Front Page

Interfaith Leaders Call on Candidates to Make Major Statements on Poverty

August 4, 2008, NEW YORK – High ranking Catholic, Jewish, Muslim and Protestant leaders have called on the presidential candidates of both major parties to use their primetime slots at the nominating conventions to offer plans for combating poverty. "As people of faith, we believe that it is immoral to ignore our nation's most vulnerable populations," the leaders said in letters to Republican Senator John McCain of Arizona and Democratic Senator Barack Obama of Illinois.

Churches Must Lead the Way on Reducing Carbon Emissions.

August 2, 2008, LAMBETH – The iconic image of a floodlit Canterbury Cathedral would be a thing of the past if the Revd Ian James had his way. The Revd Professor Ian James is the environment advisor in the Diocese of Oxford, and lectures in the Schools of Mathematics, Meteorology and Physics at the University of Reading, and he talked in a self select session today on the science of climate change. In his darker moments, he says is very pessimistic about the political and social will to avoid catastrophic climate change, and he would like to see the church leading the way by reducing conspicuous consumption such as floodlit churches. "I would like to see us taking a lead in our churches, and being very serious about auditing our carbon emissions," he said.

Churches ‘Won't Give Up' on Travel Restriction Issue, Says Lutheran Leader

August 5, 2008, MEXICO CITY – The religious community up" until travel restrictions that limit the movement of people living with HIV are lifted worldwide , said the Rev. Mark S. Hanson, presiding bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) and president of the Lutheran World Federation (LWF). Hanson spoke at an Aug. 4 news conference on the issue here at the XVII International AIDS Conference.

Western Culture Worsens Interfaith Woes

July 29, 2008, LAMBETH – Western culture often exacerbates the difficulties Christians face in societies where they are in a minority, the Moderator of the Church of Pakistan said yesterday. While headlines (at least in the religious press) of persecution of Christians in Pakistan are commonplace, Bishop Malik said at the daily Lambeth press conference yesterday that his daily experience of Muslim people is overwhelmingly positive, and that dialogue "is for us a daily business, a dialogue of life." "Always it is a small minority who disturbs the conversation," he said, alluding to extremist violence. "But Western culture exacerbates it."

General News

‘Change Is Good,' Pastor Tells Church Development School

August 5, 2008, GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – In a video, the face of a pastor is pasted onto the dancing body of Napoleon Dynamite, the title character in a cult comedy movie of 2004. People under 30 would appreciate the image; those over 40 might not, said the Rev. Mark Beeson, who used the clip to introduce his address to the 2008 United Methodist School of Congregational Development. His topic: "Innovate or Die."

Global Campaign to Promote "HIV-Competent" Churches

August 6, 2008 – Representatives of ecumenical organizations meeting in advance of the 17th International AIDS Conference in Mexico City vowed to launch a global campaign to help churches become competent in dealing with the HIV and AIDS pandemic. A first step will consist of a set of education and advocacy materials jointly produced in time for the World AIDS Day 2008, to be marked on 1 December. They will be accompanied by a tool-kit aimed at enabling groups and communities to assess the quantity and quality of their response to HIV and AIDS.

Hunger Banquet Gives Students Taste of Reality

August 6, 2008, DENVER – As high school students on a mission trip enter a church dining hall, they soon discover that what they eat depends on their presumed lot in life. "There wasn't enough," complains one student who received a small bowl of macaroni and cheese, representing what might be a typical meal for a working-class person. Organized by Denver Urban Ministries, the hunger banquet was designed to show the daily challenges faced by many families. A drawing determined what meal each student would eat, with working-class people making up the largest group.

Speakers, Musicians Highlight Lutheran Men's Gathering

August 7, 2008, OMAHA, Neb. – The Lutheran Men's Gathering of Lutheran Men in Mission (LMM), the men's ministry of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), featured several keynote speakers to talk about men's faiths, ministries and relationships spanning generations. About 600 men were here Aug. 1-3 for the 2008 Lutheran Men's Gathering at the Hilton Hotel and Qwest Center. The event theme, "Coming of Age," focused on LMM's 20th anniversary, its new relationship with the ELCA and its emphasis on the spirituality of men ages 18-34.

