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Rev. N. J. L'Heureux, Jr., Publisher & Editor
Rev. Pedro Bravo-Guzman, Editor-in-Chief
An Ecumenical Report of Local and Global News
in God's Household
Published by the Queens Federation of Churches
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WCC Says Christians Worldwide Are Acting on the Gaza Crisis January 9, 2009 – The World Council of Churches (WCC) has made repeated calls for a cease-fire and peace between Israel and Gaza. This week on Jan. 7, it reiterated its call for a cease-fire and appealed to Christians everywhere to pray for peace and to advocate with their governments for a just peace in Israel and Palestine. WCC general secretary Samuel Kobia called on Christians "to inspire and encourage their leaders in the constructive work that leads beyond enmity to reconciliation." Such a peace "must reinstate the ceasefire on both sides of the border and speed the lifting of Israel's blockade on Gaza," as well as "include respect by all authorities for international law as it applies to human rights, humanitarian aid, and protection of civilians in conflict zones," he said. Faith Leaders Call for Raising Minimum Wage January 8, 2009, LOUISVILLE – With the U.S. economic crisis deepening and unemployment soaring, a group of 11 denominational and religious organization leaders are among the inaugural signers of a call to raise the federal minimum wage to $10 in 2010. The signers include the Rev. Gradye Parsons, General Assembly stated clerk of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). Nearly 400 faith leaders from all 50 states have already endorsed "$10 in 2010," a campaign led by Let Justice Roll, and more are signing on each day. Let Justice Roll, a national coalition of faith, community, labor and business organizations, will hold Living Wage events this weekend and on the Martin Luther King holiday weekend as part of the "$10 in 2010" campaign and in support of state and local living wage campaigns. January 5, 2009, LOS ANGELES – In a landmark ruling that could have national implications, the California Supreme Court on January 5 upheld an earlier court decision that buildings and property do not belong to dissident congregations but to the Diocese of Los Angeles and the general Episcopal Church. Associate Justice Ming W. Chin, writing for the court, said the diocese held the property and buildings in trust for the wider mission and ministry of the church. The ruling affects St. James Church in Newport Beach, All Saints Church in Long Beach and St. David's Church in North Hollywood. A majority of members at the three churches had disagreed with the Episcopal Church's decision in 2003 to approve the election of an openly gay bishop. Members of all three realigned themselves with the Anglican Province of Uganda, attempted to amend articles of incorporation and retain the property. Church World Service Offers Comprehensive Aid in Gaza Crisis January 8, 2009, NEW YORK CITY – As the death toll continues to rise in the wake of the Israeli military attack on Gaza, Church World Service has set in motion an emergency response that includes humanitarian relief, protection for refugees and those displaced by the attacks, advocacy for intensified measures to create a just peace, and a public appeal for U.S. donations to further assist people suffering through the crisis. In an attempt to stop the fighting that has trapped some 1.5 million Palestinians in Gaza with little to no access to food, water or medicine, Church World Service has called its Speak Out advocacy network to action, asking people to immediately press their lawmakers in Washington to support prompt U.S. diplomatic action to end the fighting in Gaza and renew a meaningful process toward peace with justice for Palestinians and Israelis. WCC Invites Prayers and Advocacy for Peace in Gaza January 7, 2009 – Reiterating its call for a ceasefire in Gaza, the World Council of Churches has appealed to Christians everywhere to pray for peace and to advocate with their governments for a just peace in Israel and Palestine. In a 7 January message directed to the Council member churches in the Middle East and shared with member churches around the world, the WCC general secretary Rev. Dr Samuel Kobia called "on Christians everywhere to pray for peace and, wherever possible, to inspire and encourage their leaders in the constructive work that leads beyond enmity to reconciliation." Christians Mobilize for Ending Violence in and Around Gaza January 9, 2009 – Individuals, groups, churches and councils of churches from Kenya to Sweden to the United States to Australia are carrying out hundreds of advocacy actions involving Christians concerned