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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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North American Methodists Build Bridges on Immigration December 7, 2006, TUCSON, Ariz. – Concern for people migrating across political borders is motivating increasing mission collaboration between The United Methodist Church in the United States and the Methodist Church of Mexico. Simultaneously, United Methodist general agencies are stepping up their collective attention to U.S. immigration policy and legislation. Bishops and others from annual (regional) conferences north and south of the U.S.-Mexican border met Dec. 1-2 in Tucson to formalize what will be called the Methodist Border Mission Network. It was the third meeting of its kind in the last 15 months. California Bishop Arrested During San Francisco War Protest December 8, 2006 – Bishop Marc Handley Andrus of the Episcopal Diocese of California was arrested December 7 for blocking the front door of the San Francisco federal building to protest the deaths caused by the Iraq war. His participation in the protest and his arrest are "just one piece of a sustained effort" to work for peace, Andrus told ENS December 8. Other parts of the effort include other liturgical events, diocesan participation in the upcoming release of a documentary about four soldiers who sought conscientious objector status, and the possibility of having Episcopalians participate in a Fellowship of Reconciliation (FOR) trip to Iran. Andrus said that his protest sprang not just from his own convictions about the war but "from a base of considered opinion by the House of Bishops and the Episcopal Church about this war." Ordained Ministry Division Names 8 Scholarship Recipients December 7, 2006, NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Six men and two women preparing to further their theological studies have been selected as the 2007-08 Dempster Scholars by the United Methodist Church. The five Dempster Graduate Fellowship recipients receive awards of up to $10,000 a year for five years, not to exceed $30,000 total, and three Dempster Graduate Scholarship recipients receive $1,000 to $5,000 a year. The awards are named for John Dempster, a 19th-century Methodist preacher who helped found three seminaries related to the denomination. Churches Offer Ways to Keep ‘Holy' in Holidays December 8, 2006 – Here they come again, the traditions of the late-year holidays – sumptuous party food, families reuniting, brightly wrapped gifts, soaring carols – and head-pounding stress, frayed nerves and overheated spending. This year, take a breath, and take heart. Within reach is a world of alternative ways to buy gifts and to focus on the multilayered spirituality of Advent, leading to a meaningful Christmas. At First United Methodist Church in Santa Monica, Calif., members are setting up a marketplace of charity – and taking a stand against thoughtless holiday materialism. Scientologists Celebrate United Nations Volunteer Day December 5, 2006, NEW YORK – In celebration of the UN International Volunteer Day, Scientologists in New York announced the appointment of Ms. Meghan Fialkoff to head their "Say No to Drugs – Say Yes to Life" campaign here in New York. The campaign includes massive distribution of a new series of booklets giving the truth about harmful drugs in general, and then booklets on specific drugs like heroin, cocaine, and LSD. Church members have already manned information booths educating people on the harms associates with drug abuse, lectured in schools, community centers and jails. "Parents calling and thanking us inspire Scientologists to do even more volunteer work," says Ms. Fialkoff, the new campaign coordinator for the Church in New York. December 6, 2006, BREKLUM, Germany/GENEVA – The hope for an engaged dialogue in Christian-Muslim relations beyond mere disinterested toleration was expressed by German Lutheran Bishop Dr Hans Christian Knuth at a theological consultation in Breklum, Germany. "I do hope that we will be able to give witness to the love of God and the truth of the Christian faith in interfaith contexts and move beyond mere disinterested toleration, towards an engaged dialogue of love and compassion with people of different beliefs," Knuth, bishop of the North Elbian Evangelical Lutheran Church, Germany, told around 30 participants attending the 1 to 3 December consultation at the Christian-Jensen-Kolleg in Breklum. The Lutheran World Federation (LWF) Department for Theology and Studies (DTS) organized the meeting in cooperation with the North Elbian Mission Center (NMZ). Its theme was "Beyond Toleration? Assessing and responding to the new challenges in Christian-Muslim Relations." The consultation's purpose was to assess the present situation after some decades of LWF work in the area of Christian-Muslim relations, and