Front Page

Church-Backed Border Workers Receive Human Rights Award
Pair Faced Federal Charges for Transporting Undocumented Migrants

April 26, 2007, LOUISVILLE — Two volunteers from a faith-based humanitarian group, who were cleared of human-smuggling charges last year, have won a human rights award for their work assisting distressed migrants along the Arizona-Mexico border. Shanti A. Sellz and Daniel M. Strauss, along with desert-aid group No More Deaths, received the Oscar Romero Award for Human Rights at a ceremony in Houston on April 22. Presbyterian leaders in Arizona were instrumental in helping to establish the three-year-old Tucson-based No More Deaths, which is led and supported by Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) members and congregations.

Middle East Peace Addressed by Ecumenical Coalition in Washington

May 9, 2007 – Twenty Episcopalians from around the country joined an ecumenical coalition in Washington, D.C., May 6-8 to press for sustained diplomatic engagement by the Bush Administration to bring a two-state solution to the Israel-Palestine conflict and a negotiated resolution on the status of Jerusalem. Churches for Middle East Peace (CMEP), a coalition of 22 Orthodox, Protestant, Anglican and Catholic church bodies and organizations, held the conference for 150 attendees who participated in some 65 meetings with Members of Congress and key staff. Before meeting with the law makers, the delegates worshiped together and attended "inside the beltway" briefings on related issues given by lobbyists, representatives of think tanks, academics and government officials.

United Methodists Offer Prayers, Assistance in Kansas

May 10, 2007 – As President Bush surveyed tornado damage in Greensburg, Kan., on May 9, United Methodists responded to the storms across Kansas with prayers and humanitarian aid. Bishop Scott J. Jones, who visited the town the day before Bush, expressed sadness and offered prayers for those affected by the weekend tornados or flooding associated with the storms. United Methodist pastors were helping plan a community-wide ecumenical service set for May 13 in Greensburg, which lies about 108 miles west of Wichita.

General News

Children Share Time, Conversation with ‘Grandpals'

May 10, 2007 – Under a small outdoor gazebo in Osceola, Neb., about a dozen friends talk about planting a garden together. Despite age differences spanning more than half a century, the friends find they have plenty of interests in common. On Mondays twice a month, fourth- and fifth-graders from Osceola United Methodist Church visit residents of the Good Samaritan Center, a nearby assisted living facility. Their "grandpals ministry" is the idea of Osceola Sunday school teacher Jane Roberts. "Teaching Sunday school is more than going through the take-home paper on Sunday morning; it's what we can do above and beyond," Roberts says.

Michigan Lutherans Help Collect Thousands of Pharmaceuticals

May 10, 2007, MARQUETTE, Mich. – Lutherans in northern Michigan helped collect more than one ton of medicines and personal care products April 22 during the third annual Earth Keeper Clean Sweep. The pharmaceuticals had an estimated value of $500,000. The pharmaceuticals will be taken to an EPA-licensed incinerator near St. Louis. The EPA is funding the collection of pharmaceuticals and personal care products because trace amounts of chemicals from those substances are turning up in U.S. drinking water. The public had an "eagerness about being a part of the solution," said the Rev. Thomas A. Skrenes, bishop, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) Northern Great Lakes Synod.

Retired Bishop Urges Leadership on Homosexuality Issue

May 8, 2007, SPRINGMAID BEACH, S.C. – A retired United Methodist bishop told colleagues that any plan that could address the issue of homosexuality in the denomination would "be superior to prudent silence." Bishop Jack Tuell of Des Moines, Wash., urged the Council of Bishops to exercise leadership on the divisive and emotionally charged issue. Tuell offered his comments to the council May 3 after an episcopal committee voted to table a recommendation to change the church's stance on homosexuality. The denomination's Book of Discipline says the church "does not condone the practice of homosexuality and consider(s) this practice incompatible with Christian teaching."

