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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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August 30, 2005, NEW YORK – Responding to what it anticipates may be the largest U.S. relief and recovery effort in its history, humanitarian agency Church World Service (CWS) says its Executive Director and CEO Rev. John L. McCullough will travel to Hurricane Katrina-devastated New Orleans Louisiana , arriving in Baton Rouge tomorrow evening (Wed Aug 31 – Sat. Sept 3), to personally assess emergency and long-term recovery needs and to meet with area faith leaders. "Church World Service is particularly concerned about the plight of what we anticipate to be a high percentage of poor people, the elderly and other vulnerable populations throughout the affected Gulf Coast area and beyond," he says. "Stories of individuals who had to stay in New Orleans their homes because they couldn't afford to evacuate personify that crisis. Yesterday (Mon Aug 29) CWS issued a national fundraising appeal for survivors of Katrina and has directed an initial shipment of emergency supplies it hopes will reach Baton Rouge tomorrow (Wed. August 31) for distribution. Iraqi Tragedy Demands Restoration of Justice and Peace September 1, 2005 – Reacting to the tragic events at Baghdad's Kadhimiya mosque on 31 August, which Iraqi authorities fear have claimed the lives of up to a thousand Muslim pilgrims, the general secretary of the World Council of Churches Rev. Dr Samuel Kobia expressed the heartfelt condolences and deep sympathy felt by Christians worldwide at this loss of life. Kobia stated "we are deeply shocked by the tragic events in Baghdad yesterday, in which hundreds of innocent pilgrims died. We share in the sense of grief and pain at this tragic and unnecessary loss of human life. Together with the churches of Iraq, we express our solidarity and compassion with the Muslim community of Iraq and with all citizens of this war-torn country." In a letter to the Iraqi president Mr. Jalal Talabani, Kobia added that "This incident, however, is, a direct result of the present environment of fear and intense security measures that have worsened in the country since the occupation by foreign military forces. The World Council of Churches has consistently advocated for sustained diplomatic efforts to restore peace in Iraq to enable the people to lead a normal life with dignity. This tragic event comes as a grim reminder to the international community of their obligation and urgent need to restore peace and justice for all communities in Iraq."
Organizations accepting donations for Hurricane
Katrina Relief Efforts – Click
for list Archbishop of Canterbury – Prayers for Victims of Hurricane Katrina September 2, 2005 – The Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, has expressed his deep concern for those caught up in the devastation of the Gulf Coast of the United States following the recent hurricane. Church Relief Workers Sees Long Recovery for New Orleans September 1, 2005, BATON ROUGE, La. – Church leaders of the Louisiana Annual Conference met Sept. 1 with representatives of key religious and relief organizations to coordinate response efforts in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. September 2, 2005, ELGIN, Ill. – The Church of the Brethren was called to prayer for those affected by Hurricane Katrina as the situation in New Orleans seemed to fall into chaos and anarchy, survivors in other areas of the Gulf Coast waited for relief, and thousands more National Guardsmen were called in to the disaster area. Hurricane Katrina: a Message from Episcopal Church Presiding Bishop August 31, 2005 – My dear brothers and sisters in Christ: I am sending this message by email to our bishops, clergy and congregations – insofar as is possible – so that it might be shared and that we might be a community united in prayer and service during this time. Historic United Methodist Center Suffers Catastrophic Damage September 1, 2005 – The United Methodist Church's historic Gulfside Assembly in Waveland, Miss., suffered catastrophic damage from Hurricane Katrina. Lutherans Focus on Search and Rescue after Hurricane Katrina August 30, 2005, CHICAGO – The major need now is the search and rescue for survivors of Hurricane Katrina, according to Heather L. Feltman, director for Lutheran Disaster Response, a ministry