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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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International Christian Bodies Welcome Adoption of New Human Rights Standards July 3, 2006 – International church and ecumenical organizations have welcomed the adoption of a new International Convention on the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance, and a Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, both of which were agreed at the inaugural session of the UN Human Rights Council which concluded in Geneva on 30 June 2006. Five church-related organizations had earlier submitted a joint statement to the UN Council urging the adoption of these measures, and have been at the forefront of civil society advocacy on these issues in recent years. NCC Joins CWS Calling on President Bush to Not Stop Aid Through the Cuban Council of Churches July 7, 2006 WASHINGTON – The National Council of Churches USA has joined Church World Service, its sister humanitarian organization, in opposing a recommendation in a draft report by the Commission for Assistance to a Free Cuba. It proposes the U.S. Commerce Department no longer grant licenses for humanitarian aid to the Cuban people that would go through the Cuban Council of Churches, because it violates religious freedom. NCC is urging its member denominations, state councils of churches and others to send an urgent message to President Bush with copies to Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and Secretary of Commerce Carlos Gutierrez urging them not to ban aid through the Cuban Council of Churches, an organization that they have partnered with for decades. United Methodists Celebrate Clergywomen at Annual Gatherings July 7, 2006 – At regional gatherings this year, United Methodists celebrated the 50th anniversary of clergywomen receiving full clergy rights and affirmed their commitment to helping the U.S. Gulf Coast recover from last fall's hurricanes. While those topics dominated the United Methodist Church's annual sessions in May and June, church members also tackled a wide range of other concerns, including social issues such as immigration and gay marriage, the strengthening of ministries around the globe and the possible mergers of some annual (regional) conferences. Sixty of the 63 U.S. conferences had filed annual reports by July 7, along with a handful of conferences in Europe and Africa that had gatherings in the same period. Archbishop of Canterbury: Address to General Synod on the Anglican Communion July 7, 2006 – I am glad to have the opportunity of offering in these few minutes a very brief update on the current situation in the Anglican Communion, particularly in the light of the recent session of the Episcopal Church's General Convention – which was, of course, attended by my brother Archbishop, who made an outstanding contribution to its discussions. The first thing to say is that the complex processes of Convention produced – perhaps predictably – a less than completely clear result. The final resolution relating to the consecration of practising gay persons as bishops owed a great deal to some last-minute work by the Presiding Bishop, who invoked his personal authority in a way that was obviously costly for him in order to make sure that there was some degree of recognisable response to the recommendations of the Windsor Report in this regard. PC(USA)
Treasury Official Charged with Embezzlement July 6, 2006, LOUISVILLE – Judy A. Golliher, the second-ranking financial officer in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), was fired last week after she admitted to embezzlement. More than $100,000 in church funds is missing. Church officials said in a statement Thursday (July 6) that the case is being turned over to prosecutors. They said insurance and restitution should cover any losses. Church accounting and finance staff discovered the theft on June 27 during normal preparation of bank reconciliations when "several unexplained items were found," according to the statement released by the General Assembly Council (GAC). When confronted, Golliher admitted to embezzlement and her employment was terminated. A full investigation has been launched to ensure the security of PC(USA) funds. Fraud prosecutors in the Kentucky Commonwealth Attorney's office have been notified and church staff will work closely with prosecutors during the investigation, the statement said. Lutherans and Muslims Assess Tsunami Relief, Plan Cooperation July 3, 2006, MEDAN, Indonesia – The earthquake and tsunami of December 2004 was centered off the coast of Banda Aceh, Indonesia. The predominantly Muslim area began working closely with Christian relief agencies, and inter-religious friendships developed across the region. Approximately 85 Muslim and Lutheran leaders came here to the capital of the North Sumatra province for a seminar, "Dialogue in Life," June 27-30 to discuss and plan their future cooperation in meeting human needs. The Rev. Mark S. Hanson, presiding bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) and president of the Lutheran World Federation (LWF), Chicago, addressed the seminar on June 30. The Rev. Rafael Malpica-Padilla, executive director, ELCA Global Mission, Chicago, and he were among ecumenical guests from beyond the region. The LWF is a global communion representing 62.3 million of the world's