Front Page

Rev. Jimmy Lim to Be Installed as Executive of NYC Council of Churches

September 12, 2007, NEW YORK – The Rev. Jimmy Seong G. Lim will be installed Thursday, September 20, as the Executive Director of the Council of Churches of City of New York. The Service of Installation will be held at Marble Collegiate Church in Manhattan, Fifth Avenue at 29th Street, at 7:30 p.m. The public is invited to attend. Jimmy Lim was elected by the Council's Board of Directors at its regular meeting on January 18 following the "enthusiastic" recommendation of the Council's officers whom the Board had designated as a transition team.

United Church of Christ Attempts Unprecedented Anti-War Petition Drive

September 13, 2007 – United Church of Christ members will not only pass the offering plates this Sunday, Sept. 16, but will also be circulating thousands of petitions in an unprecedented effort to gather 100,000 signatures in support of a church-wide pastoral statement opposing the war in Iraq. The 700-word "Pastoral Letter on the Iraq War," which calls for the war's end, was first presented in June at the UCC's General Synod 26 by the five-person Collegium of Officers. The letter has been endorsed by all Conference Ministers and Seminary Presidents.

Archbishop of Canterbury:
September 11th – Lessons from History for Faith and Civil Society

September 10, 2007 – Tonight in a lecture to the Christian Muslim Forum Conference in Cambridge Dr Rowan Williams, Archbishop of Canterbury will consider the events and consequences of two events in history sharing the date of September 11th. Dr Williams compares "the act of nightmare violence" of September 11th 2001 and the chain of retaliation, fear and misery" it unleashed with the public meeting in Johannesburg on September 11th in 1906 (attended by people of Muslim, Hindu and Christian faiths) at which Gandhi's non-violent protest movement – the Satyagraha movement – was born.

NCC Joins Multi-Faith Leaders to Fast for Peace

September 12, 2007, NEW YORK CITY – Leaders from many religious communities have urged Americans of all faiths to fast from dawn to dusk on Monday, October 8 to call for an end to the Iraq War. "This war must end!" say the religious leaders in their statement about the interfaith fast. "We must end the shattering of Iraqi and American lives by offering American generosity and support – but not control – for international and nongovernmental efforts to assist Iraqis in making peace and rebuilding their country, while swiftly and safely bringing home all American troops."

General News

Dream along with God, Presiding Bishop Tells Union Theological Seminary Convocation

September 11, 2007 – Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori told the incoming class at Union Theological Seminary September 5 that they need to consider "how theological thinking is going to help to shape the rest of your life." "The task of theological education really is to help us learn to do theology – to relate our own stories, and the stories of those around us, to the great stories of our faith, so that we may be able to give an account of the faith that is within us," she said.

Kieschnick: No Special Convention to Consider Restructuring

September 14, 2007 – Citing the need for sufficient time, clear communication, proper feedback, and clear consensus in the Synod, President Gerald B. Kieschnick has announced that he will not call a special convention in 2009 to consider recommendations of a task force on structure and governance. In a presentation to the Council of Presidents (COP) Sept. 9 in St. Louis, the president instead urged a well-planned process of communicating the task force recommendations, gathering feedback, revising the recommendations, and bringing them to the Synod's regular convention in 2010.

New Hurricane Season Brings Need for Donations

September 10, 2007, NEW YORK – As reports begin filtering in from Nicaragua and Honduras about damage from Hurricane Felix, the United Methodist Committee on Relief is preparing to respond. But donations are needed to provide relief both for victims of Felix and others needing assistance during the 2007 hurricane season, according to the Rev. Tom Hazelwood, UMCOR's domestic disaster coordinator. Hurricane Felix pummeled the coastlines of northern Nicaragua and southern Honduras Sept. 4 with 160 mph winds and drenching rains.

United Methodist Loans Can Now Be Repaid Online

September 12, 2007, NASHVILLE, Tenn. – A newly launched online repayment system is making repaying United Methodist student loans easier and will improve efficiency in processing scholarships and loan applications. "We are moving into the 21st century," said Angella Current-Felder of the Sept. 1 online launch by the Office of Loans and Scholarships at the United Methodist Board of Higher Education and Ministry. "This is the first step in making all of our services available online and much more convenient for those repaying loans or applying for college aid," said Current-Felder, executive director of the Office of Loans and Scholarships.

Pittsburgh Church Offers Dramatically Different Worship

September 12, 2007, PITTSBURGH – Jim Walker is wearing two T-shirts, two jackets and a trench coat – even as the temperature approaches 90 degrees outside of the Hot Metal Bridge Faith Community. It's all part of the co-pastor's costume for the congregation's weekly drama, which has become a defining element of Sunday worship at the unconventional United Methodist church in Pittsburgh's eclectic South Side neighborhood. Walker is playing himself in today's scripturally based drama, while co-pastor Jeff Eddings takes the role of a contemporary Jesus. The theme: answering the call of God to serve.

