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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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December 2, 2005, NEW YORK – Global humanitarian agency Church World Service says the Paul Simon Water for the Poor Act, which President Bush signed into law today, will bolster the agency's ongoing efforts to decrease global poverty, sickness, and death by increasing access to safe water for poor people in developing countries. A long-time advocate for universal access to safe and affordable drinking water, Church World Service (CWS) applauded the president for signing a bill the agency said "demonstrates that the United States takes seriously the idea that access to water should be contingent on need, not on the ability to pay." November 28, 2005, NEW YORK – A National Council of Churches committee has warned that the "No Child Left Behind Act" is leaving more children behind than it is saving, especially children of color and poor children. Instead of treating children "as unique human beings to be nurtured and educated," the statement says, the act has encouraged school districts to regard children as "products to be tested and managed." Declaring that "Christian faith demands, as a matter of justice and compassion, that we be concerned about our public schools," the NCC Committee for Public Education has issued ten "moral concerns" about the implementation of the act. Christians to Strengthen the Voice of the Marginalised in Europe November 25, 2005 – The conference "A common vision for a social Europe: Towards quality of life for all" concluded its proceedings yesterday with a call for social policy to be an integral part of all European policies. The conference was jointly organized by the Church and Society Commission of the Conference of European Churches (CEC) and Eurodiaconia. It brought together sixty representatives from European churches and diaconal organizations from more than thirty European countries, including non-EU countries such as Romania, Ukraine and Armenia. "Social policy is a key element of European identity," states the final message of the conference. November 30, 2005, PHILADELPHIA – The President's address to the Naval Academy this morning offers no new solutions to the Iraq crisis. Each day the U.S. "stays the course" in Iraq, more people die and animosity against our country grows. The American Friends Service Committee (AFSC), an international social justice organization and a co-recipient of the Nobel Peace, was one of the first organizations calling for the immediate withdrawal of troops from Iraq. In its statement, the AFSC Board of Directors wrote, "We believe it is now clear that the continuing U.S. military presence in Iraq is counterproductive and wrong." A Call to Prayer for Peacemakers December 2, 2005 – Four members of the Christian Peacemaker Team (CPT) in Baghdad were kidnapped recently and are held hostage in Iraq. CPT is an ecumenical peacemaking agency associated with the Church of the Brethren, Mennonites and Quakers. Its members are deeply committed to non-violent peacemaking and are willing to put their lives on the line to make it happen. The four hostages are: Tom Fox, 54, Clearbrook, Virginia, Norman Kember, 74, London, James Loney, 41, Toronto, Canada, Harmeet Singh Sooden, 32, a Canadian. Presiding Bishop: a Word to the Church in the Season of Advent December 2, 2005 – My dear brothers and sisters: During these hectic days leading up to Christmas we are invited to pause, reflect and prepare ourselves to receive anew the One who comes among us as a newborn child. The readings appointed for the Advent season have to do with waiting and listening with expectant and hope-filled hearts for the Prince of Peace. Such waiting and expectation is a sharp contradiction to much that surrounds us and to the fear and hostility that abound across our globe. Also at this time, the forces of nature have conspired to underscore our vulnerability and the impermanence of the mark we make upon the earth. This is not an easy season in which to live. Christmas Message 2005 November 30, 2005 – "This will be a sign for you: you will find a child wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in a manger." (Luke 2:12) It was in the midst of last year's Christmas season that the December 26th tsunami killed thousands of people on the shores of the Indian Ocean. Who can forget the images of the killer waves, the many victims and traumatized survivors on the shores of Indonesia, Thailand, India, Sri