 |  |  |  |
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
| US Christian Leaders Apologize to Assembly Plenary on Violence, Poverty and Ecology February 20, 2006 – Representatives of the US Conference for the World Council of Churches (WCC) addressed a message to the WCC's 9th Assembly on 18 February saying that the US-led Iraq war was a "mistake," and apologized to the ecumenical community for failing to raise a prophetic voice to prevent it. The Very Rev. Leonid Kishkovsky, moderator of the US Conference for the WCC, made up of 34 US churches that are members of the Council, told a 9th Assembly plenary, "We lament with special anguish the war in Iraq, launched with deception and violating global norms of justice and human rights." Upper Room Editor Kidnapped in India February 20, 2006, NASHVILLE, Tenn. – An international editor of the Upper Room and a prominent Christian leader in India has been held hostage for four weeks by a rebel group. The Rev. Tongkhojang Lunkim, the editor of the Kuki edition of the Upper Room Daily Devotional Guide in India, was kidnapped four weeks ago by a group of rebels called the Kuki Liberation Army. February 24, 2006, LOUISVILLE – A group of Florida farmworkers will embark on a weeklong regional tour through the Southeast and Midwest next month to carry their struggle for higher wages and better working conditions to fast-food giant McDonald's. The tour, which runs from March 25 to April 4, will include a peaceful daylong rally on April 1 in Chicago, the home city of the hamburger company's corporate offices.
Assembly Music, Prayer Draw Inspiration from Around World February 20, 2006, PORTO ALEGRE, Brazil – For Jorge Lockward, being part of the music team at the World Council of Churches' 9th Assembly has meant making connections – musically, spiritually and globally. When Lockward, an executive with the United Methodist Board of Global Ministries, was invited to go to Porto Alegre by his mentor, the Rev. Michael Hawn, he couldn't say no. Hawn, an American Baptist, is the assembly's music director and also music director at United Methodist-related Perkins School of Theology in Dallas. Assembly Adopts Nuclear Arms Minute February 24, 2006, PORTO ALEGRE, Brazil – The World Council of Churches at its 9th General Assembly in Porto Alegre, Brazil, 14-23 February 2006, has adopted a Minute on the elimination of nuclear arms calling on member churches to urge their governments to pursue the unequivocal elimination of nuclear weapons in line with the terms of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT). The minute says, "Governments that have decided to abstain from developing nuclear weapons should be affirmed and states that are not signatories of NPT must be pressed to sign the treaty." Activists Say WCC must Lead Global Campaign Against HIV/AIDS February 22, 2006, PORTO ALEGRE, Brazil – Campaigners against HIV and AIDS are looking to the World Council of Churches (WCC) to take a lead in encouraging churches around the world to help fight the disease and eliminate the stigma that often comes along with it. "It is now or never," Dr. Christoph Benn, of the Global Fund to fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, said during the Assembly of the world's biggest church grouping. "AIDS is the only disease in the world that has led to solidarity between the rich countries and people in the poor countries, in a magnitude that has never been manifested for any other disease." February 25, 2006, PORTO ALEGRE, Brazil/GENEVA – The president of the Evangelical Church of the Lutheran Confession in Brazil (IECLB), Rev. Dr Walter Altmann (62), is the new moderator of the World Council of Churches (WCC) Central Committee. WCC Central Committee members elected Altmann on 23 February. He succeeds His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of Cilicia, appointed moderator at the 1991 WCC 7th Assembly in Canberra, Australia. Evangelical and Pentecostal Voices Heard at Assembly 20 febrero 2006, PORTO ALEGRE, Brasil – Evangelical and Pentecostal participants in the World Council of Churches 9th Assembly have welcomed better relationships with WCC churches and called for greater co-operation in the future. Speaking to journalists on Monday February 20 were three leading evangelical figures. Rev. Geoff Tunnicliffe, international director and CEO of the World Evangelical Alliance (WEA), said that