Front Page

The "G20" Is Not Enough, Says WCC

November 14, 2008 – As many of those "responsible for the current financial meltdown" meet "behind closed doors in Washington, D.C." to discuss the future of the global economy, the World Council of Churches (WCC) has challenged the legitimacy of the so-called "G20" group of nations and called for broader participation. The international financial architecture needs "a paradigm shift," says the WCC. "Debates on a new financial architecture should include representatives of all developing countries and members from the civil society including religious communities," said the WCC general secretary Rev. Dr Samuel Kobia in a statement on 14 November.

Faith Groups Call for End to Immigration Raids

November 11, 2008, WASHINGTON – Two United Methodist agencies are among signers of a letter to President Bush that calls for an end to all raids "which separate families and create distrust and fear among all community members." The letter expresses concern about "the growing dependence on raids as a primary means of dealing with our broken immigration system." It also calls for legal, safe and orderly avenues for workers and their families to migrate to the United States with their rights fully protected. The United Methodist Board of Church and Society and the United Methodist Commission on Religion and Race were among 24 faith communities advocating for change. Bill Mefford, a staff executive with Church and Society, helped draft the letter.

Dorrien: Century-Old Ecumenical Movement Has an Historic Opportunity for Change

November 12, 2008, DENVER – In opening sessions of a General Assembly observing the first 100 years of the ecumenical movement in the U.S., a nationally known theologian told delegates that the movement has "an historic opportunity to change." Dr. Gary Dorrien, Reinhold Niebuhr Professor of Social Ethics at Union Theological Seminary and Professor of Religion at Columbia University in New York, traced the history of the social gospel movement and said the recent election of President-Elect Barack Obama opens the door to new possibilities. Delegates of the member communions of the National Council of Churches and Church World Service are meeting at the Renaissance Hotel November 11-13. Dorrien suggested the ongoing worldwide economic crisis creates a new scenario for churches whose original response to modern economic globalization was the social gospel.

WCC Prepares for UN Advocacy Week

November 12, 2008 – "As Christians, we are called to stand with those who are victims of oppression, poverty or violence," Rev. Elenora Giddings Ivory, director of the World Council of Churches (WCC) programme on Public Witness said in advance of the WCC's United Nations Advocacy Week, 16 to 21 November in New York. The advocacy week, organized by the United Nations liaison office of the WCC in New York, brings together over 120 people working on advocacy issues in churches, national councils of churches, specialized agencies, regional ecumenical organizations and regional advocacy networks. This year the group will focus on three advocacy areas: migration, climate change, and Sri Lanka. The week will be marked by an overarching framework of "Human Rights at 60 Years," as both the WCC and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights celebrate their 60th anniversary this year.

NCC/CWS Addresses Christian Unity, Racial Justice, Immigration Reform
Episcopalians Make Valuable Contributions at Annual General Assembly

November 14, 2008 – Celebrating 100 years of ecumenical cooperation in the U.S., the National Council of Churches (NCC) and Church World Service (CWS) annual general assembly convened November 11-13 in Denver, Colorado, and the Episcopal Church's participation was highly visible. Bishop C. Christopher Epting, the Presiding Bishop's deputy for ecumenical and interreligious relations, who was among the Episcopal Church representatives at the meeting, said, "Two highlights for me at this Assembly were the presence of young adults from the "New Fire" consultation and the wonderful new balance between substantive Faith and Order work – including interreligious relations – and our ongoing work for justice and peace. General Secretary Michael Kinnamon deserves much of the credit for inspiring both."

General News

ELCA European American Lutheran Association Constituted

November 14, 2008, CHICAGO – Forty Lutherans of European descent met here Oct. 30-Nov. 1, approved a constitution and bylaws for a new European American Lutheran Association (EALA) of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), and elected officers and a board for the new organization. "The European American Lutheran Association is a group of white Lutherans who seek to dismantle structures within the ELCA that give privilege to white people and disadvantage people of color," said Katherine B. Long, Redmond, Wash., EALA's newly elected president.

Winter 2008-2009 ELCA World Hunger Resource Packet Now Available

November 14, 2008 – To equip the 4.7 million members of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) to help end hunger in the world, an ELCA World Hunger Resource Packet is now available. The packet contains a variety of resources to help Lutherans learn more about the causes of world hunger and work together to end it. Available twice a year, the packet illustrates how ELCA World Hunger is a connected, comprehensive and compassionate program that helps individuals and communities rise above poverty into self-sufficiency, said Sue Edison-Swift, communication director, ELCA World Hunger and Disaster Appeal. "The program is connected because it's relationship-driven. It's comprehensive because there are many causes to hunger, so solutions need to be equally diverse, and it's also compassionate because it focuses on meeting the needs of the most vulnerable," she said.

