Front Page

Cuba, the Embargo and the Church Meet in Manhattan

September 27, 2006, NEW YORK – While the rest of world was reacting to Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez calling President Bush ‘the devil,' the Cuban delegation to the United Nations found a warm reception inside a northern Manhattan Episcopal church last week. "This parish is part of the Episcopal Church which has long opposed the blockade of Cuba," said the Rev. Gerald Keucher, vicar at Intercession-Washington Heights, which drew unanimous applause. Speaking in both Spanish and English, Keucher welcomed nearly 500 people who filled almost every chair in the vaulted ceiling nave. Many had waited in long lines for hours outside the church on Broadway at 155th Street before passing through metal detectors and the watchful gaze of U.S. Secret Service and New York police officers.

WCC to Continue Pastoral Accompaniment of Relatives of Five Cubans Arbitrarily Imprisoned in the US

September 28, 2006 – The World Council of Churches (WCC) will continue to offer pastoral accompaniment to the relatives of a group of imprisoned people known as the "Cuban Five," and will advocate for the relatives' right to visit them. WCC general secretary Rev. Dr Samuel Kobia announced this intention after meeting with two of the prisoners' relatives, Adriana Pérez and Magalys Llort, earlier this week in Geneva. He explained that the Council's support will be channelled especially through the churches and ecumenical organizations in Cuba. Kobia also praised the work done by the churches in the US in accompanying the five Cubans and their relatives. "The WCC is concerned that relatives have found it extremely difficult, if not impossible for some of them, to visit the prisoners, and will therefore strongly appeal for them to be allowed to visit the prisoners on humanitarian grounds," he said.

General News

Cathedral Requires Advance Free Passes to Presiding Bishop Seating Liturgy

September 27, 2006 – The seating of the 26th Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church, Nevada Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori, will take place at the 11:00 a.m. All Saints service on November 5, at Washington National Cathedral, the day after her investiture. The service is open to the public but passes will be required. This is a recent change in the cathedral's policy about this service.

San Joaquin Bishop's Actions Do Not Constitute Abandonment of Communion,
Review Committee Says – California Bishops Had Filed Charges

September 28, 2006 – Responding to a unanimous opinion of the Title IV Review Committee, Presiding Bishop Frank Griswold on September 28 notified San Joaquin Bishop John-David Schofield of the committee's finding that actions of Schofield "do not constitute abandonment" of communion as defined by the Canons of the Episcopal Church. The Episcopal Church's Title IV Review Committee met via conference call September 26 to deal with accusations that Schofield had abandoned the communion of the Episcopal Church. The charges had been filed by four California bishops. "We did have a lengthy discussion but it was unanimous," said the Review Committee's president, Bishop Dorsey Henderson of Upper South Carolina, adding that one member of the committee was not able to join the conference call.

Lutherans Reflect on the Vocation of a Leader

September 29, 2006, CHICAGO – Bringing forth and supporting faithful, wise and courageous leaders is one of the strategic directions of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). Staff of the ELCA churchwide organization, professors and administrative staff of ELCA seminaries, college and universities, bishops and others gathered here Sept. 22-23 in a special forum to engage in theological discussion on the vocation of leadership. The Rev. Mark S. Hanson, presiding bishop of the ELCA, set the stage for the discussion. "We have said in one of our strategic directions that we will ‘assist this church to bring forth and support faithful, wise and courageous leaders whose vocations serve God's mission in a pluralistic world.'

Pastor, Volunteers, Report Violations of Fort Worth Codes

September 28, 2006, FORT WORTH, Texas – More than 250 people, representing 69 Fort Worth neighborhood associations, are serving as Code Rangers – volunteers trained by city officials to watch for and report violations of city codes. The Rev. Dan Flores, pastor of La Trinidad United Methodist Church, is one such volunteer. His church recently sponsored a training course to put more Code Rangers on the streets. Six residents of the church's largely Hispanic neighborhood completed the course. Sometimes the signs of progress are small. For example, the construction of a new laundry and doughnut shop might not get much notice in many urban neighborhoods. But in the Fort Worth barrios, it's a sign of hope, since a crack house used to be on the property. "We did have some longtime crack houses, and code enforcement has been very successful in eliminating those houses," Flores said. "And now we see some new development.

