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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 24, 2005, JOHANNESBURG, South Africa/GENEVA – Rev. Dr Samuel Kobia, General Secretary of the Geneva-based World Council of Churches (WCC), has cautioned faith communities in Africa against the use of holy scriptures to justify war. "As people of faith, we should not use holy scriptures to moralize wars, as this makes it easier to fight," Kobia told delegates and invited guests attending the Second Inter-Faith Action for Peace in Africa (IFAPA) Summit taking place near Johannesburg, April 21-25. CEC President Attends Commemoration of Armenian Genocide in Erevan and Etchmiadzin April 26, 2005 – Rev. Jean-Arnold de Clermont, President of the Conference of European Churches (CEC), took part in the ceremonies commemorating the 90th anniversary of the Armenian genocide in Erevan and Etchmiadzin, Armenia, on 24 April 2005. During the Divine Liturgy in the cathedral of Etchmiadzin, Rev. de Clermont presented a statement on the Armenian genocide issued by the Presidium of CEC earlier in April. In a private meeting, Rev. de Clermont personally handed a copy of the statement to His Holiness Karekin II, Catholicos of All Armenians. On ‘Justice Wednesday' Religious Groups Pray for a Federal Budget That Supports the Poor April 28, 2005, WASHINGTON, DC – While media and much of public attention has been focused on the Social Security debate and whether or not Republicans should end the filibuster, the fiscal year 2006 budget, which includes deep cuts in funding for human services, is on the verge of passing virtually unnoticed. But a group of clergy and others representing the "Let Justice Roll: Faith and Community Voices Against Poverty" coalition went from office to office yesterday praying that Senators would approve a budget that does more to support children, the poor, families, the elderly, veterans and persons with disabilities. Appeals Committee Reverses Church Trial Verdict in Stroud Case April 29, 2005, BALTIMORE – Irene Elizabeth "Beth" Stroud, who was found guilty of violating United Methodist church law for being a practicing lesbian and lost her clergy credentials last December, won her appeal in a decision announced April 29. Stroud had appealed the Dec. 2 verdict in her clergy trial to the Northeastern Jurisdictional Committee on Appeals, which met April 28-29 at the Sheraton International Hotel near Baltimore-Washington International Airport. God Is Brazilian, Although the Pope Is German April 21, 2005, SAO LEOPOLDO, Brazil – Over the past three weeks, all mass communication media around the world concentrated on Rome, to cover the funeral of Pope John Paul II and then the election of the new Pope. How can we evaluate the coverage of the Brazilian press?, a student from the Journalism School in the University of Vale do Rio dos Sinos (UNISINOS) asked me. Brazilian media was no exception. Similar to other countries, it was present at the funeral and in the election of the new Pope. Material disseminated by Globo Online demonstrates that magnitude of the coverage around the world. In the 72 hours following the announcement of the death of the Pope a total of 75,000 reports were written, according to a study from Global Language Monitor, an association of linguists that identifies trends in the use of language and its influence on culture. Model Migrant Housing Project Gets under Way April 28, 2005, MOUNT OLIVE, N.C. – Private business, higher education and the United Methodist Church are partnering to build a model house designed to promote the need for quality housing for migrant farm workers. Representatives from Mt. Olive Pickle Co., Harvey Farms of Kinston, N.C., Duke University and the North Carolina Annual (regional) Conference of the United Methodist Church signed the agreement April 22 in a brief ceremony at First United Methodist Church in Mount Olive. The 2,800-square-foot house, designed to house up to 17 workers, will be built on land owned by Harvey Farms, just off U.S. 70 near Kinston. Construction is expected to start late this summer, with completion before spring 2006. Church Housing Effort Brings New Hope to South Los Angeles April 28, 2005, LOS ANGELES – New hope is springing forth on a busy intersection in South Los Angeles. Faith Community United Methodist Church recently celebrated the grand opening of Faith Housing New Hope Courtyard Apartments. The church's housing corporation, along with another Los Angeles non-profit agency, dedicated 25 new homes to serve low-income individuals and families living with special needs in South Los Angeles. "As we continue to make an impact in this community (through building affordable housing), we can change lives," said the Rev. M. Andrew Robinson-Gaither, senior pastor of Faith United Methodist Community Church. April 28, 2005 – A fourth-grader in Washington state helped bring six new families to her congregation, thanks to efforts sparked by "Groundwork," the Episcopal Church's new