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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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November 7, 2007, ISELIN, NJ – The General Assembly of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the USA (NCC) and Church World Service (CWS), holding its annual meeting here November 6-8, urged the U.S. House of Representatives to pass legislation recognizing the slaughter of Armenians in 1915 as a genocide. The resolution put forward by the Rev. Arem Jabejian, an Armenian Orthodox priest from Chicago, was passed by voice vote with six persons requesting to be counted as abstaining. In its business session Wednesday afternoon, the General Assembly also reaffirmed the NCC and CWS commitment to Middle East peace, and received "A Social Creed for the 21st Century" approved in September by the NCC Governing Board. Abolish Genocide Alliance Forms November 9, 2007, NEW YORK – An effort to eliminate genocide around the world began in a conference room at the Interchurch Center today near the campus of Columbia University. Representatives of churches, the United Nations, and human rights organizations brought their ideas, concerns and hopes together in an effort to forge an alliance to abolish genocide. In his opening prayer Archbishop Vicken Aykazian, president of the National Council of Churches USA (NCC), called upon God to "grant rest to all who have perished in genocide." The archbishop is the diocesan legate and ecumenical officer of the Diocese of the Armenian Orthodox Church of America. He was installed in his two-year elected office the previous night at St. Vartan's Armenian Cathedral in New York City. Let's Take Risks, Kobia Tells Global Christian Forum November 7, 2007 – "Some would have said that this event was not possible, but here we are – and the world wonders what will come next," said the World Council of Churches (WCC) general secretary Rev. Dr Samuel Kobia at the opening of the Global Christian Forum taking place in Limuru, near Nairobi, Kenya, from 6-9 November. Stressing the "unprecedented breadth" of the event in his address to a room packed with some 240 high level representatives from Protestant, Anglican, Orthodox, Catholic, Evangelical, Pentecostal and other churches from around the world, Kobia challenged the group to take some risks. Faith Community to Congress: ‘Sow Justice' in the Farm Bill November 5, 2007, WASHINGTON – In anticipation of the Senate vote on the 2007 farm bill, the National Council of Churches USA's (NCC) Eco-Justice Program delivered hundreds of messages to Senate offices from church members across the country calling for access to locally grown food, guarantees farmers' access to conservation programs, and justice for God's creation. A letter calling for an increase in funding for conservation programs in the farm bill was also delivered to Senate offices from a broad spectrum of Christian organizations. Through its Faithful Harvest Campaign, NCC's Eco-Justice Program has been encouraging people of faith for over a year to speak out to uphold the principles of justice and equity for all of God's creation as Congress crafts a farm bill. In addition to the legislative advocacy work, the Faithful Harvest Campaign has produced two agricultural-themed resources to be used in congregational worship and study. Archbishop Vicken Aykazian Is Installed as President of NCC November 9, 2007, NEW YORK – Archbishop Vicken Aykazian, a Turkish-born priest who represents the Diocese of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern) in Washington, was installed Thursday (November 8) as the president of the National Council of Churches in the USA (NCC). The installation was a moving and colorful ceremony attended by hierarchs, clergy and laity in St. Vartan Armenian Cathedral in New York. Also installed was the NCC's new general secretary, the Rev. Dr. Michael Kinnamon, and other NCC officers. On January 1, 2008, the Archbishop will succeed President Michael Livingston, who has served in the office since January 2006. His Eminence Archbishop Aykazian is the 24th NCC President since the Council's beginnings in 1950. Fort Worth Bishop Receives Notice of Possible Consequences If Withdrawal Effort Continues November 8, 2007 – Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori has made public another letter of warning sent to a bishop actively seeking to withdraw his diocese from the Episcopal Church. The letter to Bishop Jack Leo Iker of the Diocese of Fort Worth notifies him that such a step would force her to take action to bring the diocese and its leadership into line with the