Front Page

Christians Identify Climate Change as Key Issue

October 28, 2008 – Across the country, Christians and people of faith who recognize climate change as a moral issue are telling the Presidential candidates their concern about the effects climate change will have on people and the planet. More than 800 people of faith have signed on to an open letter to the Presidential candidates sponsored by the National Council of Churches Eco-Justice program. "Climate change is no longer just a Sunday morning conversation for Christians and communities of faith" noted Cassandra Carmichael director of the National Council of Churches Eco-Justice Programs.

Detroit Church Spooks Patrons to Fund Urban Ministries

October 23, 2008, DETROIT – The Rev. Faith Fowler leans a wooden staff against the wall as she straightens her robe. More than a hundred people soon will walk through the doors of CASS Community United Methodist Church in downtown Detroit, and she wants to be ready. Her job on this cool October night is to welcome the crowd of young people, families and others who will visit the church for probably the first time as Halloween approaches. But the church's hospitality this night doesn't include extending the hand of Christian fellowship. Rather, just before the doors open, Fowler picks up the latex mask of a wild snarling animal and pulls it over her head. For the fifth year in a row, the pastor will try to scare the daylights out of everybody who enters.

Kinnamon Joins Kobia's Call to ‘Quell the Violence'
Following Attacks on Christians in Mosul

October 20, 2008, NEW YORK – National Council of Churches General Secretary Michael Kinnamon has welcomed a call by World Council of Churches General Secretary Samuel Kobia "to quell the violence" against the Christian minority in Iraq. Kobia issued the plea to officials of the United Nations and the Iraqi government, seeking "swift action to quell the violence in Iraq and to thwart activities aimed at the expulsion of Christians and other minority populations."

Lutheran Communion Issues Pastoral Message on Global Financial Crisis

October 29, 2008, CHICAGO – The executive committee of the Lutheran World Federation (LWF) issued a pastoral message on the global financial crisis denouncing the collective failure of responsibility and accountability on the part of governments, financial institutions and business leaders, and urging LWF member churches to stand in solidarity with the people most affected. The Rev. Mark S. Hanson, LWF president and presiding bishop, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), chaired the committee's Oct. 24-26 meeting in Helsinki, Finland.

Sri Lanka's Buddhist Leaders Have Mixed Views on Resolving Ethnic Conflict

October 24, 2008 – Leaders of Sri Lanka's Buddhist majority expressed divergent views on resolving the ethnic conflict in their country, while speaking to a delegation led by Rev. Dr Samuel Kobia, general secretary of the World Council of Churches. "Our concerns are very much the same as yours," said Dr Ittapana Dhammalankara Anunayaka Maha Thera, chairperson of the Conference of Religions. He made the remark on 20 October when a five member delegation led by Kobia visited the organization's offices at the Buddhist monastery of Narahenpita in Colombo.

National Council of Churches Interfaith Relations Commission
Warns Against ‘Distorted and Misleading' DVD about Islam

October 30, 2008, NEW YORK – The Interfaith Relations Commission of the National Council of Churches expressed alarm and protest over the recent mass distribution of 28 million copies of what it termed a "distorted and misleading" DVD entitled: "Obsession: Radical Islam's War Against the West." The Commission charged that the DVD, distributed primarily in closely contested states in the last weeks of the presidential election campaign, has the effect of "fanning the sparks of mistrust, bigotry and hatred that undermine the very foundations of a multi-religious democracy."

General News

Cross Opens Doors for Military Chaplains to Minister

October 28, 2008, OKINAWA, Japan – Chaplains stand out in the military because of what they wear and what they don't carry. They wear crosses on their uniforms. They carry no weapon into battle. "We don't condone war. We don't think that killing people is right," said the Rev. Travis Phillips, a United Methodist Navy chaplain serving at a U.S. Marine Corps base in Okinawa.