New England Pastors Reach out to Migrant Workers

September 25, 2006, WASHINGTON COUNTY, Maine – They work up to 12 hours a day, harvesting the delectable main ingredient for blueberry muffins, pancakes and pies. Each year, thousands of migrant workers stream into Washington County to work in the wild blueberry capital of the world. But the migrants – representing a diverse mix of Native American and Latino cultures – face backbreaking work, low wages and sometimes poor living conditions as they bring in the crop. United Methodist pastors from New England are reaching out to help. "It's hard. We think they often get taken advantage of," said the Rev. Betty Palmer, pastor of Jacksonville United Methodist Church in Machias, Maine.

Historical Group Remembers Milestone in Church Desegregation

September 27, 2006, HARRISBURG, Pa. – Though the United Methodist Church remained segregated until 1968, its top legislative assembly took steps more than a decade earlier to enable African-American churches to join previously all-white regional conferences. The Historical Society, affiliated with the United Methodist Commission on Archives and History, marked the 50th anniversary of that action by General Conference during a Sept. 22 meeting. The society met at Camp Curtin Memorial-Mitchell United Methodist Church, the congregation that decided to challenge racism within the Methodist Church. Three African-American women recalled the events surrounding their church's move from the all-black Central Jurisdiction – a move that made it the first black congregation in the Central Pennsylvania Conference of the Methodist Church.

Judicial Council Sets Oral Hearings for Two Cases

September 29, 2006 – The highest court of the United Methodist Church will hear oral arguments from people concerned with two cases that will appear on its Oct. 25-28 docket. The Judicial Council will hear oral arguments beginning at 9 a.m., Oct. 26, at the Vernon Manor Hotel in Cincinnati. Only interested parties or their designees have the right to address the council during the oral hearings, but the hearings are open to the public. The first case involves legislation enacted by the 2004 General Conference, and the second will address action by the Kansas East Annual (regional) Conference. Dr. James Holsinger, president of the Judicial Council, granted requests for oral hearings for a case brought by the Commission on General Conference, which is responsible for planning the 2008 top legislative body of the denomination.

Spanish News

Iglesias Chilenas Aclaran Su Posición Ante Proyecto De Salud Reproductiva

29 septiembre 2006 – SANTIAGO DE CHILE – Tras un periodo de estudio del extenso documento dado a conocer por el Ministerio de Salud a principios de mes sobre normas de regulación de fertilidad, la Confraternidad Cristiana de Iglesias (CCI), que agrupa a 10 denominaciones evangélicas, dio hoy a conocer sus reflexiones desde lo religioso pero sin dejar de ver la realidad social del país. Con el anuncio de la Ministra de Salud del gobierno de Bachelet, del documento titulado "Normas Nacionales de Regulación de la Fertilidad," se levantó un amplio debate en la sociedad chilena en torno a las políticas de salud sexual y reproductiva, el rol del estado y la pertinencia o no de un documento orientado a la sexualidad.

CMI Continuará Acompañando Pastoralmente a Familiares De Cubanos Presos En Estados Unidos

29 septiembre 2006 – El Consejo Mundial de Iglesias (CMI) continuará ofreciendo acompañamiento pastoral a los familiares de un grupo de detenidos conocidos como los "Cinco cubanos" y defenderá el derecho de los familiares a visitarlos en prisión. El secretario general del CMI, pastor Dr. Samuel Kobia, hizo el anuncio luego de reunirse con Adriana Pérez y Magalys Llort, dos de los familiares de los prisioneros, con quienes se entrevistó a comienzos de esta semana en Ginebra. Kobia explicó que el apoyo del Consejo se canalizará especialmente a través de las iglesias y organizaciones ecuménicas de Cuba. También elogió la labor realizada por las iglesias en los Estados Unidos, que acompañan a los cinco cubanos y sus familiares.