Union of Black Episcopalians to Focus on Reconciliation July 2-6 in Houston
Presiding Bishop to Preach at Reconciliation Eucharist

May 8, 2007 – The 39th annual meeting and conference of the Union of Black Episcopalians (UBE) is set for July 2-6 at the Hilton Americas Hotel in Houston, Texas. An estimated 300 Episcopalians will gather under the theme "Telling Our Story: Hearing God's Call for Reconciliation" for a time of reflection, renewal, and some re-visioning. "Our theme of reconciliation provides an opportunity for us, as black people living in these times, to indeed walk with God," said Dianne Audrick Smith, annual meeting coordinator. "It is a family reunion time in the church where we see old friends, get caught up, and have an opportunity to stretch our minds theologically."

Ecumenical News

Ecumenical Gathering in Stuttgart Reflects a "New Europe," Says Kobia

May 10, 2007 – "Together for Europe 2007," an ecumenical gathering to be held 10-12 May in Stuttgart, Germany, has been hailed with "great joy" by Rev. Dr Samuel Kobia, general secretary of the World Council of Churches (WCC). In a message to participants, Kobia expressed his hope that their experience will enable Christians "to continue growing together in a spirituality of unity and love." Co-moderated by a WCC president, Archbishop Dr Anastasios of Tirana, head of the Orthodox Autocephalous Church of Albania, the event is promoted by more than 170 Christian movements and communities from Catholic, Orthodox, Anglican and Protestant confessions. A number of European church leaders and politicians are expected to participate. "We have seen the encouraging outcomes of your last meeting: the fruits of the co-operation of Christian communities and organizations in the spirit of unity across the still existing divisions between church families," says Kobia in his message celebrating the encounter.

Spanish News

Benedicto XVI Desembarcó En La Capital Paulista Y Criticó El Aborto

10 mayo 2007, SAN PABLO, Brasil – En discurso proferido luego de su llegada en San Pablo, en la tarde de ayer, el papa Benedicto XVI dijo que Brasil ocupa un lugar especial en su corazón, enfatizó la solidariedad como instrumento de un futuro de paz y de esperanza para todos e hizo una velada crítica al aborto. Recibido por el presidente de la República, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, y por el arzobispo emérito de San Pablo, Paulo Evaristo Arns, el papa expresó alegría por poder convivir algunos días con el pueblo brasileño y dijo que América Latina conserva valores "radicalmente cristianos que jamás serán cancelados." Benedicto XVI inaugura, el domingo, la V Conferencia General del Episcopado Latino-Americano y Caribeño (CELAM), que estará reunida en Aparecida del Norte del 13 al 31 de mayo.

Obispos Alertan Sobre Calentamiento Global Y Producción De Etanol

10 mayo 2007, ITAICI, SAN PABLO, Brasil – El calentamiento global exige cambios en los padrones éticos y un estilo de vida más sobrio, destaca la declaración de la 45a. Asamblea General de la Conferencia Nacional de los Obispos del Brasil (CNBB), cerrada el 9 en Itaici, Indaiatuba, San Pablo. El documento alerta que la busca de energía con base en el etanol, una de las banderas del gobierno del presidente Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, no puede ser construida "en detrimento del equilibrio ecológico, de la reforma agraria y de la soberanía alimentaria, lo que contrastaría con la fraternidad y los derechos fundamentales de la persona humana."

Judíos Y Cristianos Oran Juntos a Partir De Los Salmos

7 mayo 2007, BUENOS AIRES, Argentina – Que los salmos son parte inseparable de la tradición cristiana y que su riqueza literaria y litúrgica hacen posible la adoración y la alabanza en cualquier comunidad de fe, nadie puede negarlo. Lo que es más difícil, es recordar siempre que son parte inseparable de la tradición judía, de lo que conocemos por Antiguo Testamento, pero también del judaísmo actual. Un encuentro que propone orar juntos judíos y cristianos a partir de los Salmos, se realizará mañana en esta ciudad.

"Niñez Y Discapacidad" Será Tema De Reflexión En Distintos Espacios Públicos

9 mayo 2007, BUENOS AIRES, Argentina – Ricardo Gross, Secretario Regional de la Región Río de la Plata de la Red Ecuménica en Defensa de las Personas con Discapacidad (E.D.A.N.), del Consejo Mundial de Iglesias, informa que del 9 al 15 de mayo visitará esta capital, la licenciada Brenda Darke, una misionera inglesa con vasta experiencia en el trabajo con niñez portadora de discapacidad. La experta realizará dos presentaciones y una mesa redonda.