of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) and the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod. WCC "Compassion and Solidarity" with Victims of Hurricane Katrina September 1, 2005 – WCC general secretary Rev. Dr Samuel Kobia expressed today the compassion and solidarity of the member churches of the World Council of Churches with all the victims of Hurricane Katrina, which US officials fear has claimed thousands of lives in recent days. Lutherans, Episcopalians Aid Survivors of Hurricane Katrina September 2, 2005, CHICAGO (ELCA) – Lutherans and Episcopalians together will take on the task of providing food for tens of thousands of people who have escaped Hurricane Katrina, according to Heather L. Feltman, director for Lutheran Disaster Response, a ministry of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) and the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod (LCMS). Hurricane Katrina: News and Appeals from Episcopal Dioceses Around the Country September 1, 2005, Bishops of the Episcopal Church are appealing to their parishioners to pray fervently and give generously to relief for the victims of Hurricane Katrina in Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama, while individuals and congregations are making connections with those in need throughout the Gulf Coast region. Here is a compilation of statements and reports from around the Episcopal Church on relief for Hurricane Katrina's victims. Mississippi Church Leaders Look to Long Haul for Recovery September 1, 2005, JACKSON, Miss. – United Methodist leaders in Mississippi have started assessing their role in helping the state recover from the devastation left by Hurricane Katrina. Bishop Hope Morgan Ward called district superintendents, disaster relief coordinators, conference staff, and others to Jackson Aug. 31 to begin laying the groundwork for what is expected to be years of assistance that will be needed. Prayers, Relief Assistance Urged for Katrina Victims August 31, 2005, VALLEY FORGE, Pa. – American Baptists are being urged to pray for and assist the victims of Hurricane Katrina, which left a trail of devastation Monday as it hammered Gulf Coast states with 140 mile-per-hour winds. An initial One Great Hour of Sharing emergency grant of $10,000 has been sent to Church World Service, which will provide Gift of the Heart Kits, seed grants to long-term recovery organizations, and other assistance. Orthodox Church in America Issues Appeal for Hurricane Katrina Victims September 2, 2005, SYOSSET, NY – In a letter dated August 31, 2005, Metropolitan Herman, Primate of the Orthodox Church in America, appealed to the Church's faithful to "give sacrificially" to help the many individuals and families in Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama devastated by Hurricane Katrina. Online Resources Available for Hurricane Katrina Relief Effort September 2, 2005, New York, NY – The Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America has established a special web site to assist with information and resources during the Hurricane Katrina relief effort. Katrina Objected, but Couple Tied Knot in Church Shelter September 2, 2005, ANDALUSIA, Ala. – It wasn't how they imagined spending their honeymoon. Nickie and Maria Simmons of Gulfport, Miss., had planned on getting married during the week of Aug. 29, when Hurricane Katrina intervened, forcing the couple to flee with five of their six children. They ended up at Whitfield United Methodist Church in Montgomery, Ala., which was offering shelter to evacuees. Texas United Methodists Commit $1 Million to Relief September 2, 2005 – The United Methodist Church's Texas Conference has committed to raising $1 million to feed the thousands of people fleeing to the area for shelter following Hurricane Katrina. "We have sent an appeal out to all of our churches asking them to take up a special offering this Sunday (Sept. 4) that would come in here to the conference office for that million dollars to do as Jesus said in Matthew 25 and feed the hungry," said Bishop Janice Riggle Huie of the church's Houston Area. United Methodists Plan Relief, Open Doors to Refugees September 1, 2005 – The Rev. Carol Sherer, a United Methodist clergywoman from New Orleans, found shelter with family friends in Marshall, Texas, after obeying the order to evacuate her city. The enormity of Hurricane Katrina's impact on New Orleans was still