Front Page

NCC to Sponsor Ecumenical Work Week in New Orleans
Aug. 19-25 Event Will Include Worship, Labor and ‘Listening Tour'

July 24, 2007, NEW YORK – To mark the second anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, the National Council of Churches' Special Commission for the Just Rebuilding of the Gulf Coast is sponsoring an Ecumenical Work Week from Aug. 19-25, 2007 in New Orleans Entitled "Here Until the Work is Done: A Time for Ecumenical Worship, Witness and Work," the event is designed "to be a powerful witness of coming together on the occasion of the second anniversary to stand with, support and encourage families in the Gulf Coast region as they rebuild their lives."

ELCA, Other Faith Groups Urge Farm Bill Reform to Help Farmers in Need

July 26, 2007, WASHINGTON – As the 2007 Farm Bill headed to the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives on July 26, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) joined with other faith groups in backing amendments to the House Agriculture Committee's bill that would help farmers in need both in the United States and internationally. The U.S. Farm Bill, scheduled to be reauthorized in 2007, determines agriculture, nutrition and conservation policies. The House Agriculture Committee completed its work on the bill July 19. "The House Agriculture Committee's bill is unjust. It maintains the status quo on a commodity system that does not support the majority of farmers in the U.S., while harming farmers in poor countries," said the Rev. Philip Hougen, bishop, ELCA Southeastern Iowa Synod, Iowa City.

Youth Trace the Walk of the Greensboro Four

July 26, 2007, GREENSBORO, N.C. – United Methodist youth learned about making a difference in the lives of others by walking in the footsteps of four African-American college students whose actions in 1960 helped fuel a movement across the South. Participants in Youth 2007 traced the path of the Greensboro Four – four male freshmen at North Carolina A&T State University who protested against racial injustice by organizing a sit-in at the "whites only" lunch counter of Woolworth's Department Store on Feb. 1, 1960. While African Americans could shop at the store and use a standup lunch counter, they were not allowed to sit and be served lunch.

General News

The LWF Invites Online Donations
an Opportunity to Support the Communion's Worldwide Activities

July 27, 2007, GENEVA – It is now possible to donate directly online to the humanitarian and development work of the Lutheran World Federation (LWF), as well as to its general programs. A new donation portal with the slogan "Get Involved – Make a Difference – A Better World is Possible," invites Internet users to support the communion's worldwide activities. An opportunity is offered to enter into partnership with the LWF and accompany its work on a long-term basis. As described by LWF Office for Communication Services Director, Ms Karin Achtelstetter, the portal allows LWF Web site visitors to "go on a voyage of discovery, find out about the LWF's many different programs and projects, be surprised, return, and tell others about it."

Jesus Sightings: ‘Road to Emmaus – the Musical' Highlights Triennium Worship

July 23, 2007, WEST LAFEYETTE, IN – Their dramatic interpretations of Bible stories have been inspired throughout the 2007 Presbyterian Youth Triennium here, but Saturday (July 21) Goose Chase, Inc. outdid themselves. "The Road to Emmaus – The Musical" told the story of the risen Christ's encounter with two followers as recorded in Luke 24 through song, dance and parodies of Saturday Night Live and entertainment news programs on television. Two Goose Chasers, portraying "In Your Face News" anchors, reported on several Jesus sightings following the resurrection, while obviously doctored photos flashed on the large overhead screens of an iconic Jesus standing with a group of surfers on a beach, standing in front of Sleeping Beauty's castle at Disneyland, and surveying the Great Wall of China. The scene then shifts to the road to Emmaus, where Goose Chasers portraying Jesus' followers are strolling. "Just follow the yellow brick road," one tells the other, before muttering, "Oops, wrong musical."

Methodists Offer Prayers in Slaying of Family

July 27, 2007, GROVE CITY, Pa. – Mourners offered prayers and posted messages of condolence for the Rev. Richard and Marybelle Hawke at a prayer wall set up at the United Methodist Western Pennsylvania Conference's Cooperative School of Christian Mission. The couple's daughter, Jennifer Hawke-Petit, 48, and two granddaughters, Hayley, 17, and Michaela, 11, were murdered June 23 in a home invasion in Cheshire, Conn. Her husband, William Petit, an endocrinologist, was beaten and hospitalized. Hawke served as the first male clergy dean of the conference's school of mission and as a district superintendent in Pittsburgh.