about the Gaza crisis, especially the collective punishment of the people of Gaza, and the need for a just and lasting peace between the Israeli and Palestinian peoples. The WCC has received reports of church-related advocacy in some 20 countries, including statements, public demonstrations and letter campaigns addressed to government officials and parliament members. January 7, 2009 – As the number of deaths in Gaza rises, the World Alliance of Reformed Churches (WARC) is calling on all parties involved in the fighting to end the violence and agree to an immediate cease-fire. In a statement released today, leaders of Geneva-based organization stressed the urgent need to open the borders of Gaza to humanitarian aid and medical assistance for the sick and wounded. "None of the violence is acceptable," said WARC's president, Clifton Kirkpatrick and general secretary, Setri Nyomi. "The rockets from Gaza aimed at Israeli communities are destructive and the suicide bombing incidents cannot be condoned. They constitute a violation of the sanctity of life. We strongly condemn the air and ground assaults from the Israeli Defence Forces leading to senseless deaths and injury to hundreds of people. These must end immediately." ELCA Presiding Bishop Addresses Gaza Situation at Amman News Conference January 7, 2009, AMMAN, Jordan – The Rev. Mark S. Hanson, presiding bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), said the United States government needs to take a more active role in stopping the conflict in Gaza. Stopping the conflict needs to be a top priority, and it must be accomplished as soon as possible, he said. Hanson, who also serves as president of the Lutheran World Federation (LWF), said Israeli troops must withdraw from Gaza, Hamas must stop rocket attacks on civilians in Israel, and negotiations must be restarted for "a permanent peace with justice and a two-state solution." Jerusalem Bishop Issues Statement on Gaza, Al Ahli Arab Hospital January 8, 2009 – The Rt. Rev. Suheil S. Dawani, Anglican bishop in Jerusalem, issued the following statement about the situation in Gaza and the Al Ahli Arab Hospital, an institution of the Diocese of Jerusalem that is struggling to provide critical health care to anyone in need. At a time when great tragedy is occurring in the Holy Land in Gaza, I want to share some insight into what we are experiencing on a moment to moment basis. Our Diocese has one of 11 hospitals serving a population of 1.5 million residents in the Gaza Strip. The Al Ahli Arab (Anglican) Hospital has been in operation for over 100 years and has a very dedicated medical staff of doctors, nurses, technicians and general services personnel. CRC Director Calls for Ceasefire in Gaza January 7, 2009 – Rev. Gerard Dykstra, executive director of the Christian Reformed Church in North America, has written a letter to state and national leaders expressing "deep concern over escalating violence between Israel and Hamas." The letter, sent to Michigan lawmakers and to Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and President George Bush, says he is troubled by the "disproportionate Israeli retaliation on Gaza" since the war started a more than a week ago. "I write also because the Christian Reformed Church, through decisions taken in recent Synodical assemblies, desires to become more active in promoting peaceful and just resolutions to conflict rather than accepting war and violence as the primary means to resolve disputes and protect ourselves," says Dykstra in the letter dated Dec. 29. CRC officials are working to make sure each of the lawmakers and the president received the letter, which includes a plea for a cease fire. January 6, 2009, GENEVA – The Lutheran World Federation (LWF) reiterates its commitment to a vision of peace for both Israelis and Palestinians, urging an immediate cessation of both Israeli military operations on Gaza and Hamas missile attacks on southern Israel, and the swift establishment of a workable ceasefire agreement. In a statement released today, LWF General Secretary Rev. Dr Ishmael Noko says, "The present bloodshed and destruction will not secure peace for either Israelis or Palestinians. It will only plant the seeds for more conflict, marginalizing the peacemakers, breeding despair, promoting radicalization and strengthening the appeal of violence." January 8, 2009, LOUISVILLE – Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) General Assembly Stated Clerk Gradye Parsons called today (Jan. 7) for an immediate end to the violence in Israel/Palestine and reiterated the church's call for the "two-state solution" endorsed by the Bush administration and the World Council of Churches among many others. In his