sinking in for Sherer, who served as associate pastor of Rayne Memorial United Methodist Church, near the Garden District. Lutherans Ready for Clean-up Following Hurricane Katrina August 29, 2005, CHICAGO – Hurricane Katrina appears to be one of the largest hurricanes to ever impact the United States, according to Heather L. Feltman, director for Lutheran Disaster Response, a ministry of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) and the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod. Ministers Council Bylaw Amendment Defeated August 29, 2005, VALLEY FORGE, Pa. – The Ministers Council Senate of American Baptist Churches USA has defeated an amendment to its bylaws regarding qualifications for membership, proposed by the American Baptist Churches of the Pacific Southwest Ministers Council. The vote taken Aug. 22-32 no and 30 yes-lacked the two-thirds affirmative responses needed for passage. Prior to the vote on Aug. 22, at the annual meeting of the Senate in Green Lake, Wis., "It was clear from this discussion that the Senators viewed the issue as multi-faceted rather than as merely a referendum on the rightness or wrongness of the practice of homosexuality," said the Rev. Dr. C. Jeff Woods, associate general secretary for regional ministries. Advance Prep Is Best Hope for Historic Amistad Documents Housed at Tulane September 2, 2005 – Diligent preparation in advance of Hurricane Katrina is the best hope for saving important historical documents housed at the Amistad Research Center at Tulane University in New Orleans. According to Brenda Square, the Center's director of archives and library, historic artworks were put into storage days before Hurricane Katrina's arrival. Important, vital records and collection also were relocated to a second floor at Tulane's Tilton Hall. "The off-site storage is up high," Square reported to UCC archivist Bridgette Kelly, who works in Cleveland. The Amistad Research Center is the official repository for the archives and institutional records of the UCC-related American Missionary Association, the first abolitionist missionary society in the United States. Once located at UCC-related Fisk University in Nashville, Tenn., ARC moved its operations in 1970 to UCC-related Dillard University in New Orleans. In 1987, it relocated to a more-spacious facility at Tulane. August 30, 2005, CHICAGO – The report of the Task Force on the Peace, Unity and Purity of the Church stands or falls on the group's proposed "authoritative interpretation" (AI) of section G-6.0108a of The Book of Order – and whether or not it opens a "back door" to the ordination of sexually active gays and lesbians. The 20-member group made most of its decisions by consensus, conducted its most sensitive discussions behind closed doors, and unveiled its report essentially as a fait accompli. Over four years, its members barely acknowledged in public the discord, divisiveness and charges of sexual impurity that it was impaneled to address. As soon as the report was made public, however, Presbyterians both liberal and conservative started "spinning" it. Summer Chapel Helps to Reconnect, Deepen Faith September 1, 2005 – The Rev. Teddra Bynes says officiating at one summer Sunday morning service at the Wade H. Chestnut Memorial Chapel is every bit as wonderful as spending a week rent-free at the North Carolina shore. She was able to do both this year at the seasonal Episcopal chapel, which is open summers only and historically has been served by visiting clergy, some from as far away as New Hampshire. "It's a wonderful, transient community of vacationers from all over the country," located in Ocean View, a barrier island 2,600-miles long just north of Wilmington. "You're given the parsonage to stay in for a week if you celebrate a Sunday morning service," said Bynes. For the South Carolina native, it reprises youthful memories of crabbing, fish fries, family and relationship. September 1, 2005, JERUSALEM/BETHLEHEM – The General Secretary of the Lutheran World Federation (LWF), Rev. Dr Ishmael Noko has urged the LWF Council to consider putting in place "a new LWF" by the year 2010. By the time of the next Assembly, 20 years will have passed since the Eighth Assembly in Curitiba, Brazil, established the current structure, Noko told participants in this year's Council meeting taking place in Jerusalem and Bethlehem. "The changes that have occurred since the 1990 Assembly require a new LWF," he said in the General Secretary's Report to the Council. "The times in which we live are very ambiguous, and [therefore] self-definition becomes necessary," Noko said. He noted that since the LWF understands itself as both an instrument for Lutheran unity and for wider ecumenical movement, "participation in the reconfiguration discussion is not an option but an obligation." MECC