USA Today Touts Presbyterian Disaster Assistance
PC(USA) Ranks High with More than 29,000 Gulf Coast Volunteers

July 23, 2007, LOUISVILLE – According to a report in USA Today – the largest newspaper in the country – the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) has sent more volunteers to the Gulf coast to help relief and rebuilding efforts since Hurricane Katrina struck almost two years ago. According to a list compiled by the newspaper, 29,345 Presbyterians have aided the Katrina relief efforts, ranking the PC(USA) fourth among all faith-based organizations. Only the Southern Baptist Convention, Habitat for Humanity and the United Methodist Committee on Relief have contributed more volunteer workers to the relief effort. Most of the PC(USA)'s efforts have been coordinated by Presbyterian Disaster Assistance (PDA).

Living Waters' Ministry of Facilitating the Flow of Clean Water Worldwide Promoted on YouTube
Effort One of Several Designed to Raise Awareness of the Organization

July 26, 2007, LOUISVILLE – A Presbyterian ministry that helps provide clean water to places in the world that need it most has tapped the ultra-popular video Web site YouTube.com to increase the flow of its message. Living Waters for the World (LWW), a ministry of the Synod of Living Waters of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) based in Franklin, TN, has posted a video on the site that explains the work it does and encourages others to join the effort. Those who visit the YouTube site will hear LWW administrator Steve Young talk about the world's critical situation involving clean water, and how the LWW "trains and equips mission teams to share the gift of clean water with communities in need."

Ecumenical News

NCC Ecumenists Told They Are ‘Salt of the Earth'

July 23, 2007, OBERLIN, Ohio – "You of the Faith and Order movement are the salt of the earth," said the Rev. James Forbes, preaching at the final prayer service of the 50 anniversary conference of the first Oberlin ecumenical gathering. "Faith and Order has nourished a consciousness" of a larger church, said Forbes who recently retired after 18 years as senior minister at The Riverside Church, New York City. If there ever was a time for a new Great Awakening to happen in our nation the time is now, he said. "Who would've thought that the new Great Awakening could breakout at a Faith and Order conference," Forbes said, urging nearly 300 attendees to return to their 80 Christian denominations and organizations to be "truth and light at a time of darkness." For five days participants examined several questions including what might Christian unity in the United States look like.

National Council of Churches Ecumenical Film Fest a Hit in Oberlin

July 22, 2007, OBERLIN, Ohio – More than a year ago a call went out to filmmakers who may not have reflected on ecumenism before to produce short films on the same issues facing those working for Christian unity. It was billed as "the first ever Oikumene Film Festival to promote exploration of visual media as a form of ecumenical expression." Eight films were chosen for screening at this week's (July 19-23) National Council of Churches (NCC) USA's Faith and Order Commission conference, "On Being Christian Together."

Orthodox Archbishop Slams Pope's "Medieval Fables"

July 23, 2007 – In a strongly worded response to Pope Benedict's recent re-assertion of the primacy of the Catholic Church, Australian Greek Orthodox leader Archbishop Stylianos has accused the pontiff of becoming an "ardent herald of the medieval fables of the papacy." In a statement to Neos Kosmos, Archbishop Stylianos called the Pope's statement "unexpected and highly offensive." "I could never have imagined that my humble estimations of Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger and his overall work prior to his elevation as Pope would prove so soon to be justified and indicative," Archbishop Stylianos said. "After his elevation we saw his sudden transformation into the most ardent herald of Medieval fables of the papacy," Archbishiop Stylianos added.

Spanish News

Luteranos Son Motivados a Interceder Por El Ecumenismo

23 julio 2007, PUERTO ALEGRE, Brasil – La presidencia de la Iglesia Evangélica de Confesión Luterana en el Brasil (IECLB) incentivó a pastores y predicadores a interceder en los cultos dominicales de las próximas semanas por la causa del ecumenismo. En una carta dirigida a las más de 1.800 parroquias de la IECLB esparcidas por el país el pastor presidente, Walter Altmann, invitó a interceder para "que todas las iglesias que confiesan a Jesucristo como Señor y Salvador puedan reconocerse plenamente unas a las otras, en el camino de la unidad."

Los Talibanes Ejecutan a Uno De Los 23 Misioneros Protestantes Secuestrados

25 julio 2007, KABUL, Afganistan – Los terroristas interceptaron el autobús en el que viajaban los misioneros evangélicos secuestrados en la localidad de Qara Bagh cuando viajaban en un autobús entre la sureña Kandahar y la capital del país, Kabul, en la región de Ghazni. El secuestro de los 23 surcoreanos, 15 de ellos mujeres, se produjo el pasado jueves 19 de julio. Posteriormente fueron reunidos con dos ingenieros alemanes tomados como rehenes el día anterior en la vecina ciudad de Maidan Wardak. Uno de los ingenieros alemanes ha sido ya asesinado.

