Front Page

The American Friends Service Committee Says Administration Measures Circumvent Long-term Immigration Reform – International Social Justice Organization Claims Political Expediency Is at the Core of Flawed Border Policy

May 16, 2006, PHILADELPHIA – President Bush's national speech on immigration reform and the measures that he proposes continue a downward spiral on the critical national issue of immigration. "Comprehensive immigration reform and long-term solutions to address the plight of 12 million undocumented workers took a back seat in the Bush administration's quest to appease political allies and congressional leaders," states Esther Nieves, interim director of Project VOICE, the American Friends Service Committee (AFSC) immigrant rights initiative. "They have called for increased enforcement, detaining and summarily deporting undocumented immigrants, the increased militarization of the southern border, and quick-fix remedies such as a temporary guest worker program."

Metropolitan Community Churches Calls for Compassionate Immigration Plan

May 15, 2006, LOS ANGELES – The Rev. Elder Nancy L. Wilson, Moderator of the world's largest predominantly gay Christian denomination, today expressed outrage at plans by U.S. President George Bush to deploy 6000 National Guard troops along the Mexican border. "The President's proposal is wrongheaded," said Rev. Wilson. "It sends a message to all who seek entry into the U.S. that only those who have power and wealth can gain legal access to this nation." "We would do well to remember the words of Jesus, who said, "Whoever does this to one of the least of these, has done it to me." Every society will be judged by how it treats its most vulnerable members." "Criminalizing those who are risking their lives to provide for their families is not a family value," added Rev. Wilson.

Desmond Tutu Receives Union Theological Seminary's Highest Honor
Archbishop Emeritus of Cape Town Delivers Timely Message of Tolerance

May 19, 2006 – Thunderous applause filled the James Memorial Chapel at Union Theological Seminary (UTS) in New York City on March 16, as Desmond M. Tutu, Anglican archbishop emeritus of Cape Town, South Africa, became the 33rd recipient of the seminary's highest honor, the Union Medal. The Union Medal is the seminary's equivalent of an honorary degree. It was established in 1991 to recognize people engaged in works of ministry in congregations, public service, government, business, education, and the arts. Previous medalists have included William Sloane Coffin, Jr.; Andrew Young; George Kennan; Gardner Taylor; Kurt Masur; Kim Dae-Jung; Marian Wright Edelman; and Judith and Bill Moyers. "Friends, I am deeply touched by this prestigious honor," said Tutu.

General News

Grants Awarded to Congregation-Based Community Organizations
$157,500 Goes to 21 Organizing Groups

May 18, 2006, LOUISVILLE – The Presbyterian Hunger Program (PHP), in partnership with the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)'s Urban Ministry Office, recently allocated $157,500 to 21 congregation-based community organizations (CBCOs) in urban and rural areas across the country. CBCOs are broad-based coalitions of congregations, faith-based groups and grass-roots organizations that address quality-of-life and family issues such as affordable housing and access to quality health care. Grants are provided to support training for lay leaders, pastors, middle-governing body staff and seminarians to develop the skills for congregational-based community organizing.

Charity Offers Hair, Peace for Cancer Patients

May 15, 2006 – Debbie Glatz yells encouragement to her 6-year-old son at a T-ball game. As Glatz faces the challenges of recently being diagnosed with breast cancer, she said her family means everything. "I have to get better for them," she said. Besides support from her family, Glatz will not be alone on her journey through months of chemotherapy and, later, surgery and radiation treatment. Bonny Diver, a breast-cancer survivor who founded Hair Peace Charities with encouragement from her United Methodist church, will be there to help.

Churches, Members Can Take Bird Flu Precautions

May 15, 2006, NEW YORK – At a time when the U.S. government is drafting plans on how it would deal with a massive outbreak of bird flu or another virulent strain of influenza, United Methodists can prepare themselves as well. Kathy Griffith, staff member with the United Methodist Board of Global Ministries, believes the denomination can encourage preventive measures against a flu pandemic and use churches or church-related facilities as centers of care and treatment where outbreaks occur. "We're all over the world, in many different situations, with hearts to serve," she told United Methodist News Service in a May interview.

