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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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Multimedia: Episcopal Migration Ministries Director Richard Parkins June 14, 2007 – Episcopal Migration Ministries (EMM), on behalf of the Episcopal Church, carries out the ministry it began more than 60 years ago to relieve the burden of the world's suffering through refugee resettlement and advocacy. World Refugee Day was established by the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees to commemorate the spirit and courage of refugees each year on June 20. EMM asks parishes and communities within the Episcopal Church to join in remembering the millions of refugees around the world who have fled persecution, war and violence to seek better lives. Christian Reformed Synod Removes ‘Male' as Requirement for Office June 13, 2007, GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – Synod 2007 made a historic decision last night, voting to remove the word "male" as a requirement for holding ecclesiastical office in the Christian Reformed Church. This opens the way for any CRC congregation to ordain women as ministers, elders, deacons or ministry associates. Today, synod will take up two remaining proposals that include opening the way for women to serve as delegates to synod. The decision last night also reflected synod's desire to maintain unity in the church by respecting the convictions of those who believe the Bible prohibits women serving as office bearers. It allows classes to set restrictions on women serving as delegates to classis meetings. HIV/AIDS Awareness, Education Focus of Standing Committee, National Coalition Work June 11, 2007 – Speaking to the Church about the importance of HIV/AIDS training and education, and eliminating the stigma associated with the disease is central to the work of the Standing Committee on HIV/AIDS and the National Episcopal AIDS Coalition (NEAC). The primary focus of both groups is to provide support for HIV and AIDS ministries throughout the Episcopal Church, especially for caregivers and those who minister to people infected or affected by the disease. NEAC – formed in 1988 and funded partly by General Convention – operates as an independent non-profit organization, and the Standing Committee is mandated by Executive Council. Both groups have a long history of collaborative work that raises awareness of the more than 1 million people living with HIV in the U.S. and the 40,000+ new infections reported each year, half of which occur among people aged 25 and younger. Liturgies Provide Comfort, Support to Service Members June 13, 2007, NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Duty places a heavy burden on military service members, and warriors need to feel their faith community shares that burden with them, says a Navy chaplain who has served in Iraq. The needs of service members leaving for and returning from Iraq and Afghanistan is the focus of a task force formed by the United Methodist boards of Church and Society and Higher Education and Ministry. As part of that effort, the Rev. Laura J. Bender, a Navy chaplain, has written two liturgies for congregations to use in services to bless the deploying soldier and welcome home the returning warrior. ‘Summer 2007 ELCA World Hunger Resource Packet' Available June 15, 2007 – The summer 2007 World Hunger Resource Packet of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) is now available. The packet contains resources to help individuals, congregations and synods learn more about and participate in ending world hunger. "Our ‘go and do likewise' theme journeys its way through ELCA World Hunger resources. The theme is drawn from the parable of the Good Samaritan, the gospel text for Sunday, July 15. This would be a natural Sunday [for congregations] to distribute ELCA World Hunger resources," said Sue Edison-Swift, associate director for marketing and interpretation, hunger and disaster communication, ELCA Development Services. Texas Man Mentors Boys Through Big Brothers June 14, 2007, DALLAS – Dale Long believes a boy needs a father figure-a role model-while he's growing up. And Long has filled that role for more than three decades as a volunteer for Big Brothers Big Sisters. "These kids are everywhere. Grandmothers are raising kids now," says Long, a public information officer for the city of Dallas. "Our young people are our future. And in order for our young men, especially, to be men, they've got to see a man." 15,000 Gather as Denomination Celebrates 150 Years June 10, 2007, GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – Twelve thousand worshippers gathered in the Van Andel arena in Grand Rapids on Sunday afternoon, plus about 2,000 more in an overflow venue, in the largest worship service ever held by the Christian Reformed Church. The service celebrated the denomination's 150th anniversary and looked forward to what the Lord still has in store. A 500-voice choir assembled from Christian Reformed churches across west Michigan, was led by choir director Anton Armstrong. Synod Hears Greetings from Fraternal Delegates June 14, 2007, GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – In his first official act as president of the Reformed Church in America, Rev. John Ornee warmly greeted the Christian Reformed Church synod yesterday. "We are family-born out of pain to be sure, but... after the pain of childbirth comes the joy of living, of living out our faith together," he said. The CRC and RCA share full ecumenical fellowship, including the exchange of pastors. "We are finding ever-increasing ways to partner together in a broken world," said Ornee. "As we move so easily and so freely into each other's worlds, I believe that God is wonderfully and greatly