Inician Programa De Libertad Religiosa, Ante Negativa Del Gobierno
De Intervenir En Casos De Intolerancia

7 mayo 2007, MÉXICO – Este lunes dará comienzo el Programa Nacional de Libertad Religiosa, "ante la falta de capacidad del Gobierno Federal y de autoridades locales para erradicar los casos de intolerancia religiosa que se registran en el país," informa la Barra de Abogados Cristianos de México. "Luego de la negativa gubernamental de crear una Fiscalía Especial para Asuntos de Intolerancia Religiosa, y de no permitir la incursión de personal no católico en la Dirección General del ramo, dependiente de la Secretaría de Gobernación, esta Barra recibirá y dará seguimiento legal a todos los casos que sean reportados en la República Mexicana," afirman.

Iglesia Luterana Lanza Campaña Para El Cuidado Del Agua

8 mayo 2007, SAN SALVADOR – La Iglesia Luterana Salvadoreña hizo pública su preocupación ante la escasez y contaminación del agua, a la vez que presentó una campaña tendiente a crear conciencia y cuidar este vital recurso. "Un tema preocupante a nivel mundial y nacional es el agua. Científicos pronostican una gran crisis por la escasez, contaminación y mal uso de este recurso, y siendo el agua creación de Dios, no podemos ni debemos quedarnos callados ante tales flagelos," afirman. La campaña, que será permanente tiene como lema: "El Agua es Creación de Dios: Cuidarla y Defenderla es nuestra Misión."

Líderes Católicos Paraguayos Resaltan El Valor De La Solidaridad

8 mayo 2007, LA HABANA, Cuba – El valor de la solidaridad, como una de las expresiones más auténticas del amor expresada en el capítulo 13 de Juan, fue resaltado por dos líderes de la Iglesia Católica uruguaya, durante un culto en la Iglesia Bautista "Ebenezer," de la barriada de Marianao en esta capital. Invitados por el Centro Memorial Doctor Martin Luther King Jr., el obispo católico paraguayo Miguel Medina y el ex obispo Fernando Lugo, fueron recibidos por un grupo de directivos del Consejo de Iglesias de Cuba y miembros y líderes de diversas denominaciones eclesiales, a fin de sostener un intercambio sobre los desafíos del ecumenismo actual.

El Hambre Y La Pobreza, En La Mira De Organizaciones Y Del Gobierno

11 mayo 2007, MANAGUA, Nicaragua – El domingo 13 de mayo el Programa Mundial de Alimentos (PMA), con apoyo de la empresa de correos TNT con sede en Holanda, realizará una marcha de unos dos kilómetros por el centro de esta capital para llamar la atención a la ciudadanía sobre el problema de la pobreza y el hambre que agobia a Nicaragua. Por su parte el gobierno lanzó, el fin de semana del 5 de mayo, en la comunidad de Raiti,Bocay, al norte del departamento de Jinotega, distante a más de 300 kilómetros de la capital, su programa Hambre Cero, que pretende combatir la pobreza entregando este año a 15 mil familias campesinas, una vaca preñada, una cerda cubierta, gallinas, material para los corrales, semillas para hortalizas, plantas frutales y un biodigestor.

La Iglesia Metodista Se Expresa Sobre La Reforma Del Código Civil

7 mayo 2007, SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – Puerto Rico se encuentra en un proceso de revisión de su Código Civil, el que data del año 1889. Los proyectos de reforma del máximo cuerpo legislativo social de la isla, han generado no pocos problemas en la sociedad. Mientras sectores defienden la posibilidad de modificaciones que contemplen las uniones de hecho, el derecho a una muerte digna cuando la persona padece de una enfermedad terminal o que afecte sustancialmente la calidad de su vida, y otros temas del campo de la bioética, la Iglesia Católica y otras denominaciones manifiestan su disconformidad contra las mismas.