statement, Parsons outlined the PC(USA)'s position on a long-term solution that was adopted by last summer's 218th General Assembly in San Jose, CA. Parsons' statement condemned both rocket attacks on Israel launched from Gaza and "the massive destruction of an already crippled Gazan infrastructure ..." by Israeli forces. Presiding Bishop Renews Call for Gaza Ceasefire January 5, 2009 – Israel's ten-day military operation in the Palestinian-controlled Gaza Strip was stepped up with a ground assault January 3 amid renewed calls from religious and political leaders for an end to the violence that has claimed more than 500 lives. "The high number of civilian deaths and injuries, which continue to include noncombatants, women, and children, will only prolong the violence years into the future," said Episcopal Church Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori in a January 5 statement. "The first steps toward peace will only come if all parties unite behind an immediate ceasefire." Mission Leaders Call for Gaza Cease-fire January 7, 2009, NEW YORK – The two top mission leaders of The United Methodist Church have appealed to President George W. Bush to use his remaining days in office to bring about "an immediate cease-fire in Gaza" that will "effectively permit humanitarian relief" to civilians in the Palestinian enclave, under heavy attack by Israel. In a joint "Appeal on Gaza" issued Jan. 7, West Ohio Bishop Bruce Ough, president of the United Methodist Board of Global Ministries, and the Rev. Edward W. Paup, its top executive, said such actions would "heighten the moral standing" of the outgoing Bush administration in the United States. A few days earlier, the United States had vetoed a cease-fire proposal in the Security Council of the United Nations. Brethren Call for Cease Fire in Gaza, Help Contribute Aid January 9, 2009 – The Church of the Brethren has joined in the worldwide calls for a cease-fire and peace between Israel and Gaza, which are being made by many Christian denominations and ecumenical organizations. Brethren Disaster Ministries has requested an $8,000 grant contributing to the work of CWS in Gaza, from the Church of the Brethren's Emergency Disaster Fund. CWS has announced it is offering comprehensive humanitarian aid for Gaza (see story below). Church of the Brethren general secretary Stan Noffsinger has helped initiate a request from the National Council of Churches (NCC) for an audience with Israel's ambassador to the United States. UCC Offers its Prayers, Offerings and Advocacy to Urge Peace for Israel-Palestine January 6, 2009 – In Gaza, more than 500 Palestinians have been killed and at least 3,000 injured as a result of the Israeli military campaign. Israelis have also been killed and others injured by rocket attacks originating from Gaza. The result of violence has only been more violence, more suffering. Gaza has become the focus of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict in the last couple of weeks, with a focus on eradicating Hamas elements. Gaza – the most densely populated place on earth – is a small landmass of roughly 140 square miles, with a population of 1.5 million Palestinians. Gaza has been essentially sealed since Israel withdrew in August 2005, with little access for supplies (food, medicine, or fuel), a condition that has been made especially clear in the past days. Unemployment is at an all-time high, and despair among Palestinians – both Muslims and Christians – is extremely high. Prayer for a New Year January 5, 2009, LOUISVILLE – Lord, go with us as we travel once again into a new year. It stands before us like an untraveled road, full of promise and adventure. Give us the confidence to know you will be there, whether we travel far or wander on the scenic route. We acknowledge that we are burdened with the scars and scrapes of the past year. Let them not hinder us from new opportunities to see stars and gifts that point us to a new reality. Help us to remember the many times in days past when we were full of despair – how you never left our side, but sent your Spirit to quicken our hearts with hope and courage. We will spend this new year with many people – some will be easy to love and others will be hard to like. Remind us that our witness for you should be that we see all people as your children and relate to them as sisters and brothers in Christ. Highlights of the 2008 Legislative Year January 9, 2009 – What an intense year it has been. With the elections looming large in our memories it's easy to forget that anything else happened in 2008. But rest assured, much was accomplished and it was achieved with your help and involvement. JPANet highlighted 38 distinct issues in the past