pleased." Synod Encourages Dialogue on Belhar Confession June 12, 2007, GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – Synod today encouraged Christian Reformed churches to become familiar with the Belhar Confession, a declaration focusing on justice, unity and reconciliation. Originally written in Afrikaans and adopted by the synod of the Dutch Reformed Mission Church (DRMC) in South Africa, the Belhar Confession is named after a suburb of Cape Town, South Africa, where a general synod of the DRMC met in 1982. The Uniting Reformed Church in Southern Africa has asked the CRC to consider the Belhar and respond to it. Synod 2006 had noted that the CRC lacks a strong confession on race relations. Synod encouraged the Interchurch Relations Committee to hold regional dialogues across the denomination to familiarize churches with the confession and its issues and stimulate discussion towards a recommendation for Synod 2009. United Methodists Join Interfaith Dialogue in Fiji June 11, 2007 – Two United Methodist leaders say fruitful dialogue among representatives of different faiths is being organized outside the mainstream ecumenical movement. That is one of the reasons why the Rev. Larry Pickens, chief executive of the United Methodist Commission on Christian Unity and Interreligious Concerns, and the Rev. W. Douglas Mills, a commission executive, accepted an invitation for dialogue from Tony Robbins, a well-known motivational speaker, author and leadership coach. Pickens said churches and faith groups that historically have not been part of the ecumenical movement are becoming more involved in non-traditional forms of dialogue. He expects to see more forums hosted by individuals such as Robbins who believe conversation across faith lines can impact the world positively. Fue Ordenada La Primera Obispa Episcopal En América Latina 11 junio 2007, LA HABANA, Cuba – Eran las 11:15 a.m. cuando la congregación reunida en la Catedral de la Santísima Trinidad de esta ciudad prorrumpía en aplausos en el momento en que la reverenda Nerva Cota recibía la imposición de manos, y era declarada Obispa Sufragánea de la Iglesia Episcopal de Cuba, hecho pionero en el país y en América Latina. Junto a ella recibió la misma investidura Ulises Agüero, pastor en Santiago de Cuba, para de esa manera convertirse en auxiliares en el occidente y oriente del país. Carta Pastoral Ecuménica Insta a Las Iglesias a La Unión Y La Responsabilidad En Tema Ambiental 14 junio 2007, GUALEGUAYCHÚ, Argentina-Uruguay – Cuando el tema "papeleras" ha salido de la agenda mediática nacional, pero coincidente con un nuevo pedido del gobernador de Entre Ríos, Jorge Busti, para que el país insista en sus planteos ante el Tribunal de la Haya, representantes de siete Iglesias, de la Federación Argentina de Iglesias Evangélicas y de la Diócesis Católica de Gualeguaychú (Entre Ríos), dieron a conocer una Carta Pastoral destinada a las comunidades de fe del Consejo Latinoamericano de Iglesias (CLAI) y de la Iglesia Católica Romana (ICR). Editorial: El Abandono Y Maltrato De Los Ancianos, Un Tema Vergonzosamente Recurrente 15 junio 2007, BUENOS AIRES – Desde siempre, los pueblos que se precian de responsables y sabios, han respetado, cuidado y honrado a sus ancianos. Bien sabido es que en oriente, la tradición está fuertemente atada a los mayores y cada persona nace y crece sabiendo que se les debe honra y cariño. La Biblia, como libro que refleja la vida de un pueblo del oriente, no es ajena a esta realidad. Basta leer en Salmos, Proverbios y Eclesiastés, para conocer la idiosincrasia judía que ve en la cabeza blanqueada por los años un signo de tiempos vividos, de aprendizajes efectuados, de sabiduría a tener en cuenta. Iglesias Respaldan El Reclamo De Tierras De Puerto Casado 12 junio 2007, ASUNCIÓN, Paraguay – El Comité de Iglesias de Paraguay (CIPAE) –entidad que viene acompañando el proceso histórico de pedido de tierras para los habitantes de Puerto Casado, en el noreste de Paraguay- expresó a través de un comunicado, su repudio e indignación hacia la decisión de la Corte Suprema de Justicia por la sentencia que declara inconstitucional la expropiación de 52 mil hectáreas de tierra que beneficiaba a pobladores de esa localidad. Día Mundial Del Refugiado: Colapsa El Sistema De Protección Trinidad Vázquez 15 junio 2007, MANAGUA, Nicaragua – En vísperas de la celebración del Día Mundial del Refugiado, el 20 de junio, las autoridades de Migración de esta capital, a cargo de la licenciada Maria Antonieta Novoa, están atravesando un serio problema económico para brindar atención a 187 migrantes ilegales, un 90 por ciento de origen chino, y el resto de Ecuador y Colombia. Blanca Fonseca, delegada del Consejo de Iglesias Evangélicas Pro Alianza Denominacional,CEPAD, que representa en esta capital a la oficina del Alto Comisionado de las Naciones Unidas para Atención de los Refugiados, ACNUR, declaró que lo grave de la situación de los chinos indocumentados de Taiwán y China Continental es que una mayoría están enfermos de dengue, lo que les causa fiebres y dolores en las articulaciones, no contando quienes los atienden con suficientes camas y ropas. Groundbreaking Human Rights Video Earn Honors for 22-year-old Director from UN Writers' Society June 11, 2007, NEW YORK – Human rights activists, artists and UN officials gathered at the Church of Scientology just off Times Square last Tuesday (June 5th) to applaud as Mr. Hans Janitschek, President of the UN Society of Writers, gave its prestigious Award of Excellence to Taron X. Lexton, creator of a 30-part video work bringing to life each of the 30 articles of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Janitschek said Lexton, 22 years old, is the youngest individual to receive the medal, which has been given to statesmen such as Mikhail Gorbachev