Ordination Service Is Long-Distance Family Affair

September 14, 2007, NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Nancy Neelley recalls vividly the moment she told her daughter – then age 6 – that she believed she was being called into ordained ministry. "We were talking in our car on our way home from church, and Marissa got so excited that she started jumping up and down on the back seat," Neelley remembers with a laugh.

US Churches to Share Experiences of Violence and Peacemaking
with International Ecumenical Solidarity Team

September 11, 2007 – Church leaders and communities facing situations of violence in New York, Philadelphia, Washington, D.C. and New Orleans will share their experiences with an international ecumenical team visiting the United States from 15-23 September. Being from South Africa, Lebanon, Pakistan and Brazil the team members will express the solidarity of churches worldwide with the US churches while learning from their peacemaking efforts concerning urban and gun violence as well as environmental racism and the Iraq war. The visit of the group, which is called "Living Letters," is part of the World Council of Churches (WCC) Decade to Overcome Violence.

Lutheran Youth in Conversation about Human Sexuality

September 14, 2007 – "Free in Christ to Care for the Neighbor: Lutheran Youth Talk about Human Sexuality" is now available to senior-high-school-age members of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). Issued by the Task Force for the ELCA Studies on Sexuality, the 75-page resource is available as a free download on the church's Web site and was mailed Sept. 10 to the 10,549 congregations of the ELCA. The resource is an adaptation of the adult study, "Free in Christ to Serve the Neighbor: Lutherans Talk about Human Sexuality."

Communication Program Restructured at Church Center
New Public Affairs Unit, ‘Episcopal Life Media' Group Launched

September 12, 2007 – Communication resources serving Episcopalians, seekers, and media professionals in diverse geographic regions are newly strengthened by reorganization of work based at the Episcopal Church Center. New collaboration with dioceses in each of the Episcopal Church's nine geographic provinces is integral to the reorganization, which also launches a new public affairs unit to coordinate media relations, and reconfigures current online, print and video communication programs into one integrated media group.

World Mission Conference to Spotlight Companion Relationships with ‘Everyone, Everywhere'

September 10, 2007 – Episcopalians active in global mission work will gather June 5-8, 2008, at the Maritime Institute in Baltimore, Maryland, for the church-wide world mission conference, Everyone, Everywhere. The conference is for individuals, parishes, dioceses, and mission groups committed to building and maintaining companion relationships with people around the world. Conference attendees will have the opportunity to celebrate existing relationships and nurture new ones, meet with others who have common interests and experiences in specific regions or mission topics, share personal mission stories, and learn how to engage in more effective world mission.

Ecumenical News

Growing Together in Unity and Mission:
Building on 40 Years of Anglican – Roman Catholic Dialogue

September 14, 2007 – The Anglican Communion Office and the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity's Information Service are released today the definitive text of the report of the International Anglican Roman Catholic Commission for Unity and Mission (IARCCUM). The report, entitled Growing Together in the Unity and Mission, offers to the Anglican Communion and to the Roman Catholic Church a concise summary of 40 years of Anglican-Roman Catholic theological dialogue. It sets out both areas of convergence and agreement, as well as outstanding areas of difficulty and continuing dialogue.

A Communiqué from the Anglican/Al-Azhar Dialogue Committee

September 10, 2007 – The Joint Committee, which is composed of a delegation from the Anglican Communion and from the Permanent Committee of al-Azhar al-Sharif for Dialogue with the Monotheistic Religions, held its sixth annual meeting in London on 2-3 September 2007 which corresponds to 21-22 Sha'aban 1428. This was held in accord with the agreement signed at Lambeth Palace on 30 January 2002 by the Archbishop of Canterbury and the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar.

North American Adventists and Presbyterians Affirm Common Beliefs

September 12, 2007, LOUISVILLE, Kentucky – Delegates of the Seventh-day Adventist Church of North America met with leaders of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) at the Presbyterian Church's national headquarters in Louisville, Kentucky August 22 to 24 to affirm common beliefs and dispel stereotypes. The Louisville meeting marked the second conversation between the two denominations. Last November, Presbyterian delegates joined Adventists at Adventist world church headquarters in Silver Spring, Maryland after pitching the idea of a conversation with U.S. Adventist church leaders. This time, delegates discussed the church's respective understandings of the law and the gospel, referring to the writings of both Ellen G. White, an early Adventist church co-founder, and John Calvin, a French theologian and lawyer whose writings during the Protestant Reformation crystallized Presbyterian doctrine.