Interview with the Most Rev. Kallistos Ware, Archbishop of Gt. Britain

August 5, 2008, LAMBETH – Interview with the Most Rev. Kallistos Ware, Archbishop of Gt. Britain for the Ecumenical Patriarchate. GW – Bishop Kallistos, may I ask you how you understand the role of the ecumenical observers here at the Conference? KW – Well, most obviously it signifies that we are conscious that we are all members of one Body in Christ. There are visible divisions separating Christians, but we know that on a deeper lever we do share, in a real sense, membership in one Body. Its expression is incomplete, imperfect, but it is nonetheless a genuine reality.

Church Turnaround Brings ‘Living Water' to Community

August 5, 2008, ORLANDO, Fla. – Living Water United Methodist Church began in 2006 with 225 people, but membership gradually declined to an attendance of about 70. "I felt like a failure," said the Rev. Ed Jones in a July 31 presentation to the 2008 United Methodist School of Congregational Development. The church in Pearland, Texas, had been launched with much fanfare in the Texas Annual (regional) Conference. Jones struggled to understand why people were not attending worship while other area churches were experiencing growth.

Church Leaders Urged to Think and Act like Jesus

August 4, 2008, ORLANDO, Fla. – Christian leaders attending the 2008 United Methodist School of Congregational Development were urged to live and act like Jesus Christ as they seek to transform lives by expanding and revitalizing the church. Bishop Minerva Carcaño, delivering her keynote address on "the spiritual life of the Christian leader," also urged attentive listening to the movement of God and surrendering self to impact the church and the world. "The spiritual life of a Christian leader is a life that thinks and acts like Jesus," Carcaño said during the July 31-Aug. 5 event sponsored by the United Methodist boards of Global Ministries and Discipleship.

ELCA Presiding Bishop Washes Feet of HIV-Positive Women

August 4, 2008, MEXICO CITY – Engaging in an act of "humility and repentance," the Rev. Mark S. Hanson, presiding bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), Chicago, and president of the Lutheran World Federation, Geneva, began an Aug. 1 presentation here by washing the feet of two HIV-positive women. Hanson spoke during the Ecumenical Pre-Conference, July 31-Aug. 2, an event focused on the response of the faith community to HIV and AIDS. More than 500 people from throughout the world attended the conference, which the Ecumenical Advocacy Alliance, Geneva, organized.

New Orleans ‘Horns for Guns' Collection Set for August 17

August 8, 2008, DIOCESE OF LOUISIANA – A New Orleans parish has launched a special "Horns for Guns" collection for August 17, Episcopal Diocese of Louisiana Bishop Charles Jenkins has noted in a letter to local clergy and lay people. "I would like to bring your attention again to Fr. Bill Terry's ‘Horns for Guns' program in conjunction with the New Orleans Police Department," Jenkins writes in his letter, posted on the diocesan website. "This initiative was born out of St. Anna's mission to the musicians and is really a youth mentoring program. The initial phase asks youth of New Orleans to turn in their guns in exchange for musical training and counseling.

Ecumenical News

Decisions on Some Palestinian and Jordanian Communities in the USA

August 5, 2008, NEW YORK, NY – After a long process that began in 1993 related to the ecclesiastical status of a portion of the Palestinian and Jordanian communities in the USA, the portion connected to the Patriarchate of Jerusalem, there has been a final agreed decision by the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople and the Patriarchate of Jerusalem concerning these communities. The Ecumenical Patriarchate and the Jerusalem Patriarchate have agreed that the canonical and pastoral supervision of these communities and their clergy should belong to the canonically established jurisdiction in the United States which is the Eparchy of the Ecumenical Throne in America, that is, the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America.