mandates of the national Church. The first of the letters was sent to Bishop Robert Duncan of the Diocese of Pittsburgh on October 31. For Cancer Patients, Support Is Just a Phone Call Away November 7, 2007, HARRISBURG, Penn. – As the Rev. Michael Gingerich listens on a speakerphone, calls come in from Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, Nebraska and Canada. The callers have something in common. They're all battling cancer and seeking friendly voices that offer support and encouragement. "I think it's essential to be able to have the support of people who understand and have been on a very similar journey," said Gingerich, director of program services for the Cancer Recovery Foundation of America. A California Resurrection: November 6, 2007, MALIBU, CA – For Nancy Little, visiting the charred ruins of Malibu Presbyterian Church strengthened her faith and brought her closer to God. Little and her husband, Braxton, are longtime members of the former white-steepled church that had been a fixture in the seaside celebrity enclave near Los Angeles for over half a century. The couple's two daughters and one son grew up in the Malibu congregation. They each graduated from the nursery school and have been active youth group participants. Lutherans Bring Back the ‘Revival' November 6, 2007, CHICAGO – Over the summer a white, circus-sized tent appeared on the grounds of St. Timothy Lutheran Church, Troy, NY, garnering looks of interest from all who passed by, according to Marilyn Dyer. Although known throughout the community for its "innovative approach to ministry," St. Timothy reached a high point in its aspiration for doing things differently by organizing a "revival" or "renewal" – an evangelism and worship trend currently making its way across the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). Covenant Network Leaders Outline Position, Way Forward November 9, 2007, ATLANTA – The Covenant Network of Presbyterians' leadership pledged to be on the front lines to assist individuals, congregations and middle governing bodies in implementing the authoritative interpretation (AI) of the Book of Order that gives ordaining bodies greater leeway in applying ordination standards. "We pledge our legal, advisory, and educational resources for those in the ordination process," the network said. "As we look toward the next General Assembly, we will continue to monitor both local ordination/installation practices and judicial decisions to determine which additional measures we should pursue at this time to achieve our longstanding goal: a church as generous and just as God's grace." Bishops Continue Moratorium on Same-Gender Blessings November 6, 2007 – Canada's Anglican bishops, at their regular fall meeting, decided to leave in place a set of pastoral guidelines concerning church services for gay couples that stops short of blessings or marriage. They also expressed serious concern about Canadian participation in activities widening the schism in the Anglican Communion. During an extended meeting held Oct. 25-30, about 40 bishops and their spouses attended a huge church service at the John Labatt Centre arena celebrating the host diocese of Huron's 150th anniversary. Archbishop of Canterbury: Greetings for Diwali November 9, 2007 – The Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, has sent a message of greeting to the Hindu community for their celebration of the festival of Diwali. Dr Williams praised the Hindu Community for their contribution to so many areas of life in this country, and also expressed the hope that Christians and Hindus "should renew and further develop the local and national frameworks within which we can explore and appreciate our common and our distinctive characteristics." November 9, 2007 – Pentecostal theologian and scholar Cheryl Bridges-Johns proposed a radical reinvention of the ecumenical movement in a keynote address delivered on the third day of the Global Christian Forum which takes place 6-9 November in Limuru, near Nairobi, Kenya. Bridges-Johns, a professor at the Theological Seminary of the Church of God in Cleveland (Tennessee), US, sparked a vivid discussion with her lecture, which elaborated on a statement from the 1961 New Delhi assembly of the World Council of Churches: "the achievement of unity will involve nothing less than a death and rebirth of many forms of church life as we have known them." Lutheran-Roman Catholic Dialogue Begins Work on Round XI Report November 5, 2007, CHICAGO – Participants in the U.S. Lutheran-Roman Catholic Dialogue in Round XI began the writing process for their report when they met Oct. 10-14 at