Lanka, the Maldives and even Somalia? ELCA Presiding Bishop Mark S. Hanson's 2005 Christmas Message November 29, 2005 – Dear friends, We wait in darkness, fearing that the light will never come. We wait in silence, fearing that there will be no good news. We wait alone, fearing the isolation and separation that darkness brings. We attempt to illumine our own path but find neither the way nor the truth. Scripture brings words of promise to us: The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light. United Methodists Help Shape Global Language of Technology December 2, 2005, TUNIS, Tunisia – As fast as the Internet has exploded into every corner of the world, so have the issues associated with this ultimate form of communication. The World Summit on the Information Society, convened Nov. 16-18 in Tunis by the United Nations, became a magnifying glass for the concerns of human rights, access to information, Internet governance and the gap between the haves and have-nots in global technology. "Technology should be a tool, a medium put to use for health, wholeness and well-being of everyone," said Glory Dharmaraj, a summit participant and executive secretary of justice education for the United Methodist Women's Division. Judicial Council Decisions Stir Debate Across Church November 29, 2005 – In the weeks following important United Methodist Judicial Council decisions related to homosexuality, conversation at all levels of the denomination has concerned little else. Almost all of the caucus groups related to the church have made statements concerning either the decisions of the court, a pastoral letter written in response by the Council of Bishops, or both. The decisions have raised fundamental issues regarding membership, the authority of the pastor and what it means to be Christ's church. Lutheran World Federation Issues ‘PositHIVe Church' December 1, 2005, CHICAGO – In advance of Lutheran World Federation (LWF) commemorations of World AIDS Day, Dec. 1, Lutheran World Information, Geneva, Switzerland, issued "PositHIVe Church," a full-color 28-page document highlighting the global Lutheran communion's concerted response to the HIV/AIDS pandemic. Articles were contributed from Lutheran churches around the world, including the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). Josselyn Bennett, director for education and program resources, ELCA Church in Society, wrote "HIV/AIDS Ministry in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America." She raised several concerns about HIV/AIDS in North America and described two programs that address some of them. ELCA Explores the ‘Vocation of the Evangelical Leader' November 29, 2005, CHICAGO – A conference here Nov. 18-20 challenged the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) to be an "evangelical" Lutheran church across the United States and Caribbean. About 280 ELCA members participated in the "Vocation of the Evangelical Leader" conference, representing various networks in the church. Three general themes emerged as advice from and for the ELCA's evangelists. Operation Classroom Seeks Vocational Materials for Ganta December 2, 2005 – Donations of vocational training materials are being sought by Operation Classroom, a United Methodist mission program working in Liberia and Sierra Leone. The materials would be used in a program at the denomination's Ganta Mission Station in Liberia designed to train participants in basic vocational trades of auto and diesel mechanics, electricity rafting, cabinet making, carpentry, building construction, welding and plumbing. Prepare Your VCR: Two NCC Christmas Specials November 30, 2005, NEW YORK – Two Christmas Eve specials produced under the auspices of the National Council of Churches USA will compete with one another at 11:30 p.m. December 24 on CBS and ABC. Outgoing NCC President Bishop Thomas L. Hoyt, Jr., will replace David Letterman when he preaches to 1,500 worshippers in Jackson, Miss., on CBS; and "Joy to the World," a mix of music and praise produced for the NCC by the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, will replace ABC's Nightline for one night. In the days before video tape recorders, the competing broadcasts would have posed a holiday dilemma for network viewers who want to see both Christmas specials. November 28, 2005 December 1, designated World AIDS Day, is seen as a time to remember those who have died as a result of the HIV/AIDS pandemic, to educate and to organize to end this deadly epidemic. This year the American Friends Service's