and literary figures like Norman Mailer. He extolled the video works, created as part of a human rights education program by Youth for Human Rights International, saying the videos are "not just Public Service Announcements, but expressions of life and jewels of insight into human beings." Young Adult Gathering, ‘Camino: a Sacred Journey,' Set for San Francisco September 21-23 June 12, 2007 – Groups of young adults from around the country will participate in an urban journey to ignite their faith, inspire their walk and invigorate their call to seek and serve Christ in others. "Camino: A Sacred Journey" is a young adult gathering set for September 21-23 at Grace Cathedral in San Francisco, California. Through provocative workshops, creative worship and an interactive urban pilgrimage focused on global peace and justice, participants of Camino will partake in an urban pilgrimage, exploring the cities many contrasts, paradoxes, eccentricities and challenges while discovering sites where the values of the Millennium Development Goals, Baptismal Covenant and Franciscan Spirituality are being practiced. June 12, 2007 – "Asi lo haremos – We will!" thundered the standing-room-only congregation at Havana's Episcopal Cathedral of the Holy Trinity, when asked if they would accept as Cuba's first bishops suffragan the Revd Canon Nerva Cot Aguilera and Archdeacon Ulises Mario Aguero Prendes. The Revd Cot – the first woman Anglican bishop in Latin America and Archdeacon Aguero were consecrated in a nearly three-hour service Sunday, June 10 that blended Anglican dignity and Cuban spontaneity. Anglican and Episcopal bishops from Europe and North, Central and South America joined representatives from a number of Cuban faith traditions, including Greek Orthodox and Afro-Cuban clergy, along with the head of the Religious Affairs Office for the Communist Party of Cuba, Caridad Diego, who told the BBC her government, was proud that the country had a woman bishop. Churches Share Stories of Filipino Martyrs June 14, 2007, PINOLE, Calif. – They left the sanctuary as they came in: silently, in single file, carrying photographs of young men and women killed throughout the Philippines in "extra-judicial killings"-deaths without due process. The silent walk-in has become the group's signature protest. As members of a fact-finding team from the United Methodist California-Nevada Annual (regional) Conference, they visit churches to share information about alleged brutality toward Filipino citizens by the military of the Philippines. Jerusalem Church Leaders Appeal for End to Palestinian Fighting June 15, 2007, JERUSALEM – Christian leaders in Jerusalem have issued an urgent call to warring Palestinian factions to stop fighting, and have warned that the conflict risks undermining the campaign to achieve an independent Palestinian state. "This domestic fighting where the brother draws his weapon in the face of his brother is detrimental to all the aspirations of achieving security and stability for the Palestinian people," the patriarchs and heads of churches said in a 14 June appeal. More than 80 people, mostly gunmen but also children and other civilians, are reported to have been killed in five days of fighting between the two major Palestinian factions, Fatah and Hamas. The church leaders said the fighting was diverting international attention away from the "Palestinian people's hope of attaining independence together with freedom from occupation." June 12, 2007, NEW YORK – His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios, Primate of the Greek Orthodox Church in America, received the distinguished Rabbi Marc H. Tanenbaum Award for the Advancement of Interreligious Understanding at the Gotham Hall in New York City on Monday, June 11, 2007. The Tanenbaum Center for Interreligious Understanding is a non-sectarian organization that addresses unresolved tensions by helping to change behaviors in religiously-diverse workplaces, schools and in areas of armed conflict. The Center has earned a global reputation for promoting tolerance and harmony among people of different faiths. Fortress Press Releases Pioneering African American New Testament Commentary June 14, 2007, MINNEAPOLIS – From the intellectual heart of the African American churches comes a pathbreaking commentary that provides biblical interpretation grounded in African American experience and concern. In True to Our Native Land: An African American New Testament Commentarycutting-edge scholarship calls into question many of the canons of traditional biblical research and highlights the role of the Bible in African American history, accenting themes of ethnicity, class, slavery, and African heritage as these play a role in the Christian odyssey of an emancipated people. As the first African American commentary on the New Testament, True to Our Native Land addresses the unique historical, social, cultural, religious, and political realities that have shaped the African American experience of the Bible. Landmark Explorations of the Environment of the Early Church June 13, 2007, MINNEAPOLIS – In Paul and His World: Interpreting the New Testament and Its Context, Helmut Koester, one of the most erudite New Testament scholars of our time brings insight from a career of interpretation and a wealth of archaeological, historical, and cultural data to illuminate Paul's place in his world. Paul and His World is the first of two volumes of landmark essays in New Testament interpretation from Koester. This volume presents critical essays on theology and eschatology in Paul's letters, the apostle's religious and cultural context, and the interaction of early Christianity with its Greco-Roman environment, as reflected in ancient literature and archaeological remains.
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