Christian-Muslim Dialogue Program Committee Meets September 2, 2005 – The Christian-Muslim dialogue Committee met on August 18, 2005 with the General Secretary to evaluate activities achieved to date, and to plan for the coming period. The agenda of the meeting included the study and finalization of the three upcoming major events, namely the workshop on "Christian-Muslim Youth and the Challenges of Co-Existence" to be held in Amman, Jordan, September 6-10, 2005; the Conference entitled "Christians and Muslims Together for Justice and Peace" (venue and date to be determined in due time); and the Conference on "Religions and Human Rights" to be held in coordination and collaboration with the International Islamic Forum for Dialogue from March 22-24, 2006 in Egypt. August 31, 2005, JERUSALEM/GENEVA – Bishop Dr Munib A. Younan of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land (ELCJHL) has called for a self critical analysis of individual churches and other religions, in order for dialogue among religions to contribute to peaceful co-existence in the world. "Extremists are vocal and can hijack justice. We should not allow them to do this," Younan told journalists prior to the opening of this year's LWF Council meeting taking place in Jerusalem and Bethlehem, August 31-September 6. When I was working my way through college, I spent several summers in canneries. It was not uncommon at the end of a shift for the foreman to announce, "We need to finish this run. You are all staying tonight." Our union secured good wages for us but we could be asked to put in 50 or 60 or more hours, without even having a chance to call home to say that we'd be late. During the past two decades, the number of hours worked each week by the average American has increased more than 20%, and the average amount of time commuting to work has also gone up. As a result, our free time has decreased by a third. As Yale psychologist Edward Ziegler observed, "We're at the breaking point as far as family is concerned." Many of us spend so much time working and commuting that only recreation we can imagine is shopping or watching TV, both which tend to makes us feel like we need more money to survive. Militantes De La Iglesia De La Liberación Son Ingenuos En Política, Dice Investigador 31 agosto 2005, SÃO LEOPOLDO, Brasil – La crisis del Partido de los Trabajadores (PT), que extiende sus tentáculos al gobierno del presidente Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, abre una serie de interrogantes sobre el papel de la Iglesia de la Liberación, poniendo al desnudo la ingenuidad de los cristianos en política. César Sanson, del Centro de Investigación y Apoyo a los Trabajadores (CEPAT), de Curitiba, incide en la visión idílica e ingenua de Leonardo Boff y Fray Betto, en su artículo "Los cristianos y la política" publicado en el IHU On-line, revista del Instituto Humanitas de la Universidad del Valle del Río dos Sinos. Leonardo Boff defendió que los cristianos que militan en el partido "constituyen hoy una fuente donde el PT renovado podrá y deberá beber." Cristianos Reafirman Vínculo De Unidad a Partir Del Sacramento Del Bautismo 20 agosto 2005, SÃO PAULO, Brasil – Lideres de las siete denominaciones que integran el Consejo Nacional de Iglesias Cristianas de Brasil (CONIC), invitados de otras iglesias y de organismos ecumenicos, estan reunidos en Guarulhos, region metropolitana de Sao Paulo, para discutir los desafios de la mision cristiana en el nuevo contexto social y religioso del país. A la luz del tema "Compartiendo la fe comun," 83 representantes eclesiasticos dialogan con respecto a la nuevas dinamicas de participacion y perspectivas para la mision comun. Uno de los principales objetivos del encuentro de Lideres de iglesias cristianas consiste en renovar el pacto ecumenico de servicio a la unidad de los cristianos. Caso Maccarone: ¿Es Más Importante El Compromiso Social Que El Moral? 