the WEA "parallel network" of 400m Christians identified with many of the WCC's themes, such as work on HIV/AIDS, violence and poverty. God Is at Work in Latin America February 20, 2006, PORTO ALEGRE, Brazil – The World Council of Churches Assembly, meeting in Porto Alegre, Brazil, today was told that "God is at work in Latin America, bringing joy, hope and vitality to the people, even in the midst of great adversity." In a multi-media presentation using life-sized puppets, music and videos, an audience of Assembly delegates and other participants heard how people of the continent could still smile, "despite all that we have lost and cannot get back." Assembly Message Invites Churches and World to Unite in Prayer for Transformation 23 febrero 2006, PORTO ALEGRE, Brazil – The "Message" of the 9th Assembly is an invitation to prayer. In proposing the document for adoption, message committee moderator Wendy Evans explained that the message is neither a report nor an exhaustive listing of concerns, but that "the message reflects the heart of the Assembly." Evans, a delegate from the United Church of Canada, is the only committee moderator in the category of "youth." Marching for Peace and Justice February 22, 2006, PORTO ALEGRE, Brazil – A river of light flowed through downtown Porto Alegre last night as up to two thousand people – including two Nobel Prize-winners – took part in a candle-lit march for peace. Organized by local churches as part of the World Council of Churches' Decade to Overcome Violence, the march began at the Largo Glênio Peres outside the Mercado Central with Latin American music from Xico Esvael and Victor Heredia. Ecumenical Conversation Marks a Significant Step in Dialogue on Human Sexuality February 20, 2006, PORTO ALEGRE, Brazil – A series of ecumenical conversations has been organized at the 9th Assembly of the World Council of Churches at Porto Alegre, Brazil, to provide a space for delegates to share their experiences in addressing key concerns for the future of the churches and their common witness and action. One topic under discussion is human sexuality. Few issues could benefit more from the opportunity to address together prevailing dynamics and trends, and discerning the signs of the times in the light of faith. Historic Peace Churches Offer a Unique Voice for Nonviolence February 19, 2006, PORTO ALEGRE, Brazil – Marilyn Stahl has noticed recently that people have a growing interest in her church. "People hear I'm Mennonite, and they say, ‘I wish our church was a peace church,'" said Stahl, who has come to the 9th Assembly of the WCC from the School of Theology and Ministry at Seattle University in the United States. The Historic Peace Churches are small compared to most of the World Council of Churches' 348 member churches. Latin Americans Offer Reflections for Assembly Participants February 21, 2006, PORTO ALEGRE, Brazil – Hosting the World Council of Churches' 9th Assembly is a historic moment for Methodists and other Christians in Brazil, according to one of the nation's Methodist bishops. "So many people involved in preparing the liturgy for the assembly are Brazilian," said Bishop Adriel de Souza Maia, a Methodist regional leader based in Sao Paulo. De Souza, who also is president of the National Council of Christian Churches of Brazil, believes the assembly will give a boost to the country's ecumenical movement as well. WCC Recommits Itself to Overcoming Violence February 18, 2006 It's been five years since the World Council of Churches launched its Decade to Overcome Violence. Participants at the 9th Assembly paused Saturday to mark that midpoint, reviewing what has occurred so far and looking to what can yet come. A powerful afternoon plenary session used multimedia, music, speakers, storytelling, and liturgical dance to illustrate instances of overcoming violence around the world. A special focus was given to violence that affects children and youth. "Saving God's children from the scourge of war: few missions could be more compelling for the world today and for this Assembly," said Olara Otunnu, a former United Nations under-secretary general and current president of LBL Foundation for Children. Talking about Religions, Doing Faith February 22, 2006, PORTO ALEGRE, Brazil – It was the theme of an address by the most senior dignitary of the Anglican Communion to the most representative body of Christians