evangelism resources used for the first time in Lent. Audrey Hatfield, 9, said the Groundwork conversations at her church inspired her to launch a door-to-door new member campaign for Church of the Holy Spirit in Washington's fast-growing community of Battle Ground. Posted online and mailed last January to each of the Episcopal Church's more than 7,200 congregations and 110 dioceses, Groundwork seeks to widen local hospitality overall, and specifically before the denomination's new nationwide broadcast advertising begins this August. Web Improvements Embrace Church's Mission Priorities April 26, 2005 – Recent improvements to the Episcopal Church website include a new site map, an A-to-Z directory and an advanced search page, combining to make for simpler navigation and improved accuracy in searching. Further changes and enhancements have been made to the web pages of Ministries with Young People, Congregational Development and Companion Diocese Relationships, a sub-section of the Anglican and Global Relations website. April 22, 2005, LOUISVILLE – From the pocket to the plate to the young people: The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) Pentecost Offering is making a difference. Consider what took place on Jan. 26 at Grandview Elementary School in Tarentum, PA. That night, volunteers from Central Presbyterian Church gathered around pretend campfires to read stories to students and their parents. "The reading night was just an exciting kind of night," said the Rev. Stewart Pollock, Central Presbyterian's pastor, who said he enjoyed watching parents "watching their children react" to the stories. "Everybody seemed to have a growing sense of excitement that this (reading) is something that we can do at home," Pollock said. "It was just wonderful to watch." Two Lutheran Churches Seek to Heal Wounds April 21, 2005, LLANQUIHUE, Chile – At a joint convention, held April 16-17 in this city in southern Chile, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Chile (IELCH) and the Lutheran Church of Chile (ILCH) came together to talk about unity after 30 years of separation. It was the second such joint convention, sponsored by the Chilean Lutheran Council of Churches (CILCH) and was attended by 100 people who sought to heal the wounds that lead to the schism between the two Churches in 1974. The division in the Evangelical Lutheran Church was the result of Gen.Augusto Pinochet's military coup, which took place in 1973. African Governments Urged to Show Humanity to the Uprooted April 28, 2005 – Delegates at a recent seminar on uprootedness at the All Africa Conference of Churches (AACC) appealed to African governments to budget money for assisting millions of refugees and internally displaced persons across the continent. The challenges of refugees in Africa have reached an alarming proportion, Mr. Polycarp Omolo Ochilo, the Executive Director of International Affairs – AACC said, adding that these challenges have been aggravated by the enormous increase in the number of wars in Africa. The net effect is that over 5 million of the total global number of refugees is in sub-Saharan Africa and over 3 million internally displaced are also in sub-Sahara Africa. World Mission Conference to Be Broadcast Live on the Internet April 28, 2005 – On 10 May, when 500 delegates from all over the world meet in Athens for the opening session of the first world mission conference in the 21st century, many more participants world-wide will be able to join them online. It's the first time that all the plenary sessions of a world mission conference will be broadcast live on the internet. And participation can go even further: interactive video and chat discussion groups following each plenary will give people all over the world the possibility to engage in the dialogue on healing and reconciliation. Each of the six plenary sessions will focus one of the conference's main issues: the Holy Spirit, experiences of Christian communities practising healing, mission and violence (as a Decade to Overcome Violence mid-term event), healing (looking, for example, at HIV/AIDS as a missiological challenge), and reconciliation (with case studies from South Africa and Kiribati).
La IECLB Promueve El Diálogo En Los Litigios Por Tierras 28 abr 2005, PORTO ALEGRE, Brasil – Ante la gravedad de los conflictos por tierras en el oeste y noroeste del estado de Santa Catarina, la Iglesia Evangélica de Confesión Luterana en el Brasil (IECLB) convocó a un encuentro de reflexión sobre Iglesia y la Cuestión Agraria. El encuentro, propuesto por el Sínodo Luterano de Uruguai, se realizó en la ciudad de Palmitos, el sábado 16 de abril, y contó con la presencia del procurador general del Estado de Santa Catarina, Loreno Weissheimer, y el representante del Ministerio de Desarrollo Agrario, Mozar Artur Dietrich, que presentaron sus puntos de vista a los agricultores y propietarios participantes. Conferencia Misionera Mundial Difundida En Vivo Vía Internet 29 abr 2005 – Cuando el 10 de mayo más de 500 