Committee's Life Over Debt Campaign commemorates World AIDS Day with an emphasis on holding governments and the international community accountable to honoring their commitments to stop AIDS. 25.8 million Continental Africans are infected with HIV/AIDS; making up over half of the worlds 40.3 million people with the disease. Visit to Orphan's House Inspires an AIDS Ministry in Zimbabwe December 1, 2005, CLAYTON, NC – It was a teenage girl from his congregation who planted the seeds of a Zimbabwe mission to help AIDS orphans in the heart of the Rev. Greg Jenks. The former pastor of Christ Community United Methodist Church in Clayton found his passion following a trip that he and other United Methodists from North Carolina made to Zimbabwe in 2003. On that trip to carry food to mission schools and churches, Jenks met an orphaned 15-year-old girl who was caring for her three young brothers. November 29, 2005, SAO LEOPOLDO, Brazil/GENEVA – Member churches of the Lutheran World Federation (LWF) have been challenged to recognize the diaconal ministry of deacons and deaconesses as an integral part of the one public ministry of the church, charged to proclaim, teach and bear witness to the gospel. In a statement following a November 2-7 consultation in Sao Leopoldo, Brazil, representatives of 16 LWF member churches from Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America and North America, called upon churches in the global Lutheran communion to reexamine the ways in which they "have ordered the ecclesial ministry and, in particular, to do so in such a way that the diaconal responsibility of their mission is adequately expressed." Teenager Sleeps Outside to Focus Attention on Homelessness December 1, 2005 – Bright stars pierce the crisp autumn nights of Minneapolis – great sleeping weather for most residents of this northern city. Casey Robbins, 16, a member of Hennepin Avenue United Methodist Church downtown, is learning firsthand that the cold nights are not so pleasant for the city's homeless. And she wants others to care as much as she does. From Sept. 15 to Christmas Eve, Casey will spend "100 Nights Outside" to raise funds for the church's Dignity Center, which provides assistance to those needing shelter, transportation, clothing, food and employment. Missouri Synod Rejoins Lutheran-Roman Catholic Dialogue December 2, 2005 – Synod President Gerald B. Kieschnick says he is pleased that The Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod, which participated in the first nine rounds of dialogue between Lutherans and Roman Catholics in the United States, was invited to send two participants to Round XI of the discussions, which began with a Dec. 1-4 session in Chicago. Kieschnick appointed LCMS Commission on Theology and Church Relations Executive Director Samuel H. Nafzger and Dr. Dean O. Wenthe, president of Concordia Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne, as the Synod's two participants in that round. United Methodists, Lutherans to Study Draft Document December 1, 2005, NEW YORK – Members of the United Methodist Church and Evangelical Lutheran Church in America are being encouraged to study a draft statement of full communion between the two denominations. A study and discussion guide, which includes the draft of "Confessing our Faith Together: A Statement toward Full Communion by the ELCA-UMC Bilateral Dialogue," is now available. A joint Lutheran-United Methodist dialogue team prepared the statement and resource guide and will review responses when it meets in October 2006, according to the Rev. W. Douglas Mills, an executive with the United Methodist Commission on Christian Unity and Interreligious Concerns. Labouring for God's Transformation December 1, 2005 – The theme of the 9th Assembly of the World Council of Churches – God, in your grace, transform the world – speaks to many people in different ways. What does it say to Christians living in a situation as difficult as that in Palestine? Naim Ateek, a leading Palestinian theologian, reflects on this question. This theme is a prayer that speaks to many people in various ways. To Palestinian Christians, it communicates five important messages, each of them essential in the movement towards the transformation of our communities and the world. It is a plea that is directed to God. We recognize the need for transformation, and we go in prayer straight to the one who is able to bring such transformation about. Obispos Piden a Arzobispo De Canterbury Más Decisión En El Liderazgo De La Comunión Anglicana 28 