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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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Religious Leaders Say Federal Budget Shows ‘Callous Indifference' December 14, 2005, WASHINGTON – Denominational heads and other religious leaders gathered in Washington today to declare the fiscal year 2006 Federal Budget a "moral disgrace" and to compare congressional representatives who support it to the evil biblical King Herod. Among the leaders who gathered on Capitol Hill were the Rev. Dr. Bob Edgar, General Secretary of the National Council of Churches USA; the Rev. John H. Thomas, General Minister and President of the United Church of Christ; the Rev. Wesley Granberg-Michaelson, General Secretary of the United Church of Christ; and Phil Jones, Director of Witness and the Washington Office for the Church of the Brethren. The leaders braved cold temperatures to protest the budget that Congress is to vote on this week. The demonstration, which was organized by the evangelical Christian group Call to Renewal, ended with more than 110 protesters being arrested when they knelt in prayer in the Cannon House Office Building to decry a budget they believe is immoral. December 16, 2005, ALBANY, NY – Gov. George E. Pataki has announced a special legislative session for December 21 to vote on bills that seeks to curb illegal gun trafficking and to permit the death penalty for those convicted of murdering a police officer. This comes on the heels of recent fatal shootings of two New York City police officers, Dillon Stewart and Daniel Enchautegui. The deaths have prompted finger-pointing among Republican and Democratic leaders in Albany over why anti-gun measures have stalled. New Yorkers Against the Death Penalty, a broad coalition including many religious groups, immediately issued a call to contact legislators and urge them not to reinstate the death penalty. NCC Condemns Ahmadinejad's Holocaust Statement December 16, 2005, NEW YORK – In unusually strong language, the National Council of Churches USA has condemned Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's call for the obliteration of Israel and his claim that the Holocaust was "a myth." "It is no accident that among the first protests of the Iranian president's statement were those of German leaders, whose parents were witnesses of the horrible reality of the Holocaust," said the Rev. Dr. Bob Edgar, General Secretary of the NCC. "Anti-Semitism's most vociferous manifestation is the ‘Big Lie' now coming from Tehran." From Adam or Apes? Intelligent Design Presents a New Theory December 15, 2005 – It's possible to believe in God and evolution, said the Rev. Adam Hamilton, pastor of the 13,000-member Church of the Resurrection in suburban Kansas City, Kan. He does, and his sermon describing his beliefs-part of a series last winter on science and religion-was well-received by his United Methodist congregation, situated in the hotbed of the intelligent design debate. He believes God used evolution in Creation. Lutherans Seek Comprehensive Immigration Reform December 14, 2005, CHICAGO – Almost everyone in the United States would agree that the country's immigration system is broken; the debate begins when they consider the many possible ways to fix it, according to Ralston H. Deffenbaugh Jr., president, Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service (LIRS). LIRS supports The Secure America and Orderly Immigration Act of 2005, introduced in the U.S. Senate by Senators John McCain (R-Ariz.) and Edward Kennedy (D-Mass.). Based in Baltimore, LIRS is a cooperative ministry of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), Latvian Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and Lutheran Church- Missouri Synod. The Archbishop of Canterbury's Christmas Message to the Anglican Communion December 15, 2005 – Perhaps the two images most of us will carry away from the last twelve months are those of the devastation caused by the tsunami just after last Christmas and by the hurricanes that devastated the southern states of America in the autumn. The natural world became a place of terror and disaster. The question never quite goes away of why God made a world in which such tragedy is possible. But Christmas reminds us of the one thing we know for sure – and that is God's way of responding to suffering. He doesn't wave a magic wand, or descend briefly from the sky to clean things up. Holocaust ‘No Myth,' Presiding Bishop Affirms December 16, 2005 – Mindful of this