31 agosto 2005, BUENOS AIRES, Agentina – El escándalo desatado en Argentina alrededor del obispo de la diócesis de Santiago del Estero, Juan Carlos Maccarone, revivió el debate alrededor del celibato sacerdotal, el rol de la derecha y la izquierda del mundo católico, y la distinción entre la moral pública y la moral privada. Una filmación mostraba al obispo manteniendo relaciones íntimas con Alfredo Serrano, un chofer de 24 años, que eventualmente vivía de la venta de dólares en la calle. De acuerdo con su testimonio, Maccarone le había fomentado ilusiones de obtener mejoras laborales que no cumplió. El religioso había tenido una trayectoria importante como un obispo moderado pero con clara orientación hacia el evangelio de la justicia social. Rinden Homenaje a Dietrich Bonhoeffer 26 agosto 2005, SAO LEOPOLDO, Brasil – La figura y los aportes de Dietrich Bonhoeffer, mártir de la Iglesia Confesante, y que promovió la resistencia de un grupo de pastores y teólogos protestantes contra el régimen nazista en Alemania, fueron destacados en el acto de lanzamiento de un libro publicado por la Editora Sinodal al conmemorarse los 60 años de su muerte. "Dietrich Bonhoeffer: discípulo, testigo, mártir," es el título del libro de meditaciones que la Editora Sinodal lanzó, el jueves, en la librería Esquina de las Letras, en São Leopoldo. El libro contiene textos seleccionados de Bonhoeffer, la mayoría de ellos escritos en la prisión, que son comentados por el pastor luterano brasileño Harald Malschitzky. Evangélicos En Contra De Ley Que Promueve Monumentos Al Padre Alberto Hurtado 29 agosto 2005, CONCEPCION, Chile – Representantes de iglesias evangélicas de la región del Bío Bío (Octava Región) interpusieron ante los tribunales de justicia chilenos un recurso de protección en contra de una ley que autoriza la instalación de imágenes del beato Alberto Hurtado en todas las comunas del país. El recurso presentado el miércoles por el Consejo de Pastores de Talcahuano y el Concilio de Pastores Evangélicos de Concepción, invocó uno de los artículos de la Constitución chilena que garantiza la convivencia social y prohíbe la discriminación. Rechazan Pedido De Iglesias Evangélicas Contra Ley Que Calificaron De Excluyente 30 agosto 2005, CONCEPCION, Chile – La Corte de Apelaciones de Concepción rechazó el recurso presentado por tres organizaciones evangélicas que solicitaban el retiro de dos estatuas del padre Alberto Hurtado emplazadas en la capital de la Octava Región, por su carácter excluyente con respecto a otras confesiones religiosas. El tribunal declaró el viernes "extemporánea" la petición del "Consejo de Pastores de Talcahuano," del grupo "Valientes de David" y de las "Iglesias Unidas de Chiguayante," por lo que decidió no tramitarla. Consejo De La FLM Remueve a Obispo Obare Como Asesor 1 septiembre 2005, JERUSALÉN – El Consejo de la Federación Luterana Mundial (FLM) removió al obispo africano Walter Obare Omwanza de su equipo de asesores, por considerar "inapropiada" su interferencia en una iglesia miembro al consagrar como obispo a un pastor de la Iglesia Sueca. "Esta interferencia tiene consecuencias negativas para la unidad de la FLM y es inconsistente con el rol que el obispo Obare cumple como asesor del Consejo," dice el pronunciamiento difundido por el presidente Mark Hanson la tarde del jueves, al cabo de una sesión reservada. 31 agosto 2005, JERUSALÉN – Un llamamiento a las iglesias y a los cristianos a contribuir a un ministerio de reconciliación en la sociedad y con la creación formuló este miércoles el obispo Mark Hanson, presidente de la Federación Luterana Mundial (FLM), en la sesión inaugural del consejo directivo del organismo internacional. La reconciliación debe ser vista como un don de Dios y como un mandato que la iglesia debe cumplir, derribando los muros que dividen unos a otros en la sociedad y creando condiciones para relaciones sostenibles con el hogar planetario, dijo Hanson. El obispo Hanson, también presidente de la Iglesia Evangélica Luterana de los Estados Unidos (ELCA por sus siglas en inglés), presentó sus reflexiones sobre la reconciliación ante el Consejo, órgano máximo de dirección de la FLM entre asambleas, que se reúne en el Centro Internacional de Belén del 31 de agosto al 6 de septiembre. Katrina: Los Episcopales Responden; Mensaje Del Obispo Primado 31 agosto 2005 – Traducido por el Rev. Thomas Mansella Miércoles, Estimados hermanos y hermanas en Cristo: Estoy enviando este mensaje por correo electrónico a