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Greek Orthodox Call for the Protection of Our Natural Environment

September 1, 2008 – Beloved Brothers and Sisters in Christ, I greet you in the grace and peace of our Lord Jesus Christ following the inspiring and edifying 39th Biennial Clergy-Laity Congress of our Holy Archdiocese. In a spirit of love and in mutual commitment to the mission of the Church, we enjoyed our fellowship with one another, carefully analyzed current needs and challenges, and affirmed our faith in God's guidance. We also expressed our willingness to offer more so that others will find salvation and life in Him. We remember the theme of our Congress: "Gather My People to My Home."

Muslim and Christian Women to Explore Religious Contributions to Peace

August 28, 2008 – Some twenty Christian and Muslim women will meet 4-7 September in Gothenburg, Sweden, as part of a dialogue process labelled "Moving towards peace through religion." Hosted by the Diocese of Gothenburg of the Church of Sweden, the meeting follows one held last year in Teheran. The initiative is co-organized by the Iranian Institute for Interreligious Dialogue (IID) and the World Council of Churches (WCC). "Christian and Muslim women are peacemakers in many ways, be it at the global level, in society and in the community," says Rima Barsoum, WCC programme executive for inter-religious dialogue and cooperation.

United Methodists Prepare for Post-Fay Relief Work

August 22, 2008 – With Tropical Storm Fay still swirling off the east coast of Florida, United Methodists in the waterlogged state are beginning to assess the damage and coordinate relief efforts. "We are receiving reports of catastrophic flooding and debris in parts of the state," said Marilyn Swanson, director of Disaster Recovery Ministry for the Florida Annual (regional) Conference. "We are trying to anticipate the needs that will be arising in the next few days." Bishop Timothy Whitaker is asking the United Methodist Committee on Relief for a $10,000 emergency grant to help with initial needs.

Church Offers Plan for Year of Action on Tackling Climate Change

August 25, 2008, ENGLAND – A new guide from the Church of England offers church leaders a template for a year-long program of practical action to reduce their congregations' carbon footprints, as energy prices head upwards. The book, Don't Stop at the Lights, has already won praise from the Archbishop of Canterbury and the Bishop of London among others. Don't Stop at the Lights, launched August 25 by Church House Publishing, includes sermon ideas and extensive Bible study notes drawing on ancient theological themes which aim to reconnect the church to the natural world and the roots of its faith.

Churches Denounce Hindu Leader's Killing, but Fear Reprisals

August 26, 2008, BANGALORE, India – Christian groups in India have condemned the killing of a prominent Hindu leader, and called on government security forces to protect them from reprisal attacks in eastern Orissa state, where inter-communal violence has flared in recent times. Swami Lakshmanananda Saraswati, the most senior leader of an extreme Hindu nationalist group in Orissa, was shot and killed along with five junior monks, allegedly by more than 20 Maoists who stormed his home on August 23 in Orissa's Kandhamal district. The killings triggered about 100 attacks in the area on minority Christians, who were blamed for the deaths.

Archbishop of Canterbury Sends Pastoral Letter to Bishops of the Anglican Communion

August 26, 2008 – The Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr. Rowan Williams, on August 26 sent a letter to the bishops of the Anglican Communion, setting out his personal reflections on the 2008 Lambeth Conference, which was held July 16-August 3 at the University of Kent in Canterbury, England. The full text of the letter follows.

General News

Two ELCA Congregations Celebrate ‘Mission Partners' Covenant in Ohio

August 29, 2008, CHICAGO – Two Ohio congregations of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) – one urban, one suburban – will celebrate a "mission partners" covenant Sept. 6-7. The covenant commits Redeemer Lutheran Church, Toledo, and Zoar Lutheran Church, Perrysburg, to several activities "for the purpose of mutual support as we proclaim the Good News of Jesus Christ in our own communities." "The two parishes are developing a reciprocal relationship linking an inner city parish (Redeemer) and a suburban parish (Zoar) for both to become strong centers of mission and stand in the city for good," said the congregations' news release.

Black Methodist Caucus Establishes Fund, Giving Program

August 25, 2008 – Black Methodists for Church Renewal has established two financial endeavors to encourage, connect and train African-American youth and young adults in The United Methodist Church and to support the work of the church's black caucus. A permanent endowment honoring Bishop James S. Thomas and his wife, Ruth, will provide support for leadership of African-American youth and young adults. A second financial endeavor is a planned giving program to support BMCR mission initiatives and the caucus' work as an advocacy, ministry and leadership development organization in behalf of more than 2,400 primarily black United Methodist congregations across the United States.