in the world. It is the subject of conversations in the corridors of power around the globe, where politicians have learned to talk of a clash of civilizations. With the publication of a few cartoons in a Danish newspaper, it has provided the context for an anguished debate in Europe and violent demonstrations throughout the world. Inter-religious dialogue is now recognized as one of the most pressing needs of our time. Strong Anglican Voice in Future WCC Work February 24, 2006, PORTO ALEGRE, Brazil – Anglicans will have a significant role in the World Council of Churches over the next seven years, both through representation on the Central Committee and also by the election of Dr. Mary Tanner, a member of the Church of England, as one of eight regional presidents of the WCC. The presidents serve as the public voice and face of the WCC in both their geographic regions and also worldwide in the period between General Assemblies, as well as being ex officio members of the WCC Central Committee. Reflections from the WCC Assembly February 24, 2006 – The 9th Assembly of the World Council of Churches, meeting in Porto Alegre, Brazil, from February 14-23, closed with festive worship and with, I would submit, mixed reviews as to its overall success. Billed as a "youth assembly," young people and young adults did make an impact on the Assembly. While falling short of the 25 percent hoped to be elected to the WCC Central Committee, young people (under 30) will make up 15 percent of the governing body. To Transform the World, Practice What You Preach February 22, 2006 PORTO ALEGRE, Brazil – A panel "show" during the World Council of Churches 9th Assembly, meeting at Porto Alege, Brazil, today concluded that God's grace has transformative power, even in the midst of terrible things, but the transformation of the world required action from the churches for justice, compassion and inclusiveness. A plenary on the Assembly theme "God, in your grace, transform the world" was a convergence point of discussion and reflection that had taken place during the Assembly in committees, workshops and Bible studies. Anglican Doctrinal Commission Initiates Communion-Wide Consultation February 23, 2006 – The Inter-Anglican Theological and Doctrinal Commission (IATDC) has initiated a new round of consultation across the Anglican Communion on the relationship between the Anglican churches in preparation for its next meeting in Limuru, Kenya, in September 2006. The chair of IATDC, the Rt. Rev. Prof. Stephen Sykes, principal of St. John's College in Durham, England, is writing to all bishops and theological education centers in the Anglican Communion to ask them to co-operate with the Commission's work by offering their answers to some of the key questions troubling the Anglican Communion. ‘Shall We Gather at the River?' Recognizes Traditionally Black Episcopal Colleges February 22, 2006, WASHINGTON, D.C. – Around 350 members of historically black Episcopal colleges in the U.S. and Liberia convened at Washington National Cathedral on February 18 to take part in a day of recognition. The event drew faculty and students from four colleges – St. Paul's, Virginia, Voorhees, South Carolina, St. Augustine's, North Carolina, and Cuttington, Liberia – to celebrate their existing relationships and explore new ways of working together. Manna from Heaven? Children Offer Their Version to Needy February 23, 2006 – Some Texas "tweeners" have found a better way than loose change to help their city's homeless. In Austin, a young girl writes small cards that say, "Jesus loves you." The cards will be the finishing touch on some very special gifts. A first-floor classroom in Austin's First United Methodist Church is abuzz with a busy assembly line. Young people are filling bags with nonperishable food items, such as beef jerky, juice and granola bars. The parcels are designed to give Austin's homeless some immediate assistance. Native American Women Answer Call in Different Ways February 22, 2006 – As a United Methodist woman in ministry, Josephine Deere describes her lifetime of service and work as "a fantastic journey." Deere, 60, works as a lay missioner for Fife Memorial United Methodist Church in Muskogee, Okla., in the denomination's Oklahoma Indian Missionary Conference. "As I look back on my journey, it is hard to mention just one or two who have been my mentors, as there are elders