year and you responded with an impressive 20,000 letters to Congress and the President. Here are a few legislative successes that you contributed in to this year! Talk on John Calvin Starts January Series January 7, 2009 -- Protestant reformer John Calvin, whose 500th birthday will be celebrated around the world this year, believed in a separation between church and state, but not a separation between religion and politics, said John Witte, Jr., on Wednesday in the opening presentation of Calvin College's annual January Series. "For Calvin it was the responsibility of the church and state to protect and promote the law and liberty of Geneva (where Calvin served for many years)," said Witte, a law professor at Emory University. Embracing Ubuntu January 6, 2009 – When an anticipated 9,000 to 10,000 deputies and alternate deputies, bishops, Episcopal Church Women, exhibitors, staff, volunteers and visitors converge in Anaheim, California, next July for the Episcopal Church's 76th General Convention and ECW Triennial Meeting, they can expect sun, fun, rich diversity, green space, fresh worship, the launch of a mission conversation and a glimpse of the future's "nochurch" churches. From July 8-17, the glasswalled Anaheim Convention Center one block from Disneyland will be transformed into meeting, worship, child-care and other spaces and host at least 120 exhibitors, an educational discovery center and a diocesan hospitality venue featuring banners proclaiming "Faith and Our Future" and emergent worship, said Bishop Jon Bruno of the Diocese of Los Angeles. Moving Toward Convention – Church Will Examine its Identity and Mission as Part of a Whole January 6, 2009 – All the governance machinery of the Episcopal Church is preparing for General Convention – oiling the gears, testing the tire pressure, checking the (electronic) connections, updating the service manuals. The pace is increasing, and it is quite surprising to see the depth and breadth of preparation for our triennial gathering. Some have compared General Convention to a family reunion, as upwards of 10,000 Episcopalians (and some friends who are not Episcopalians) gather for more than 10 days to meet, greet, talk, worship, consult, connect, pray, strategize and legislate. It is our opportunity to take the pulse of the wider church and set the course for the coming years. ‘Five Practices' Book Leads to Church Movement January 9, 2009 – When Bishop Robert Schnase began thinking about writing a book on congregational effectiveness and excellence, he focused on finding the right word to describe the practical and theological nature of a successful congregation. Schnase's research and testing led him to select "fruitful." Now, the principles of his work, Five Practices of Fruitful Congregations, are bearing fruit in the United States and around the world. Publisher Abingdon Press has sold nearly 75,000 copies of the Five Practices book, and demand is hot for the companion leader manual and media kit and church-wide devotional book, "Cultivating Fruitfulness." More than 2,000 congregations have used the material in some fashion. Schnase's Five Practices blog has become a must-read for pastors and church leaders interested in congregational effectiveness. He is sought after as a speaker and workshop leader. Young Clergy Numbers Rise, Bucking Leadership Trend January 6, 2009 – For the first time this century, the number of United Methodist clergy under age 35 has surpassed 5 percent, a sign of the emergence of new ways of engaging young adults in church leadership. In 2008, the number of young elders increased from 876 to 910, and the percentage grew from 4.92 to 5.21 percent. The increase is "modest good news" for the church, said the Rev. Lovett Weems, coauthor of an updated study, "Clergy Age Trends in The United Methodist Church from 1985-2008." Weems and the Lewis Center for Church Leadership released the original study in 2006. Weems is executive director of the center at Wesley Theological Seminary in Washington. Week of Prayer for Christian Unity 2009 January 8, 2009 – Inspired by the witness of churches from a divided country, Christians throughout the world will be praying "that they may become one in God's hand" during the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity 2009. The materials for the week of prayer 2009 are rooted in the experience of the churches in Korea. In their context of national division they have turned for inspiration to the prophet Ezekiel, who also lived in a tragically divided nation and longed for the unity of his people. Traditionally celebrated between 18 and 25 January (in the northern hemisphere) or at Pentecost (in the southern hemisphere), the week of prayer