Storm Recovery Center Gives Hurricane Preparation Tips

May 16, 2006, ORLANDO, Fla. – As Florida churches brace for the upcoming hurricane season, a United Methodist relief official emphasizes that preparation is all important. "To not be involved is not an option," said Marion Sortore, area representative for the denomination's Florida Conference Storm Recovery Center. "Every church needs a disaster plan." The Florida Conference began revising its plan last November, taking into account lessons learned during the 2005 season. The plan includes specific steps churches should take when preparing for a storm, such as designating a member to put church records in a locked file on the church Web site or giving information to an out-of-state congregation for safekeeping.

Spanish News

Religiosos Se Unen En Acto Contra La Violencia

17 mayo 2006, SÃO PAULO, Brasil – Representantes de 12 tradiciones religiosas, de órganos del Estado, de organizaciones no-gubernamentales y de movimientos sociales participaron el lunes 15 en un acto inter-religioso de repudio a la violencia y en solidaridad con las familias de las víctimas de los ataques contra bases de la Policía, bancos y otros establecimientos, promovidos en Sao Paulo por el crimen organizado el último fin de semana. "Que nuestras manos estén abiertas para recibir la paz tan necesaria.

El CMI Apela a Irán a Frenar El Enriquecimiento De Uranio Y Declara Necesario
El Reconocimiento De Israel Dentro De Las Fronteras De 1967

19 mayo 2006 – El comité ejecutivo del Consejo Mundial de Iglesias (CMI) reclamó hoy al gobierno de Irán una moratoria de su programa de enriquecimiento de uranio, y afirmó que la resolución de la controversia debe incluir el reconocimiento por parte de Irán del Estado de Israel dentro de las fronteras de 1967 y su apoyo a los esfuerzos internacionales para acabar con el terrorismo. También otros países deben contribuir a la seguridad mundial contra las amenazas nucleares, afirmó el comité. Instando al gobierno de Irán a "cooperar con el Organismo Internacional de Energía Atómica (OIEA) y el Consejo de Seguridad, y acatar totalmente sus directrices y peticiones," la declaración afirma que se precisa de inmediato "una moratoria verificable de todos los esfuerzos iraníes de enriquecimiento y reprocesamiento de uranio."

Obispos Argentinos Y Uriguayos Convocan a Orar Por Solución Del Diferendo De Las Papeleras

18 mayo 2006, MONTEVIDEO, Uruguay – Las conferencias episcopales de Uruguay y Argentina convocaron a una jornada de oración para solicitar la intervención divina en el conflicto que enfrenta a ambos países a raíz de la instalación de las plantas de celulosa en Fray Bentos. En un comunicado emitido en forma simultánea desde las secretarías de las conferencias episcopales, los prelados invitaron a los cristianos a realizar una jornada de oración el domingo 28 de mayo, para que "se pida al Señor" su intercesión y que los dos "pueblos hermanos puedan recorrer juntos, caminos de colaboración y desarrollo."

Iglesias Reafirman Libertad Religiosa Pero Advierten Sobre Obsesión Por La Conversión

17 mayo 2006, GINEBRA, Suiza – El Vaticano y el Consejo Mundial de Iglesias (CMI) afirmaron que la libertad religiosa es un derecho humano "no negociable," pero advirtieron la necesidad de superar la obsesión por convertir a otros. "Libertad religiosa es un derecho fundamental, inviolable y no negociable de todo ser humano en cada país en el mundo," dice el informe de una reunión celebrada en Velletri, a 40 kilómetros de Roma, del 12 al 16 de mayo, en la que se acordó la formulación de un código común sobre el controversial tema de las conversiones religiosas.

Irán Debe Frenar Su Programa Nuclear Y Reconocer a Israel Plantea El CMI

19 mayo 2006, GINEBRA, Suiza – Irán debe aceptar una moratoria de su programa de enriquecimiento de uranio, reconocer al Estado de Israel y apoyar los esfuerzos internacionales para acabar con el terrorismo, planteó este viernes el Comité Ejecutivo del Consejo Mundial de Iglesias (CMI). El comitè instó al gobierno de Irán a cooperar con el Organismo Internacional de Energía Atómica (OIEA) y el Consejo de Seguridad, y acatar totalmente sus directrices y peticiones. La declaración afirmó que se precisa de inmediato "una moratoria verificable de todos los esfuerzos iraníes de enriquecimiento y reprocesamiento de uranio."