Texas Church Crosses the Border for Ministry

August 26, 2008, JUAREZ, Mexico – The worn, rickety shack resting along the fringes of the parched U.S.-Mexico border seems to mimic the characteristics of its lone occupant. His face etched with years of hard living, Mr. Antonio crouches in the plywood doorway. His frail body is in a permanent stoop, making it easy to pet a dog tied up to a nearby water barrel. It's Saturday and Mr. Antonio and his dog wait anxiously for a special visitor, Blanca Rivera, who treks the dirt road with a sack of food for both.

Brethren Receive Apology for Persecution of 1700s in Europe

August 29, 2008, ELGIN, IL – During the international celebration of the 300th Anniversary of the Brethren movement, held in early August in Schwarzenau, Germany, the Brethren received an apology for the persecution their faith ancestors suffered during the early 1700s in Europe. Ingo Stucke, a member of the Governing Board of the Protestant Church of Westphalia, Germany, made the apology during the formal Anniversary Program on the afternoon of Aug. 3. "The persecutions are a black spot on the history of the Evangelical Protestant Church," Stucke said. "We regret the persecutions of that time and ask your forgiveness." The apology to the Brethren follows on the heels of a decision in mid- July by the main governing body of the Lutheran World Federation (LWF) to seek forgiveness for Lutheran persecution of Anabaptists during the 16th century in Europe.

The Brethren Heritage: Not a Bloodline, but a Message

August 29, 2008, ELGIN, IL – The following essay appeared in a recent Newsline collection of reflections on the 300th Anniversary of the Brethren movement. The author, Doris Abdullah, is a member of First Church of the Brethren in Brooklyn, N.Y., and represents the Church of the Brethren at the United Nations as a member of the NGO Subcommittee for the Elimination of Racism. The essay originally was published in a newsletter for Christian educators. "When I was asked to write about the Church of the Brethren ancestors and their life struggles 300 years ago in Germany, panic set in – for my folks were slaves back then, and Alexander and Anna Mack were not among my family's ancestral lineage. What could I contribute to this German story line?

Disabilities Ministry Issues Statement on Movie ‘Tropic Thunder'

August 25, 2008 ELGIN, IL – The Church of the Brethren Disabilities Ministry has issued a statement on the recently released movie, "Tropic Thunder." The statement is made in support of people with intellectual disabilities, said Kathy Reid, executive director of the denomination's Caring Ministries programs. "Tropic Thunder" is a DreamWorks production directed by and starring Ben Stiller, released on Aug. 13. A portion of the plot is a fictional film, "Simple Jack," about a farmer with intellectual disabilities who is played by the Stiller character. In its first 12 days, "Tropic Thunder" has booked more than $70 million in its worldwide gross.

Theologian Daryl Balia to Address CWS Faith Gathering

August 25, 2008 – Daryl Balia, Th.D. will be a keynote speaker at a Church World Service forum for reflection about the theological underpinnings, strategies for and conduct of the cooperative work of the faith community, scheduled for Oct. 20-21 in South Bend, Ind." The event, "Hope and Change in a Fragile World," will bring together clergy and laypersons to discuss the challenges and opportunities for mission cooperation in the 21st century. An ordained minister of The United Methodist Church, Dr. Balia currently serves as international director of Edinburgh 2010, an upcoming ecumenical initiative to reflect on a century of mission. He views the Church World Service gathering as a positive addition to that and other discussions about mission and interfaith cooperation.

United Methodist Men Seeks to Reach All Men

August 27, 2008, NASHVILLE, Tenn. – With its goal to "help men know Jesus Christ," the Commission on United Methodist Men must reach out beyond its chartered local church chapters to connect with a wider range of men, say its leaders. "Our goal is to help men grow in Christ so others may know Christ," said the Rev. David Adams, who was re-elected top staff executive of the commission during the Aug. 22-24 meeting of its board of directors. "Churches should hold the charter of United Methodist Men because the charter includes all men of the church. Our focus should be outward, not inward. We need to be invitational and provide many entry points for men," he said.