noviembre 2005, BRASILIA, Brasil – La Cámara de Obispos de la Iglesia Episcopal Anglicana de Brasil (IEAB) remitió una carta abierta al arzobispo de Canterbury, Rowan Williams, pidiéndole una actitud más firme con respecto a la integridad de la Comunión Anglicana y a la autonomía de las provincias. Suscrita en Brasilia por los 12 obispos anglicanos, que integran la Cámara, la carta expresa unánime solidaridad con el obispo primado brasileño, Orlando Santos de Oliveira, en su enfrentamiento con el ex-obispo de la Diócesis de Recife, Robinson Cavalcanti. Obispo Metodista Recibe Homenaje De Cámara Municipal De Sao Paulo 2 diciembre 2005, SAO PAULO, Brasil – El obispo metodista Adriel de Souza Maia, presidente del Consejo Nacional de Iglesias Cristianas (CONIC), recibió el miércoles el título de Ciudadano Paulista en el Salón Noble de la Cámara Municipal de Sao Paulo. En la ceremonia el obispo recordó su infancia y la educación recibida de su padre. "Crear, educar y salvar. Esa era la tríada que él me enseñó," dijo con emoción. Sostuvo que el evangelio crea, educa y salva. "Ese tiene que ser el norte para vivenciar una sociedad más justa, fraterna y que obedezca los valores del reino," dijo. Mujeres Evangélicas Preocupadas Por Incremento De Violencia Doméstica 30 noviembre 2005, MATAGALPA, Nicaragua – Mujeres evangélicas, líderes rurales y urbanas de Matagalpa, a 145 kilómetros al norte de Managua, expresaron su preocupación por el incremento de la violencia intrafamiliar en este departamento, después de escuchar los testimonios de algunas víctimas. Las mujeres evangélicas no escapan a esta violencia, por eso la pastora Nora Montenegro convocó a un congreso de mujeres evangélicas para reflexionar sobre el Día de la No Violencia contra la Mujer que se celebró el 25 de noviembre, y cómo ayudar a las mujeres que la sufren, tanto en el hogar como en las iglesias. Mensaje Navideno De 2005 Del Obispo Presidente De La IELA 30 noviembre 2005 – Estimados amigos: Esperamos en la oscuridad, con el temor de que nunca llegue la luz. Esperamos en silencio, con el temor de que no haya una buena nueva. Esperamos solos, con el temor al aislamiento y la separacion que nos trae la oscuridad. Intentamos iluminar nuestro propio camino, pero no encontramos la forma ni la verdad. Las Escrituras nos traen palabras de promision: Las personas que caminaban en la oscuridad han visto una gran luz. Mensaje De Navidad 2005 Del Secretario General Del Consejo Mundial De Iglesias 30 noviembre 2005 – "Esto les servirá de señal: hallarán al niño envuelto en pañales, acostado en un pesebre." Lucas 2:12 Fue en pleno tiempo de Navidad del año pasado, el 26 de diciembre, cuando un tsunami mató a miles de personas en las costas del Océano Indico. ¿Quién puede olvidar las imágenes de las olas mortíferas, las muchas víctimas y los supervivientes traumatizados en las costas de Indonesia, Tailandia, India, Sri Lanka, Maldivas e incluso Somalia? En todo el mundo esas imágenes suscitaron una respuesta sin precedentes a los pedidos de ayuda, una expresión extraordinaria de solidaridad con las víctimas por parte de personas de toda condición. Contribuyamos a La Obra Transformadora De Dios 1 diciembre 2005 – El tema de la IX Asamblea del Consejo Mundial de Iglesias – Dios, en tu gracia, transforma el mundo – tiene diferentes significados para distintas personas. ¿Qué les dice a los cristianos que viven en una situación tan difícil como la de Palestina? Naim Ateek, destacado teólogo palestino, reflexiona sobre esta cuestión. Este tema es una oración que encierra diferentes significados para distintas personas. Para los cristianos palestinos, transmite cinco mensajes importantes, cada uno de los cuales es esencial en el movimiento hacia la transformación de nuestras comunidades y del mundo. CMI Demanda Liberación De Pacifistas Cristianos En Irak 2 diciembre 2005, GINEBRA, Suiza – El Consejo Mundial de Iglesias ha sumado este viernes su voz a los llamados por la inmediata liberación de cuatro activistas cristianos por la paz secuestrados en Irak por un grupo insurgente. "Su prolongada cautividad no conviene al interés de nadie, y más bien puede aumentar el rencor y polarización en la sociedad iraquí, causando ira y frustración," sostiene la organización religiosa, con sede en Ginebra, en una declaración. NCC Urges Mcdonald's to Improve Worker Conditions and Wages December 1, 2005, NEW YORK – The general secretary of the National Council of Churches USA expressed disappointment today that McDonald's Corporation has chosen to endorse an "anemic code