Stewardship in a Time of Financial Crisis Challenges Congregations
Episcopalians Looking for Ways to Help Those Harder Hit

November 13, 2008 – Stewardship season, the time when Episcopal congregations ask their members to decide how much of their income they will give to support the church's mission, coincided this year with a global economic crisis that caused layoffs, home foreclosures, shrunken investment portfolios and retirement accounts, and mostly dire predictions about the future. While some Episcopal congregations advocate the biblical tithe of 10 percent and others suggest proportional giving (setting an initial percentage of income to pledge and then increasing it each year), both models – and all the variations in between – depend upon givers knowing or being able reasonably to predict the income upon which to pledge.

Presiding Bishop Says Church Laments Quincy Departures

November 8, 2008, QUINCY, Illinois – Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori said November 8 that the church "laments the departure from the Episcopal Church of some individuals in southern Illinois" after members of the Diocese of Quincy voted on November 7 to leave the Episcopal Church and realign under the jurisdiction of the Anglican Province of the Southern Cone. "The Episcopal Diocese of Quincy remains, albeit with fewer members, and we are working to assist in the reorganization of diocesan affairs," she said. "We assure all, both Episcopalians and former Episcopalians, and members of their surrounding communities, of our prayers for clarity and charity in their spiritual journeys. May all be reminded that the Gospel work of healing this world will take the best efforts of every person of faith."

Bishops Adopt Guidelines for Granting Deacons Sacramental Authority

November 13, 2008, ST. SIMONS ISLAND, Ga. – The United Methodist Council of Bishops has approved guidelines for interpreting the circumstances for allowing deacons to administer Holy Communion and perform baptisms. The new sacramental authority for deacons – granted by the denomination's top legislative body at the 2008 General Conference – becomes effective in January. According to the bishops, the new sentence in Paragraph 328 that describes the ministry of the deacon in the United Methodist Book of Discipline — "does not fundamentally change the sacramental privileges of the order of deacons."

Documentary Focuses on Reaching the Homeless

November 12, 2008, PROVIDENCE, R.I . Normand Cartier's alcoholism separated him from his family for years. His addiction also left him with no place to live for three years. He had no faith in God. "A lot of people on the street believe that God did this to them," he said. "God was not there to help them out so they lose belief." But now that he is sober, Cartier added, "I believe in God today. I am not here by myself. I did not put myself clean and sober. (God) granted me a second chance at life."

Spanish News

Católicos, Evangélicos Y Luteranos Usan Templo Común

11 noviembre 2008, BRASIL – El pequeño templo con tres cruces en la torre llama la atención de los peregrinos hacen el camino de las Misiones, en San Juan Tujá en la localidad de Garrucha, a 650 kilómetros de Puerto Alegre. Tres familias religiosas, representados en las tres cruces, tienen en la Iglesia Ecuménica de Trinidad su lugar de culto. "Solos no teníamos condiciones para construir la iglesia," dice el pastor Wolter Becher, de la Iglesia Evangélica Luterana de Brasil (IELB), hace ocho años radicado en San Luiz Gonzaga, donde presta atención pastoral a las 20 familias de su confesión que viven en San Juan Tujá.

Presentación Del Libro "La Biblia En La Historia Del Perú"

11 noviembre 2008, LIMA, Perú – La Sociedad Bíblica del Perú anunció la publicación del libro: "La Biblia en la historia del Perú," del Dr. William Mitchell, que será presentado el sábado 15 de noviembre en el auditorio del Colegio San Andrés, de Lima. La presentación de la obra estará a cargo del Pr. Pedro Arana Quiróz, Secretario General de la Sociedad Bíblica del Perú y del historiador Juan Fernández Valle. "La Biblia en la Historia del Perú" es la primera visión total de la presencia de la Biblia en el Perú, desde el trágico incidente de Atahualpa en Cajamarca en 1532 hasta nuestros días.

