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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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Queens Federation of Churches Recognizes Seven as Faithful Servants October 28, 2006 FLUSHING, NY – Seven lay persons, members of local Christian churches in Queens, were recognized today by the Queens Federation of Churches with the Citation for Faithful Service. The 14th presentation of this award was made at a luncheon held at Promise Ministries Full Gospel New York Church in Flushing. Pastors of Queens churches are invited annually to nominate persons who, serving in a volunteer capacity, have been models of the faithful servant called by Jesus Christ. Over 250 individuals have been recognized by the Queens Federation of Churches since the program began in 1993. The pastor of each church introduced his or her nominee to the assembly and then presented the Citation along with Shirley Ford, President of the Queens Federation of Churches. Hero of ‘Catch a Fire' Tells Church about Apartheid Era October 26, 2006, DALLAS – "I have learned to remember the words of my friend, Nelson Mandela, when he said, ‘We can never be free unless we learn to forgive.'" Those are the words of Patrick Chamusso, a former prisoner on South Africa's Robben Island with Mandela. He spoke and worshipped at Munger Place United Methodist Church while visiting Dallas as part of a promotional tour for the movie "Catch a Fire," which debuts in U.S. theaters Oct. 27. The movie tells the story of his life and his struggle as a freedom fighter in apartheid-era South Africa. "Nelson Mandela told us to offer forgiveness," said Chamusso, a member of White River Methodist Church north of Johannesburg, South Africa. "He even forgave the person who held him prisoner all those years at Robben Island." Vice
President Endorses Torture October 26, 2006, WASHINGTON – U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney has issued the Bush administration's first clear endorsement of a form of torture known as waterboarding, or mock drowning, said Human Rights Watch today. In a radio interview yesterday, Cheney agreed that subjecting prisoners to "a dunk in water" is a "no-brainer" if it could save lives. After being asked about this technique, he said that such interrogations have been a "very important tool" used against high-level al Qaeda detainees such as Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, and that they do not, in his view, constitute torture. Cheney's comments on the legality of waterboarding contradict the views of the U.S. Congress and the U.S. Defense Department, as well as fundamental principles of international law, and could come back to haunt the United States if not corrected by the Bush administration, Human Rights Watch warned. Nothing but Nets Campaign Raises Money to Fight Malaria October 27, 2006 – More than 100,000 insecticide-treated bed nets will be delivered to Nigeria in November as part of a new malaria prevention campaign called Nothing But Nets. Partners in Nothing But Nets include the United Methodist Church, the United Nations Foundation, Sports Illustrated, the National Basketball Association, Millennium Promise and the Measles Initiative. The United Methodist Board of Global Ministries and United Methodist Communications are coordinating the church's participation in the campaign, which will include a major initiative for youth groups. The goal is to raise funds to eradicate malaria in Africa, where the mosquito-borne disease causes the death of one-fifth of all children under 5 years old. Hanging nets over children while they sleep is a simple, inexpensive way to kill the mosquitoes or keep them from biting. Group Focuses on Crisis at Cuba's Evangelical Seminary October 24, 2006, HAVANA – Differences in polity and theology among three denominations are causing division at an ecumenical seminary that trains clergy and laypeople in Cuba. A nine-member delegation under the auspices of the United Methodist Commission on Christian Unity and Interreligious Concerns visited the Methodist Church in Cuba Oct. 7-12 to strengthen relations with the church and its people. During the trip, the delegation learned about the role of the Evangelical Theological Seminary in training theological leaders in Cuba, and the group investigated a schism that has developed at the school since July. Cristianos Y Musulmanes Reunidos En La Gran Mezquita De Roma 26 octubre 2006, ROMA – El pasado 20 de octubre, ultimo viernes del mes de Ramadan, la Gran Mezquita de Roma fue el escenario del diálogo interreligioso. Cientos de fieles cristianos y musulmanes, se reunieron para terminar en conjunto el ayuno del ultimo viernes de Ramadan. Invitados de Abdellah Redouane, secretario general del Centro cultural islámico