Front Page

Obama's General Synod Speech Prompts IRS to Investigate UCC's Tax-exempt Status

February 26, 2008 – The Internal Revenue Service has notified the United Church of Christ's national offices in Cleveland, Ohio, that the IRS has opened an investigation into U.S. Sen. Barack Obama's address at the UCC's 2007 General Synod as the church engaging in "political activities." In the IRS letter dated Feb. 20, the IRS said it was initiating a church tax inquiry "because reasonable belief exists that the United Church of Christ has engaged in political activities that could jeopardize its tax-exempt status." The Rev. John H. Thomas, the UCC's general minister and president, called the investigation "disturbing" but said the investigation would reveal that the church did nothing improper or illegal.

Churches in Europe Condemn the Caricatures of the Prophet Muhammad

February 25, 2008 – The Christian Council of Norway, The Church of Norway Council on Ecumenical and International Relations and the Norwegian Church Aid condemn the publication of the caricatures of the Prophet Muhammad. "The caricatures that have been published in Danish newspapers and in the Norwegian newspaper Agderposten have an offending impact on the religious feelings of many Muslims. Our sympathy goes to Muslims in Norway and in the rest of the world who feel hurt or offended by these drawings. How one interprets the content and function of these caricatures depends on who the interpreter is. We think the publication of drawings that can be understood as a scorn of religious symbols is unwise and demonstrates a lack of respect – especially when it affects religious minorities.”

Jordanian Churches Deny American Claim of Expulsion of Christian

February 25, 2008, BERUIT, Lebanon – In a statement issued on Friday the 15th of February, Heads of Churches in Jordan were offended with a report, which was issued by an American agency on the inter-net regarding the situation of Christians in Jordan and stated that the Jordanian authorities are expelling foreign Christians from the country. Heads of Churches considered the report as an: ‘offence to the relationships between Christians and Muslims in the country and has many false facts.' The statement of churches assessed that ‘Christians in Jordan are living their normal, safe and secure life everywhere in the country,' and ‘have unique relationships with their counterpart the Muslims.'

SMU, Bush Foundation Approve Presidential Library

February 22, 2008 – Thanking U.S. President George W. Bush for entrusting Southern Methodist University with an important national resource, the school's board of trustees unanimously approved an agreement to locate the Bush presidential library, museum and policy institute on the Dallas campus. The Feb. 22 vote came hours after an official announcement that the Bush Presidential Library Foundation had chosen the United Methodist-related school as home of the planned facility. The school had been in exclusive negotiations with the foundation for more than a year.

General News

Need for Pastors, Congregations to Take on Prison Ministry

February 28, 2008 – Rev. Raymond Swierenga says he sees a great need for Christian Reformed pastors and congregations across the country to get more deeply involved in prison ministry. But Swierenga, who recently retired after serving more than 20 years as a prison chaplain, says he doesn't mean more people need to sign on as volunteers to hold services or Bible studies behind bars. Many churches are already doing that. Rather, says the CRC chaplain, there is a compelling need for churches to work in whatever ways they can to help inmates adjust to life once they are paroled from prison.

Back to God Hour

February 28, 2008 – The Back to God Hour, the Christian Reformed Church's worldwide electronic ministry, continues to grow its global reach as it shares the gospel, as evidenced by 6.5 million who reached out in various ways to contact the ministry in 2007. That's an increase of 2.5 million contacts over 2006. Behind those numbers stand millions more who tune in the ministry's radio and television programs or read Back to God Hour devotionals, but didn't directly contact the ministry.

Activists Awarded CWS Scholarships for Ecumenical Advocacy Days

February 26, 2008 WASHINGTON, DC – Church World Service today announced the names of recipients of its scholarships for 10 community activists from around the nation to attend Ecumenical Advocacy Days (www.advocacydays.org), the nation's largest annual gathering of Christian peace and justice activists. Granted by the agency's Education and Advocacy Program, the scholarships make it possible for a group of outstanding leaders of Church World Service CROP Hunger Walks in cities throughout the nation to attend the March 7-10 conference in Washington, D.C.

Chaplain Helps Troops Readjust to Home Life

February 28, 2008, MINNEAPOLIS – After two years away from his family for training and a tour of duty in Iraq, Capt. Colin Fleming of the Minnesota Army National Guard was in no mood for a homecoming party. "Being in a crowd is something that's taken me awhile to work on," Fleming says. "People will talk to me every once in a while and say, ‘Hey, where have you been?' It's kind of complex – not avoiding you, it's just going to be awhile." But Fleming knew about many of the adjustments he would face on his return, thanks to the Minnesota Guard's Beyond the Yellow Ribbon program.

