advantage of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, I count everything else as loss. All I want is to know Christ and the power of His Resurrection." (Philippians 3: 8,10). We need indeed this supreme knowledge so that our penitence and our Paschal Joy will guide us in these days in which we still are in search of peace and life to replace quarrels and death. March 30, 2005, JOS, Nigeria/GENEVA –"Muslims will always demand Shariah (Islamic law) wherever they find themselves, but it will never apply to Christians." A Muslim scholar from southern Nigeria made these remarks during a conference on Christian-Muslim relations held in Gusau, the capital of Zamfara State, the first state to introduce Shari'ah in northern Nigeria in 1999. Later, eleven other states followed the Zamfara example and applied Shariah criminal laws. "Shariah and Christian-Muslim Relations in Nigeria: The Way Forward," was the theme of the meeting, the sixth in a series organized by the Association of Christian-Muslim Mutual Relations in Nigeria, in conjunction with the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs and the Zamfara State Government. Rev. Dr David L. Windibiziri, retired archbishop of the Lutheran Church of Christ in Nigeria (LCCN) is president of the association that was established in 1992. March 28, 2005 – The Committee on Science, Technology and Faith has announced its publication on-line of "A Catechism of Creation: An Episcopal Understanding." Prepared for study in congregations, the document is organized in question-and-answer format and posted on-line at http://www.episcopalchurch.org/science. The document's three main sections suggest use in a range of situations, and have drawn praise from scientists and theologians, clergy and laity. "The goal of the Catechism is to remind people of the importance of the glory of creation and the ways in which it touches people's faith every day," said the Rev. Kendall Harmon, canon theologian of the Diocese of South Carolina and editor of the Anglican Digest. "The doctrine of our creation is a vital part of our faith that's been too neglected in recent Christian tradition." Decade to Overcome Violence Continues to Gain Momentum March 30, 2005 – Nearing its midpoint, the Decade to Overcome Violence is being embraced around the globe. The Decade (DOV), envisioned to harness the insights and potential of churches for reconciliation and peace, was launched in 2001 with a celebration in Potsdam, Germany. The movement sponsored by the World Council of Churches (WCC) has gone on to spotlight a different part of the world each year: In 2004, the focus was the United States. This year, it is Asia. Wherever the focus goes, those involved say they are finding enthusiasm and momentum for the effort. "The more people and churches find out about it, the more excited they get," says Rev. Dr Bernice Powell-Jackson, WCC president from the North American region and a spokesperson for the Decade during last year's US emphasis. Healing and Reconciliation Theme: a First for WCC March 31, 2005 – For the first time since world mission conferences began in 1910, the trilogy of the Holy Spirit, healing and reconciliation will be at the core of the 2005 Conference on World Mission and Evangelism (CWME) to take place in Athens, 9-16 May, with the theme "Come, Holy Spirit, heal and reconcile – Called in Christ to be reconciling and healing communities." "During the last decade, reconciliation became one of the major preoccupations of missiologists," says Jacques Matthey, the Swiss theologian who is one of the persons responsible for the conference at the World Council of Churches (WCC). This development responds to a changed world context – such as the events of September 11, 2001 – as well as a renewed approach to conflict resolution. Kobia Calls for Risky, Change-Provoking Ecumenism April 1, 2005 – The ecumenical movement must remain a ferment of change, recovering the spirit that led it to take risks, World Council of Churches (WCC) general secretary Rev. Dr Samuel Kobia told a gathering of Asian church leaders. "The need for the ecumenical movement to maintain its character of supplying the ferment of change" in spite of "recent preoccupations with internal institutional challenges," was stressed by Kobia speaking on Friday 1 April to representatives of over 100 Asian churches gathered in Chiang Mai, Thailand, at the 12th general assembly of the Christian Conference of Asia. Kobia affirmed that the ability "to read the signs of the times, often ahead of member churches and society in general" had been at the root of the ecumenical movement's "stirring achievements in