Wallis to Lecture on ‘Prophetic Politics' at Trinity Lutheran Seminary

August 28, 2008 – "The Meaning of Prophetic Politics in an Election Year" is the theme of Trinity Days 2008 at Trinity Lutheran Seminary, Columbus, Ohio. Trinity is one of eight seminaries of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. The Rev. Jim Wallis, editor-in-chief, Sojourners magazine, Washington, D.C., will present the 2008 Kantonen Lecture on Sept. 25. He is the president and chief executive office of Sojourners ministries, with a mission "to articulate the biblical call to social justice, inspiring hope and building a movement to transform individuals, communities, the church and the world." Raised in Detroit, Wallis attended Michigan State University, East Lansing, and Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, Deerfield, Ill.

Spanish News

Mujeres Musulmanas Y Cristianas Van a Examinar Las Contribuciones Religiosas a La Paz

28 agosto 2008 – Unas veinte mujeres cristianas y musulmanas se reunirán del 4 al 7 de septiembre en Gotemburgo, Suecia, como parte de un proceso de diálogo denominado "Avanzar hacia la paz a través de la religión." Dicha reunión, hospedada por la Diócesis de Gotemburgo de la Iglesia de Suecia, seguirá a la celebrada el año pasado en Teherán. La iniciativa está organizada conjuntamente por el Instituto Iraniano para el Diálogo Interreligioso y el Consejo Mundial de Iglesias (CMI). "Las mujeres cristianas y musulmanas son constructoras de paz de muchas formas, tanto a nivel mundial, como en la sociedad y en la comunidad," afirma Rima Barsoum, encargada del programa del CMI sobre el Diálogo entre cristianos y musulmanes.

Human Rights News

Confronted by Violence, Youth Utilize Human Rights Education for Real Change

August 29, 2008, NEW YORK – Celebrating the 60th Anniversary of the UN's Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Youth Delegates from 30 countries will meet at the United Nations Conference Room #1 on September 5th to describe how they have been able to create real change using human rights education. "Truth and knowledge are irresistible forces: youth around the world are working to implement the Declaration, and thus to make human rights a fact, not an idealistic dream," said Mary Shuttleworth, President of Youth for Human Rights International, who have organized this, their fifth annual, summit.

Religious Liberty News

China Detains Underground Catholic Bishop: Report

August 25, 2008, BEIJING – Security agents detained an elderly bishop of an underground Catholic church in northern China hours before the closing of the Olympic Games, a U.S.-based monitoring group said Monday. Bishop Julius Jia Zhiguo, 73, of Zhengding, a city in northern Hebei province, was taken by six government officials from his cathedral on Sunday morning, the Cardinal Kung Foundation said in a statement. The independent foundation, which aims to promote the Roman Catholic Church in China, said it did not know where or why Jia was being detained.

National News

Archbishop Demetrios of America Offers Invocation at Democratic National Convention

August 28, 2008, NEW YORK, NY – Archbishop Demetrios of America, head of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America, offered the Prayer of Invocation at the Democratic National Convention on Wednesday afternoon, August 27, 2008, at the session during which the official nominations for President and Vice President of the United States took place. Archbishop Demetrios was invited to offer the Prayer by the Democratic National Convention Committee.

New Orleans Pastor Rebuilds ‘Inner Spirit of the People'

August 29, 2008 – Three years and three churches later, the Rev. Connie Thomas is still recovering from Hurricane Katrina-as is her flock. Katrina slammed New Orleans on Aug. 29, 2005, devastating the two small churches she served in the city's hard-hit 9th Ward. In the storm's wake, Napoleon Avenue United Methodist Church was decommissioned by the denomination's Louisiana Annual (regional) Conference, and Peck United Methodist Church was merged with two other churches to become First Street PW. These days, Thomas is shepherding a third New Orleans congregation- Mt. Zion United Methodist Church, where the sanctuary is still in ruins, looking very much like it did in the days after the hurricane.

Reconstituted San Joaquin Diocese Sees Ordination
Court Allows Some Access to Disputed Accounts

August 29, 2008, STOCKTON, California – It's been a tough first few months for Bishop Jerry Lamb, but he said ordaining David Pina the first deacon in the reconstituted Episcopal Diocese of San Joaquin this week broadcast an unmistakable message: "the diocese is truly here and we will be here." The occasion also served as "an icon … for the whole church to understand that everyone is called to servant ministry," Lamb told about 75 people attending the August 24 afternoon celebration at St. Anne's Church in Stockton. Overseeing San Joaquin's reconstituted diocese is his third stint as a bishop and represented "a whole new episcopacy, rebuilding a diocese when there was nothing here.