Theologians Explore Questions of People's Survival Amidst Religious Resurgence
First LWF Seminar for Global South Teaching Theologians

February 27, 2008, HONG KONG, China/GENEVA – Theological questions evoked by the challenge of religious resurgence in various world contexts were the focus of a recent Lutheran World Federation (LWF) seminar bringing together 22 teaching theologians mainly from Asia. "What do we believe, teach and practice in the midst of religious resurgence today?" was the title of the 27 January – 2 February LWF Department for Theology and Studies (DTS) seminar held at Lutheran Theological Seminary and the Tao Fung Shan Christian Center in Hong Kong, China. Questions that are not often explored in theological discourse, especially people's daily issues of survival, were a major highlight.

Ecumenical News

CRC Issues Report on Lord's Supper

February 28, 2008, GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – After 10 years of study, dialogue, and debate, the Christian Reformed Church in North America has released its final report that clarifies the CRC's stance on the Lord's Supper as it relates to the Roman Catholic Church. Recently posted and made available on the CRCNA website, "The Lord's Supper and the Catholic Mass" is the result of extensive evaluation and discussion between CRC and Catholic educators and theologians. At issue had been the Question and Answer 80 of the Heidelberg Catechism.

Catholic - Oriental Orthodox Dialogue Held

February 25, 2008, JERUSALEM – The fifth meeting of the International Joint Commission for Theological Dialogue between the Catholic Church and the Oriental Orthodox Churches took place in St. Ephrem Syrian Orthodox Monastery in Ma'arat Saydnaya, Damascus – Syria, January 27 to February 2, 2008, at the invitation of His Holiness Patriarch Mar Ignatius Zakka I Iwas of the Syrian Orthodox Church of Antioch and All the East.

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Editorial Page

Commentary: John 3:16 vs. ‘Religious Marketplace'

February 29, 2008 – The new U.S. Religious Landscape Survey, conducted by the Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life, offers a picture of early 21st-century American religious attitudes that is not surprising, at least to those of us who track religious life along Main Street U.S.A. The survey results suggest that a growing proportion of Americans view their faith choices as just that––personal choices made primarily to enhance personal lives. One commentator, quoted by The New York Times, stated that the religious groups gaining adherents offer "personal religion" in contrast, one assumes, to shared faith. What we have is a growing religious marketplace, a supermarket of faith options and products.

Spanish News

Campaña De Oración En España, Sospechada De Intereses Políticos

29 febrero 2008, BUENOS AIRES, Argentina – Mañana, 1 de marzo, se realizará una convocatoria de oración llamada "España ora por España." La página web de la campaña está encabezada por un mensaje de la estadounidense Cindy Jacobs y un llamado de Cash Luna, de Guatemala. La propuesta finaliza en las elecciones generales que se realizarán este mes en la península. Los organizadores buscan aclara cientos de dudas que generó la convocatoria, afirmando en su página que no persiguen fines políticos y que no son "grupos de exaltados incrontolados."

Senadora Evangélica Propone Castigo Ejemplar Para Condenados Por Paramilitarismo

26 febrero 2008, BOGOTÁ, Colombia – La senadora evangélica Alexandra Moreno Piraquive propuso el pasado viernes un castigo ejemplar para los congresistas que resulten condenados por estar relacionados con grupos al margen de la ley (paramilitares y guerrilla), despojándolos de la curul y restándole su votación al partido que le otorgó el aval. Moreno Piraquive, pastora de la Iglesia de Dios Ministerial de Jesucristo y líder del movimiento político MIRA, dijo que "la curul no puede volver a ser asignada al partido que avaló al candidato condenado, como se ha venido haciendo" y enfatizó que si de verdad se busca imponer un castigo para sanear la política, esta curul debe pasar a manos del partido que le sigue en votación.

El Representante Vaticano Pidió Liberación De Presos Y Dijo Que Ve Avances En La Isla

27 febrero 2008 – LA HABANA, Cuba – Momentos antes de partir de La Habana, el Secretario de Estado (cargo equivalente al de Primer Ministro) de la Santa Sede, cardenal Tarcisio Bertone, declaró anoche, martes 26 de febrero, en el Aeropuerto "José Martí," que había pedido a las autoridades cubanas la liberación de algunos presos -no mencionó nombres-, como "gesto de buena voluntad," pero aclaró que no había solicitado una amnistía.