season of Advent when Christians seek to share in "one another's suffering," Presiding Bishop Frank Griswold condemned a December 14 statement in which Iranian President Mahmud Ahmadinejad called the Holocaust a myth created by Europeans. Griswold said instead that "the Holocaust was no myth but an event of unconscionable inhumanity." Clergywomen's Event Will Celebrate Milestone, Address Challenges December 16, 2005 – When 1,500 clergywomen gather in Chicago for the 2006 International United Methodist Clergywomen's Consultation next summer, they will reach forward to a new generation, even as they celebrate the historic 50th anniversary of full clergy rights for women. The Rev. HiRho Park, coordinator of the Aug. 13-17 meeting, which is sponsored by the United Methodist Board of Higher Education and Ministry, says the gathering provides an opportunity to address barriers that remain for women in ministry. Episcopal Church Archives Seeking New Home December 16, 2005 – The search is on for a new home for the Archives of the Episcopal Church. The Archives – the official repository of the records of General Convention and the Executive Council as well as important records and memorabilia – is located on the campus of the Episcopal Theological Seminary of the Southwest (ETSS) in Austin, Texas. But the seminary has requested a new rental agreement for the space the Archives occupies in the ETSS library building, and the arrangement would quadruple the amount the Archives now reimburses the seminary. For Anglicans in México, Celebrations Are a Way of Life December 12, 2005 – December 12 is the feast day of the Virgin of Guadalupe—celebrated in Latin America as the "patroness of the Americas" with fiestas and fireworks. The Rev. Jan Nunley, deputy for communication, recently visited Anglicans in México for another colorful feast day, on an annual tour that combines fun and fundraising for vital ministries to México's poorest children. For most Episcopalians, All Saints' and All Souls' Days are relatively somber feasts – a time for quiet remembering of departed loved ones and a commemoration of heroes of the faith. But in México, the time from All Hallows' Eve on October 31 to the evening of November 2 is a three-day celebration of life, paradoxically known as ‘el Día de los Muertos': the Day of the Dead. How Far Can Churches Go Online? December 15, 2005 – The Internet is a revolutionary new communications space of fascinating diversity. It reflects the richness of real life, with some of its truths but many of its half-truths (and untruths!) too. As a virtual place, it poses a particular conundrum to churches and the extent to which "church" can happen within a virtual world. It all depends on how one defines "church." Christians would probably describe it as the collective body of Christ, gathering together to praise God, taking part in the sacraments and the form of service enjoyed in their chosen fellowship. So, can that reality be extended to a "virtual" community in cyber-space? Oprah's ‘Little Black Dress' Becomes Fund-raising Boon for Charities December 15, 2005 – Sandra Carringer believes in miracles. Especially when miracles happen in the form of a little black dress. Carringer, member of Apex (N.C.) United Methodist Church, bought a little black dress belonging to television talk show host Oprah Winfrey on Oct. 5, 2004. The little black dress became the centerpiece of The Little Black Dress Charity Ball, which was created to raise awareness and funds for "The Place of Possibilities," a ministry of All God's Children United Methodist Church in Aulander, N.C. After hearing the Rev. Laura Early talk about the work of All God's Children United Methodist Church and The Place of Possibilities, Carringer felt led by God to offer help. A fan of "The Oprah Winfrey Show" for years, Carringer received a phone call from the show inviting her to a charity auction. In less than a week, she was flying to Chicago. December 13, 2005 – People who point their web browsers to http://www.episcopalchurch.org/ beginning December 13 will find a newly redesigned website. Similar improvements are also beginning to unfold in Spanish at http://www.iglesiaepiscopal.org/. ("Iglesia" is the Spanish word for church.) The enhanced design, the result of nearly six months of work, offers a new, more flexible homepage and improved navigation. The redesign also offers two major entrances or portals into the resources that the church offers to its online visitors. December 15, 2005, PALOS HEIGHTS, Ill. – The Christian Reformed