Louisiana Team Brings Gulf Coast Recovery Issues to National Stage

August 29, 2008 – Four members of the staff of the Episcopal Diocese of Louisiana participated in a lobbying and advocacy effort at the Democratic National Convention August 25 to 28 in Denver, Colorado. They served as part of a 40-member team of the Equity and Inclusion Campaign, a coalition of more than 100 community and faith-based organizations in the Gulf Coast region. The coalition members have signed a declaration, "One Nation, One Gulf, One Promise," in which they call on the next President of the United States to commit to rebuilding the Gulf Coast by "ensuring access to education and job training, encouraging investment in small businesses, creating affordable housing opportunities for those who are still displaced, streamlining the federal bureaucracy and creating long-term disaster recovery plans for every region in the U.S."

International News

Religious Leaders Call for Cease-Fire in Philippines

August 28, 2008 – United Methodist Bishop Leo A. Soriano has joined other religious leaders in calling for a cease-fire in the southern Philippines between the government and Muslim rebels known as the Moro Islamic Liberation Force. The violence erupted in early August on the island of Mindanao after the Philippine Supreme Court blocked a deal that would expand an existing Muslim autonomous zone, according to news reports. The deal had been opposed by Christian communities. The clashes have displaced more than 300,000 people, mostly from Muslim areas, according to relief workers in Mindanao, the second-largest island in the Philippines.

Armenia Study Tour Is Planned for 2009

August 29, 2008, ELGIN, IL – Heifer International and the Church of the Brethren are co-sponsoring a study tour to Armenia in Sept. 2009. The tour will be led by Jan Schrock, a former director of Brethren Volunteer Service and daughter of Dan West, who originally established Heifer Project as a program of the Church of the Brethren. "It's an historic event for Brethren, harking to the remarkable engagement of Brethren with Armenians at a time of genocide almost a century ago. The response marked the entry of Brethren into overseas relief and service ministries," said Howard Royer, manager of the Church of the Brethren's Global Food Crisis Fund.

New Westminster Diocese Takes Steps to Reclaim Parishes, Remove Clergy

August 27, 2008, CANADA – The Vancouver-based Diocese of New Westminster said it is taking steps under its bylaws to remove former clergy who continue to operate in diocesan parishes despite having left the Anglican Church of Canada over theological disagreements concerning the diocese's 2002 decision to adopt rites for blessing same-sex unions. The parishes – all in British Columbia – are St. Matthew's, Abbotsford and St. Matthias and St. Luke, Vancouver.

Church and State Worry about Teenage Stabbings

August 26, 2008, LONDON – Celebrations marking Britain's best Olympic success in 100 years, with the country's athletes winning 19 gold medals, were marred by the fatal stabbing of an 18-year-old Londoner, adding to a knife-wielding trend that is worrying both church and government leaders. The young man's death on August 24 brought the total number of violent teenage killings in the British capital alone to 24 so far this year. The Anglican bishop of Exeter, Michael Langrish, who also sits in the House of Lords, Britain's upper parliamentary chamber, said that knife crime, which some politicians have described as an "epidemic," should be tackled by a "long-term strategic approach."

People in the News

Former Lutheran Bishop to Direct Seminaries' Contextual Education Program

August 26, 2008 – The Rev. Richard J. (Rick) Foss, former bishop, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) Eastern North Dakota Synod, became director of the Contextual Leadership Initiative (CLI) for Luther Seminary, St. Paul, Minn., and Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary (PLTS), Berkeley, Calif., on Aug. 1. Luther and PLTS are two of eight ELCA seminaries, and they comprise the ELCA's Western Mission Cluster – a cooperative venture of both seminaries and other partners to coordinate the theological education resources of the church in the western United States. CLI places students from both seminaries in internships and other contextual learning assignments.

Reviews

Dan Maguire's Wit and Wisdom Shines Through this Important Book
Whose Church: a Concise Guide to Progressive Catholicism

August 25, 2008 – Why can't theologians all write like Dan Maguire? When did dullness become the sine qua non of a theological tome? Where has the organic intellectual gone? And what happened to timorous Catholic publishers who will not give voice to the ongoing critical conversations which Catholicism so desperately needs? All questions which came to my mind when I read Maguire's delightful little book. The author, a married priest, armed with a doctorate (1969) from Rome's prestigious Gregorian University, has been a longtime prof in Religious Ethics at Milwaukee's Marquette University. Besides his 11 books Maguire has published widely in popular journals in the English speaking world. In other words, he's "out there" vigorously debating and conversing with other Catholics and the world at large.