Climate Change Is Changing Theology
Theologians Consider the Shifts Needed in Thinking and Action

October 30, 2008, GENEVA – "Climate change is opening up horizons that are deeply spiritual, theological and cosmic in scope. [It] may literally be melting icebergs but it also exposes metaphorical icebergs of how God, human beings and the rest of creation have been conceptualized in ways that contribute to the injustices that have only increased under climate change." This observation from a background paper prepared by the Lutheran World Federation (LWF) Department for Theology and Studies (DTS) set the stage for a consultation of biblical scholars, theologians and ethicists working in this area, 2-4 October, in Geneva.

Church Is Wherever People Gather Together
A Church Planting Project on the Baltic Island of Ruegen

October 31, 2008, BERGEN-ROTENSEE, RUEGEN, Germany/GENEVA – A breathtaking view greets visitors arriving on the Baltic Sea island of Ruegen in Germany. Some 1,000 square kilometers of varied natural attractions cover coastal cliffs, national parks, fine sandy beaches, inviting dunes and the sometimes thundering sea. A tour of Germany's largest island takes visitors through picturesque sites renovated at great expense, including imposing churches with richly decorated altars and ornate stain glass windows. Ruegen is considered as one of the most popular holiday destinations in Germany, with over one million vacationers annually.

Archaeologists Dig up Dirt on Luther

October 28, 2008 – German archaeologists have stoked controversy by unearthing evidence that Reformation leader Martin Luther lived well and did not die as a pauper as commonly believed. The Taipei Times reports German scientists have reconstructed a detailed picture of the domestic life of Martin Luther by trawling through his household waste uncovered during archeological digs on sites where he used to live. Beer tankards, grains of corn, cooking pots, his wife's wedding band and even his toilet are among the finds dug up during the five year project in the three places in Germany he spent his life.

Greek Orthodox Archdiocese Settles Dallas Lawsuit

October 30, 2008, NEW YORK – The Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America announced today that it has reached an agreement to settle claims brought by five Texas plaintiffs against the Archdiocese and Holy Trinity Church of Dallas, Texas. The plaintiffs' claims in this case relate to acts of sexual misconduct that were alleged to have been committed in the 1980s by Nicholas Katinas, former pastor of Holy Trinity.

Reformed Faith Comforts Soldiers

October 29, 2008 – Army Battalion Chaplain Capt. Peter Hofman says he preached many times about his Reformed faith – and especially his rock-solid belief in the sovereignty of God – during his recent stint in Iraq. Hofman says he told the soldiers who would attend the Sunday services on their fire base near Kirkuk, Iraq, that when all was said and done the Lord was in charge. These were not empty words offered to soldiers who would be riding patrol on streets planted with roadside bombs. This preaching came from his heart and an upbringing in the Christian Reformed Church, says Hofman. Hofman's words also took on greater import for the soldiers because he went with them whenever they left the base. Although he didn't carry a weapon, an armed chaplain's assistant went with him wherever he traveled.

Group Aims to Help Reclaim ‘Missing Generation'

October 31, 2008 – A newly formed advisory committee of young adults wants to help Synod congregations reclaim what has been called "a missing generation" among church rolls nationwide and in the Missouri Synod – young adults in their 20s and 30s. LCMS Youth Ministry formed the Young Adult Ministry Advisory Committee of seven members – all within that age category – to "grapple with why young adults aren't involved in the church, and share findings and observations with the church as we explore what can be done to get them connected to a congregation," said Jessica Bordeleau, coordinator of Lutheran Youth Fellowship and Young Adult Ministry with the youth-ministry office, and the committee's convener.

Justice and Witness Ministries Board Affirms Governance Proposal

October 28, 2008 – Conducting business at the Hilton Garden Inn in New Orleans, Oct. 23-26, Justice and Witness Ministries (JWM) board members narrowly affirmed the Governance Follow-up Team II (GFT-II) restructuring proposal. The vote was 21 to 16, with three abstentions. Several members spoke with humility and passion about their feelings and positions on the new proposal. In a plea, Pacific Islanders & Asian Americans (PAAM) representative, Melissa Woo voiced her concerns regarding the Historically Underrepresented Groups (HUGS) within the newly proposed organizational structure and offered an alternative proposal from the Council for Racial and Ethnic Ministries (COREM).