Spanish News

"Comunicación, Culturas Y Espiritualidades" Será La Temática Del Seminario De Wacc América Latina

12 septiembre 2007, BUENOS AIRES, Argentina – En el Hotel B.A.U.E.N, una cooperativa de trabajo regenteada por los trabajadores del quebrado Hotel Bauen, se llevarán a cabo el Seminario y la Asamblea de la Asociación Mundial para la Comunicación Cristiana (WACC) América Latina, del 13 al 16 de septiembre. "Comunicación, culturas y espiritualidades" es la temática del Seminario, que se desarrollará el jueves 13 y viernes 14, y contará con dos paneles que abordarán: Cultura dominante / culturas diversas y Espiritualidades/ sentido de la trascendencias – rituales, en el marco de las posibilidades de convivencia en la diversidad; el papel de los medios de comunicación y el rol de las Iglesias en esa convivencia.

La ONU Aprobó La Declaración Sobre Los Derechos De Los Pueblos Indígenas

13 septiembre 2007, NUEVA YORK – La Asamblea de las Naciones Unidas finalmente aprobó la Declaración sobre los Derechos de los Pueblos Indígenas hoy, 13 de septiembre. Cumple así, la máxima instancia de naciones, una deuda histórica con los pueblos indígenas. Votaron a favor, 143 países, 4 en contra (Australia, Canadá, Nueva Zelanda y Estados Unidos de Norte América) y 11 se abstuvieron (Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Burundi, Colombia, Georgia, Kenya, Nigeria, Federación Rusa, Samoa y Ukrania).

La Iglesia Luterana Milita Firmemente Por El "NO" Al TLC

10 septiembre 2007, SAN JOSÉ, Costa Rica – En febrero de este año, organizaciones del Movimiento Ecuménico Popular de Costa Rica se pronunciaban contra el proyecto de Tratado de Libre Comercio (TLC) entre ese país y los Estados Unidos. A siete meses de ese pronunciamiento, y a menos de un mes del referéndum- que se realiza el próximo 7 de octubre- las organizaciones siguen su lucha para decir NO al Tratado.

Iglesias Estadounidenses Compartirán Experiencias De Violencia Y Construcción
De La Paz Con Equipo Ecuménico Internacional

11 septiembre 2007 – Líderes y comunidades eclesiales que se enfrentan con situaciones de violencia en Nueva York, Filadelfia, Washington, D.C. y Nueva Orleáns compartirán sus experiencias con un equipo ecuménico internacional que visitará los Estados Unidos del 15 al 23 de septiembre. Los miembros del equipo, procedentes de Sudáfrica, Líbano, Pakistán y Brasil, expresarán la solidaridad de las iglesias de todo el mundo con las iglesias estadounidenses, a la vez que se informarán sobre sus esfuerzos de construcción de la paz en relación con la violencia urbana y de las armas, así como la guerra de Irak y la construcción de la paz en la comunidad.

Iglesias Estadounidenses Compartirán Experiencias De Construcción De Paz Con Equipo Ecuménico

13 septiembre 2007, GINEBRA, Suiza – Líderes y comunidades eclesiales que se enfrentan con situaciones de violencia en Nueva York, Filadelfia, Washington, D.C. y Nueva Orleáns compartirán sus experiencias con un equipo ecuménico internacional que visitará los Estados Unidos del 15 al 23 de septiembre. Los miembros del equipo, procedentes de Sudáfrica, Líbano, Pakistán y Brasil, expresarán la solidaridad de las iglesias de todo el mundo con las iglesias estadounidenses, a la vez que se informarán sobre sus esfuerzos de construcción de la paz en relación con la violencia urbana y de las armas, así como la guerra de Irak y la construcción de la paz en la comunidad.

New York Metro News

United Nations Community Affirmed in September 11 Prayer Service, Volunteers Commissioned
Presiding Bishop Preaches in Liturgy Co-sponsored by Office of Anglican Observer at the U.N.

September 12, 2007 – Members of the United Nations community were welcomed to the Episcopal Church Center for a September 11 evening prayer service co-sponsored by the Office of the Anglican Observer at the U.N. Anglican Communion Secretary General Kenneth Kearon; Bishop John Paterson of Auckland, New Zealand, chair of the Anglican Consultative Council; and Bishop Alexander John Malik of Lahore, moderator of the Church of Pakistan, were among Anglican Communion leaders welcomed to the gathering by Hellen Wangusa, Anglican Observer at the U.N. During the liturgy, volunteers in the Observer's Office were commissioned for service by Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori, who also preached the homily.