who continue to encourage me," Deere said. Spring Event Will Focus on ‘Caring for God's Creation' February 24, 2006 A training event in April will help churches and individuals respond to an often-overlooked area of stewardship, yet one that has roots in Genesis: The call to care for the earth and its resources. The event, "Caring for God's Creation," will be April 20-22 at the Lake Junaluska (N.C.) Conference and Retreat Center. It is open to "anybody who's interested in caring for the earth," said Loy Lilley, event coordinator and Good Word Resource Center director at Lake Junaluska. The early bird registration deadline has been extended to March 1. ‘The Sacred Art of Chant' – Ana Hernández Set to Lead March 18 Workshop at Episcopal Divinity School February 21, 2006 – "Chanting with an intention to open our hearts and minds to the presence of God in us, helps us to be quiet in the face of mystery and learn how to hear what it has to say to us," said Ana Hernández, composer, arranger, performer of sacred music, and 2004 EDS honorary degree recipient. Hernández, who will lead the music workshop, entitled "The Sacred Art of Chant," March 18, 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. at Episcopal Divinity School (EDS) in Cambridge, Massachusetts said, "It may seem paradoxical that chanting leads to deep listening, but God's funny that way." Anglican Women Arrive in New York for U.N. Gathering February 24, 2006 – More than 100 Anglican women representing 37 provinces of the Anglican Communion arrived in New York City on February 24 for the opening of the 50th United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (UNCSW) meeting. It is the largest-ever gathering of Anglican women to convene in New York. The focus of the 2006 event, which continues through March 8, will be on gender equality, the advancement of women in the fields of education, health, and employment, and increased participation of women and men in decision-making processes at all levels. WCC Assembly Looks at the Ecumenical Future February 20, 2006, PORTO ALEGRE, Brazil – Leading theologians have addressed the World Council of Churches 9th Assembly on the theme of church unity. Scholars from the Protestant, Oriental Orthodox and Catholic traditions offered reflective comments on the document "Called To Be the One Church" in a session entitled "Church Unity – Claiming a Common Future." Fr Jorge A. Scampini OP, of Argentina, a leading Roman Catholic Dominican theologian, urged the WCC to continue and strengthen its role as the "privileged instrument" of the ecumenical movement in the search for visible Christian unity. February 23, 2006, NEW YORK – Over 250 million Orthodox Christians worldwide, including some six million in North America, will enter the season of Great and Holy Lent on Monday, March 6. This solemn day will mark the beginning of the period of prayer and fasting that precedes the celebration of Easter, the most sacred and holy day of the Orthodox Church. All Orthodox Christians will observe Easter (PASCHA) on April 23rd. Church Unity Remains a Dream of God: Tutu February 21, 2006, PORTO ALEGRE, Brazil – A united church helped defeat apartheid in South Africa, former Archbishop Desmond Tutu reminded participants at the World Council of Churches' 9th Assembly. He was one of the speakers during a Feb. 20 plenary session on "Church Unity: Claiming a Common Future." But apartheid also continued as long as it did "in part because the church was divided," he said. "Some Christians – many Christians – tried to (provide) scriptural justification for it. See how a divided church has exacerbated the conflict in Northern Ireland." Iglesias No Pueden Estar Ajenas a La Miseria De Los Pueblos, Dice Nobel De La Paz 20 febrero 2006, PORTO ALEGRE, Brasil – Las iglesias tienen un compromiso evangélico y no pueden permanecer ajenas a la pobreza y miseria de los pueblos latinoamericanos, dijo el profesor y pacifista argentino Adolfo Pérez Esquivel, Premio Nobel de la Paz 1980. El defensor de los derechos humanos precisó que el Evangelio es liberador "o no es Evangelio" y denunció el "uso y abuso del nombre de Dios" para justificar guerras e imponer condiciones. Dictado Del Curso De Religión Enfrenta a Evangélicos Con Gobierno 22 febrero 2006, BOGOTA, Colombia – El dictado del curso de religión volvió a agitar las aguas entre los evangélicos y el gobierno."No vamos a