Entre La Política Y La Fe: Testimonios Del Caminar Político Y Cristiano En El Uruguay

14 noviembre 2008, MONTEVIDEO, Uruguay – En un esfuerzo en conjunto entre el Observatorio del Sur (OBSUR) el Espacio Estudiantil Cristiano (FUMEC-ALC) y la Pastoral Juvenil del CLAI, financiado por el Consejo Mundial de Iglesias, se acaba de publicar en Montevideo el libro "Entre La Política y la Fe: Algunos testimonios del caminar político y cristiano en el Uruguay" La publicación, que surge como forma de sistematizar y acumular la experiencia de lo que fue el ciclo de talleres de fe y política "Los jóvenes y la Fe" -organizado por las mismas organizaciones arriba descritas – entre octubre y noviembre del 2007, reúne en este libro las diferentes charlas, ponencias y talleres en forma de artículos.

Obispa Presidenta Lamenta La Partida De Episcopales Del Sur De Illinois

12 noviembre 2008, ESTADOS UNIDOS – La Obispa Presidenta Katharine Jefferts Schori dijo el 8 de noviembre que la iglesia lamenta "que algunas personas del sur del Estado de Illinois han decidido separarse de la Iglesia Episcopal" con posterioridad al 7 de noviembre cuando por el voto de los miembros de la Diócesis de Quincy se aprobó la separación de la Iglesia Episcopal y la alineación con la jurisdicción de la Iglesia Anglicana del Cono Sur de América. A continuación se encuentra el texto de la declaración: De S.E. Rvma.

El Mandato Bíblico De Hablar Claro a Favor De La Justicia

13 noviembre 2008, GINEBRA, Suiza – "Como cristianos, estamos llamados a ponernos del lado de las víctimas de opresión, pobreza o violencia," dijo la pastora Elenora Giddings Ivory, directora de Testimonio Público del Consejo Mundial de Iglesias (CMI), en relación con la Semana de Incidencia Pública en las Naciones Unidas, organizada por el CMI del 16 al 21 de noviembre, en Nueva York.

Asegurar Agua Para Todos: ¿Una Tarea Para Héroes Con Licencia Para Orar?

13 noviembre 2008 – El espía más famoso del cine mundial está de regreso en las pantallas y, esta vez, lucha contra un malvado que trata de controlar recursos estratégicos de agua en un país en desarrollo. ¿Es el guión de la última película de James Bond una trama de ficción demasiado exagerada? "El control sobre el agua se traduce cada vez más en beneficios y poder" dice Maike Gorsboth, coordinadora de la Red Ecuménica del Agua, una iniciativa de iglesias, organizaciones cristianas y movimientos que trabajan en favor del acceso al agua para todas las personas y en la elaboración de soluciones a la crisis del agua basadas en la comunidad.

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

8 noviembre 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.

Han Terminado Las Guerras En Sierra Leona Y Liberia, Pero Hay Que Construir La Paz

13 noviembre 2008 – "Por favor, recordad al mundo que no estamos ya en guerra," dijo un oficial gubernamental de alto rango de Sierra Leona a un equipo ecuménico internacional, que visitó iglesias y organizaciones ecuménicas en Liberia y Sierra Leona del 2 al 8 de noviembre. "El mundo nos sigue mirando como si fuésemos señores de la guerra," dijo el Ministro de Comercio e Industria de Sierra Leona, Alimamy Koroma, a la delegación que visitó estos dos países de África Occidental en el contexto de la iniciativa de Cartas Vivas del Consejo Mundial de Iglesias (CMI). Liberia y Sierra Leona fueron devastadas por guerras civiles en la década de 1990.

El Mandato Bíblico De Hablar Claro En Favor De La Justicia

13 noviembre 2008 – "Como cristianos, estamos llamados a ponernos del lado de las víctimas de opresión, pobreza o violencia," dijo la pastora Elenora Giddings Ivory, directora de Testimonio Público del Consejo Mundial de Iglesias (CMI), en relación con la Semana de Incidencia Pública en las Naciones Unidas, organizada por el CMI del 16 al 21 de noviembre, en Nueva York. "En nuestro trabajo, tratamos de poner en práctica este mandato bíblico y teológico basado en la comprensión de dónde nuestras tradiciones de fe nos dicen que debemos estar, y lo qué es más importante, dónde nos dice Jesús que debemos estar," afirmó Giddings Ivory.