CMI Pide a Iglesias Brasileñas Testimoniar La Esperanza En Medio De La Violencia

19 mayo 2006, GINEBRA, Suiza – En una carta dirigida a las iglesias brasileñas, el Comité Ejecutivo del Consejo Mundial de Iglesias (CMI), reunido en Ginebra del 16 al 19 de mayo, expresó su preocupación por el aumento de la violencia en Brasil y las instó a dar testimonio de la esperanza en este tiempo de miedo y terror. "Cuando resuenan los disparos de armas de fuego y crece la violencia, esperamos que prevalezca el llamado de las iglesias y de la sociedad civil en favor de la paz y el fin de la violencia," dice la carta suscrita por el moderador del CMI, el pastor luterano Walter Altmann, de Brasil, y el secretario general del organismo ecuménico, el pastor metodista Samuel Kobia, de Kenia.

Human Rights News

WCC Advises New UN Human Rights Council
to Build on Strengths, Avoid Shortcomings of its Predecessor

May 19, 2006 – The World Council of Churches (WCC) executive committee today said that the new UN Human Rights Council needs to avoid "policies and practices of double standards, en-bloc voting and politicization of the human rights agenda that were so prevalent at the UN Commission on Human Rights" that they "virtually paralyzed" it before its "ignominious end." The statement affirms, however, the need to maintain and strengthen the special human rights mechanisms of the UNCHR. "The system of Special Procedures developed by the UNCHR, of Human Rights Treaty Bodies as well as of the High Commissioner for Human Rights and her office, should be actively supported," respected and enhanced, it specifies. The WCC executive committee's statement encourages UN member states "to recognize and accept the importance of the universality of human rights and to work for it in a spirit of cooperation across regional lines." The new UN body should recognize the contribution of churches and civil society organizations to the promotion and defense of human rights, and guarantee them "unhindered access" to its sessions, the WCC emphasizes.

Religious Liberty News

Vatican/WCC Study on Conversion Affirms Freedom of Religion, Warns about "Obsession of Converting Others

May 17, 2006 – A study process jointly sponsored by the Vatican and the World Council of Churches (WCC) kicked off this week by affirming the freedom of religion as a "non-negotiable" human right valid for everyone everywhere while at the same time stressing that the "obsession of converting others" needs to be cured. "Freedom of religion is a fundamental, inviolable and non-negotiable right of every human being in every country in the world," states the report of the 12-16 May meeting in Lariano/Velletri, near Rome, that launched the cooperative study. "Freedom of religion connotes the freedom, without any obstruction, to practise one's own faith, freedom to propagate the teachings of one's faith to people of one's own and other faiths, and also the freedom to embrace another faith out of one's own free choice," the report goes on. But this right entails the "equally non-negotiable responsibility to respect faiths other than our own, and never to denigrate, vilify or misrepresent them for the purpose of affirming superiority of our faith."

National News

Florida Churches Prepare for Hurricane Season

May 16, 2006, ORLANDO, Fla. – While many Florida communities continue to recover from Hurricanes Katrina and Wilma, they are also gearing up for the next round of storms. Experts predict another active season, beginning June 1, and Florida United Methodists are planning how they'll help meet the needs in their communities. In Broward and Miami-Dade counties, the poor and elderly suffered the most during the last hurricane season, according to the Rev. Debbie McLeod, superintendent of the Florida Conference's South East District.

PC(USA) Churches Urged to Join Bread Letter Campaign
Effort Calls for $5 Billion More in U.S. Anti-Poverty Aid

May 18, 2006, LOUISVILLE – Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) partner organization Bread for the World (BFW) is calling on Christians and churches to get involved in a unified letter-writing effort aimed at pressuring Congress to approve funds for fighting domestic and international poverty. This year's Offering of Letters campaign, "One Spirit. One Will. Zero Poverty," urges Congress to approve an additional $5 billion in poverty-focused development assistance for the 2007 fiscal year. The increase is necessary, advocates say, to fulfill the United States' commitment to the Millennium Development Goals, which envisions cutting poverty in half in developing countries by 2015. To keep its part of the commitment, the U.S. would have to provide an estimated $25 billion by 2010, which averages $5 billion a year, according to BFW, a Christian anti-hunger group based in Washington, DC.