the past. Among them he highlighted its "bold and prophetic involvement in the struggles against apartheid, military dictatorship and the suppression of human rights." Sanidad Y Reconciliación Por Primera Vez En El Centro De La Agenda Ecuménica 31 mar 2005 – Por primera vez, desde que en 1910 comenzaron a celebrarse las conferencias mundiales sobre misión, la trilogía de Espíritu Santo, sanidad y reconciliación constituirá el núcleo de la Conferencia Mundial sobre Misión y Evangelización que tendrá lugar en Atenas, del 9 al 16 de mayo, con el tema "Ven, Espíritu Santo, sana y reconcilia – Llamados en Cristo a ser comunidades de reconciliación y de sanidad." "Durante el ultimo decenio, la reconciliación ha llegado a ser una de las principales preocupaciones de los especialistas en misión," dice Jacques Matthey, el teólogo suizo que es uno de los responsables de la conferencia en el Consejo Mundial de Iglesias (CMI). Esta evolución responde a un cambio en el contexto mundial, marcado por acontecimientos como los del 11 de septiembre de 2001, así como a un nuevo enfoque acerca de la resolución de conflictos. Medios Cristianos Se Unen Para Llegar a Una Mayor Audiencia 1 abr 2005, SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – Diecisiete estaciones cristianas de radio y televisión anunciaron que se han unido a fuerzas comerciales y de programación en un esfuerzo para llegar a más personas con el Evangelio. En una conferencia de prensa en la capital de Puerto Rico, los comunicadores anunciaron que habían contratado a Map Corporate Communications, Inc., que actuará como asesor y empezará su labor realizando un estudio sobre el mercado cristiano. Map también los representará en distintos aspectos de mercadeo, publicidad y relaciones públicas. El Decenio Para Superar La Violencia Continúa Ganando Impulso 30 mar 2005 – Ya cerca de la mitad de su desarrollo, el Decenio para Superar la Violencia está siendo adoptado alrededor del planeta. El Decenio para Superar la Violencia, creado para aprovechar la visión y el potencial de las iglesias para la reconciliación y la paz, fue lanzado con una celebración en Potsdam, Alemania, en 2001. Apoyado por el Consejo Mundial de Iglesias (CMI), el movimiento ha estado poniendo el acento en una región distinta del mundo cada año: en 2004 fue en los Estados Unidos, este año es Asia, y en 2006 será el turno de América Latina, donde se planea poner énfasis en la juventud. Semana Mundial De Acción: Iglesias Lideran Esfuerzos En Favor De Comercio Justo 31 mar 2005 – Iglesias y organizaciones relacionadas con las iglesias están organizando eventos en todo el mundo durante la Semana Mundial de Acción sobre el Comercio, del 10 al 16 de abril de 2005. En el marco de la Semana Mundial de Acción actividades en más de 70 países han sido previstas, con la participación de grupos de fe y organizaciones de la sociedad civil. Los promotores de la campaña se oponen al mito de que el comercio libre contribuye a reducir la pobreza y piden que se cambien las reglas comerciales para salvaguardar los derechos de todas las personas. On Earth Peace Sponsors Counter-Recruitment Conference Call March 30, 2005, ELGIN, IL – In response to increased numbers of requests for information about how to counter military recruitment in high schools, On Earth Peace has scheduled a conference call for April 5, from 6-7:30 p.m. Eastern Time, to discuss the issue. On Earth Peace is a peace education organization in the Church of the Brethren. Part of its mission is to "empower people to discern the things that make for peace." The purpose of the conference call is to bring people together who are concerned and working on the issue of counter-recruitment so that they can share experiences and ideas, reported Kim Stuckey Hissong, On Earth Peace program coordinator of Peacemaker Formation. Oskar Castro, program associate for the National Youth and Militarism Program of the American Friends Service Committee, will serve as a specially invited resource person to answer questions, provide guidance, and give up-to-date information. Phil Jones, of the General Board's Brethren Witness/Washington Office, also will participate. The conference call will be moderated by On Earth Peace staff. Gay Cleric Voices Support for World Pride Gay Festival in Jerusalem March 31, 2005, LOS ANGELES – "We are coming to Jerusalem. Jerusalem is our Holy City, too," says the Reverend Dr. Troy D. Perry, founder of world's largest gay church group An internationally-known gay cleric entered the debate over the upcoming WorldPride festival and parade in Jerusalem today, noting "We are deeply saddened that once again, religion has