Church announced today that it will no longer produce its award-winning weekly television program Primary Focus in order to direct resources into other areas of media ministry. The decision was made by the Board of the Back to God Hour (BTGH), the electronic media ministry of the Christian Reformed Church in North America, at its meeting on Dec. 12. . Bible Translator Labors to Bring Word to His People December 12, 2005, MONROVIA, Liberia – The Rev. Humphrey C. Kumeh has been reading the Bible every day from sunrise to sunset for the past 21 years. Two more chapters and he will be done. When it is not raining too hard, he gets some nice natural light through the windows behind his desk. Natural light is often the only light he has; the country of Liberia has been without electricity since 1989, when it was plunged into 14 years of civil war. Hurricane Survivors Celebrate Advent with Joy December 16, 2005, GRETNA, La. – Every week during Advent, the Rev. Hadley Edwards hosts a Tuesday evening Bible study in his home for the members of Bethany United Methodist Church, just as he has in previous years. The biggest difference this Christmas is that there is no church sanctuary or education building to go to on Sunday morning. Bethany United Methodist Church in New Orleans, located less than two miles from Lake Ponchartrain and four miles from the 17th Street canal, was severely damaged by Hurricane Katrina, with close to 11 feet of water flooding the church complex. WCC Invites Churches in All Places to Celebrate Assembly Sunday December 16, 2005 – With two months remaining until the World Council of Churches' 9th Assembly in 2006, the organizers have launched an invitation to churches and Christians everywhere to accompany and support the event. "Assemblies are often turning points in the life of the World Council and this Assembly will surely leave its mark on ecumenical history," says WCC general secretary Rev. Dr Samuel Kobia in an appeal sent to WCC members and partner organizations. ‘Mary Document' Is Focus for Continuing Reflection December 16, 2005 – As Christmas approaches and Christ's Nativity story is retold, U.S. Anglicans and Roman Catholics continue their reflection on "Mary: Grace and Hope in Christ," a document published out of a five-year study process engaging the two faith communities. The document reflects the work of the Anglican – Roman Catholic International Commission, which in 1999 began a new study of the role of the Virgin Mary in the life and doctrine of the Church. First released as the "Seattle statement" in 2004, the document was officially published in May 2005. MARCHA Leaders Seek Stronger Ties Between US, Latin Churches December 13, 2005, SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – Leaders of the United Methodist Church's Hispanic caucus want to strengthen relationships between Methodists in the United States and Latin America. Those relationships were weakened during the years when Methodist churches in Latin American countries were becoming autonomous from the United Methodist Church. Improving those ties was one of the issues at the 34th annual assembly of MARCHA – Methodists Associated Representing the Cause of Hispanic Americans – held Nov. 17-20 in San Juan. World Methodist Delegation Meets with Pope Benedict December 14, 2005 – A World Methodist Council delegation discussed ecumenical relations during a meeting with Pope Benedict XVI at the Vatican. The Dec. 9 visit occurred the day following the 40th anniversary of the Second Vatican Council, during which the Roman Catholic Church emphasized its commitment to ecumenical dialogue. The World Methodist Council has been engaged in dialogue with the Catholic Church since 1967. His Eminence Sunday Mbang of Nigeria, who led the delegation, congratulated the pope on his election on behalf of World Methodists, and thanked him for renewing the commitment that his predecessor, Pope John Paul II, made to ecumenism. New Round in US Lutheran-Roman Catholic Dialogue Opens December 15, 2005, CHICAGO – Focusing on the theme, "The Hope for Eternal Life," a new round of the U.S. Lutheran-Roman Catholic Dialogue began here, 40 years after the first talks between the two religious traditions began. More than 20 Lutheran and Roman Catholic leaders and theologians participated in the first meeting of Round XI at the Cenacle Conference and Retreat Center here Dec. 1-4. Co-chairing the dialogue in this round are the Rev. Lowell G. Almen, secretary of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), and