Más De Cien Obispos Y Cinco Arzobispos Anglicanos Se Reúnen En Madrid

23 julio 2007, MADRID, España 23 – Con el titulo: "Caminando hacia Emaus" comenzó el pasado 20 de julio, en el Escorial, una conferencia que ha reunido a mas de cien obispos anglicanos y cinco arzobispos, para estudiar posibles vías de colaboración entre iglesias nacionales del primer mundo y del tercer mundo, en un momento crucial para la Comunión Anglicana. La Iglesia Española Reformada Episcopal acoge esta conferencia, que esta auspiciada por la Parroquia de la Santísima Trinidad de la ciudad de Nueva York, que apoya numerosos programas de desarrollo en el tercer mundo por ser la Iglesia cristiana mas rica del planeta.

Homosexuales Y Transexuales Comparten Una Página Web De Recursos Cristianos

27 julio 2007, VALENCIA, España – La página web se llama FeyVida.es; su portada tiene llamativos colores y el texto de Gálatas 3 ."..porque todos somos uno en Cristo Jesús" en el encabezado. Más abajo da la bienvenida a un cúmulo de recursos bíblicos, foros y música destinados al público cristiano con orientación sexual homo o transexual. La responsable del sitio dice ser la Asociación Evangélica Nacional de España Inclusiva GLBTT, presidida por David (sin otra identificación).

Personas Viviendo Con VIH Se Sienten Discriminadas Por Las Iglesias Susana Barrera

27 julio 2007, CIUDAD DE GUATEMALA – En Centro América, las personas que viven con el Virus de Inmunodeficiencia Humana (VIH) se sienten discriminadas por los religiosos, reveló una encuesta realizada por la empresa Cid Gallup. Durante un encuentro en la ciudad de Guatemala, el 24 y 25 de julio, que reunió a Personas Viviendo con Virus del Sida (PVVS), comunicadores y representantes de iglesias de la región centroamericana, quedó claro que además de los maestros, personal de salud, personal en prisiones, patrones, las iglesias aún continúan discriminando a las PPVS.

Visita Solidaria a Palestina/Israel – En Imágenes

25 julio 2007 – El secretario general del Consejo Mundial de Iglesias (CMI), pastor Dr. Samuel Kobia, y una delegación ecuménica visitaron las iglesias miembros y comunidades cristianas en los territorios palestinos ocupados y en Israel, del 21 al 26 de junio. Esta visita, que se realizó inmediatamente después de la iniciación, en Amman, Jordania, del Foro Ecuménico Palestina/Israel, patrocinado por el CMI, tenía por objeto expresar la solidaridad de las iglesias de todo el mundo con las iglesias de Tierra Santa.

National News

ISKCON Applauds First Hindu Prayer in U.S. Senate
Disruption by Extremists Evinces Need for More Education

July 19, 2007, WASHINGTON, DC – Spokespersons for the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) said that the Hindu prayer opening the U.S. Senate on July 12 – purportedly the first in the 200 year history of that body – was an encouraging sign of religious pluralism and inclusiveness in the United States. ISKCON officials congratulated invited guest chaplain Rajan Zed for leading the prayer, and especially praised Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid for his continued support of the prayer, even in the face of some opposition from Christian fundamentalists.

International News

Welcome to China: Patriotic Church to Pope

July 24, 2007 – Vice-Chairman of the Chinese Patriotic Catholic Association, Liu Bainian, says that he hopes to see the pope celebrating Mass in Beijing one day and has sent a greeting to the pontiff praying for "the grace to welcome him here among us." The International Herald Tribune reports that Mr Bainian made the comments in an interview with Italian daily La Repubblica in which he praised Benedict's recent letter to China's Catholics as "positive." "I strongly hope to be able to see the pope one day here in Beijing to celebrate Mass for us Chinese," Liu was quoted as saying. He said he wanted, through the interview, to send the pope a special greeting. "Let him know that we pray for him always and may the Lord give us the grace to welcome him here among us."