Comité Central Del CMI: Juntos Hacemos Diferencia

25 febrero 2008 – El Comité Central del Consejo Mundial de Iglesias (CMI) clausuró su reunión celebrada del 13 al 20 de febrero, después de haber elegido el lugar para la Convocatoria Ecuménica Internacional por la Paz de 2011; dio nuevos pasos hacia la ampliación de la Asamblea del CMI; acogió nuevas iglesias miembros; nombró un comité de búsqueda para designar un nuevo secretario general y celebró el 60º aniversario del Consejo. El principal órgano rector del CMI aprobó también varias declaraciones públicas, asuntos de política y planes del programa.

Consejo Ecuménico Cristiano De Guatemala Pide Abolir Pena De Muerte

28 febrero 2008, GUATEMALA – Las iglesias católica, evangélica, luterana y presbiteriana pidieron esta semana la abolición de la pena de muerte en Guatemala- tema que se había retomado hace un par de semanas- y combatir la pobreza y la marginación que propician la violencia en el país. En un pronunciamiento hecho público por las iglesias que integran el Consejo Ecuménico Cristiano de Guatemala, recomiendan sumarse a los países que han abolido la pena capital, por considerar que no es una solución a los problemas de violencia. Prensa Libre, que cubrió la conferencia de prensa reprodujo la afirmación del secretario general del Consejo,

El CLAI Recibió La Renuncia De Su Secretario General Y Seis Funcionarios Más
"El Rumbo Del CLAI Sigue Sin Cambios; Pedimos Confianza Y Oración," Dice Murray

27 febrero 2008, CIUDAD DE PANAMÁ – Casi al final de la reunión anual de la Junta Directiva del Consejo Latinoamericano de Iglesias (CLAI) en esta ciudad, de 19 al 25 de febrero, el reverendo Israel Batista renunció a su puesto de Secretario General. Acompañaron al Rev. Batista en su dimisión los secretarios regionales Jairo Barriga (Caribe), Eduardo Chinchilla (América Central), Elizabeth Salazar (Andina) y los Coordinadores de Programas Ángel Luis Rivera (FES) y Carlos Tamez (Meio Ambiente) y de la Directora Administrativa Akacia Gualán.

Líderes Hispanos Católicos Se Unen En Los Estados Unidos

25 febrero 2008, CIUDAD DEL VATICANO – La Agencia católica vaticana Zenit ha informado que en Estados Unidos se creó recientemente la Asociación Católica de Líderes Latinos, llamada CALL (Catholic Association of Latino Leaders), con sede en San Antonio, Texas. La idea principal de esta nueva Asociación es unir a los latinos católicos que residen en el país del norte, sirviendo a las comunidades latinas. Según datos extraoficiales, unas 45 millones de personas hablan español en Estados Unidos y el 60% ya es nacido en el país.

Instalan Una Escuela De Gobierno Con Principios Cristianos

29 febrero 2008, CARACAS, Venezuela – Con el propósito de llevar acabo una agenda dirigida a la formación del liderazgo social, político y profesional del país, el Instituto Cristiano para los Estudios Sociales (ICES) ha puesto a la disposición del pueblo venezolano la Escuela Bíblica de Gobierno. Así lo informo el presidente del ICES, Lorenzo Tovar. Según el presidente del ICES, el objetivo de este programa esta dirigido a la preparación del ser humano en un esfuerzo por insertar los valores y principios cristianos en quienes gobiernen y aspiren gobernar.

Religious Liberty News

AJC: Bar Religious Worship Services at Public Schools

February 25, 2008, NEW YORK – The American Jewish Committee today filed an amicus brief with the Second Circuit Court of Appeals arguing that public school districts should not be compelled to convert schools into churches on Sundays. "Public schools are places where children of all faiths and of no faith should feel comfortable," said Jeffrey Sinensky, AJC's General Counsel.

National News

More San Joaquin Congregations Opt to Remain Within Episcopal Church;
March 29 Special Convention Anticipated

February 27, 2008 – A growing number of Episcopalians in the Diocese of San Joaquin are opting to remain within the Episcopal Church (TEC) as the Fresno-based diocese prepares for an anticipated March 29 special convention that would elect a provisional bishop. Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori, in a letter to be distributed via a new diocesan newspaper, notes the proposed convention date and reassures the people of the diocese that work is ongoing "to ensure that you and your fellow Episcopalians may continue to bless the communities around you well into the future."