the Most Rev. Richard J. Sklba, auxiliary bishop of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Milwaukee. The topics the round addresses include Lutheran-Roman Catholic differences over issues relating to the Christian's life beyond death, including issues such as purgatory, indulgences, and masses and prayers for the dead. Church, President must Say ‘No' to Torture December 15, 2005 – Like the biblical prophet Nathan confronting King David, it is time for the church to find its voice and tell our president that in the name of God, humanity and national integrity, he must renounce the use of torture – categorically. As a pastor serving a local congregation with both Democrats and Republicans, liberals and conservatives, I avoid partisan politics. Torture is not a partisan issue. Forty-six of the 55 Republican senators voted to ban the use of all torture by any U.S. government agency. The bill was sponsored by John McCain, R-Ariz., a man of impeccable patriotism, a genuine conservative and a supporter of the war in Iraq, and Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., a former military lawyer and a colonel in the Air Force Reserve, which he still serves as a military judge. Pastor Dice Que Se Puede Compartir El Púlpito Con La Tribuna Política 13 diciembre 2005, BOGOTÁ, Colombia – Para el pastor evangélico Jorge Trujillo, uno de los cinco candidatos evangélicos que aspiran a llegar al Senado por el partido Convergencia Ciudadana, en las elecciones del 13 de marzo de 2006, no existe ninguna dificultad para combinar el púlpito con la tribuna política. "Cuando el palacio y el templo, el rey y el sacerdote, están de acuerdo, Dios fluye y hay bendición para el pueblo," afirmó en una entrevista que concedió a ALC. Obispo Anglicano Lamenta Muerte De Jon Cortina 12 diciembre 2005, SAN SALVADOR – El presidente del Consejo Nacional de Iglesias (CNI), obispo Martín Barahona, lamentó el fallecimiento del padre Jon Cortina, sacerdote jesuita que por más de una década trabajó por los derechos de centenares de niños y niñas desaparecidos durante el pasado conflicto armado. El padre Jon Cortina emprendió un proyecto de reconciliación nacional, desde 1994, impulsando el reencuentro de centenares de jóvenes desaparecidos durante la guerra, con sus padres biológicos. CMI Invita a Iglesias En Todo El Mundo a Celebrar Domingo De La Asamblea 16 diciembre 2005 – Los organizadores de la próxima Asamblea del Consejo Mundial de Iglesias (CMI) han lanzado una invitación a las iglesias y a los hombres y mujeres cristianas de todo el mundo para que los acompañen y los apoyen en este gran evento, cuando apenas faltan dos meses para su celebración. "Frecuentemente las Asambleas han sido puntos de inflexión en la vida del Consejo Mundial, y sin duda, esta Asamblea en particular, también ha de dejar su impronta en la historia ecuménica," dice el secretario General del CMI, el pastor Dr. Samuel Kobia, en la invitación enviada a las iglesias y organizaciones asociadas. ¿Cuán Lejos Pueden Ir Las Iglesias En El Mundo Virtual? 15 diciembre 2005 – La Internet es un espacio nuevo y revolucionario con una diversidad que fascina. Reflejo de la riqueza de la vida real, en ella se encuentran muchas de sus verdades y también sus medias verdades (¡y sus mentiras!). Como un lugar virtual, ese espacio presenta una cuestión intrincada para las iglesias: ¿En qué medida la iglesia puede existir en un mundo virtual? Mujeres Rurales Pobres Mejoran Alimentación Con Plan Patio De CEPAD 9 diciembre 2005, MANAGUA, Nicaragua – Unas 500 mujeres pobres de diversas zonas rurales del país vienen participando del Plan Patio que impulsa el Consejo de Iglesias Evangélicas Pro Alianza Denominacional (CEPAD) en sus acciones de lucha contra la pobreza. El profesor Eduardo Jerez, delegado del CEPAD para el área de Managua y Oriente, dijo que las mujeres beneficiarias del proyecto "están tomando cada día mayor conciencia de que son capaces de combatir la pobreza." Líderes Evangélicos Condenan Crímenes Contra Nicaragüenses En Costa Rica 13 diciembre 2005, MANAGUA, Nicaragua – Líderes de organizaciones evangélicas condenaron los crímenes contra dos emigrantes nicaragüenses ocurridos en las últimas semanas en San José, Costa Rica y alertaron sobre las actitudes xenofóbicas de algunos sectores de la población costarricense Las víctimas habían emigrado a la vecina Costa Rica por razones de trabajo y encontraron la muerte en circunstancias que siguen siendo motivo de investigación. Evangélicos Abordan Crítica Situación Del Adulto Mayor En El Perú 