International News

ELCA Presiding Bishop Calls Church to Action, Prayer for Darfur, Sudan

May 19, 2006, CHICAGO (ELCA) – Noting there is "cautious, hopeful news" about the Darfur region in western Sudan, where a peace process has been initiated with the signing of an agreement, the Rev. Mark S. Hanson, presiding bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), called on the church to learn about and discuss the humanitarian crisis there and, most of all, pray for the people of Darfur. Hanson made the comments in a May 19 message to the ELCA, "Statement on Darfur Peace Process." The Sudanese government and the largest rebel faction in Darfur – the Sudan Liberation Army/Movement – recently signed a peace agreement that started a peace process that could end a three-year conflict there. Between 200,000 to 400,000 people have died in Darfur, and more then 2.5 million people have been displaced. In addition rapes, looting, burning of homes and other atrocities have been committed against primarily ethnic Africans living in Darfur, he said.

Lutheran Churches Are Present in Critical Segments of Society
Latin American Church Leadership Conference (COL) Discusses Activity Reports

May 16, 2006, SAN JOSE, Costa Rica/GENEVA – Argentine pastor Lisandro Orlov, the Latin American regional coordinator of the Lutheran World Federation (LWF) HIV/AIDS campaign, says Lutheran churches in the region "have been successful in maintaining a presence in the critical segments of society." Presenting his report to participants in the LWF Latin American Church Leadership Conference (Conferencia de Liderazgo – COL), in San José, Costa Rica, 25-28 April, Orlov pointed out that the churches had "succeeded in saying something new, something different * to be a church that takes on responsibility for the people, one which does not just talk about HIV, but which lives with those affected in community and solidarity."

Latin American Lutheran Leaders Set New Tasks Focus
on Sustainability, Gender Issues and Communications

May 16, 2006, SAN JOSE, Costa Rica/GENEVA – The Lutheran World Federation (LWF) member churches in Latin America have established a working group to focus on the issue of sustainability and viability for the region's churches. The decision to establish the group was agreed at the LWF-facilitated Latin American Church Leadership Conference (Conferencia de Liderazgo – COL) in San José, Costa Rica, 25-28 April. The working group, which includes Rev. Adita Torres, Evangelical Lutheran Church in Peru (ILEP); Rev.Paulo Butzke, Evangelical Church of the Lutheran Confession in Brazil (IECLB); and Rev. Ilo Utech, Nicaraguan Lutheran Church of Faith and Hope (ILFE), has been asked to initiate and implement a three-year sustainability program within the communion of Lutheran churches in Latin America.

Take Action to Stop Terminator Seeds Demands WCC General Secretary

May 15, 2006 – The general secretary of the World Council of Churches (WCC), Rev. Dr Samuel Kobia, called upon churches and ecumenical partners to take action to stop "terminator technology." "Applying technology to design sterile seeds turns life, which is a gift from God, into a commodity. Preventing farmers from re-planting saved seed will increase economic injustice all over the world and add to the burdens of those already living in hardship," stated Kobia. He underlined: "Terminator technology locates food sovereignty, once the very backbone of community, in the hands of technologists and large corporations. The UN Food and Agriculture Organization estimates that 1.4 billion people depend on farmer-saved seed as their primary seed source.

Middle East News

WCC Calls on Iran to Stop Enriching Uranium, Recognize Israel

May 18, 2006 The World Council of Churches (WCC) executive committee called today on the government of Iran for a moratorium on its uranium enrichment programme, to recognize the state of Israel, and to support international efforts to end terrorism. Other countries should also

Reviews

New Volume Explains Christian Seasons and Symbols

May 15, 2006, MINNEAPOLIS – Rings, Kings, and Butterflies: Lessons on Christian Symbols for Children with CD-ROM is a helpful resource for teachers, worship leaders, and parents who want to help children learn about Christian symbols and the seasons of the church year. Bold art in a woodcut style accompanies thematic lessons, children's sermon ideas, and activities to help illuminate the story of our Christian faith. The accompanying CD-ROM includes downloadable versions of the art and helpful appendices for viewing Bible texts, seasonal themes, and more. Print out the art for use as visuals in classroom settings or download smaller versions into take-home handouts.

Judas: Betrayer or Friend of Jesus?

May 18, 2006, MINNEAPOLIS – Was Judas really a traitor or was he a faithful disciple fulfilling his mission? William Klassen's groundbreaking study of Judas within the context of first-century Judaism provides fresh scholarship at the center of The Gospel of Judas publicity. Judas: Betrayer or Friend of Jesus?, a fascinating book published in 1996, sifts the evidence and startlingly concludes that in the earliest sources Judas was not a traitor. While the name Judas Iscariot evokes horror among many people, Klassen argues persuasively that Judas may have meant no harm in handing over Jesus to the religious authorities.