Front Page

‘Let Justice Roll' Campaign Announces Support of 2005 Fair Minimum Wage Act

May 20, 2005, WASHINGTON, D.C. – Organizers of the "Let Justice Roll: Faith and Community Voices Against Poverty" campaign, including the National Council of Churches USA and the Center for Community Change, today announced its support of the Fair Minimum Wage Act of 2005, which was introduced in the U.S. Senate and House on Wednesday, May 18 by Senator Edward Kennedy and Rep. George Miller, respectively. If it passes, the legislation, which calls for an increase in the federal minimum wage from $5.15/hour to $7.25/hour over two years, would be one step toward alleviating the increasing numbers of people who live in poverty in this country. "This legislation is so important because of the severe needs that poor working people have," said Rev. Dr. Paul Sherry, the coordinator of the "Let Justice Roll/Living Wage" campaign.

Hungry to End Hunger: Bishops, Interfaith Leaders Plan June 6 Convocation

May 17, 2005, WASHINGTON, DC – Bishop John Bryson Chane of the Diocese of Washington and Archbishop Njongonkulu Ndungane of Cape Town, South Africa, will join other religious leaders from around the nation for the first Interfaith Convocation on Hunger, June 6 at 7 pm at the Washington National Cathedral in Washington, D.C. The convocation is a culmination of the June 4-7 national conference called "One Table, Many Voices: A Mobilization to Overcome Poverty and Hunger." It will include a call for the President and members of Congress to join with them in a new national commitment to end hunger.

Social Justice Organization Cites Evidence of Abuses among Armed Forces
the American Friends Service Committee Launches ‘National Call to Action,'
Rallies, Demonstrations and Workshops Held Across the United States

May 20, 2005, PHILADELPHIA, PA – The Army is now offering 15-month active duty tours instead of the usual four-year enlistment. What does it mean? Not much when you consider the numbers of soldiers affected by "stop loss" – forced to stay in the military well past their initial volunteer commitments. Often referred to as a "backdoor draft," stop loss does away with the concept of a volunteer army forcing servicemen and women to continue military service well past the time for which they committed. Soldiers who have their tours of duty involuntarily extended are forced to stay overseas as long as their command units remain.

General News

ELCA Process Would OK Actively Gay Workers

May 18, 2005 – A resolution that opens the possibility for ministers in same-sex relationships to serve in congregational ministries has been forwarded to the ELCA Churchwide Assembly for consideration at its Aug. 8-14 meeting in Orlando, Fla. Drafted during the April 9-11 meeting of the ELCA Church Council – which serves as the ELCA board of directors – the resolution was one of three dealing with recommendations from the ELCA Task Force for Studies on Sexuality. The resolution would "create a process for the sake of outreach, ministry and the commitment to continuing dialogue, which may permit exceptions to the expectations regarding sexual conduct for gay or lesbian candidates and rostered leaders in lifelong, committed and faithful same-sex relationships who otherwise are determined to be in compliance" with the conduct the church expects of its ministers.

Religion Communicators and Public Relations Society
Slate 'Teleseminar' June 8 on Global Communication Needs

May 19, 2005 – A "teleseminar" to explore the impact of religion on global communication will be conducted June 8 in cooperation with the Religion Communicators Council and the Public Relations Society of America. Persons can enroll in the 90-minute telephone seminar, which will be 2 p.m. EDT, 11 a.m. PDT, by downloading a registration form. The registration deadline is 24 hours prior to the call. Participants will learn about the world of Islam and efforts in the U.S. and elsewhere to diffuse tensions through civic and inter-faith dialogue.

Ecumenical News

Archbishop of Canterbury Lecture at Bosniak Institute, Sarajevo:
Christianity, Islam and the Challenge of Poverty

May 20, 2005 – It is likely that religious believers of all traditions would begin by warning that ‘poverty' is not a word with a single definition. We may think first of apparently straightforward material deprivation – a low income, no public welfare or emergency provision, poor health care, inability to afford basics such as food. But behind this lies a set of more deep-rooted concerns about the lack of access to power – power, that is, which can be used to change one's situation.