El Aborto Y La Pobreza En Boca De Los Candidatos

28 septiembre 2006, MANAGUA, Nicaragua – Los candidatos presidenciales nicaragüenses continúan exponiendo sus propuestas ante el público evangélico. A poco más de un mes de las elecciones, temas religiosos y sociales son abordados por los partidos. El candidato por el Movimiento Renovador Sandinista (MRS) Dr. Edmundo Jarquin, declaró ante cientos de estudiantes y profesores de la Universidad Evangélica Nicaragüense (Uenic) que para salir de la pobreza hay que romper el círculo de la desesperanza y ese cambio lo promete su partido. El candidato reflexionó que Nicaragua ha crecido muy poco y ese crecimiento ha estado mal distribuido.

Iglesia Luterana Popular Repudia Asesinato De Sacerdote

25 septiembre, SAN SALVADOR, El Salvador – En un comunicado dado a conocer ayer, la Iglesia Luterana Popular de El Salvador (ILPES) denuncia el asesinato del sacerdote Antonio Romero en manos de escuadrones de la muerte. "Con mucha tristeza, con mucho dolor, con mucha indignación denunciamos ante el mundo el asesinato de un sacerdote comprometido con su pueblo: Antonio Romero" expresa el Rev. Roberto Pineda, de la Iglesia Luterana Popular de El Salvador. Según datos del comunicado, el sacerdote de 39 años fue asesinado en la población occidental de Acajutla, por escuadrones de la muerte.

Leyes Más Duras a La Luz Del Evangelio

26 septiembre GINEBRA, Suiza – La ley de extranjería aprobada en referéndum el domingo pasado por el electorado suizo, impone normas más severas para la entrada y estancia de los ciudadanos extraeuropeos en Suiza. La voz de las Iglesias y de Organizaciones de Derechos Humanos ya se hicieron oír. El llamado de las Iglesias de Ginebra sobre el referéndum, dado a conocer el 15 de junio de este año, ponía en el debate su posición contraria a estas leyes. En uno de sus párrafos declaran, " Fui un extranjero y ustedes me acogieron " dice Jesucristo (Mt 25,35). Por cierto, el Evangelio es exigente. No es tan fácil acoger al otro, al diferente, al que se comporta como no nos conviene.

Benedicto XVI Excomulgó Al Polémico Arzobispo Milingo

27 septiembre CIUDAD DEL VATICANO – Monseñor Emmanuel Milingo, arzobispo emérito de Lusaka, fue excomulgado por la Iglesia Católica Romana al ordenar obispos a cuatro sacerdotes casados, sin mandato pontificio, confirmó este martes la Santa Sede en una declaración. La ordenación episcopal tuvo lugar el domingo 24 de septiembre en Washington D.C. En realidad, según afirmaban precedentemente los interesados, los cuatro ordenados ya habían sido consagrados obispos in the Old Catholic Church, una rama separada de la Iglesia católica. Los cuatro habían participado una conferencia, celebrada en Saddle Brook (New Jersey) del 17 al 19 de septiembre de 2006, convocada por el movimiento «Married Priests Now!» (¡Sacerdotes casados ahora!), con el apoyo del mismo monseñor Milingo.