delegados provenientes de todos los continentes se encuentren en Atenas en la sesión inaugural de la primera Conferencia Misionera Mundial del siglo XXI, muchas más personas alrededor del mundo podrán participar junto a ellos online. Es la primera vez que las sesiones plenarias de una Conferencia Misionera Mundial se difundirán en vivo vía internet. Alianza Mundial Bautista Reconoce Liderazgo De Juan Pablo II 25 abr 2005, WASHINGTON – Denton Lotz, secretario general de la Alianza Mundial Bautista (AMB), reconoció que el fallecido pontífice católico Papa Juan Pablo II fue "un gran líder espiritual y un hombre de paz." En nombre de los bautistas de todo el mundo, Lotz expresó sus condolencias a los católicos, que sufrieron la pérdida de su líder espiritual, que estuvo "preocupado por los pobres del mundo y peleó por la justicia para todas las personas." Obispa Luterana Llama Al Diálogo Ante Crísis En Nicaragua 28 abr 2005, MANAGUA, Nicaragua – La obispa luterana y presidenta de la iglesia luterana Fe y Esperanza de esta capital, Victoria Cortés, llamó al presidente Enrique Bolaños y a los demás poderes del estado a iniciar un diálogo nacional para buscarle una salida a la crisis de nstitucionalidad que vive el país. Confío en que el cardenal Miguel Obando y Bravo, como garante del diálogo nacional, llame a todos los actores del gobierno, poder legislativo y a los politicos, a mediar antes que se agrave más la crisis. La obispa luterana pidió al presidente Bolaños que tome en cuenta en el diálogo nacional a la iglesia evangélica. April 27, 2005, GENEVA – The Lutheran World Federation (LWF) has spoken out against the explicit listing of the terms "Christianophobia," "Islamophobia" and "Anti-Semitism" with regard to the elimination of all forms of religious discrimination. In a written statement delivered jointly with other non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to the 61st Session of the United Nations Commission on Human Rights here, March 14-April 22, the LWF called for a return to an earlier list that did not cite special problem areas. Every form of intolerance or discrimination, whether it was against religious groups, or those of no religion or belief, must be eliminated, the LWF stated jointly with the Friends World Committee for Consultation (Quakers), Franciscans International, the International Association for Religious Freedom, and other NGOs. They asked the UN Commission to consider renaming the resolution as a resolution on "Freedom of Religion or Belief" in line with the title of the Special Rapporteur, and with a view to encouraging a more positive approach. April 27, 2005, GENEVA – The Lutheran World Federation (LWF) has called for a verification of the compatibility of foreign debt with human rights. In an oral statement to the 61st Session of the United Nations Commission on Human Rights, March 14-April 22, the LWF emphasized: "Foreign debt affects the daily lives of so many people around the world, and is not just a question of economic calculus." The statement was delivered by a representative of the LWF Office for International Affairs and Human Rights. The LWF welcomed the increasing international attention being given to the unsustainable foreign debt affecting human development in many countries around the world. Colombian Takes up Cross for the Poor April 21, 2005, LOUISVILLE – Mauricio Avilez talks softly about dying. The dying that leaves one dead. And, paradoxically, the dying that leads to new life. He has a poignant acquaintance with both. On June 10, 2004, Avilez was arrested by Colombian authorities and jailed for 130 days, accused of sedition, murder and guerrilla activity. The district attorney ordered his release from prison last October when no evidence was produced to warrant a criminal charge, although the investigation was ongoing. Evangelical Confraternity Criticizes FEINE Support for Gutierrez April 21, 2005, QUITO, Ecuador – The Ecuadorian Evangelical Confraternity (CEE) and the Christian Political Reflection Forum criticized the support that the Evangelical Indigenous Federation of Ecuador (FEINE) gave the President Lucio Gutierrez government. In a statement, the CEE emphasized that the "FEINE and its leaders do not represent the majority of Evangelical Churches and organizations in Ecuador." It indicated that the "actions and political statements made by FEINE are its exclusive responsibility and therefore the positions assumed by that organization do not involve Evangelical Churches." Women Church Leaders in Central American Churches Establish Work Strategy April 21, 2005, MANAGUA, Nicaragua – The struggle against violence towards women, steps to discover a healthy sexuality, and a declared offensive against the spread of HIV/AIDS are the principle challenges defined by 45 women who are leaders in their churches during a meeting organized by the Council of Latin American Churches (CLAI). The group, representing more than 40 CLAI member-churches in Mexico and Central America, reflected on the