been used to attack God's gay and lesbian children." The Reverend Dr. Troy D. Perry, founder of the 43,000 member Metropolitan Community Churches, one of the world's largest predominantly gay organizations, voiced his strong support for the international gay event schedule for Jerusalem in August 2005.. March 30, 2005, RUMBEK, Southern Sudan/GENEVA – When the scorching midday sun strikes Rumbek in southern Sudan, it often finds seven-year-old Ayen Chol drawing water from a well drilled next to shells of destroyed brick buildings. Since the January 2005 comprehensive peace agreement, signed in neighboring Kenya between the Sudan People's Liberation Movement /Army (SPLM/A) and the Khartoum government, these children have found the freedom to move and play in the open. It is hoped that the accords, reached after nearly three years of negotiations, will end the two-decade long war, Africa's most protracted. WSC-AR Urges UNESCO
to Drop Consideration of Siri Darbar Sahib, March 29, 2005, The World Sikh Council – America Region (WSC-AR) has urged UNESCO and its World Heritage Centre to immediately drop the consideration of Siri Darbar Sahib, Amritsar for world heritage status. In a letter addressed to Mr. Francesco Bandarin (Director of UNESCO World Heritage Centre), dated March 25, 2005, WSC-AR communicated that pursuing this project would entail serious protests by Sikhs around the globe as interference in their religious affairs. WCC Deeply Concerned about the Status of Jerusalem March 31, 2005 – Expressing alarm about new political developments which adversely affect the status of Jerusalem, the director of the WCC's Commission of the Churches on International Affairs issued an open letter today reiterating the position of its member churches and calling for "an open and inclusive Jerusalem, a city of shared sovereignty and citizenship, a city of two peoples and three faiths, of Christians, Muslims and Jews." The letter was issued in the context of recent urgent expressions of concern by churches and NGOs about unilateral land acquisition by the Israeli authorities and the latest plans for the Israeli security wall in the Jerusalem area. Ole Christian M.
Kvarme Is New Bishop of Oslo March 30, 2005, OSLO, Norway/GENEVA – On March 11, Norway's King Harald V together with the Council of State appointed Rt Rev. Ole Christian Mælen Kvarme as the new bishop of Oslo Diocese, Church of Norway. Kvarme will be installed into his new position on April 3 during a service at the Oslo Cathedral. He succeeds Rev. Dr Gunnar J. Stalsett who headed the diocese from 1998 until his retirement on March 1. Stalsett, who turned 70 on February 10, was general secretary of the Lutheran World Federation (LWF) from 1985 to 1994. The Oslo bishop-elect has been head of the Borg diocese since 1998. Porter Gives Insights on Leadership from Women of the Bible March 24, 2005, MINNEAPOLIS – In Leading Lessons: Insights on Leadership from Women of the Bible, Dr. Jeanne Porter examines the lessons of leadership from key women of Scripture who inspire us to be all that God calls us to be. A sequel to Porter's first book, Leading Ladies, which explored how the Bible supports women in leadership, this volume delves deeper, providing insights into growing into leadership, leading through adversity, challenging the status quo, and seeing leadership potential in unexpected people. Eight scripturally-based studies examine lessons of leadership from specific women of the Bible. From Eve, we discover how to unlock our leadership potential; from Esther, we learn about leadership formation from within. Each chapter includes a summary page of empowerment principles, as well as a series of questions for personal reflection or group discussion. Each lesson includes a summary page of empowerment principles, plus a series of questions for personal reflection or group discussion. New Volume Offers Panorama of World's Religious Life March 30, 2005, MINNEAPOLIS – The fascinating panorama of the world's religious traditions invites and even commands attention today. Not only has religion contributed to the foundation of civilizations and the lives of millions, it has also directly influenced contemporary international relations and significant world events. Fortress Press is happy to announce the release of Introduction to World Religions with CD-ROM. Accessible and engaging, this highly acclaimed and lavishly illustrated text now appears in a substantially revised and rewritten edition. With over 300,000 copies of the earlier editions sold, Introduction to World Religions builds on a rich heritage.
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