to deepen theological responses to the new challenges member churches face in this area. Participants mostly came from the LWF member churches in European countries that have recently been experiencing increases in the visible presence of Muslims, and tensions related to this. Other countries represented included Brazil, India, Indonesia, Kenya, Tanzania and the United States. December 6, 2006, BRATISLAVA, Slovak Republic/GENEVA – The participants of the 13th Plenary of the international Lutheran-Orthodox Joint Commission have affirmed recognition of the "broad areas of agreement" in their respective traditions with a view to the understanding of the Eucharist in the life of the church. They adopted a Common Statement titled, "The Mystery of the Church: The Holy Eucharist in the Life of the Church." In a communiqué from the 2 – 9 November meeting of the Joint Commission in Bratislava, Slovak Republic, members of the international dialogue group stated that the "Orthodox and Lutherans both confess that Christ's body and blood are united with bread and wine, to be consumed by communicants, uniting them with Christ and with each other." La Biblia En Quechua Al Alcance De Más Personas 7 diciembre 2006, LIMA, Perú – La Sociedad Bíblica Peruana (SBP) y el Instituto Lingüístico de Verano (ILV), desde hace cuatro años, vienen realizando esfuerzos para poner al alcance de los quechuas hablantes la Biblia en su idioma. Gracias a la contribución generosa de iglesias en los Estados Unidos, se pudo subsidiar la Biblia Quechua, colocándola a solo 10 nuevos soles. "De repente se produjo un tumulto en la parte delantera del templo. Unas treinta personas estuvieron amontonadas allí delante, alcanzando su dinero hacia el púlpito. Aunque no escuché el anuncio hecho en quechua, no me tomó sino un momento para darme cuenta de lo que sucedía. Moscow Bishop Sees No Impact So Far from New NGO Law December 6, 2006 – Concern has been raised over whether a new law in Russia will have an impact on religious organizations there. According to Forum 18 News Service, which focuses on issues of religious freedom, religious organizations could be affected by amendments to several laws, signed by President Vladimir Putin last January, that were meant to pertain to social and non-commercial entities. The Federal Registration Service is requiring religious groups to submit the first annual accounts of their activity by next April, the news service reported. Official forms seek detailed information on events, meetings, projects and governing bodies as well as details on income and financial aid received. Airline Worker Still Appealing Against Cross Ban as British Airways Reviews Policy December 7, 2006 – Nadia Eweida, a British Airways check-in worker, has begun a second appeal against the company's refusal to allow her to wear a small cross outside her uniform. The company said it would review its policy, following pressure by the leader of the worldwide Anglican Communion. "The review will examine ways in which our uniform policy will be adapted to allow symbols of faith to be worn openly while remaining consistent with the British Airways brand and compliant with employment legislation," the company stated in November. Eweida's first appeal against a company request to cover up the cross she was wearing around her neck was turned down on November 20. The decision prompted the Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr. Rowan Williams, to suggest that the Church of England might review its 10 million pound sterling (US$19 million) investment in the company. A British Airways spokesperson told Ecumenical News International on December 7 that a second appeal had always been open to Eweida and that the decision would be announced later. Church Leaders to Make Pilgrimage to Bethlehem December 5, 2006 – Christian leaders have called for prayers throughout Advent for Christians in the Holy Land as they prepare for a pilgrimage to the birth place of Jesus Christ. The four heads of Churches will undertake the pilgrimage in solidarity with Christians living in the Holy Land in the week leading up to Christmas. The pilgrimage is in response to invitations from Christian Churches in the Holy Land. The call for prayer in the Advent season is for the pilgrims, but especially the Christians ("the living stones") who have practised Christianity in that land throughout the last two millennia. Finees Flores, Leader in Hispanic Ministries, Dies at 78 December 6, 2006 – The Rev. Finees Flores Jr., 78, former editor of el Intérprete magazine and an influential figure in the United Methodist Church's Hispanic ministries, died Nov. 18 at his home in San Antonio, after a long struggle with cancer. He was editor of el Intérprete from 1973 to 1986, guiding the magazine from United Methodist Communications' Evanston, Ill., office.
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