Bolivian Lutheran Church Builds on Teamwork and Improved Communication
Newly Elected President Visits LWF Geneva Secretariat

July 27, 2007, GENEVA – After some six months in office, the new president of the Bolivian Evangelical Lutheran Church (IELB), Rev. Luis Cristóbal Alejo Fernández, is pleased to note the considerable progress already achieved in his church. "We have made pertinent changes in our way of working," he said in an interview with Lutheran World Information (LWI) during his 8 June visit to the Lutheran World Federation (LWF). Accompanied on the visit by IELB treasurer, Hilarión Rocha, Alejo mentioned a number of developments that had contributed toward change within the IELB.

Spanish Episcopal Church Welcomes – Walking to Emmaus Consultation to Cathedral

July 25, 2007 SPAIN – Bishops from 24 dioceses in the United States and 31 dioceses in Africa joined the congregation of Madrid's Iglesia Episcopal de España for a Eucharist on July 22, 2007. Joining the Rt Revd Carlos Lozano Lopez, bishop of the diocese, at the altar were the primates of Central Africa, Congo, Southern Africa, and Burundi, as well as the primate of Brazil. During the two hour liturgy, based on the ancient Mozarabic Rite, the bishop welcomed three new honorary canons.

Kirkpatrick Joins Other Religious Leaders Supporting Denuclearization Agreement with North Korea

July 23, 2007, LOUISVILLE – The Rev. Clifton Kirkpatrick, Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) General Assembly stated clerk, is part of an interfaith coalition that supports the denuclearization agreement reached by the Bush administration with North Korea. In a joint statement released July 17, Kirkpatrick and the coalition of religious leaders called the agreement "an important step toward halting the production of nuclear bomb material in that nation."

Habitat Co-Founder Raises Funds to Restore Vandalized Presbyterian Cemetery in Egypt
Don Mosley Seeks to Honor Memory of Orphanage Founder

July 27, 2007, LOUISVILLE – Don Mosley, a south Georgian who co-founded Habitat for Humanity in the 1970s and has since led a number of international humanitarian efforts, has begun raising funds to restore a Presbyterian cemetery in Egypt that has been heavily damaged by earthquakes, floods and vandals. The cemetery is one of two Presbyterian cemeteries in Egypt, said the Rev. Victor Makari, the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)'s coordinator for the Middle East. The other, more prominent and more frequently visited, is in Cairo.

Sudanese Priest Re-Visits Home Country, Sees Growth of Christianity
Anderia Arok Reunited with Mother after 23 Years

July 16, 2007 – When the Rev. Anderia Arok traveled to southern Sudan recently, not only did he see his mother for the first time in 23 years, but he also experienced the area's opportunities for re-building and realized the people in his village in the area known as Bor had become Christians. Arok, priest-in-charge of the Sudanese Community Church, a special congregation of the Episcopal Diocese of Colorado housed at Saint John's Episcopal Cathedral in Denver, recently returned home after spending three months in Sudan.

People in the News

California Pastor Embarks on Second Tour of Duty as Iraq Military Chaplain

July 26, 2007, LOUISVILLE – The Rev. David Rodriguez, pastor of First. Presbyterian Church of Hollister in San Jose Presbytery, has begun his second tour of duty as a U.S. Navy Chaplain in Iraq. He is based in Kuwait. As it did during his first Iraq assignment, San Jose Presbytery has set up a web page to publish Rodriquez's emails. According to Pat Plant, the presbytery's communications officer, Rodriguez was deployed the first time between 2005-2006. "It's amazing what he does," Plant said of Rodriguez, "counseling military people who are in real despair. This is a guy who's really up for it. He's told them he'll stay as long as they need him."

Reviews

Real Help for Defeating Depression

July 23, 2007 MINNEAPOLIS – Are you blue? Do you feel low, unusually tired, sad much of the time, depressed? Do you have a family member or close friend who is depressed? Perhaps you are uncertain whether it is depression or something else. Maybe you are looking for specific things you can do to send depression packing. Then Defeating Depression: Real Help for You and Those Who Love You by Howard W. Stone is written for you. While books on depression abound, what makes this book unique is that it speaks both to the person experiencing depression and to that person's network of family members and friends.

Foremost Jewish Theologian Forging a New Religious Identity

July 24, 2007 MINNEAPOLIS – In his latest book, Reading the Torah Out Loud: A Journey of Lament and Hope, Marc H. Ellis asks the following questions: What religious values and ultimate vision would one wish to pass along to his or her children? How does one sort through what is authentic and inauthentic in a religious tradition in an attempt to forge its future? He attempts to answer these questions in this quite personal, yet programmatic work. As he reflects on the encounters that have been decisive in his own religious odyssey, Ellis oscillates continuously between two intertwined religious realms: the personal and the political.