Patriarch Visits Paris at Pentecost

May 19, 2005, PARIS – His Beatitude, Emmanuel III Delly, Patriarch of Babylon and head of the Chaldean Church in Iraq, made a Pentecost visit to the Cathedral of the Holy Trinity, Paris, France, where the Solemn Evensong was sung in his honor. The patriarch's visit to the Cathedral is part of his ongoing visit to France, where an estimated 16,000 Chaldeans make their home. Bishop Pierre Whalon of the Convocation of American Churches in Europe, who was among those facilitating the Patriarch's visit to France, noted that the purpose of the trip was both religious and diplomatic.

Bishop Swing Honors Roman Catholic Archbishop on New Appointment

May 18, 2005 – Bishop William E. Swing of California has written the following reflection to honor Roman Catholic Archbishop William J. Levada of San Francisco, who on Friday, May 13, was named prefect of the Vatican's Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. When Pope Benedict XVI named Archbishop William J. Levada to lead the Vatican's Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, there was much rejoicing in San Francisco. Certainly among his Roman Catholic flock, but also among Jews, Muslims, Protestants, and a host of others. Archbishop Levada has a generous and hospitable heart toward people of varying faiths. Therefore, so many of us feel as though a friend is headed toward Rome.

Mission Gathering Sends Letter to Churches

May 19, 2005 – The Conference on World Mission and Evangelism (CWME) has issued a letter to the Christian world in which it calls on churches everywhere to become healing and reconciling communities of hope, open to all. "God calls us to be a community of hope. ‘Called in Christ to be reconciling and healing communities,' we have continued here in Athens the task of defining the kind of community God desires us to become, a community that bears witness to the Gospel in word and deed; that is alive in worship and learning; proclaims the Gospel of Jesus Christ to all" the Letter from Athens to Christian churches, networks and communities declares.

Mary Document Launch Set for Westminster Abbey – Mary: Hope and Grace in Christ

May 16, 2005 – The Anglican Roman Catholic International Commission (ARCIC) has released its latest document in its continuing dialogue. Also called ‘The Seattle Statement,' the ARCIC Co-Chairs, Archbishop Alexander Brunett of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Seattle, and Archbishop Peter Carnley, Primate of the Anglican Church of Australia, were present at the celebration of the publication of the document, at St James' Roman Catholic Cathedral, Monday 16 May 2005. The Revd Canon Gregory Cameron, Anglican Co-Secretary of ARCIC, speaking in Seattle said, ‘This document represents sustained reflection on an aspect of Christian faith in which many Christians have found spiritual strength.

Pentecost Message from the Presiding Bishop – Growing in Truth

May 13, 2005 – Though we may hear much these days about division in the life of the church I am struck by the many instances in which the presence of forces that seek to divide have in fact moved us in the opposite direction and have obliged us to seek a deeper place of mutual encounter where together we can experience our being broken open in new ways by the power of the Spirit and the ever active reconciling love of Christ. Our Spring meeting of the House of Bishops which produced a remarkable convergence summed up in a Covenant Statement has been seen by many as the fruit of the Spirit's activity among us.

Mission Meeting Ends in Footsteps of Paul

May 16, 2005 – On Sunday, Christians from more than 100 nations, representing churches in every geographic region and most of the historic traditions of Christianity, closed their conference on world mission and evangelism in a "sending service" in central Athens, on the site of Saint Paul's sermon to the Athenians. Rev. Dr Samuel Kobia, general secretary of the World Council of Churches (WCC), preached where Paul acknowledged the local context of the philosophers of Athens but also proclaimed the universal significance of the gospel. Standing on the Areopagus, or "Mars hill," Paul taught that God had created all nations "so that they would search for God and perhaps grope for him and find him – though indeed he is not far from each one of us. For in him we live and move and have our being."

Spanish News

Líderes Religiosos Se Reúnen Para Orar Por La Paz

20 mayo 2005, BOGOTA, Colombia – Líderes de las comunidades católica, judía, musulmana y evangélicas de Colombia se reunieron ayer jueves en la Universidad Santo Tomás de esta capital, para orar por la paz y promover el diálogo interreligioso. Francisco Duque-Gómez, obispo de la Iglesia Anglicana, dijo a ALC, que "se ha convocado un encuentro interreligioso y ecuménico por la paz y en el que todos nos reconozcamos como hijos de Dios."