Cardinal Kasper: "The Apostolicity of Faith"

August 1, 2008 – Cardinal Walter Kasper President of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity addressed a Self-Select Group at the Lambeth Conference on July 30th "The 1966 Common Declaration signed by Pope Paul VI and Archbishop Michael Ramsey," the Vatican's senior ecumenical official noted in an address to a packed Self-Select Group at the Lambeth Conference on July 30th, "spoke of ‘a restoration of complete communion of faith and sacramental life.'" But, Cardinal Walter Kasper, president of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity declared, "it seems now that full visible communion as the aim of our dialogue has receded further, and that our dialogue will have less ultimate goals and therefore will be altered in its character."

The Relationship Between the People and God

July 29, 2008, LAMBETH – Here is the address of Rabbi Sir Jonathan Sacks, Chief Rabbi of the United Hebrew Congregations of the Commonwealth to the Bishops gathered for the Lambeth Conference. It was delivered July 28.

Spanish News

Cumbre Sobre Sida Se Inaugura Con Advertencia De Incumplimiento De Metas

4 agosto 2008, CIUDAD DE MÉXICO – La XVII Conferencia Internacional sobre Sida se inauguró este domingo en la ciudad de México con la advertencia de que están en riesgo los compromisos para llegar a 2010 con el acceso a un tratamiento para los 33 millones de portadores. "Después de tantos progresos el mundo no parece estar en el camino de cumplir el compromiso adoptado en el 2006 para un acceso para el tratamiento para todos en el 2010," advirtió en el acto inaugural el argentino Pedro Cahn, copresidente del foro que se realiza por primera vez en América Latina.

Acto Público De Arrepentimiento: El Presidente De La FLM Lavó
Los Pies De Dos Mujeres Que Viven Con VIH

8 agosto 2008, CIUDAD DE MÉXICO – En un acto público de "arrepentimiento y de humildad," el obispo Mark S. Hanson, Presidente de la Federación Luterana Mundial (FLM) y obispo presidente de la Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA por su sigla en inglés), lavó los pies de dos mujeres que viven con vih. Contribución de la corresponsal de LWI Julia Heyde Traducción al castellano: Pastor Lisandro Orlov, Buenos Aires, Argentina.

Exigen Al Gobierno Mexicano Que Garantice La Libertad Religiosa

4 agosto 2008, CIUDAD DE MÉXICO – Informaciones de Protestante Digital, dan cuenta que la Alianza Evangélica Española (AEE) envió una carta a la embajada de México rogándole y exigiéndole que termine la persecución contra la libertad religiosa y los derechos humanos de los evangélicos mexicanos en Chiapas. También se ha transmitido esta situación a la Alianza Evangélica Europea en su oficina en la Unión Europea en Bruselas.

FUMEC Tiene Presidente Global Latinoamericano

5 agosto 2008, MONTREAL, Canadá – El uruguayo Horacio Mesones fue elegido nuevo presidente de la Federación Universal de Movimientos Estudiantiles Cristianos (FUMEC), en la ciudad de Montreal, Canadá. La elección se realizó en el marco de la 34a Asamblea de la Federación. Más de 140 personas participan en la misma. La Asamblea General, máximo órgano decisorio y representativo de la Federación se realiza cada cuatro años y establece los ejes de trabajo a seguir durante el cuadrenio.

Evangélicos Lloran Muerte Del Director De Diaconía

7 agosto 2008, RECIFE, Brasil – Fue sepultado el martes 5, en el Cementerio Parque de las Flores, en esta capital, el cuerpo del pastor Arnulfo Barbosa, 54 años, director ejecutivo de la organización de servicio Diaconía. Él falleció el lunes al mediodía y fue velado en la Iglesia Presbiteriana de las Gracias, en Recife, ciudad sede de Diaconía. Sociólogo, teólogo y pastor de la Iglesia Presbiteriana del Brasil (IPB), Arnulfo Barbosa tuvo una actuación muy presente en el movimiento social brasileño. Coordinó el Proceso de Articulación y Diálogo (PAD) en el Nordeste, fue miembro titular del Consejo Nacional de Seguridad Alimentaria y Nutricional de Pernambuco (Consea).