St. Paul's College, Washington, D.C. The meeting was the fifth of Round XI, in which the participants are discussing "The Hope of Eternal Life." The current dialogue topic, "The Hope of Eternal Life," was selected in 2004 and involves study of issues related to the Christian's life beyond death. Dialogue members are considering such issues as purgatory, indulgences, and masses and prayers for the dead. "Arriesguémonos," Dice Kobia Al Foro Cristiano Mundial 8 noviembre 2007 – "Algunos habrían dicho que este acontecimiento no era posible, pero aquí estamos, y el mundo se pregunta qué vendrá luego," dijo el secretario general del Consejo Mundial de Iglesias (CMI), Rev. Dr. Samuel Kobia, en la apertura del Foro Cristiano Mundial que se celebra en Limuru, cerca de Nairobi, Kenya, del 6 al 9 de noviembre. Poniendo énfasis durante su discurso en el"alcance sin precedentes" del acontecimiento, Kobia se dirigió a una sala abarrotada con unos 240 representantes de alto nivel de iglesias protestantes, anglicanas, ortodoxas, católicas, evangélicas, pentecostales y otras de todo el mundo, a quienes desafió a que corrieran algunos riesgos. CLAI Presente En Una Sesión De Alta Nivel De La Asamblea General De La ONU 8 noviembre 2007, NUEVA YORK – En una sesión de Alto Nivel de la Asamblea General de las Naciones Unidas (ONU) el Consejo Latinoamericano de Iglesias, CLAI, estuvo presente a través de dos delegados. Se trató, por primera vez en la historia de las Naciones Unidas, de abrir un espacio de diálogo entre los Estados miembro de la ONU, junto con líderes religiosos, como parte de la sociedad civil y el sector privado. Parte del "detonante" del evento fueron dos mesas de diálogo. La primera sobre desafíos enfrentados desde las organizaciones basadas en la fe y la sociedad civil y la segunda sobre mejores prácticas y propuestas desde estos mismos sectores. Despenalización Del Aborto: Fuerte Embestida De La Iglesia Católica 5 noviembre 2007, SANTO DOMINGO, República Dominicana – República Dominicana está en el grupo de países latinoamericanos con más alto índice de mortalidad materna; la mortalidad materna está relacionada con los abortos, considerado éste como un problema de salud pública. Organizaciones de mujeres aseguran que cada año se realizan entre 80 mil y 100 mil abortos. En este momento se debate la despenalización del aborto en caso de violación, mal formación del feto o peligro de la salud de la madre. La Iglesia Católica intensifica su lucha contra la medida. Comunidad Luterana Define Horizontes Para La Proyección Sustentable De Su Misión 7 noviembre 2007, MANAGUA, Nicaragua – Durante cuatro días, líderes de iglesias luteranas de América Latina, debaten el tema de la sustentabilidad ante las diversas realidades económicas, la escasez de membresía y de liderazgo. En este primer encuentro, llamado "Definiendo horizontes para la proyección sustentable de las iglesia de la comunión luterana regional," se discute un proceso de planificación estratégica participativa y se recogen los aportes y criticas de la auto sustentabilidad desde el marco bíblico teológico y espiritual para la elaboración de una memoria histórica del plan de trabajo 2007-2010. 9 noviembre 2007, MANAGUA, Nicaragua – La Iglesia Luterana Fe y Esperanza de Managua (ILFE), que este año cumple 23 años de existencia, se originó con el acompañamiento pastoral y atención psicosocial que la reverenda Victoria Cortes comenzó dando a miles de compatriotas que llegaron como refugiados a Nicaragua, huyendo de la cruel guerra de El Salvador. Cortes los organizó y empezó a dar ideas para ejecutar proyectos de sobrevivencia, no dejando la misión de predicar la palabra del evangelio. Hoy esa misión se ha cumplido y la visión es seguir capacitando al cuerpo pastoral y líderes jóvenes. New Human Rights Group in Queens Will Teach Youth October 20, 2007, NEW YORK – The Alliance for Democracy and Human Rights in Nepal (ADHRN), based in Jackson Heights, has started an ambitious program of human rights education for Nepalese youth and adults, in collaboration with Youth for Human Rights International. Their first meeting was a Nepalese community service program on youth development and human rights earlier this month at Community Church, in Jackson Heights. Nepalese immigrant youth, children and their parents living in New York and New Jersey joined with representatives of YFHR International, discussing the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and its relevance. Czech Churches Hope for Settlement of Property Disputes November 9, 2007, WARSAW – The Czech government has agreed, after almost two decades of dispute, to compensate