permitir que nos pisoteen y vulneren nuestra libertad religiosa," dijo el pastor evangélico y representante Luis Enrique Salas, tras citar el caso de algunos escolares de Bogotá que fueron maltratados por resistirse a escuchar la clase de religión. El CMI Está Listo Para Los Cambios Asegura Samuel Kobia 23 febrero 2006, PORTO ALEGRE, Brasil – El secretario general del Consejo Mundial de Iglesias (CMI), Samuel Kobia, garantizó que el organismo internacional está preparado para los cambios si están dirigidos a ampliar y consolidar el movimiento ecuménico. "No seremos tímidos para hacer algo nuevo," aseguró Kobia, el jueves en una conferencia de prensa. Pero también los otros tienen que estar preparados para los cambios," dijo. Pastor Luterano Brasileño Es El Nuevo Moderador Del CMI 24 febrero 2006, PORTO ALEGRE, Brasil – El presidente de la Iglesia Evangélica de Confesión Luterana en Brasil (IECLB), pastor Walter Altmann, 62 años, es el nuevo moderador del Comité Central del Consejo Mundial de Iglesias (CMI). Fue electo, la noche del jueves 23, en la primera reunión del Comité Central y su mandato será por siete años, hasta la próxima Asamblea General. Iglesias Deben Romper Su Silencio Sobre Violencia Intra Familiar Sostiene Psicóloga 23 febrero 2006, PORTO ALEGRE, Brasil –"Y todavía buscamos la paz," es el lema central del Consejo Latinoamericano de Iglesias (CLAI) para los próximos 10 años. Según la psicóloga salvadoreña Brenda Ruiz Pérez, el mensaje es doblemente válido , pues "muchas de nuestras iglesias piensan que somos almas y nada más ven nuestra vida espiritual," sin considerar la "grave situación de violencia intra familiar que ocurre dentro de las iglesias." Rabino Destaca Papel De Los Cristianos En La Búsqueda De La Paz 21 febrero 2006, PORTO ALEGRE, Brasil – Los cristianos pueden desempeñar un importante papel en la búsqueda de la paz en Medio Oriente, estudiando los dos lados del conflicto con equilibrio y discernimiento, aproximando a los pueblos con sensibilidad y comprensión, dijo a ALC el rabino Henry Sobel. Agua Y Desarme Nuclear, Primeros Pronunciamientos Del CMI 21 febrero 2006, PORTO ALEGRE, Brasil – El desarme nuclear y la protección del agua como signo de vida y elemento vital para la supervivencia humana, fueron los dos primeros temas sobre los cuales halló consenso hoy la IX Asamblea del Consejo Mundial de Iglesias (CMI), reunido en Porto Alegre hasta el próximo 23. Líderes Cristianos Estadounidenses Piden Disculpas Por Políticas De Su Gobierno 18 febrero 2006, PORTO ALEGRE, Brasil – Líderes de iglesias estadounidenses que asisten a la IX Asamblea general del Consejo Mundial de Iglesias (CMI) agradecieron a la familia ecuménica por "una hospitalidad que no merecemos, una compañerismo que no nos hemos ganado y un abrazo del que no somos dignos," y confesaron haber fallado al no levantar una voz profética suficientemente fuerte y persistente contra las políticas de su gobierno. Inician Consulta Sobre Teología Y Niñez 24 febrero 2006, PANAMA, – Con un llamado a mirar el mundo con los ojos de los niños y no sólo de los adultos, se inició el jueves 23 en la ciudad de Panamá la Consulta sobre Teología y Niñez, convocada por la Fraternidad Teológica Latinoamericana (FTL) y el Movimiento Juntos por la Niñez. Iglesias Evangélica Y Católica Piden Justicia Tras Horrendo Crimen De Tres Menores 21 febrero 2006, NUEVA GUINEA, Nicaragua – Las iglesias evangélicas y católica del municipio de Nueva Guinea, a 300 kilómetros de Managua, demandaron justicia a las autoridades policiales y judiciales, después que fueron identificados los supuestos autores del crimen de tres hermanitos de 5, 7 y 10 años, ocurrido el pasado 14 de febrero. Las Iglesias Renuevan Su Compromiso Por La Paz 18 febrero 2006 – Representantes de las 348 iglesias miembros del Consejo Mundial de Iglesias renovaron hoy su compromiso por el trabajo por la paz, en el marco de una sesión plenaria de la IX Asamblea dedicada a la Década para Superar la Violencia, un programa del CMI que se inició en 2001 y está en la mitad de su cumplimiento. Supreme Court Unanimously Upholds Religious Freedom Restoration Act February 21, 2006 – The U.S. Supreme Court, in a unanimous decision written by Chief Justice John Roberts, today affirmed the constitutionality of the Religious Freedom Restoration Act of 1993 as it applies to federal law and regulations. In the case, Gonzales v. O Centro