todos nuestros obispos, el clero y las congregaciones de manera que, dentro de lo posible, pueda ser dado a conocer para que durante este tiempo lleguemos a ser una comunidad unida en la oración y el servicio. Durante estos últimos días he estado en contacto con los obispos de de las diócesis afectadas por el huracán Katrina: Alabama, el Golfo Central, Luisiana y Misisipí. La Tragedia De Iraq Exige La Restauración De La Justicia Y La Paz 2 septiembre 2005 – Reaccionando frente a los trágicos sucesos ocurridos en la mezquita de Kadhimiya en Bagdad el 31 de agosto, que según las autoridades iraquíes pueden haberse cobrado las vidas de un millar de peregrinos, el secretario general del Consejo Mundial de Iglesias, Rev. Dr Samuel Kobia, expresó las profundas condolencias y el pesar compartido por los cristianos de todo el mundo por estas muertes. Kobia declaró: "Estamos profundamente conmovidos por los trágicos sucesos de ayer en Bagdad, en los que murieron cientos de peregrinos inocentes. "Compasión Y Solidaridad" Del CMI Con Las Víctimas Del Huracán Katrina 1 septiembre 2005 – El secretario general del CMI Rev. Dr Samuel Kobia expresó hoy la compasión y solidaridad de las iglesias miembros del Consejo Mundial de Iglesias con todas las víctimas del huracán Katrina, que las autoridades estadounidenses temen se haya cobrado miles de vidas en los últimos días. "Toda la comunidad del Consejo Mundial de Iglesias se une en la oración por el pueblo, los dirigentes y las iglesias de los Estados Unidos enfrentados con la tragedia que el huracán Katrina ha llevado a las costas del país. Oramos por los que lloran, los que sufren, los que se preguntan por el sentido de lo sucedido. Obispo Luterano Invoca a Palestinos E Israelíes a Aceptarse Mutuamente 31 agosto 2005, JERUSALÉN – El obispo luterano Munib A. Younan pidió a israelíes y palestinos que se acepten mutuamente con espíritu de perdón, tras afirmar que sólo así ambas comunidades reconocerán sus derechos humanos, civiles, religiosos, nacionales y políticos y "sólo entonces la Tierra Santa será la Tierra Prometida de leche y miel para el pueblo palestino e israelí." "En nombre de Cristo, quien nos enseñó a perdonar por su muerte en la cruz, exhorto a los israelíes a ver a Dios en la gente palestina y exhorto a los palestinos a ver a Dios en la gente israelí," dijo el líder de la Iglesia Evangélica Luterana de Jordania y la Tierra Santa en el Culto de Apertura del Consejo de la Federación Luterana Mundial celebrado el martes en esta ciudad. LWF Council Terminates Tenure of Bishop Walter E. Obare as Adviser September 1, 2005, JERUSALEM/BETHLEHEM – The Council of the Lutheran World Federation (LWF) adopted the following action on 1 September 2005 to terminate on the basis of provisions in the LWF Constitution the term of service of Bishop Walter E. Obare Omwanza as adviser to the LWF Council for his inappropriate action of interfering in the life of a member church by consecrating a pastor of the Church of Sweden as a bishop without the agreement of the Church of Sweden. This action has negative consequences for the unity of the LWF as a communion of churches and is inconsistent with Bishop Obare's role as an adviser to the Council. ELCA Presiding Bishop Comments on Middle East Matters in LWF Role August 29, 2005, AMMAN, Jordan – Following an Aug. 27 visit to one of Jordan's holiest sites, Mt. Nebo, the Rev. Mark S. Hanson said people of faith who visit the site on religious pilgrimages can not only reflect on the past but who also look ahead to the future and "envision a way that the people of these lands can live together in peace with justice." Hanson commented on several Middle East topics at a news conference here with Jordanian and Arab news organizations. He is here in his role as president of the Lutheran World Federation (LWF) prior to this week's LWF Council meeting in Bethlehem, West Bank. August 30, 2005, AMMAN, Jordan/GENEVA – The role of faith communities in promoting a culture of non-violence, respect for all religions and peaceful co-existence was one of the major issues discussed during meetings between leaders of the Lutheran World Federation (LWF) and representatives of the Jordanian government in Amman. At a meeting with Jordanian Prime Minister Adnan Badran, LWF President Bishop Mark S. Hanson, LWF General Secretary Rev. Dr Ishmael Noko and LWF Vice-President for the Asian region, Bishop Dr Munib A. Younan