nearly 65.4 million Lutherans. The LWF reports there are more than 4.3 million Lutherans in Indonesia, with 3 million in the Huria Kristen Batak Protestan (Protestant Christian Batak Church) (HKBP). The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) is a member of the LWF. Based in Geneva, Switzerland, the LWF sent a mission team to Indonesia after the tsunami to assess conditions in Aceh and Nias. It found Christians and Muslims cooperating fully in response to the disaster. Desafiando Política Estadounidense, Caravana De Pastores Por La Paz, Emprende Viaje a Cuba Con Ayuda 3 julio 2006, New York – Desafiando la política del gobierno de Estados Unidos con Cuba, la Caravana de Amistad de los Pastores por la Paz, cruzará la frontera con México el próximo 6 de julio , para emprender su viaje a La Habana, donde entregará más de 100 toneladas de ayuda humanitaria. "La estrategia de la administración Bush sobre Cuba es muy pobre y está basada en una política criticable, diseñada para crear una situación difícil para el pueblo cubano," dijo Lucius Walker, director ejecutivo de la caravana "Cuba es nuestro vecino y estamos encomendados por nuestra fe a amar nuestro vecino. Nos negamos a parar. Nos negamos a simplemente irnos," sostuvo. 4 julio 2006 – Las organizaciones eclesiásticas y ecuménicas internacionales han acogido complacidas la aprobación de un nuevo Convenio Internacional sobre Protección de Todas las Personas contra las Desapariciones Forzadas y de una Declaración sobre los Derechos de los Pueblos Indígenas, en el período de sesiones inaugural del Consejo de Derechos Humanos de las Naciones Unidas que concluyó en Ginebra el 30 de junio de 2006. Cinco organizaciones relacionadas con las iglesias habían presentado anteriormente una declaración conjunta al Consejo de las Naciones Unidas instando a la aprobación de estas medidas, y han estado al frente de las movilizaciones de la sociedad civil en torno a estas cuestiones en los últimos años. Iglesias Requieren Reorientar Sus Puestos De Liderazgo Para Servir a Los Más Necesitados 6 julio 2006, SANTIAGO, Chile – Las iglesias requieren de una reorientación de sus cargos, oficios y jerarquías, para que sean ministerios de servicio especialmente para los más necesitados, sostuvo el pastor bautista Víctor Rey, coordinador de Compromiso Cristiano de Visión Mundial de Chile. Rey dijo que aún se discute mucho en el seno de las iglesias cuál es el ministerio más importante, si el de la predicación del evangelio o el de ayuda al que necesita. "El Nuevo Testamento no presenta esta dicotomía; al contrario, ve al ministerio de la Iglesia como un todo, donde los dos se deben cumplir al mismo tiempo," indicó. Apelación a Santos Crece En Los Momentos De Crisis Y De Expectativas Afirma Catedrático 5 julio 2006, SÃO LEOPOLDO, Brasil – La devoción a imágenes de la religiosidad popular adquiere mayor representatividad en momentos de crisis socio-económica y ante grandes acontecimientos, por ejemplo la Copa Mundial de Fútbol, señaló el doctor en Ciencias Sociales, José Rogerio Lopes, que desde 1999 se dedica al estudio de los elementos iconográficos presentes en la esfera religiosa. Según el investigador, la época actual viene siendo profundamente marcada por experiencias individuales de fe, en las cuales la utilización de los santos se caracteriza como un vínculo familiar y accesible entre los fieles y lo sagrado. Evangélicos Rechazan Inclusión De Ley De Libertades Sexuales En Nueva Constitución 3 julio 2006, LA PAZ, Bolivia – Sectores evangélicos bolivianos se opusieron "enérgicamente" a una ley de derechos sexuales y que se pretenda incorporarla en la nueva Constitución Política del país, argumentando que iría en contra "de la familia, la niñez y la libertad de expresión." En una declaración hecha publica el martes, la Asociación Nacional de Evangélicos de Bolivia (ANDEB), se pronunció también en contra de "toda invasión foránea que quiera imponer a todos, ideologías, formas de pensamiento y de vida," que estimaron violatorias de la voluntad personal y de la soberanía del país. July 7, 2006, CHENNAI, India/GENEVA– The President of the Lutheran World Federation (LWF), Bishop Mark S. Hanson, and the General Secretary, Rev. Dr Ishmael Noko, are among delegates attending week-long celebrations in Chennai, India, to mark the 300th anniversary of the arrival of the first Protestant missionary in the country. Bartholomaeus Ziegenbalg, a German Lutheran missionary sent by the Danish king, Frederick IV, to seek converts to Christianity, arrived in India on 9 July 1706 at Tranquebar (known as Tarangambadi in Tamil), which was then a Danish colony on India's eastern coast, 300 kilometers south of Chennai. Colin Williams Pleads for a Vision of a Renewed Europe at World Summit of Religious Leaders July 5, 2006 – The General Secretary of the Conference of European Churches (CEC), the Venerable Colin Williams, is participating in the World Summit of Religious Leaders convened in Moscow by the Interreligious Council of Russia, on the eve of the G8 Summit in St. Petersburg. Archdeacon Williams is accompanied by the Rev. Rüdiger Noll, Associate General Secretary and Director of the Church and Society Commission of CEC. "From the very beginning," said Archdeacon Williams in his statement delivered Wednesday, 5th July. "CEC has sought to break down the barriers which divide us still.
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