Church Court: Structural Changes Require Legislation

October 29, 2008, BLOOMINGTON, Minn. – The top court of The United Methodist Church has ruled that the denomination's legislative body would need to enact enabling legislation in 2012 to change the church's structure in the United States. The Judicial Council, meeting Oct. 22-25 in its first session since the election of five new members last spring, also remanded two cases on key issues—church membership and same-gender marriages—back to their respective conferences, citing an absence of official documentation needed to decide the cases. The denomination has been studying its structure to reflect the increasing global nature of the church, and it brought proposed constitutional changes before its top legislative body last spring.

Spanish News

Teólogos Discuten Sobre Justicia Y Perdón Desde La Perspectiva Del Evangelio

27 octubre 2008, COLOMBIA – La Sociedad Bíblica Colombiana, representantes de varias universidades, denominaciones religiosas y políticas consientes y comprometidos en la consecución de la paz del país, unen esfuerzos para llevar a cabo el Foro Justicia y Perdón desde la perspectiva del Evangelio, encuentro que tuvo lugar el viernes 24 de octubre en el salón Elíptico del Congreso de la República. La ponencia "Justicia y Perdón, una verdad para la reconciliación; una mirada desde el Antiguo Testamento," estuvo a cargo de Fernando Mosquera Brand, licenciado en Filosofía y Ciencias Religiosas.

Iglesias De Sri Lanka Enfrentan Grandes Problemas En Medio Del Furor De La Guerra

29 octubre 2008, GINEBRA, Suiza – Amargura y traumas son algunos de los problemas enfrentados por las iglesias de Sri Lanka, dedicadas a promover paz y reconciliación en medio de una intensa guerra. Así lo comprobó una delegación del Consejo Mundial de Iglesias (CMI) que visitó esa nación insular del 19 al 23 de octubre. Encabezada por el secretario general del CMI, pastor Dr. Samuel Kobia, la delegación mantuvo contactos con dirigentes de las iglesias de Sri Lanka, de la sociedad civil y con otras personas.

Iglesias Acusadas De Contaminación Sonora. Un Debate Que Genera Nuevos Capítulos

29 octubre 2008, SAN JOSÉ, Costa Rica – Vecinos de Limón, molestos por actividades de una iglesia evangélica, hicieron una presentación ante la justicia, que determinó que se ponga horario y nivel de volumen en los cultos y reuniones, así como una estricta vigilancia del municipio. El Alto Tribunal Constitucional, a través de un documento de la Sala IV, expresa que "se dictamine técnicamente el nivel y horario del ruido producido por la Iglesia Evangélica de Paraíso, Bananito, Limón y, de justificarse, emita en forma inmediata posterior al dictamen las órdenes sanitarias correspondientes."

Secretario General Del CMI Visitará Nicaragua

30 octubre 2008 – Una delegación ecuménica internacional encabezada por el secretario general del Consejo Mundial de Iglesias (CMI), pastor Dr. Samuel Kobia, visitará Nicaragua entre el 2 y el 5 de noviembre. El programa, que combina una visita del secretario general a las iglesias miembro del Consejo en Nicaragua con una visita solidaria ecuménica en el marco de la iniciativa de Cartas Vivas del Decenio para Superar la Violencia, incluirá eventos en las ciudades de Managua, la capital, Puerto Cabezas, en la costa Atlántica, y Granada.

Es Fundamental En La Educación Teológica Combinar Teoría Y Práctica,
Afirman En Encuentro De Interseminarios

30 octubre 2008, MATANZAS, Cuba – "Una de las cuestiones fundamentales de la educación teológica ecuménica -uso el término de educación teológica y no formación porque pienso que quizás el último pudiese falsamente apuntar sólo a los conocimientos puramente teóricos e intelectuales-, es la necesaria combinación de la teoría y la práctica," afirmó Reinerio Arce Valentín, rector del Seminario Evangélico de Teología (SET) en el devocional de apertura del Encuentro Interseminarios, que se realiza con rectores de seminarios teológicos e instituciones homólogas de América Latina, Canadá y Cuba desde el 27 de octubre.