Desmond Tutu Center to Raise New Generation of Peacemakers, Reconcilers
Archbishop Emeritus of Cape Town Opens New Center at General Theological Seminary

September 10, 2007 – The Desmond Tutu Center, officially opened September 9 by the Archbishop Emeritus of Cape Town and Nobel Laureate for whom the center was named, begins a new chapter in the mission of General Theological Seminary (GTS), the Episcopal Church's oldest theological institution. "This center is hoping to nurture those who are going to be instruments of peace and reconciliation," Tutu told more than 300 guests – including Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori and actor Sam Waterston – at the gala opening of the new educational conference center on the GTS campus in the Chelsea neighborhood of Manhattan.

National News

Two ELCA Churches Rededicated as Hurricane Recovery Continues

September 14, 2007, CHICAGO – Grace Lutheran Church, New Orleans, and Gethsemane Lutheran Church, Chalmette, La., celebrated the rededication of their church buildings on Sept. 2 at the close of a week of community activities marking the second anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, which devastated both sanctuaries. Both are congregations of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). Leon Philpot called Grace, where he is the synodically authorized minister, and Gethsemane "the two most damaged ELCA churches in the hurricane.

International News

Church World Service Indonesia Team Delivering Emergency Shelter in Sumatra Quake Region
Aid Workers Assessing Injuries, Damage, Further Relief Needs

September 13, 2007 JAKARTA – A Church World Service Indonesia team is now in the Bengkulu, Sumatra, area assessing damage and needs and delivering an initial supply of tarpaulins for shelter to those affected by three major earthquakes and continuing aftershocks that have rocked southern Sumatra since Wednesday (September 12). Some reports, including the Associated Press, are saying at least ten people were killed in the Sumatra quakes. A fourth quake with a preliminary magnitude of 6.2 struck underwater, northeast of Sulawesi, Indonesia, today, according to CNN reports from the U.S. Geological Survey.

United Methodists Celebrate Humble School in Uganda

September 11, 2007, MUKUNO, Uganda – United Methodists celebrated the commissioning of a Uganda school serving orphans and vulnerable children, and expressed hope it will serve as a prototype for other East African countries. Humble United Methodist School in Mukono was commissioned in August by Bishop Michael Watson of Macon, Ga. Part of the denomination's East Africa Annual (regional) Conference, the school was started in 2004 to serve children from war-ravaged areas and those from homes affected by HIV/AIDS. Guests attended the August ceremony from Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi and Sudan – the five countries in the East Africa Conference – as well as the United States.

A Faithful Prophetic Witness: the Presbyterian Church in the Republic of Korea

September 12, 2007 – The general secretary of the World Alliance of Reformed Churches (WARC) has expressed gratitude to the Presbyterian Church in the Republic of Korea for its efforts around the reunification of North and South Korea. Speaking on 12 September at a meeting of the church's General Assembly at Kyeongju, Setri Nyomi also challenged the church to continue to work for life in a world where the forces of death loom large.

Pakistan Floods: CWS and Partners Rebuilding Homes, Health and Communities

September 14, 2007, KARACHI, Pakistan – When the storms struck Pakistan in late June 2007, Barkat Ali's home was washed away completely. "At that time I was sleeping and gradually about 4 feet of water came into my home. I and my family ran to a safe place and at 9:45 pm my home totally collapsed," he explained. Mr. Ali lived in the Kane Pusht village in Balochistan. He worked as a teacher prior to the floods and is the sole provider for his wife and family of five children. Following the disaster, his village lost electricity and was plagued by hot weather, mosquitoes, standing water and unhygienic conditions.

Fighting Ebola in the Congo

September 12, 2007, VALLEY FORGE, PA – Dr. Bill Clemmer, a missionary based in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, is working with international agencies in an effort to confront an outbreak of the Ebola virus in that country. At least five deaths from the virus have been confirmed. Over 160 persons have died of the more than 350 people afflicted with what the World Health Organization had called a "mysterious disease," in a region of Southern Congo, according to published reports.

Encouraged by Ecumenical "Living Letters,"
Sri Lankan Churches Expect the International Community Not to Forget Their Country

September 10, 2007 – The international community will be looking at Sri Lanka this September, as the European Union reportedly intends to bring its case before the UN Human Rights Council, a body which counts Sri Lanka amongst its members. The Council's 6th session takes place one month after the visit of an international ecumenical team that expressed solidarity with local churches and learned about their peace efforts amid a conflict that has over the past 25 years claimed 70,000 lives on both sides of the ethnic divide between the Sinhala and Tamil communities.

Reviews

Fortress Press Releases 20th Anniversary Edition of Classic Bestseller

September 10, 2007, MINNEAPOLIS – A contemporary classic, The Shadow of the Galilean is an acclaimed and popular work of historical fiction about Jesus. Written by one of this generation's great New Testament scholars, Gerd Theissen, the work vividly captures the tensions and turmoil of Jesus' time, as well as the enormous attraction and unpredictability of the figure of Jesus as he affects his Jewish environment under Roman sway.