International News

European Methodists Establish Methodist E-Academy

February 25, 2008, MOSCOW, Russia – A new institution that aims to provide theological education via the Internet was named the Methodist E-Academy during a meeting of the United Methodist Theological Schools in Europe. An ongoing project since 2006, the academy's development has been shepherded by an advisory board chaired by Bishop Patrick Streiff of Central and Southern Europe. Instructors who will conduct the online courses were trained at a gathering just prior to the Feb. 8-9 meeting of the European school leaders.

End the Economic Embargo of Cuba, Reformed Church Leaders Demand

February 29, 2008 – Reformed church leaders from the Caribbean and North America have called for the lifting of the United States' economic embargo against Cuba in the interest of justice and right relationships. The Caribbean and North American Area Council (CANAAC) of the World Alliance of Reformed Churches (WARC) met 25 to 28 February in Georgetown, Guyana, under the theme "Breaking the Chains." CANAAC will be sending a letter to U.S. President George W. Bush and Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi asking them to lift the embargo, calling it a violation against the Cuban people and an exclusion that impoverishes and causes harsh suffering for women, men and children.

ELCA Helps Rebuild Indonesian Fishing Town

February 28, 2008, CHICAGO – Kuala Bubon, a fishing town in North Sumatra, Indonesia, can no longer be called a "sunken" or "lost village." Washed away by a tsunami that struck three years ago, Kuala Bubon has risen again with concrete homes built on "pilings over water." On Dec. 26, 2004, an earthquake in the Indian Ocean produced a tsunami that killed more than a quarter of a million people in East Africa and South Asia – with about 170,000 people dead or missing in Northern Sumatra alone.

Taiwan Diocese to Host Episcopal Asiamerica Ministries Consultation June 6-10
Event to Focus on Mission, Globalization; Presiding Bishop to Preach

February 27, 2008 – The Episcopal Diocese of Taiwan will host the 35th annual Episcopal Asiamerica Ministry (EAM) consultation June 6-10 at the Grand Hotel and Cheng Ching Lake Youth Activity Center in Kaoshiung. The annual gathering of Asian American clergy and lay leaders, "Go in Peace to Love and Serve the Lord: Mission and Evangelism in the Era of Globalization," will feature Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori and the Rev. Canon Soh Chye Ann as guest speakers, said the Rev. Fred Vergara, program officer for Asian American Ministries of the Episcopal Church.

Middle East News

Lutherans in Davenport, Iowa, ‘Journey to Jerusalem' to Buy Mules, Goats

February 29, 2008, CHICAGO – The young members of Zion Lutheran Church, Davenport, Iowa, are walking 6,317 miles – the distance from Davenport to Jerusalem – by Palm Sunday, March 16. They're using pedometers to track their steps each week of Lent, and sponsors will help them convert their miles into money to buy mules and goats from Heifer International for Zion's companion congregations in Kirangare, Tanzania. With the winter blues – "the kind of downturn you experience after Christmas" – and with Lent in February and March this year, "it made sense to get something physical going and get the kids excited, showing up and recording their miles," said the Rev. Del D. Preston, Zion Lutheran Church, a congregation of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.

People in the News

Teresita Valeriano Named LWF Regional Officer for North America

February 29, 2008, CHICAGO – The Rev. Teresita "Tita" C. Valeriano was appointed regional officer for the Lutheran World Federation (LWF) in North America, effective March 1. Valeriano, 42, Lutheran campus pastor at the University of Southern California, Los Angeles, since 2004, is an ordained pastor of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). "I believe that we are in an exciting but also challenging time in our life together as a communion as we address poverty, war, human rights, theology and mission. I am looking forward to serving the North American member churches (of the LWF) with joy, humility, creativity and audacity," Valeriano said.

William Lazareth, Former ELCA Synod Bishop, Author, Professor, Dies

February 26, 2008, CHICAGO – The Rev. William H. Lazareth, former bishop of the Metropolitan New York Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) died of cancer Feb. 23 in Bar Harbor, Maine. Lazareth, 79, had a distinguished career as a college and seminary professor, author and leader with the ELCA, the former Lutheran Church in America (LCA) and the World Council of Churches (WCC), Geneva. At the time of his death, Lazareth was a faculty member at Carthage College, Kenosha, Wis., serving as Jerald C. Brauer Distinguished Professor of Lutheran Studies.