Reconciliación Significa Transformar La Sociedad, Dice Kobia En Nicaragua

10 noviembre 2008 – Alcanzar la reconciliación requiere nada menos que transformar la sociedad, afirmó el secretario general del Consejo Mundial de Iglesias (CMI), pastor Dr. Samuel Kobia, en Managua, durante una visita realizada a Nicaragua del 2 al 5 de noviembre. Kobia y una pequeña delegación ecuménica combinaron una visita del secretario general del CMI a las iglesias miembros del Consejo en Nicaragua con una visita de solidaridad ecuménica en el marco de la iniciativa Cartas Vivas del Decenio para superar la violencia.

International News

UK Faith Leaders Join Students on Visit to Former Nazi Death Camp in Poland

November 13, 2008 – The Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams with the Chief Rabbi, Sir Jonathan Sacks, invited representatives from all the religious communities to join the Holocaust Educational Trust's Lessons from Auschwitz Project tomorrow on their one day visit to the former Nazi camps of Auschwitz-Birkenau in Poland. The visit by the UK's faith leaders demonstrated their solidarity in standing against the extremes of hostility and genocide which Auschwitz – Birkenau represents and which are represented in Cambodia, Bosnia and Rwanda in modern times.

African Religious Leaders Seek Urgent Intervention
To End Resource-Based Conflict in Congo

November 12, 2008, KAMPALA, Uganda/GENEVA – Representatives of a Pan-African grouping of faith leaders say the mineral resource-based conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) could be prevented if signatories to peace agreements honored their stated commitments. Key leaders of the Inter-Faith Action for Peace in Africa (IFAPA) also appealed to the continent's religious leaders to urgently engage political leadership in the DRC and neighboring countries to end a crisis for which civilians continued to suffer the greatest atrocities. "Are we not moved by the inhuman conditions of those [internally displaced] mothers and children? Is it not correct to say that while this war is raving, the mineral resources are being taken out of the country for the benefit of others other than the citizens of the DRC?" remarked IFAPA president and general secretary of the Lutheran World Federation (LWF), Rev. Dr Ishmael Noko.

Wars in Sierra Leone and Liberia Are Over, Peace-Building Is Not

November 12, 2008 – "Please remind the world that we are no longer at war," a high-ranking government official from Sierra Leone told an international ecumenical team visiting churches and ecumenical organizations in Liberia and Sierra Leone from 2 to 8 November. "The world still looks at us as if we were warlords," said Sierra Leone Minister of Trade and Industry Alimamy Koroma to the delegation, which visited the two West African countries in the context of the Living Letters initiative of the World Council of Churches (WCC). Both Liberia and Sierra Leone were devastated by civil wars in the 1990s. Liberia returned to peace and stability after the president and former warlord Charles Taylor was ousted in 2003.

Global Ecumenical Organizations Plead for Life, Dignity and Democracy in Zimbabwe

November 14, 2008 – Six global ecumenical organizations have called for an effective protection of the right to life, dignity and democracy of the people of Zimbabwe and criticized the stance of the Southern African Development Community on the political deadlock in the country. Jointly issued on 14 November by the general secretaries of the World Council of Churches, the Lutheran World Federation, the World Alliance of Reformed Churches, the World YWCA, the World Student Christian Federation and the World Alliance of YMCAs, the statement calls "for an urgent affirmation and protection of the right to life and dignity for all Zimbabweans," as well as "for adherence to democratic principles and processes in the mediation process and a return of the rule of law inside Zimbabwe."

Reconciliation Means Transforming Society, Says Kobia in Nicaragua

November 10, 2008 – To achieve reconciliation takes nothing less than the transformation of society, the World Council of Churches (WCC) general secretary Rev. Dr Samuel Kobia said in Managua, during a 2-5 November visit to Nicaragua. Kobia and a small ecumenical delegation combined a visit by the WCC general secretary to the Council's member churches in Nicaragua with an ecumenical solidarity visit within the framework of the Living Letters initiative of the Decade to Overcome Violence. The visit took place in midst of growing tensions and sporadic violence as municipal elections were coming closer and, in an atmosphere of high political polarization, were seen as a virtual referendum about the ruling Sandinista party.

Middle East News

ELCA, ELCIC Bishops Prepare for Middle East Visit January 6-13

November 13, 2008, CHICAGO – Sixty of the 66 bishops of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), the ELCA secretary, and five of the six bishops of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada (ELCIC), Winnipeg, plus spouses and staff will visit the Middle East, Jan. 6-13, 2009. Participants will meet with Israeli, Jordanian and Palestinian religious, community and political leaders, visit congregations and schools, and sites of religious significance. The visit is the 2009 Bishops' Academy, an annual event in which leaders from both churches engage in theological reflection and study.