16 diciembre 2005, LIMA, Peru – Un millón 200 mil peruanos mayores de 60 años, carecen de algún tipo de pensión de jubilación o cualquier otro soporte económico, mientras para el año 2025 se proyecta que se duplicará el numero de adultos mayores, en abierto contraste con la reducción de la seguridad social a causa de las restricciones a su acceso, en rigor desde hace 15 años. Para abordar esta alarmante realidad, cerca de un centenar de líderes de diferentes iglesias evangélicas e instituciones de la sociedad civil y gobierno asistieron el miércoles al Seminario Nacional "Hacia una Pastoral del Adulto Mayor," organizado por Misión Urbana y Rural – Perú (MUR-Perú) y el Concilio Nacional Evangélico del Perú (CONEP). 15 diciembre 2005, GINEBRA/DUSSELDORF – Ronaldo y Zidane, embajadores de buena voluntad del programa PNUD, han confirmado la participación de unos cuarenta amigos y colegas en el tercer Partido contra la Pobreza, que se celebrará el próximo jueves 22 de diciembre en el estadio LTU Arena de Dusseldorf. Entre estas cuarenta estrellas del fútbol se encuentran el joven delantero centro Freddy Adu (D.C. United), Tomas Rosicky (Borussia Dortmund), Kevin Kuranyi (Shalke 04), Júlio Baptista (Real Madrid) y Rivaldo (Olympiakos). Está previsto que en los próximos días otras estrellas internacionales confirmen su presencia. Luteranos Afirman Que Diaconía Es Una Exigencia En Un Mundo Excluyente, Globalizado Y Violento 12 diciembre 2005, GINEBRA, Suiza – Aunque no existe un formato patrón del ministerio diaconal en el medio luterano, la diaconía es esencial para la Iglesia y su misión. Los efectos de la globalización económica, que erosionó la base de la vida en muchas comunidades, y la necesidad de dar cuenta de la fe cristiana frente al secularismo y al neoliberalismo, traen nuevos desafíos a las iglesias. A estas conclusiones llegó la consulta internacional sobre la comprensión de la diaconía en la Iglesia Luterana, celebrada en Sao Leopoldo, Brasil, a inicios de noviembre y que reunió a representantes de 16 iglesias de Asia, África y América Latina afiliadas a la Federación Luterana Mundial (FLM). Metodistas Rechazan Crímenes De Dictadura Militar Y Dicen "Que Es Tiempo De Pedir Perdón" 15 diciembre 2005, MONTEVIDEO, Uruguay – Ninguna ideología es suficiente para justificar la represión, tortura, asesinato, entierro y silenciamiento del destino de otro ser humano, sostiene la Iglesia Metodista de Uruguay (IMU), tras conocerse el hallazgo de dos fosas con restos de desaparecidos en Pando, 30 kilómetros de Montevideo y en el Batallón de Infantería 13 con sede en esta capital. "Las informaciones y fotos de los primeros restos de detenidos desaparecidos, nos retrotraen al horror y deshumanización de aquellos oscuros años de Uruguay (...) en esas imágenes, el pasado vuelve a presentarse con toda su fuerza," dice la IMU en un pronunciamiento difundido el miércoles. Human Rights Day Marks Expansion of Global Rights Education Plan December 12, 2005, NEW YORK – On Friday night, Dec 9th, people from religious, community, and human rights groups met at the Church of Scientology just off Times Square, to celebrate the anniversary of the signing of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 1948. This was just one of many celebrations taking place at Scientology churches in 27 nations, and not just to mark a historic occasion. The Church and their youth program, Youth for Human Rights, announced the ramping up of their global campaign to raise public awareness of human rights. Children in New York, Bethlehem, Exchange Christmas Cards December 15, 2005, NEW YORK – Several months ago, the children at St. Paul and St. Andrew United Methodist Church in New York City wondered: What would happen if they sent Christmas cards to Palestinian Christian children in Bethlehem? There was only one way to find out: give it a try. So one Sunday morning in late October, about 15 kids put all their creativity to work and made cards to send to Bethlehem, on the West Bank. With crayons, construction paper, and an abundance of enthusiasm, the kids created special greetings to send off. The children wrote simple messages, addressing them "Dear friend in Bethlehem" and telling a bit about themselves, living in New York and their curiosity about life in the Holy City. International Peace Light 2005 Arrives in New York at JFK December 16, 2005, NEW YORK – The International Peace Light was received today at 3:30 p.m. at Our Lady of the Skies Catholic Chapel, Terminal 4 of JFK Airport. The Catholic Committee on Scouting