La IEMA Expresa Su Compromiso Con La Justicia Y La Verdad Al Cumnplirse 25 Años De Democracia

31 octubre 2008, BUENOS AIRES, Argentina – Hace 25 años la Argentina retornaba a la democracia con elecciones legítimas y abiertas. "Experimentamos- algunos por primera vez y muchos después de un largo período de silencio impuesto- la alegría de expresar nuestra voluntad ciudadana a través del voto. Atrás quedaban años de dolor, terror, represión, mentiras, desapariciones y muertes. Por delante se nos abría el camino de la democracia," recuerda la Obispo Nelly Ritchie, de la Iglesia Evangélica Metodista Argentina (IEMA) en una carta emitida en esta fecha tan significativa.

Ortega Entrega Títulos De Propiedad De Templos Y Recibe Bendición De Pastores

27 octubre 2008, MANAGUA, Nicaragua – El presidente Daniel Ortega, en un acto lleno de flores realizado el pasado 21 de octubre en el Palacio de los Pueblos, entregó títulos de propiedad a 213 iglesias evangélicas de 28 denominaciones. Durante el acto, el mandatario invocó a Dios en varias ocasiones, y calificó la caída de la bolsa de valores en Nueva York como "castigo divino." Durante el acto, el primer mandatario se mostró muy cristiano y devoto, expresando que donde está el pueblo está Dios y agregó: "somos transitorios, y por la voluntad de Él estamos, porque nos da la vida."

Moltmann Critica a Los Fundamentalistas

30 octubre 2008, SAO BERNARDO DO CAMPO, Brasil – El teólogo reformado alemán Jürgen Moltmann criticó a los fundamentalistas que dicen testimoniar el evangelio, pero no se comprometen con la vida. La afirmación fue hecha en una entrevista concedida en la Facultad de Teología de la Iglesia Metodista de Sao Bernardo do Campo, en el área metropolitana de la capital paulista, donde se desarrolla la Semana de Estudios de la Religión. A los fundamentalistas evangélicos les recomendó que "lean y estudien mejor la Biblia, dejandóse tocar por el dolor y el sufrimiento que les rodea."

Iglesias De Sri Lanka Enfrentan Grandes Problemas En Medio Del Furor De La Guerra

28 octubre 2008 – Amargura y traumas son algunos de los problemas enfrentados por las iglesias de Sri Lanka, dedicadas a promover paz y reconciliación en medio de una intensa guerra. Así lo comprobó una delegación del Consejo Mundial de Iglesias (CMI) que visitó esa nación insular del 19 al 23 de octubre. Encabezada por el secretario general del CMI, pastor Dr. Samuel Kobia, la delegación mantuvo contactos con dirigentes de las iglesias de Sri Lanka, de la sociedad civil y con otras personas. Los testimonios recogidos les permitieron comprobar que "los traumas son profundos, así como lo es la amargura.

Curitiba Tendrá Día Del Luterano Y Semana Del Presbiterianismo

28 octubre 2008, CURITIBA, Brasil – La Cámara Municipal de Curitiba aprobó un proyecto de ley instituyendo el Dia del Luterano, que será recordado el 31 de octubre, fecha festiva para los protestantes en alusión a la presentación de las 95 tesis fijadas por el monje agustiniano en la puerta de la iglesia del castillo de Wittenberg, en Alemania. El proyecto es del concejal Jorge Bernardi, del Partido Democrático Trabajador (PDT), que apuntó, en la justificación, el trabajo evangélico en el campo social y educativo, como el Colegio Martinus, fundado en 1866, la Casa del Estudiante, la Facultad de Teologia, el Hogar Ebenezer, el Hospital Evangélico. También es de Bernardi la propuesta de introducir la Semana del Presbiterianismo, en agosto, denominación que "viene bendiciendo la sociedad brasileña con escuelas, universidades y formación de ciudadanos transformados por la gracia de Dios."