de Italia, estuvieron: la pastora Maria Bonafede, moderadora de la Mesa valdense; Paolo Ferrero, ministro por la Solidaridad social; monseñor Piero Coda, presidente de la Asociación teológica italiana. Envió sus saludos monseñor Vincenzo Paglia, presidente de la comisión para el ecumenismo y el dialogo de la Conferencia Episcopal italiana (CEI). Bush Firmó La Ley Que Permite El Muro Fronterizo 26 octubre 2006, WASHINGTON – El presidente estadounidense, George W. Bush, firmó la ley que permite construir un muro doble en 700 km del límite sur con México, que, aseguró, hará "más seguras las fronteras" de Estados Unidos. "Esta ley hará nuestras fronteras más seguras," dijo el mandatario norteamericano segundos antes de firmar el texto que le envió el Congreso, flanqueado por el vicepresidente Dick Cheney y varios miembros de su gabinete. "Tenemos la responsabilidad de proteger nuestras fronteras," añadió Bush, que reiteró su pedido al Congreso de buscar la aprobación de un programa de permisos temporales de trabajo para trabajadores que busquen inmigrar a Estados Unidos. La
Violencia Contra Los Niños Puede Y Debe Prevenirse, 24 octubre 2006, GINEBRA Suiza – La Organización Mundial de la Salud (OMS) dio a conocer el lunes 16 de octubre, una nueva guía práctica que ayudará a los países a prevenir la violencia contra los niños. Los niños son víctimas de niveles alarmantes de violencia, a menudo a manos de quienes deberían protegerlos. Esta nueva guía publicada por la OMS y la Sociedad Internacional para la Prevención del Maltrato y la Desatención de los Niños (ISPCAN) demuestra que la violencia contra los niños puede y debe prevenirse. Church of Ireland Bishops Meeting with Sinn Fein October 23, 2006 – Following the meeting between a delegation of the Bishops of the Church of Ireland and a delegation from the Sinn Fein Party led by Mr Gerry Adams, Archbishop Robin Eames said: "The Bishops of the Church of Ireland are engaging in a process of engagement with the political parties in Northern Ireland. As Bishops representing the church, which operates in both jurisdictions of this island, we are pleased to have the opportunity to engage in dialogue with Sinn Fein. The Bishops view the current political situation as an opportunity for progress towards democratic structures to serve the whole community in Northern Ireland. Church Confronts Killer Diseases in Angola October 27, 2006, LUANDA, Angola – Sometimes malaria can kill a child before anyone even knows the child has been infected. The Rev. Domingos Kafuanda says the recent death of an 8-year-old girl in his congregation was a grim reminder of how deadly malaria can be. The child was singing in the children's choir on Sunday. "She was happy and playing," he says. "We got word she died the next day of malaria." ELCA Presiding Bishop Visits Hungary in LWF President Role October 27, 2006, BUDAPEST, Hungary – In his first official visit to a European church since he became president of the Lutheran World Federation (LWF), the Rev. Mark S. Hanson paid tribute to the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Hungary (ELCH), pointing out the contributions of the LWF Assembly held here in 1984. Hanson, who is presiding bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), is visiting with church and government leaders here before traveling to Romania next week. His wife, Ione, is accompanying him. In his role as LWF president, Hanson periodically visits LWF churches. Faith and Fitness for the New Year October 24, 2006, MINNEAPOLIS – What does faith have to do with fitness? What is the connection between being spiritually well and physically well? Author Tom Hafer answers these questions as he explores the connections between a strong faith and everyday lifestyle choices in his new book Faith & Fitness: Diet and Exercise for a Better World. Filled with practical ideas about food, exercise, and total wellness, the book explores the connections between real food and "living water;" affluence and "feed my sheep;" exercising for peace; and the relationship between a well congregation and well individuals. October 23, 2006, MINNEAPOLIS – Christians have always found that the psalms provide encouragement in times of despair, compassionate voices in times of anger and self-pity, compelling acknowledgment of guilt, and words of thanksgiving in times of rejoicing. The psalms are a record of men and women wrestling with God, pleading, thanking, lamenting, cursing, blessing-and much more. New for 2007, Psalms through the Year: Spiritual Exercises for Every Day by Marshall D. Johnson, is a unique daily devotional that proceeds in sequence from Psalm 1 to Psalm 150 through the whole of the biblical book, with texts divided into one unit for each day of the year.
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