Líderes Religiosos Llamados a Cumplir Su Rol

5 agosto 2008, CIUDAD DE MÉXICO – Los líderes religiosos fueron llamados a cumplir su rol en la respuesta al VIH y al SIDA por el secretario general de la ONU, Ban Ki-moon, y el presidente de la Asociación Internacional de SIDA, Pedro Cahn, durante la apertura de la Conferencia Internacional SIDA 2008. Llamo "a los líderes religiosos a predicar tolerancia," dijo Ban Ki-moon en su discurso inaugural de la Conferencia, que tiene lugar en la Ciudad de México desde el 3 al 8 de agosto. El hecho de que personas que viven con VIH "sean discriminadas," dijo Ban, "debería llenarnos a todos con vergüenza."

Católicas Feministas Exigen Un Estado Laico Que Garantice Los Derechos Humanos

7 agosto 2008, ASUNCIÓN, Paraguay – Mujeres de la organización Católicas por el Derecho a Decidir-Paraguay hicieron público un comunicado donde hacen notar la creciente presencia pública de grupos católicos conservadores que "buscan presionar e imponer dogmas y doctrinas de fe como políticas públicas para todos/as los/as paraguayos y paraguayas."

Los Cristianos Deben Resistir La Injusticia Económica,
dice Roberto Jordan, Presidente De La Iglesia Reformada En Argentina

7 agosto 2008, ESTADOS UNIDOS – Según el Rvdo. Roberto H. Jordan, presidente de la Iglesia Reformada en Argentina, los cristianos deben hacer escuchar su voz ante la injusticia intolerable, si es que la economía va a acrecentar las vidas de todas las personas y no solamente a unos pocos privilegiados. Jordan, quien es además miembro del comité ejecutivo de la Alianza Mundial de Iglesias Reformadas, habló en la reciente Conferencia 2008 de Construcción de la Paz Intergeneracional de la Iglesia Presbiteriana (USA).

Campaña Mundial Para Promover Iglesias "Competentes En Materia De VIH"

7 agosto 2008 – En una reunión de representantes de organizaciones ecuménicas previa a la 17ª Conferencia Internacional sobre el SIDA en Ciudad de México, se prometió emprender una campaña mundial para ayudar a las iglesias a hacerse competentes en las formas de afrontar la pandemia del VIH y el SIDA. El primer paso consistirá en una serie de materiales de educación y sensibilización que se producirán conjuntamente a tiempo para el Día Mundial del SIDA de 2008, que se celebrará el 1ero de diciembre. Irán acompañados de un conjunto de instrumentos destinado a capacitar a grupos y comunidades para evaluar la cantidad y calidad de su respuesta al VIH y SIDA.

A Pesar De La Pobreza, Echan Raíces Las Simientes De Esperanza En Timor

7 agosto 2008, OCCIDENTAL, Indonesia – En una reciente visita a Indonesia, los integrantes de un equipo de "cartas vivas," en representación de las iglesias miembros del Consejo Mundial de Iglesias (CMI), percibieron semillas de esperanza por un mundo sin violencia. En Sulawesi, Molucas, Timor Occidental y en otras islas, las iglesias están trabajando conjuntamente y estrechamente con sus comunidades y las de otras religiones para aportar la paz y mejorar la situación de todos. Contrariamente a otras regiones visitadas por el equipo de "cartas vivas," en Timor Occidental no se han registrado enfrentamientos armados ni asesinatos en los últimos años. Pero falta comida, agua potable y de riego para la agricultura.

Organismos Ecuménicos Acompañan Al Pueblo De Bolivia En El Referendo Revocatorio

5 agosto 2008, LA PAZ, Bolivia – El presidente de Bolivia, Evo Morales, su vicepresidente Álvaro García Linera y ocho de los nueve prefectos (gobernadores) del país se someterán el 10 de agosto a un referendo que determinará su continuidad en los cargos. Organismos ecuménicos acompañan y apoyan este proceso. Acompañando el Referendum Revocatorio y los profundos cambios que vive ese país, organismos ecuménicos como el Consejo Mundial de Iglesias (CMI), el Consejo Latinoamericano de Iglesias (CLAI), la Alianza de Iglesias Presbiterianas y Reformadas de América Latina (AIPRAL),la Iglesia Evangélica Alemana (EKD), y el Centro Regional Ecuménico de Asesoría y Servicio (CREAS), han previsto realizar una Visita Pastoral a Bolivia.