commended Jordan's contribution to the Middle East peace process, especially its support for inter-religious dialogue and far-reaching efforts to promote a culture of non-violence in resolving conflict. August 31, 2005, JERUSALEM/BETHLEHEM – "We have come to Bethlehem to listen, to witness, to challenge and to pray for a lasting and just peace," the President of the Lutheran World Federation (LWF) Bishop Mark S. Hanson told participants in this year's LWF Council Meeting being hosted by the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land (ELCJHL). Presenting the President's Address to the annual LWF governing body, Hanson, who is also Presiding Bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) reminded the LWF Council participants from all over the world that they were in the region to also witness the faithful and powerful testimony of the ELCJHL Christians and to share the people's cry. "May the cries for peace and justice provoke confession, repentance and become a prelude to reconciliation," Hanson said in his address before some 170 participants. August 29, 2005, AMMAN, Jordan/GENEVA – Leaders of the Lutheran World Federation (LWF) on a visit to the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, have praised King Abdullah II and the Jordanian government for their leading role and significant contribution to the Middle East peace process. "We came to Jordan for encouragement and a sense of hope believing that together we can build a lasting and secure peace in the Middle East and in the world," LWF President, Bishop Mark S. Hanson said at a press conference in Amman. The LWF President, LWF General Secretary Rev. Dr Ishmael Noko and LWF Vice-President for the Asian region, Bishop Dr Munib A. Younan were in Jordan August 26-29 ahead of the LWF Council meeting that begins this week in Jerusalem. They held discussions with religious and political leaders with the aim to hear and voice hope for regional peace. MECC Department of Service to Palestine Refugees Shares News from Palestine September 2, 2005 – Executive Secretary of the MECC/Department of Service to Palestine Refugees (DSPR), Dr. Bernard Sabella, informs us that the DSPR just finished an extensive evaluation of all programs and the evaluation report has appeared and was circulated to partners. The department is now actively engaged in working out Log Frames and Plans of Action based on the recommendations of evaluations. "We expect that within a couple of years, by end of 2007, some of the programs we are now conducting will be closed." The programs will focus in the future on Vocational Education, Health and Community Development and the target groups will be women and youth. Campeau Offers Practical Help and Encouragement for Cultivating Lasting Joy August 30, 2005, MINNEAPOLIS – What if the common moments of daily living bore the fingerprints of God? What if you could find deep, sustained joy in your most ordinary, uneventful days? Like the relentless pounding of storm driven surf, the complexities and frustrations, the rituals and routines of everyday existence can wear away joy and empty life of its wonder and gladness. Christians are not immune to joyless living. Joe Campeau, author of Ordinary Joy: Finding Fresh Promise in Routine Moments, states that to grasp a lasting joy we must know how to consistently discover God in ordinary ways. According to Campeau, the key lies, not in breaking out of the daily grind, but in learning to recognize a joy that is already at hand-right in the middle of all the stressed-out, maddening events of daily life. Disaster Strikes – God Is There September 2, 2005, MINNEAPOLIS – In Act of God/Active God Dr. Gary Harbaugh raises the faith-related questions that the victims/survivors of natural disasters have as a result of this experience. Is the disaster an "act of God"? Did God cause the disaster? If God is all-powerful, why did God allow it to happen? Following examples of people who have experienced a variety of disasters, he confronts the faith issues from a profound theological perspective. Instead of seeing disasters as "acts of God," he shows that when disasters occur, God in fact is active: active in and through our questions, confusion, and doubts; active in and through our responses and actions; active in and through the community; and active in and through people of faith.
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