churches for properties confiscated under communist rule, and also to make them financially independent from the state. "There's a common desire now to solve these problems; what remains are the specific conditions," said Jiri Grecka, spokesperson for the Roman Catholic bishops' conference in the Czech Republic. "If this proposal goes ahead, it will show the state is genuinely willing to co-operate with us and see justice is done for past abuses," Grecka stated. "This will signal a new era." General Assembly Convenes in NJ and NY November 5, 2007, ISELIN, NJ – More than 200 delegates from 35 Christian communions meet this week near and in New York City. The annual General Assembly of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA (NCC) and Church World Service has chosen its theme, "Journeys: for we walk by faith..." taken from the New Testament book of 2nd Corinthians 5:7. Delegates begin their work at a New Jersey hotel outside New York City. On Thursday they move to Manhattan's St. Vartan's Armenian Orthodox Cathedral for the installation of elected officers and the new general secretary. United Methodists to Focus on Secondary Fire Victims November 6, 2007 – While homeowners affected by October wildfires in California are receiving much attention, others suffering different losses are getting less notice. Those secondary victims will be the main focus of the United Methodist response to the fires, according to the Rev. Tom Hazelwood, head of domestic disaster response for the United Methodist Committee on Relief. Many of the homeowners, he believes, were covered by insurance. "Primarily, our response work is going to be in the San Diego area," Hazelwood said. CWS Says Farm Bill Still Needs Work November 9, 2007, WASHINGTON – Even as it applauds the Senate Agricultural Committee for positive steps toward reform of the nation's farm policy, humanitarian agency Church World Service is urging the full Senate to do more to help America's small farmers without making it difficult for small farmers in developing nations to earn income from their own locally grown crops. "There were a few positive steps taken toward reform, but much in the way of broad reform was left undone, says CWS Education and Advocacy Director Rajyashri Waghray about the bill, which the full Senate began debating on Monday. Work on Gulf Coast Report Card Continues November 7, 2007, ISELIN, NJ – Nearly one year since issuing its landmark report on rebuilding the Gulf Coast, the National Council of Churches USA (NCC) continues to evaluate federal, state and local agencies on recovery efforts. The nearly 20 members of the NCC's Special Commission for the Just Rebuilding of the Gulf Coast have made more than a dozen visits to the disaster area since the 2005 hurricanes struck. A report on their work was presented to more than 200 delegates at the 2007 General Assembly of the NCC and Church World Service. Lutherans Proceed with Next Steps in Southern California Wildfires November 5, 2007, CHICAGO – Providing emotional and spiritual care and identifying the needs of communities are some of the continued next steps for Lutherans in response to the wildfires in Southern California, reported the Rev. Kevin A. Massey, assistant director, Lutheran Disaster Response (LDR). Since Oct. 21, wildfires have spread over 500,000 acres across seven counties there. LDR is a collaborative ministry of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) and the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod (LCMS). Episcopal Relief and Development to Assist Victims of Hurricane Noel November 6, 2007 – Episcopal Relief and Development (ERD) is providing emergency aid to people affected by Hurricane Noel. Originally a tropical storm that grew to a Category 1 hurricane, Noel swept across the Dominican Republic, Haiti, the Bahamas, and Cuba causing severe flooding and mudslides killing at least 140 people. The storm is now the deadliest to hit the Atlantic region during the 2007 hurricane season. In the Dominican Republic, Hurricane Noel claimed more than 60 lives and left at least 62,000 people displaced from their homes. Art Inspires Mozambicans to ‘Learn War No More' November 7, 2007, MAPUTO, Mozambique – While guns are viewed as anything but beautiful, a group of artists in Mozambique is turning artillery into art and, in the process, teaching others to "beat their swords into ploughshares." Based on Isaiah 2:4, "Turning Weapons into Ploughshares" is a collaborative effort between a local artist collective and the Christian Council of Mozambique. The council collects caches of weapons left behind by Mozambique's 16-year