Primer Libro En Español Del Arzobispo De Canterbury

2 agosto 2008, SÁBADO, Gran Bretaña – El miércoles 30 a las 12.30 de la mañana en plena Conferencia de Lambeth se presentó oficialmente la primera traducción al castellano de un libro de Rowan William. El titulo "Motivos para creer" hace referencia a su contenido, una explicación del Credo. El libro recoge una serie de charlas dictadas por el Arzobispo hace unos años en la Catedral de Canterbury para preparar a sus fieles para la celebración de la Resurrección. El acto de presentación estuvo presidido por el obispo Carlos López Lozano de la Iglesia Española Reformada Episcopal, quien agradeció al Sr. Arzobispo su presencia en el acto y recordó lo útil que podía resultar un libro como este para dar testimonio de nuestra fe en Cristo.

National News

Connection Aids Hurricane-Damaged Churches

August 6, 2008, NEW ORLEANS – Without the help of the United Methodist connection, First Grace United Methodist Church would not be a functioning congregation. "My salary, our associate pastor's salary and part-time music director are paid through the Katrina Church Recovery Appeal," said the Rev. Shawn Anglim, the pastor at First Grace. "In addition, teams have come from throughout the connection to help us repair and rebuild this beautiful, historic facility, which is a key spot for population growth in New Orleans."

Black Leaders Reject Gay "Marriage Rights" on Air in San Francisco

August 8, 2008 – Activist groups determined to destroy marriage have always hidden their anti-democratic agenda behind false analogies to civil rights. By invoking the great legacy of America's civil rights movement, radical activists hope to convince America to let them force their view of marriage and their family upon our children and grandchildren. California is the latest state to be saturated with claims that marriage is a form of bigotry and legal segregation – in anticipation of the California marriage amendment vote in the fall.

United Methodist Injured in Church Shooting

August 6, 2008, KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – On July 27, a man walked into a Unitarian Universalist church on Sunday morning and shot eight people. Two were killed. Six were wounded. One of the wounded, John T. Worth, is a United Methodist who was in the congregation that morning to see his granddaughter in a performance of "Annie Jr." Worth, 68, and his wife, Joy, are members of Peck's Memorial United Methodist Church in nearby Maryville. The shooting occurred in Knoxville at Tennessee Valley Unitarian Universalist Church, where Worth's daughter is a member.

International News

Women and Youth Break the Cycle of Violence in Indonesia

August 4, 2008 – The remains of flattened buildings at the Christian University of the Moluccas in Indonesia are a grim reminder of conflict. During 1999-2004 hundreds of Christians and Muslims died and millions of dollars worth of property was destroyed in a tragedy which more sober leaders and members of both faith communities regret. "The conflict only made all of us losers," says Rev. Dr Margaretha Hendriks-Ririmasse, one of the chairpersons of the Communion of Churches in Indonesia (PGI), who hails from the Moluccas city of Ambon.

Spanish Templars Are Suing Pope Benedict Seeking Restoration
of the Medieval Knights Templar Order

August 4, 2008 – Russia Today reports the Templars, who consider themselves to be the inheritors of the knight order destroyed in the 14th century, want the decision to forbid the activity of the Templar Knights Order to be reconsidered. They also want the fact of confiscation of Order property to be labeled illegal, an El Mundo report says. Back in the 14th century the order consisted of 15 knights and owned 9,000 real estate units in France, Germany, Spain, Great Britain, Portugal and other countries of Europe.

Middle East News

NCC Delegation Visits Palestine, Jordan, Syria and Lebanon

August 2, 2008, BEIRUT, Lebanon – A delegation from the National Council of Churches of USA top leaders visited Palestine, Jordan, Syria and Lebanon during the period of July 22-August 2. The delegation was composed of H.E. Archbishop Vicken Aykazian (President of the NCCCUSA), Rev Dr. Mickael Kinnamon (General Secretary of NCCCUSA), and Dr. Peter Makari (Executive Director for Middle East and coordinator of the visit).