situation of violence towards women, noting the on-going murders of women that occur in Mexico, Nicaragua and Costa Rica. CLAI Women's Network Ecuador Calls for Unity April 21, 2005, QUITO, Ecuador – In the face of recent events in Ecuador, that led to the overthrow of President Lucio Gutierrez and his substitution by Vice President Alfredo Palacio, the Women's Network of member Churches of the Latin American Council of Churches in Ecuador called for unity. "It is time to unite, more than ever it is time to allow ourselves to be illuminated by the liberating word of the Gospel," said the call. It is "time to talk, to reflect, to contribute with ideas and actions to construct a better Ecuador," stated the organization that groups together women's organizations from CLAI member Churches in the country. April 27, 2005, GENEVA – Subsistence livelihood for the majority of the Cambodian population is increasingly threatened by "land grabbing" and unfair granting of land concessions, the Lutheran World Federation (LWF) stated in a written statement to this year's 61st Session of the United Nations Commission on Human Rights. The Commission met here, March 14-April 22. "The lack of proper controls on the granting of land concessions has greatly compounded the general problem of landlessness and poverty in Cambodia," according to the report elaborated jointly with the LWF Department for World Service program in Cambodia. April 27, 2005, JOHANNESBURG, South Africa/GENEVA – A group of media practitioners attending the Second Inter-Faith Action for Peace in Africa (IFAPA) Summit near Johannesburg, April 21-25, have agreed to form a network of media persons working in an inter-faith context to promote peace reporting in Africa and beyond. During a panel presentation on the role of media in the context of inter-faith action for peace in Africa, the journalists representing East, North, South and West Africa, as well as Europe and North America, gave their respective regional perspectives. They focused on media ownership and its impact on dissemination of news about conflict, and the challenges and risks of reporting in a conflict situation. April 23, 2005, JOHANNESBURG, South Africa/GENEVA – Women participants in an inter-faith summit near Johannesburg, sent a powerful message of reconciliation and reconstruction in the launch of a symbolic "Mother's Cry for a Healthy Africa." The "mother's cry" presented in a dramatic display of poetry, recitation of holy writings and dance on April 22 marked the beginning of an inter-faith campaign that seeks to support programs targeted at healing and counseling of post-war victims. The campaign was based on the outcome of a "Mothers and Daughters Pre-summit," attended by over 100 women drawn from all over Africa, April 18-20. Rev. Nancy Wilson Is Nominee for Moderator April 25, 2005, WEST HOLLYWOOD, CA – The Rev. Elder Nancy Wilson, a longtime leader in the predominantly gay Metropolitan Community Churches (MCC), has been nominated to become the next Moderator of the MCC denomination. If elected during MCC's General Conference in Calgary, Canada in July, she will succeed the Rev. Troy D. Perry, MCC's Founder and current Moderator. Wilson has enjoyed a distinguished ministry within Metropolitan Community Churches. Film Chronicles Dutch Resistance in WWII April 27, 2005, GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – Seeing the film Schindler's List was a pivotal moment for Rob Prince, a moment that years later has led to his own Holocaust film. "I knew a little but not a lot about the Holocaust before Schindler's List," says Prince, a video producer for Calvin College who was a 21-year-old college student when he first saw the film. "It created in me a big desire to learn more." That desire ultimately led to an hour-long documentary by Prince on the Holocaust and the Netherlands called "Making Choices." It will air locally on WGVU television (the West Michigan PBS affiliate) at 10 p.m. on May 5. Prince picked that day because it marks the 60th anniversary of the liberation of the Netherlands, and his film centers on the role of the Netherlands in resisting the Germans during World War II – and the country's role in saving the Jews. Reflections on the Loss of a Child April 27, 2005, MINNEAPOLIS – To Henry in Heaven is a collection of poems and spiritual dialogues between a grandfather (Herbert Brokering) and his stillborn grandchild, though the book's messages are meaningful to any family member experiencing the loss of an infant. In each of the imagined conversations, a loved one expresses thoughts and emotions of fear, want, loss, hurt, separation, loneliness, regret, blame, anger, and doubt. In the italicized reply, the child describes a higher life of peace, comfort, joy, light, wonder, trust, safety, and beauty. These dialogues demonstrate how family members can continue to talk intimately with the child who has died to make peace with this new life they have together.
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