Reunión Misionera Mundial Termina En Las Huellas De Pablo

16 mayo 2005 – Este domingo, cristianos de más de cien naciones, representando iglesias de cada región del planeta y de la mayoría de las tradiciones históricas de la cristiandad, concluyeron su conferencia mundial sobre misión y evangelización con un "culto de envío" en el centro de Atenas, justamente en el sitio en el que Pablo dirigió su sermón a los atenienses. El pastor Dr. Samuel Kobia, secretario general del Consejo Mundial de Iglesias (CMI), predicó allí donde siglos atrás Pablo reconoció el contexto religioso y filosófico local, pero también proclamó el significado universal del evangelio.

Teólogo Peruano Analiza Avance De La Teología De La Prosperidad

17 mayo 2005, LIMA, Peru – El desencanto por los partidos políticos, las pérdidas de utopías, la hegemonía de un solo modelo económico, la situación de pobreza, -han influido en América Latina para que muchos creyentes evangélicos opten ilusamente por la teología de la prosperidad (TP) afirmó el pastor peruano Martín Ocaña. Según Ocaña, profesor en el Seminario Bautista del Sur del Perú, la falta de salida a las crisis y la pérdida de esperanza hace que muchos sectores de las iglesias, en el contexto de la crisis económica, política y social que vive América Latina, asuman la prédica de teología de la prosperidad.

Iglesias Crecen Más Rápidamente En El Sur Dice Carta De Atenas

20 mayo 2005, GINEBRA, Suiza – Una declaración de los participantes en la Conferencia del Consejo Mundial de Iglesias (CMI) sobre Misión y Evangelización, emitida ayer jueves en esta ciudad, reconoce que el centro de gravedad del cristianismo mundial se ha desplazado del hemisferio Norte hacia el Sur y el Oriente. "Estamos en un momento particular en la historia de la misión," dice la Carta y agrega que mientras los centros de poder se encuentran en el Norte, es en el Sur y en el Oriente donde las iglesias están creciendo más rápidamente."

Recibir El Espíritu Santo Unos De Otros

17 mayo 2005 – Un importante funcionario del Vaticano afirma que los católicos están en el movimiento ecuménico para encontrar respuestas a las preguntas sobre unidad cristiana, reconociendo al Consejo Mundial de Iglesias como un "socio esencial." "Estamos aquí para escuchar," dice el obispo Brian Farrell, quien encabezó la delegación del Vaticano presente en la 13ra Conferencia Mundial sobre Misión y Evangelización. "Y mientras escuchamos -continúa-, tenemos que reflexionar, y luego responder. Estamos en el movimiento ecuménico para tratar de aclarar las preguntas planteadas ante nosotros, y encontrar las respuestas. El valor de una asamblea como ésta radica en que nos alienta a encontrar respuestas juntos."

New York Metro News

Archdiocesan Council Holds Spring Meeting in New York City

May 18, 2005, NEW YORK – The Spring Meeting of the Archdiocesan Council of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America was held at the Marriott East Side in New York City on Friday, May 13 and Saturday, May 14, 2005. The Council Meeting was preceded by the Executive Committee Meeting on Thursday, May 12. The Archdiocesan Council Meeting began with a Trisagion Service for Archbishop Iakovos, who fell asleep in the Lord on April 10, 2005. Following the Trisagion Service, Archbishop Demetrios offered his Opening Address to the body of the Council, reviewing a number of recent significant events that affected our Archdiocese of America, including the deaths of Archbishop Iakovos and Metropolitan Anthony of San Francisco, the election and enthronement of Metropolitan Gerasimos of San Francisco and the productive testimony before the Helsinki Commission in Washington, DC regarding the treatment of the Ecumenical Patriarchate by the Turkish government.

Listening, Learning as Anglicans:
Women's Voices Bring International Perspectives

May 20, 2005, NEW YORK – The voices of women across the Anglican Communion bring firsthand perspectives on the intersections of faith, poverty, and health crises, among other deep challenges. The meeting earlier this year of the 49th session of the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (UNCSW) offered a unique opportunity for U.S. Anglicans – all members of the Episcopal Church – to listen and learn about these challenges. A forum titled "Repairing the World: Anglican Women's Faith in Action" was held at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine in New York City.

National News

National Council of Churches Answers Call to Protect and Redeem God's Lands
by Launching Western Public Lands Initiative

May 18, 2005, WASHINGTON, DC – The Eco-Justice Program of the National Council of Churches USA has launched a new Western Public Lands Initiative to address growing threats to our nation's public lands and associated resources. Previously, the NCC has conducted ecumenical and interfaith programs addressing a range of environmental issues including air and water pollution, global warming, and energy conservation. Now the NCC will encourage its member denominations and partner organizations to make responsible stewardship and management of public lands an integral part of their efforts to protect and care for God's creation.