mobilizes countless congregations and parishes around the world. January 11, 2009 – Evangelism should definitely be one of the missions of the church and many churches today are trying their best to excel in this area. Some churches try to research the local sub-culture before promoting a strategy. Others participate in mission conferences in search for the best method available to spread the gospel. Still others try to mimic successful models they have seen other organizations apply in order to invigorate local evangelism. However, regardless of how much effort churches put into the ministry of evangelism, who is the key person affecting the development of this ministry? The answer is the pastor. El CMI Invita a Orar Y Abogar Por La Paz En Gaza 8 enero 2009 – Reiterando su llamamiento en favor del alto el fuego en Gaza, el Consejo Mundial de Iglesias ha instado a los cristianos de todo el mundo a orar por la paz y a abogar ante sus gobiernos por una paz justa en Israel y Palestina. En un mensaje enviado el 7 de enero a las iglesias miembros del Consejo en Oriente Medio y compartido con las iglesias miembros de todo el mundo, el secretario general del CMI, pastor Dr. Samuel Kobia, instó "a los cristianos de todo el mundo a que oren por la paz y, siempre que sea posible, inspiren y estimulen a sus dirigentes en una labor constructiva que supere la enemistad y conduzca a la reconciliación." Semana De Oración Por La Unidad De Los Cristianos 2009 9 enero 2009 – Inspirados por el testimonio de las iglesias de un país dividido, durante la Semana de Oración por la Unidad de los Cristianos, en todo el mundo los Cristianos rezarán "con el fin de que estén unidos" en la mano de Dios. Los materiales para la semana de oración de 2009 están enraizados en la experiencia de las iglesias de Corea. En su contexto de división nacional han buscado inspiración en el profeta Ezequiel, quien también vivió en una nación trágicamente dividida y ansió la unidad de su pueblo. United Methodists Will Offer Inaugural Hospitality January 7, 2009 – More than 40 United Methodist congregations in Washington will help fellow church members and other inaugural visitors pray and ponder over the nation's future and assist with creature comforts ranging from a cup of coffee to a place to sleep. Called "Be the Change You Want to See," the plan of hospitality encompasses the celebration of Martin Luther King Jr.'s birthday as well as the inauguration of the first African-American U.S. president. The denomination's Baltimore-Washington Conference says the Jan. 17-21 plan is not about politics but rather "an expression of our commitment to a loving and just world at a time when the eyes of the world will be on our city." Lutheran Bishop Says Faith Galvanizes Indigenous Village in Harm's Way January 7, 2009, CHICAGO – Leaders of a northwest Alaskan coastal village that's washing out to sea are disclosing to residents that they must choose another relocation site for the town. The leaders of Shishmaref, a barrier island village of 560 people, learned recently that the long-chosen site of Tin Creek on the nearby mainland is plagued by degrading permafrost. "It's more or less ice and not anchored enough for a town," said Darlene Turner, a leader in the traditional Inupiaq village and president of Shishmaref Lutheran Church, a congregation of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America (ELCA). "It's disappointing," Turner said. "This puts us back at square one." London, Abidjan Host Landmark Conferences January 6, 2009, LONDON – London hosted its largest Baha'i gathering in 45 years with a regional conference last weekend that brought together 3,200 people from the United Kingdom, Ireland, Sweden, Norway, Finland, Denmark and Iceland. A World Congress held in Royal Albert Hall in 1963 was the only bigger Baha'i gathering in the city. More than 6,000 people attended that. This time the conference was at the Business Design Centre in the central London Borough of Islington. The gathering was one of 41 Baha'i conferences being held over a four-month period in cities around the world, all convened by the Universal House of Justice, the head of the Baha'i Faith. The conferences began on 1 November in Lusaka, Zambia, and will wind up on 1 March in Kiev, Ukraine. On Earth Peace-sponsored Delegation Is in Israel and Palestine January 9, 2009 – A delegation currently visiting Israel and Palestine is sponsored jointly by On Earth Peace and Christian Peacemaker Teams (CPT). This is the fourth such delegation to the Middle East from On Earth Peace and CPT, with delegation trips scheduled in January for the past few years. The 12-member delegation left for Israel and Palestine on Jan. 6, and plans to be