of the Diocese of Brooklyn hosts the Arrival of the International Peace Light from Bethlehem in the Holy Land. The Peace Light, symbolic of the Light of Christ especially evident at Christmas, is meant to promote peace, harmony and unity among the people of the world regardless of race, ethnicity or creed. Churches Help Make Christmas Merry for Evacuees December 16, 2005 – For the thousands left homeless by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, Christmas will be one more painful reminder of all they have lost. But while there is no place like home, thousands of United Methodists are providing second chances and Christmas cheer to evacuees from Louisiana and Mississippi. Iris Morris, a single mother from Gretna, La., has found a new start for her family of seven in rural eastern North Carolina, thanks to the generosity of members of Pine Forest United Methodist Church in Goldsboro. Church Helps Former Child Soldiers Find Lost Childhoods December 12, 2005, VIRGINIA, Liberia – Akim Werkpewolo and Philip Karhan just want to go home and grow up to be good men. Werkpewolo, 14, and Karhan, 15, and more than 15,000 teenagers like them, lost their childhoods when they were forced to become soldiers in Liberia's 14-year-long civil war. In their young lives, they have only known a world without war for little more than a year. "For me, it is good for me to change. When I came here, I was bad news," says Werkpewolo. "I came here for the people to help me change so I can be a good man for my people. I want to be a good man, to help my people tomorrow." Christian Reformed World Relief Continues Work after Tsunami BURLINGTON, Ontario – One year after the devastating tsunami, thousands in Indonesia, India and Sri Lanka have worked alongside the Christian Reformed World Relief Committee (CRWRC) to restore their homes, jobs and communities- and gained a new sense of hope in the process. CRWRC has been working with tsunami survivors in India, Indonesia and Sri Lanka since that day after the wave hit. CRWRC's relatively small size and its "hand-up" rather than handout approach to aid work have proved a strong resource. December 16, 2005, DUMKA, India/GENEVA – The 26th Triennial Conference of the United Evangelical Lutheran Church in India (UELCI) concluded in the northeastern town of Dumka, Jharkhand State, with a commitment to greater involvement in the contextual challenges of the Indian Lutheran churches. "The Indian Lutheran communion will continue to be prophetic and proactive in addressing key issues like poverty, development, HIV/AIDS, capacity building, gender justice and empowerment," delegates attending the UELCI governing body said in a final statement. December 15, 2005, GENEVA/DÜSSELDORF – UNDP Goodwill Ambassadors Ronaldo and Zidane have confirmed that around 40 friends and colleagues will be joining them on the pitch for the third Match Against Poverty on Thursday, December 22 at the LTU Arena, Düsseldorf. Among those in the 40-player line-up are teenage striker Freddy Adu (D.C. United); Kevin Kuranyi (Shalke 04); Tomas Rosicky (Borussia Dortmund); Phillip Cocu (PSV); Júlio Baptista (Real Madrid) and Rivaldo (Olympiakos). More top international names are expected to confirm in the coming days. December 16, 2005, OSLO, Norway/GENEVA – In January 2006 Bjoerg Roedland and Caroline Vesterberg will be ordained in the Evangelical Lutheran Free Church of Norway, marking the first women's ordination in the Lutheran World Federation (LWF) member church. The ordinations follow a July 2005 synod decision to change the Free Church's constitution to include women in the church's ordained ministry. On January 8, Roedland, 45, will be ordained as an elder of the Vaagsbygd congregation, near Kristiansand in the south. December 14, 2005, NEW YORK – The global development agency Church World Service today said that the concerns of most developing countries are being "pushed aside" by the World Trade Organization in favor of further advantages for affluent countries. The Rev. John McCullough, executive director and chief executive officer of CWS decried the "growing inequality" between rich nations and poor nations and said "it violates the bonds of human community when billions of our fellow human beings are marginalized, oppressed, and nearly crushed under an intolerable weight of hunger, poverty, disease, and hopelessness." The December 13-18 WTO meeting was supposed to be of special benefit to developing countries. Instead, Church World Service says, wealthy countries have aggressively