Immigration Reform Still Possible Despite REAL ID Act, Migration Ministries Director Says

May 20, 2005 – Comprehensive immigration reform may come soon despite enactment of the REAL ID Act, according to Richard Parkins, director of Episcopal Migration Ministries (EMM). According to the Congressional Research Service, the controversial H.R. 418, signed into law May 11, will: modify eligibility criteria for asylum and withholding of removal; limit judicial review of certain immigration decisions; provide additional waiver authority over laws that might impede construction of barriers and roads along the U.S.-Mexican border near San Diego; expand the scope of terror-related activity making an alien inadmissible and deportable, as well as ineligible for certain forms of relief from removal; and require states to meet minimum security standards for their drivers' licenses and personal identification cards to be accepted for federal purposes.

Taco Bell Boycott Is Focus of PBS Broadcast
PC(USA) Officials to Appear in "NOW" Segment on May 27

May 18, 2005, LOUISVILLE – The Taco Bell boycott settlement will be featured in a segment of the Public Broadcasting System (PBS) program "NOW" on Friday, May 27. The broadcast will include interviews with leaders of the Coalition of Immokalee Workers (CIW), the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) and Yum! Brands, Taco Bell's Louisville-based parent company.

International News

Colombia Network Sets Ambitious Goals
Five Presbyterian ‘Accompaniers' Being Sent to Barranquilla

May 17, 2005, CHICAGO – Five more Presbyterians have been commissioned by the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)'s Colombia Network to accompany Colombian church, union and displaced leaders who are threatened by death squads for their work in human rights. At its May 9-11 meeting here the network set eight different goals for its work, some intended to directly assist churches in Colombia, others targeting U.S. corporations for study about reported abusive labor practices. Continuing accompaniment – and stepped-up recruitment – were high on the agenda, as well as debate about how to address labor practices in Coca-Cola's bottling facilities in Colombia, where some union organizers reportedly have been intimidated or killed.

Reviews

Finding the Perfect Prayer

May 18, 2005, MINNEAPOLIS – The Perfect Prayer: Search for the Kingdom through the Lord's Prayer by Philip Mathias is based the shorter version of Jesus's prayer found in Luke's Gospel. In this new volume the author examines each of the six petitions of the Lord's Prayer to explore the role it plays in the prayer's aspiration: the coming of the kingdom of God, which is the core of Christian joy.

Lanzetta Explores the Mystical Path of the Feminine

May 10, 2005, MINNEAPOLIS – In Radical Wisdom: A Feminist Mystical Theology, Beverly J. Lanzetta illuminates the transformative potential of the classical tradition of women mystics, especially in light of contemporary violence against women around the world. Focusing on the contemplative process as women's journey from oppression to liberation, Lanzetta draws especially on the mysticism of Julian of Norwich and Teresa of Avila. She lays out the contemplative techniques used by mystics to achieve their highest spiritual potential and also investigates how unjust social and political conditions afflict women's souls.

Ted Loder's New Commentary Represents Practical Theological Dialogue at its Best

May 13, 2005, MINNEAPOLIS – The questions pondered in Ted Loder's new book, Loaves, Fishes, and Leftovers, reflect the deep faith concerns many people experience yet find muffled by the rituals of worship, the professional roles of clergy, or the presumptions of the church. This book grew from a group discussion about questions such as: Why is there evil in the world? Does my prayer affect God's response? The story of Jesus feeding the multitude is an apt metaphor for the process the group went through: it starts with hungry people, uses the resources available, and ends with leftovers for further exploration.

Where in the World Is Integrity?

May 18, 2005, MINNEAPOLIS – Despite the prevalence of negative behaviors chronicled in the news, integrity is alive and well today, revealed through the actions of ordinary people. Integrity can be found in the kind deeds that strangers do for each other. It exists in a family's history of hard work, support, and sacrifice. It is revealed in heroic acts during extraordinary circumstances such as the hijacking of an airplane. It appears in the checkout line at the local grocery store. And integrity survives through the telling of stories in Where in the World is Integrity? by Bruce B. Roberts, Craig D. Rice, and Joe E. Smith.