there through Jan. 19. It is led by Rick Polhamus, a member of Pleasant Hill (Ohio) Church of the Brethren and a former member of the fulltime CPT team in Hebron. Brethren Grant to Contribute to Church World Service Aid in Gaza January 9, 2009 – Brethren Disaster Ministries has requested an $8,000 grant to contribute to the work of Church World Service (CWS) in Gaza, to come from the Church of the Brethren's Emergency Disaster Fund. "As the active armed conflict continues between Israel and Hamas in Gaza, CWS is working with a number of partners to position humanitarian relief supplies for Palestinian refugees," said Brethren Disaster Ministries executive director Roy Winter in the grant request. "The humanitarian situation is currently dire with limited movement of refugees being allowed," the request continued. "This grant will support a broad ecumenical effort to provide emergency food, medicine, and blankets. An expanded appeal is expected when Gaza is safe for relief agencies." ELCA Bishops Prepare for Uncertainty in Israel, Advance Group in Jordan January 5, 2009, AMMAN, Jordan – Despite the continued conflict in Gaza, bishops of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) and the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada (ELCIC) are proceeding with plans to travel Jan. 6 to the Middle East. A smaller group of seven ELCA bishops, including the ELCA presiding bishop and the national bishop of the ELCIC, spouses and staff arrived here for a series of meetings Jan. 3-5 with religious, community and political leaders. The Lutheran leaders are here to provide support for the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land (ELCJHL), to learn more about the realities of living in the Middle East and to advocate for peace. North American Lutheran Bishops Visit Israeli Officials January 9, 2009, JERUSALEM – Bishops of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) and the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada (ELCIC) met Jan. 8 with Israeli government and religious officials as part of a pilgrimage to the Middle East. The bishops also toured the Holocaust memorial Yad Vashem and laid a wreath. Forty-five bishops representing both churches are participating in a series of meetings Jan. 6-13 with religious, political and community leaders in Israel and the West Bank. The visit, focused on supporting the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land, is the North American Lutheran bishops' annual academy for theological reflection and study. Update on the Situation in Gaza from the Rt Revd Suheil Dawani January 8, 2009, JERUSALEM – At a time when great tragedy is occurring in the Holy Land in Gaza, I want to share some insight into what we are experiencing on a moment to moment basis. Our Diocese has one of 11 hospitals serving a population of 1.5 million residents in the Gaza Strip. The Al Ahli Arab (Anglican) Hospital has been in operation for over 100 years and has a very dedicated medical staff of doctors, nurses, technicians and general services personnel. During the best of times they are stretched to their maximum meeting the medical needs of this populous community. Lutherans Worship at Jesus' Baptism Site, Leaders Meet King January 7, 2009, AMMAN, Jordan – About 60 people, including about 10 bishops of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) and the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada (ELCIC), worshipped at the site of Jesus' Baptism on the banks of the Jordan River on the Feast of the Epiphany, Jan. 6. Joining the bishops were members of Good Shepherd Evangelical Lutheran Church, Amman, a congregation of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land (ELCJHL). Epiphany is a Christian commemoration of the visit by the three wise men or magi to the infant Jesus. His Majesty King Abdullah II of Jordan gave land at the site to the ELCJHL, which plans to build a chapel and retreat center, said the Rev. Munib A. Younan, ELCJHL bishop. Anglican Communion's Deputy Secretary General to Be New Bishop of St Asaph January 7, 2009 – The Revd Canon Gregory Cameron, 49, who is Deputy Secretary General of the Anglican Communion, was chosen by members of the Electoral College of the Church in Wales meeting on Jan 5th at St Asaph Cathedral to succeed Bishop John Davies as Bishop of St Asaph. The announcement was made by the Archbishop of Wales, Dr Barry Morgan, at the west door of the cathedral on the first day of the meeting. Canon Gregory Cameron will be the 76th Bishop of St Asaph, an area covering the north-east corner of Wales – the counties of Conwy and Flintshire, Wrexham county borough, the eastern part of Merioneth in Gwynedd and part of northern Powys |