Presidentes Sudamericanos Homenajean a Arzobispo Romero

31 octubre 2008, SAN SALVADOR – El ex obispo y Presidente de Paraguay Fernando Lugo estará presente en una celebración ecuménica denominada "El Camino de la Opción por los pobres," que se realizará este mediodía en la capilla del hospital Divina Providencia, escenario del martirio de Monseñor Oscar Arnulfo Romero. El presidente Lugo llegó a El Salvador para participar en la XVIII Convención Iberoamericana "Juventud y Desarrollo" y a su llegada homenajeó a Monseñor Romero al recordar que estaba parado en la "tierra de San Romero de América."

International News

Hindu Anti-Christian Attacks Continue amid Pleas for Help

October 28, 2008 – Hindu extremist attacks on Christians in India have entered their third month amidst pleas to Indian authorities to end the violence. Pope Benedict Oct. 26 added his voice to those calling for new efforts at religious harmony. He also called on Indian government and religious leaders to help end acts of "cruel violence" and intolerance and to restore the rule of law so that "honest and legal citizens may know they can count on adequate protection from the state." The violence first erupted on Aug. 24, the day after an 85-year-old Hindu leader, Swami Laxmananda Saraswati, and four associates were gunned down in Kandhamal district of the state of Orissa in Eastern India.

Pakistan Quake: Church World Service Teams Expediting Initial Supplies to Survivors

October 29, 2008, NEW YORK/QUETTA, PAKISTAN – The Pakistan staff of international humanitarian agency Church World Service is on the ground and assisting survivors of the powerful 6.4-magnitude earthquake that struck the southwestern province of Balochistan earlier today. With offices in Quetta, about 37 miles from the area where the quake hit, Church World Service has significant operational presence in the region and has been able to mount immediate response. Six CWS team members and six staff from one of the agency's local implementing partners are on the ground conducting initial needs assessments in the hard-hit mountainous region.

A Church under Siege

November 1, 2008 – A $60-million bounty on a Coptic leader is just one sign of the threats facing Egypt's Christians. Last week I was supposed to interview Father Zakaria Boutros on my television show. It would have been the second time I had spoken to this gentle, thoughtful man, one of the leading figures of the Egyptian Coptic Christian community and now obliged to live in exile in the United States after twice being arrested in his homeland. But on this occasion the interview was suddenly cancelled.

WCC General Secretary to Visit Nicaragua

October 31, 2008 – An international ecumenical delegation led by the general secretary of the World Council of Churches (WCC), Rev. Dr Samuel Kobia, will visit Nicaragua from 2 to 5 November. The programme, which will combine a visit by the general secretary to WCC member churches in Nicaragua with an ecumenical solidarity visit within the framework of the Living Letters initiative of the Decade to Overcome Violence, will include events in the capital city Managua, Puerto Cabezas on the Atlantic coast, and Granada.

Ugandan Churches Concerned over Final Peace Agreement, International Team Learns

October 30, 2008 – Guns have fallen silent in northern Uganda since the signing of a permanent ceasefire. Yet, church leaders are worried about the rebel Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) delaying the signature of the final peace agreement, they told an international ecumenical delegation visiting the country. The eight member delegation sent by the World Council of Churches (WCC) is visiting Uganda from 27 October to 2 November to express solidarity with local churches in the country, where relative stability has returned after decades of military dictatorship and civil war.

People in the News

Bishop Bakare Wins Swedish Human Rights Prize

October 31, 2008 – Bishop Bakare from Zimbabwe was named winner of a Swedish human rights prize for "having given voice to the fight against oppression." Bishop Sebastian Bakare was also cited for his work to promote "freedom of speech and of opinion in a difficult political situation." He was due to accept the 2008 Per Anger prize at a ceremony in Stockholm on November 10, said Johan Perwe of the government agency Living History Forum. Bishop Bakare, installed as bishop of Harare earlier this year, was also due to be keynote speaker at a human rights conference in Lulea, northern Sweden.