pursued their own narrow self-interest, to the detriment of countries with large impoverished populations." In One Village, Facing the Future with Patience, Determination December 5, 2005, NEAR BANDA ACEH, Indonesia – In battered Aceh coastal areas like Meue village, where fish and melons were once harvested in abundance, the sounds of hammers now punctuate the air. A harbinger of hope, perhaps: as houses go up, fear is eased some; a quiet sense of optimism – once almost unimaginable 11 months ago – is no longer in such short supply. But as Aceh prepares to mark the one-year anniversary of the Dec. 26, 2004, tsunami, optimism is still something hard-earned, as Nurdin, a spokesman for the village of Meue, told a group of visitors recently. ELCA Member Ronald Schulz Held Hostage in Iraq December 16, 2005, CHICAGO – Ronald A. Schulz, a member of St. John Lutheran Church, Jamestown, N.D., a congregation of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), was taken hostage on or about Nov. 25 in Iraq. An Iraqi insurgent group claimed Dec. 8 to have killed Schulz, but the claim could not be confirmed by any other source. The Rev. Kathie Bender Schwich, executive for synodical and constituent relations, and assistant to the presiding bishop, ELCA Office of the Presiding Bishop, wrote Dec. 12 to the congregation's pastors – the Rev. Dennis H. Ellingsen and the Rev. Douglas F. Opp. She told the pastors she learned of "the wonderful ways you have pulled members of the Jamestown community and members of the St. John faith community together to offer support and comfort to the Schulz family during this time of anxiety and uncertainty." Congressional Resolution Calls for Divesture from Saudi Arabia December 14, 2005, WASHINGTON, DC – Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen of Florida today introduced a resolution calling for the United States Government to consider fully divesting all forms of savings, investments or loans that are directly or indirectly connected to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The resolution calls for the United States Government to "ensure that managers of the United States Government pension plans or funds in thrift saving banks, managers of pension plans maintained in the private sector by plan sponsors in the United States, and managers of mutual funds sold or distributed in the United States immediately initiate efforts to divest all investments of such plans or funds in any bank or financial institution that directly or through a subsidiary has outstanding loans to or financial activities in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia or its instrumentalities." December 12, 2005 – Bishop Orris Walker of Long Island was recognized for his work with the Recruitment, Training, and Deployment (RT&D) committee of the Episcopal Church's Office of Black Ministries at its biannual meeting December 1-2 at the Episcopal Church Center in New York City. "This has been an interesting experience," said Walker. "I have seen some of the results of some of our early labors working with a variety of individuals ... I now have had the privilege of seeing them mature and become leaders within the life of the church. This brings me a great deal of satisfaction." Walker was honored, along with the Rev. Dr. Thea Joy Browne and the Rev. Canon Frederick Williams, all of whom are stepping down from the committee after a combined 75 years of service. New Resources from Judson Press VALLEY FORGE, PA – Judson Press announced three new resources in November: Jordan's Hair, African American Church Management Handbook, and, for the first time in paperback, Together for Good: Lessons from Fifty-Five Years of Marriage. New Insights into Divine Creativity Through Music December 16, 2005, MINNEAPOLIS – In The Music of Creation, with CD Templeton Award winner Arthur Peacocke and Ann Pederson reveal how Christian understanding of creation can be brightly lit by contemporary scientific insights and approached analogously by examining musical creativity. Included are relevant selections on an accompanying CD. The Magic Never Ends – The Life and Works of C.S. Lewis by John Ryan Duncan C.S. Lewis, one of the world's most widely read apologists for the Christian faith, asked the hard questions about Christianity directly and answered them with uncommon clarity and simplicity. Now, those people well acquainted with him share their memoirs of Lewis. In a unique oral history, documentary film producer Duncan interviews
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