National News

L.A. Labor Protest Draws 2,000, Hundreds Arrested

September 29, 2006 – Authorities arrested about 400 protestors, including clergy and state and local officials, who staged peaceful sit-ins after a short march to the Hilton Hotel at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) and the nearby Westin Hotel. After a 5 p.m. rally, a stream of families, students, clergy and workers poured into the streets near the airport, waving signs and banners reading "Soy Un Ser Hermano (I Am A Human Being)" and "Amnistia: Derechos Pienos para los Immigrantes (Amnesty: Full Rights for Immigrants)." The marchers alternately chanted: "Boycott Hilton," "No Justice, No Peace" and "Si Se Puede" to the steady beat of drums. The Rev. Canon Dick Gillett, among those arrested, said Thursday's protest was meant to underscore "the rights of low-wage workers to organize, and hotel management's refusal to recognize the dignity and rights of hotel workers.

Texans ‘Still in the Storm' One Year after Hurricane Rita

September 28, 2006, HOUSTON – Hurricane Rita was more than just a traffic jam. Ask the people of Texas' Golden Triangle who are still struggling to put their lives together one year later. The hype of Rita's anticipated landfall blew over when the storm didn't strike Galveston as predicted, but it still damaged Beaumont, Port Arthur and Orange, Texas. The testimony can be found in thousands of toppled trees, mangled webs of power lines, and those who evacuated in the seemingly endless line of cars crawling along the roads. "It was just the most destructive thing I've seen in my public service career of 28 years," said County Judge Carl Griffith on Sept. 24, the first anniversary of Hurricane Rita. Griffith was speaking at an interfaith community remembrance service, "Shelter from the Storm," held in Beaumont.

International News

Lutherans Support Recovery Efforts in Guatemala, India

September 28, 2006 – CHICAGO – International Disaster Response of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) provided funds Sept. 25 to support recovery operations in Guatemala and India, where severe weather destroyed crops and property in both countries. In Guatemala tropical storms and strong rain have destroyed crops, producing a food shortage, said Dr. Belletech Deressa, director for international development and disaster response, ELCA Global Mission. Guatemala is still recovering from Hurricane Stan, which struck the Central American country in 2005. "Hurricane Stan caused serious damage to crops and destroyed homes, schools and entire communities" there, she said. Iglesia Luterana Agustina de Guatemala (ILAG) (Augustinian Lutheran Church of Guatemala), a "companion church" of the ELCA, has been helping communities affected by the hurricane and the most recent storms, said Deressa. Currently the church is seeking funds to help 218 families in eight communities purchase seeds for corn, beans, rice and other food items, so they can plant and later be able to feed themselves, as well as generate income from the sale of their crops, she said.

Lutheran Indigenous Group Calls for Program to Address Their Concerns
Emphasis on Land Rights, Indigenous Theology

September 29, 2006 – KARASJOK, Norway/GENEVA – Representatives of indigenous communities and churches from all over the world have urged the Lutheran World Federation (LWF) to establish a program to help address the concerns of indigenous people, a group that still does not enjoy full inclusion in church and society. The 27 participants in the 20-24 September international consultation entitled "An Indigenous Communion" in Karasjok, northern Norway, called on the LWF to establish an advisory group in 2007 to outline guidelines for the indigenous program in accordance with a 2003 LWF Assembly action on Indigenous Peoples. The question of land rights was strongly debated at the consultation. "Land rights and territory are crucial to the identity of indigenous people and are fundamental rights," the participants in the consultation stated in a final message.

Churches Play Key Role for Indigenous Peoples,
Norway's Sami Leader Says "An Indigenous Communion"

September 26, 2006 – KARASJOK, Norway/GENEVA – The president of Norway's Sami Parliament has emphasized the important role of the church, and religious communities, in promoting indigenous issues in her own country, and internationally. "The Sami parliament is deeply indebted for the work that religious communities perform locally, nationally, and at the international level to promote indigenous issues," Aili Keskitalo said at the 20 September opening of a Lutheran World Federation (LWF) consultation in Karasjok, northern Norway, the seat of the Sami parliament. The Sami are a group of indigenous people, most of whom inhabit the northern part of Norway, but who also stretch across Finland, Sweden and the Russian Federation. Some 40,000 of them live in Norway, most inhabiting the Finmark region.