National News

Faith, Community and Time
That's the Remedy amid Emotional Return for Virginia Tech Students

April 26, 2007, LOUISVILLE – As classes resumed Monday (April 23) at Virginia Tech, life in the small college town of Blacksburg following last week's shootings has been a "mixture of fear and anxiety and strength and community," according to the Rev. Alex W. Evans, pastor of Blacksburg Presbyterian Church. Evans has been close to the aftermath of the deadly April 16 shooting rampage by 23-year-old Seung-Hui Cho, the loner student who killed 32 Virginia Tech classmates and faculty members before turning the gun on himself. "In addition to a little bit of fear and anxiety, there's been this sort of strength in community that we're going to carry on here," Evans said. "That's really been wonderful." The 49-year-old Evans, who also serves as a Blacksburg Police Department chaplain, assisted authorities with the brutal task of providing death notices to grieving family members in the hours following the tragedy.

International News

'Graft and Corruption'
That's the Name of the Game in the Philippines, Moderator Told

May 9, 2007, MANILA – The biggest problems facing the Philippines today are massive poverty, endemic corruption and worsening violence and criminality, according to one of the island nation's most venerable statesmen. Jovito R. Salonga, an 86-year-old former Filipino senator, retired attorney and son of a Presbyterian minister, recently met with the Rev. Joan S. Gray, moderator of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)'s 217th General Assembly. Salonga, long known here as a champion of democracy and human rights, served four decades in public office, including a stint as senate president, under three different administrations – Diosdado Macapagal, Ferdinand Marcos and Corazon Aquino. Salonga, who opposed the Marcos dictatorship, discussed the upcoming elections in his country and the impact of United States policy on the Philippines. He also railed against U.S. President George W. Bush and cheered the emergence of Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Barack Obama of Illinois.

People in the News

The Accidental Participant – Hungarian Pastor George Posfay Looks Back 60 Years

May 11, 2007, LUND, Sweden/GENEVA – This is how it all started: "Listen boys, I have received a message from Geneva." George Posfay, then an assistant pastor in Hungary, got the word shortly after World War II ended. European governments were being re-organized. Families were rebuilding their lives. Churches were re-examining their priorities. A group of Lutherans in Geneva had invited Hungarian pastors to go to Sweden for post-graduate study. He went first to Uppsala, then to Lund. Lutherans in Geneva were talking, too. From 30 June to 6 July 1947, representatives of Lutheran churches gathered in Lund, Sweden, for the founding Assembly of the Lutheran World Federation (LWF), with headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland. At the assembly, Posfay represented his native Hungary. He adds, he attended the Lund meeting by accident.

Reviews

A Bold Historical Analysis of How the Christ Figure Has Been Co-opted

May 9, 2007, MINNEAPOLIS – Our images of Christ have been shaped by empire at significant turning points, says theologian Joerg Rieger. In fact, he says in his new book Christ and Empire: From Paul to Postcolonial Times, the figure of Christ was inextricably bound to the bloody advance of empires in the past and even today is implicated in new and subtler empires. Although we are loathe to admit it, crusade and conquest and commerce have formed the Christian faith. Through bold historical Analysis of Christianity from earliest times, Rieger's ambitious and faith-filled project chips away at the colonial legacy of Christology to find the authentic Christ. The surprising and liberating insight of this book is that despite constant pressure from empire, Christ could never be co-opted altogether. There is something in the reality of Jesus Christ's own peculiar refusal to acquiesce to empire that continues to inspire Christians throughout the ages and even today.

A First-Person Look at Poverty

May 7, 2007, MINNEAPOLIS – In My Name is Child of God . . . Not "Those People" master storyteller Julia Dinsmore shares her vision of justice for the poor. This personal and provocative look at poverty in America is shaped around the author's own engaging stories, song lyrics, and poems, including the well-known Call Me Child of God . . . Not Those People. The story of her growing up in a large Irish Catholic working-class family in Minneapolis, Minnesota, draws together the experiences of living in poverty, the role of the church and music in her life, and them many remarkable people who populated her life and the lives of her family. The author describes economic hardship and social challenges as being as "regular as the turning seasons in my coming up years," and refers to her life in poverty as the "soil of my art."