of conduct" for the treatment of its farm workers. The Rev. Dr. Bob Edgar said McDonald's decision contrasts sharply with precedent-setting agreements earlier this year with two major food corporations – Taco Bell Corp., a division of Yum! Brands, and the Mt. Olive Pickle Co. Both companies took major steps to improve the wages and working conditions of their farm laborers, but McDonald's has opted to "retreat and protect the status quo," Edgar said. Regional Refugee Programs Help Hurricane Evacuees December 2, 2005, NEW YORK – Partnerships between local congregations and refugee resettlement agencies are key to the support Church World Service is providing in 10 states to people displaced by the Gulf hurricanes. CWS, the humanitarian agency, is working with its Miami Office and eight of its local resettlement affiliates in communities across the United States to provide comprehensive, individualized services to Gulf Coast residents who have relocated. National church bodies that support the CWS Immigration and Refugee Program stepped forward with special funding for the hurricane evacuees, and additional money is being raised as part of public appeals for funds to support a broad CWS program of assistance to hurricane survivors. December 3, 2005, NEW DELHI, India – Today, around the world, there is a whole plethora of programmes being organised to focus attention on HIV/AIDS; its prevention, the stigma and discrimination being faced by those who are infected and affected. The number of people living with HIV globally has reached its highest level with an estimated 40.3 million people, up from an estimated 37.5 million in 2003. A large percentage of these numbers comprise of the vulnerable and the defenceless: our children, tomorrow's present. More than three million people died of AIDS-related illnesses in 2005; out of these, MORE THAN 5,000,000 WERE CHILDREN. Earthquake Survivors Still Living on the Edge November 30, 2005 – Winter weather has left hundreds of thousands of South Asian earthquake survivors still without proper shelter, according to relief organizations. As a consequence, the first cold-related deaths were reported Nov. 29 by the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees. Two children died of pneumonia and a man died of hypothermia, according to the United Nations. The Oct. 8 earthquake killed an estimated 80,000 people and left up to 3 million homeless. Snow has started to block delivery of relief supplies by helicopter or road to the affected villages in the Himalayas. November 28, 2005, ISLAMABAD – As cold, heavy rains and snow shut down helicopter relief Sunday for Pakistan's earthquake survivors, hundreds of thousands are still without shelter. But humanitarian agency Church World Service's Marvin Parvez says while many more tents are needed in the race against winter, tents are not the only answer and fire hazards are posing serious concerns. Parvez is Pakistan-Afghanistan Regional Director for international humanitarian agency Church World Service. From Islamabad today, Parvez said, "Our aid teams have already seen fire in a tent in Balakot. And in Maiddan, two children died tragically in the past few days from a tent fire and others have been injured." WCC General Secretary Asks for Greater Efforts December 1, 2005 – "I have learned to see everyone infected as a brother, a sister, a niece, a nephew – a close relative," said Samuel Kobia this afternoon in Bern. The World Council of Churches (WCC) general secretary was speaking at an ecumenical event for World AIDS Day held outside the Swiss parliament. Emphasizing that "Africa needs medicines. Now!," participants presented 27,000 petitions addressed to the Swiss government, pharmaceutical industry and churches, calling on them to make a greater effort to ensure access to anti-retroviral treatment to African populations. WCC Calls for Immediate Release of Peace Workers in Iraq December 2, 2005 – The World Council of Churches (WCC) called today for the immediate release of four peace-workers kidnapped in Iraq. In a statement signed by Peter Weiderud, director of the WCC Commission of the Churches on International Affairs, the WCC asked the government of Iraq to undertake whatever steps are necessary to secure the safe release of the four members of the Christian Peacemaker Team. "Their prolonged captivity is not in any one's interest and is likely to further embitter and polarize Iraqi society, causing anger and frustration," the statement affirms.
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