Espírita Beneficiente União Do Vegetal, the Court affirmed the decision of lower courts declaring that the government must permit exception to general laws which burden religion unless it shows a "compelling interest" that cannot be achieved with less restrictive means. It found that the government failed to show significant danger to society in permitting this New Mexico congregation with Brazilian roots to import its sacramental beverage, hoasca (pronounced wass-ca) tea, which contains a natural hallucinogen included on the federal list of controlled substances. February 17, 2006 – Episcopal Migration Ministries (EMM) said that this lack of direction comes at a time when the country has "barely recovered from the substantial decline in the number of refugees being admitted to the U.S. following the 9/11 tragedy." With the passage of the Patriot Act immediately following the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001 and the enactment of the REAL ID Act, another law deemed to be an anti-terrorist measure enacted last year, persons who have given "material support" to "terrorist groups" are now considered inadmissible to the U.S. Post-war Sudan, Refugees Are Focus of American Friends' Gathering February 22, 2006, SAN JOSE, California – Amid an atmosphere of celebration and hope, the American Friends of the Episcopal Church in Sudan (AFRECS) gathered for its second annual meeting at Trinity Cathedral in San Jose, California, February 17-19, urging increased participation in the renewal of post-war Sudan and enhanced support for Sudanese ministries and refugees within the United States. Pope Says Violence over Cartoons Unjustified February 22, 2006, VATICAN CITY – After dozens of deaths during protests of cartoons lampooning the Islamic prophet, Pope Benedict XVI has condemned the killings of Christians in the Muslim world, while calling for more respect of religions and their symbols. In a Feb. 20 meeting with Morocco's new ambassador to the Holy See, Ali Achour, Benedict said, "Intolerance and violence are never justifiable responses to offenses, because they are not responses that are compatible with the sacred principles of religion." United Methodists Learn Palestinians' Side on Mideast Trip February 22, 2006 – A group of 51 United Methodists from across the United States spent 10 days in Israel and the Palestinian territories searching for ways to bring peace and justice to that conflicted area. The study trip, "Seeking Peace and Pursuing Justice: Mission Education and Advocacy for Israel and Palestine," was sponsored Jan. 17-27 by the United Methodist Board of Global Ministries. The Israeli-Palestinian conflict is "a deeply spiritual crisis that involves all of us – American, Israeli and Palestinian," said Bishop Hee-Soo Jung, who leads the denomination's Chicago Area. Religion Can Be Barrier to Peace in Middle East, Panel Says February 22, 2006 – Three religious leaders – a Jewish rabbi, a Palestinian Christian pastor, and a Muslim professor of Islamic studies – told a group of United Methodists visiting Jerusalem that religion can sometimes hinder a search for a just peace. "One of the sad realities," Rabbi Levi Weiman Kelman told the group, "is that among peace workers, religion is seen as part of the problem and not part of the solution." Most peace workers in Israel are secular Israelis and "indifferent or agnostic to religion," he said. Augsburg Fortress Releases New Children's Books February 24, 2006, MINNEAPOLIS – Augsburg Books is happy to announce the release of two new books sure to delight children and families, youth and family ministers, and church librarians. In These Are Friends of Jesus author Shirley Neitzel introduces young readers ages 4-8 to the friends of Jesus in a clever repeated rhyming style based on "This Is the House That Jack Built." Augsburg Fortress Distributes Spanish-Language Books from Ediciones Sígueme February 24, 2006, MINNEAPOLIS – Augsburg Fortress is now the exclusive U.S. distributor for the publisher Ediciones Sígueme, based in Salamanca, Spain. Ediciones Sígueme is a Spanish-language publishing house founded in Salamanca in 1948. Since its origin, 1600 titles have been published, representing a service to Spanish-speaking churches, society and culture. Ediciones Sígueme publishes in communion with the Catholic Church and in dialogue and collaboration with other Christian confessions.
|