civil war, renders them unusable and gives them to local artists to be transformed into sculptures. The gun parts have been transformed into musicians, birds, even chairs and tables. Education Is Key to Wiping out Malaria November 5, 2007, MAPUTO, Mozambique – Since Lare Xaviar has three children, the odds may be in her favor. If she had four, one likely would not survive. Malaria kills one in four African children under the age of 5. Though all of her children have had the disease, none have succumbed to it. "It's very scary when they have it. The first thing I do is rush them to the hospital, because they can die at any time," Xaviar said. November 8, 2007, LOUISVILLE – Hoping to ease suffering from one of Mexico's largest natural disasters in recent history, Presbyterian Disaster Assistance (PDA) has sent $30,000 in aid to the flood-soaked state of Tabasco. The money, from One Great Hour of Sharing and designated funds, was forwarded to the National Presbyterian Church of Mexico (INPM) to purchase bottled water, food and bedding for emergency shelters. Six INPM presbyteries are housing more than 1,000 people forced from their homes in Tabasco after days of heavy rains last week put most of the low-lying, oil-rich state under several feet of water. Dominican Republic Diocese Appeals for Flood Relief Following Tropical Storm Noel November 2, 2007 – The Episcopal Diocese of the Dominican Republic is requesting emergency assistance after Tropical Storm Noel, the 14th named storm of the 2007 Atlantic hurricane season, displaced thousands of people and claimed at least 73 lives in the country due to flooding and mudslides caused by heavy rains. After leaving the island of Hispaniola, which includes Haiti and the Dominican Republic, Noel gained strength and reached hurricane status before emerging over the eastern tip of Cuba and southeastern Bahamas. Lutheran Holy Land Bishop, Other Faith Leaders Make Peace Commitments November 8, 2007, WASHINGTON – The Council of Religious Institutions of the Holy Land, a group of senior Israeli and Palestinian religious leaders from Christian, Jewish and Muslim faith organizations, announced Nov. 7 new efforts toward limiting violence, protecting holy sites and opening dialogue for peace in the Holy Land. The Rev. Munib A. Younan, bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land (ELCJHL) and member of the council, is participating in meetings here Nov. 5-8. National Council Recognizes QFC Executive with Award of Excellence November 7, 2007, ISELIN, NJ – The National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA presented its Award of Excellence for ecumenical service to the Rev. N. J. L'Heureux, Jr., Executive Director of the Queens Federation of Churches. Other honorees were Janie Schildge, volunteer coordinator of the Red Bank, NJ, CROP Walk since 1984; Trenton Ecumenical Area Ministry; and the Philippine Working Group and the National Council of Churches in the Philippines. Transforming Eucharistic Practice for the Life of the World November 8, 2007, MINNEAPOLIS – In the landmark work The Eucharist: Bodies, Bread, and Resurrection, Andrea Bieler and Luise Schottroff have brought together the best of contemporary scholarship on ritual theory and practice, early Jewish and Christian eschatology, world hunger and the global economy, the legacy of colonization, and the dynamics of torture as these have begun to change our thinking about the Eucharist. New Volume Introduces New Approaches to the Hebrew Bible November 9, 2007, MINNEAPOLIS – Judges and Method: New Approaches in Biblical Studies, Second Edition from Fortress Press provides state-of-the-art introductions to leading critical methods in biblical study, all focused on a specific biblical book, Judges, and the larger Deuteronomistic History of which it is a part. Since its publication in 1995, the first edition has established itself as a unique classroom resource that teachers can integrate into their instruction in a variety of ways. Rethinking the Just-War Tradition November 4, 2007, MINNEAPOLIS – In light of recent events, reflective people are asking, what do we mean by a ‘just war'"? What are the moral criteria for justifiably going to war and fighting in war? How did these criteria come about? What about Christian pacifism? Can congregations and their ecumenical partners be peace churches and be within the JWT? What are the post-9/11 challenges for the just-war tradition? These are the questions that author Gary Simpson explores the history of this concept and addresses its contemporary meaning in his timely book.
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