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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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March 11, 2009, GENEVA – Some of the contexts are strikingly different, the needs and target groups vary, but the objectives are similar. Whether working with traditional birth attendants to end harmful cultural practices in rural Liberia, raising awareness through youth drama groups among India's tribal communities in Orissa, or preparing weekly nutritious lunches in the Greater Manchester area in Connecticut, USA, it is a partnership that enables churches to increasingly seek to embrace care, grace and justice in their response to the global HIV and AIDS pandemic. Welcoming the Stranger: Immigrant Rights Sunday Scheduled for May 3 March 3, 2009 The United Church of Christ will observe its first "Immigrant Rights Sunday" May 3, 2009. Although the UCC has been a long-time advocate for just immigration policies that guarantee legal rights entitled to every person living in the United States, this is the first time a Sunday has been designated in the UCC to recognize immigrants. Welcoming the stranger is an edict from God to the people of God (Deuteronomy 10:17-19.) But too often the strangers among us are rejected and treated like enemies. Congregations are encouraged to include stories about immigrants in their worship service on the first Sunday in May. March 12, 2009 – After months of gathering signatures from concerned citizens and religious groups, including members of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), a farm workers' rights group will present petitions calling for a meeting with the governor of Florida to discuss ending modern-day slavery. The petitions – one from faith communities and one from the general public – will be presented at a press conference March 9 in Tallahassee. The Coalition of Immokalee Workers which has an established partnership with the PC(USA) through the PC(USA)'s Campaign for Fair Food, is a community-based worker organization in Florida that works for fair wages, an end to indentured servitude in the fields, better working and living conditions and stronger laws against those who violate workers' rights. Episcopal Church Report Addresses U.S. Poverty with Model for Development Initiatives March 12, 2009 – A groundbreaking report released on March 12 calls on The Episcopal Church to address the issues and concerns of the poor in the United States, focusing initially on the needs of Native American communities through its proposed "Model for Domestic Poverty Alleviation." The report, titled Faith in the Balance: A Call to Action, is based on the outcomes of the 2008 Presiding Bishop's Summit on Domestic Poverty. The innovative model outlined in the report will work in tandem with the Episcopal Church's global poverty initiatives of the United Nations Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). BRITAIN: Churches Warn on Neglecting Environment in Economic Crisis March 11, 2009 – Churches in Britain are working with Christians throughout Europe to lobby government ministers who are to meet in Brussels on March 18 to decide on the European Union's position at a United Nations summit on climate change in December. "The world needs to reduce its emissions of carbon dioxide at the same time as dealing with a crisis in our debt-based economies," Anglican Bishop Christopher Hill of Guildford wrote in a letter to British Prime Minister Gordon Brown on behalf of Church of England bishops. Civil Rights Pilgrimage Takes Visitors to ‘Sacred Ground' March 11, 2009, MONTGOMERY, Ala. – Hearing the personal stories told by civil rights heroes — while standing in the same churches that sheltered them from angry mobs and gave them courage to fight for equal rights — was "a profound experience" for one United Methodist leader. Jim Winkler, top executive of the United Methodist Board of Church and Society, was one of more than 30 who joined U.S. Rep. John Lewis (D-Ga.) on a congressional civil rights pilgrimage to Alabama March 6-8. "It is not very often that you actually get to hear someone like John Lewis in person telling you, ‘This is spot where we were beaten,' or ‘This is the spot where Dr. King preached,'" Winkler said. ELCA Conference of Bishops Issues ‘Pastoral Word' on Task Force Documents March 10, 2009, ITASCA, Ill. – Reporting that its own conversations "expressed the diversity of opinion that is common throughout the church," the Conference of Bishops of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) addressed the church in a "pastoral word" concerning the contents of two ELCA documents. Last month the Task Force for the ELCA Studies on Sexuality released a proposed social statement on human sexuality and a report recommending changes to ministry policies that could make it possible for people in committed same-gender relationships to serve as ELCA associates in ministry, deaconesses, diaconal ministers and ordained ministers. New South Wales Bible Society's "Jesus. All about Life" Campaign Goes Statewide March 11, 2009, MACQUARIE PARK, NSW/Australia – The Bible Society of New South Wales campaign "Jesus. All about life" will now cover all of New South Wales (NSW). It has already run successfully in Adelaide, Canberra and Tasmania. "Jesus. All about life" is a non-denominational, advertising-based, mass-media campaign which aims to increase the general public's awareness of the person of Jesus, and what he said ‘about life.' So far, it has the support of all the major denominations including the Roman Catholic Church, Anglican Church, Seventh-day Adventist Church, the Australian Christian Churches including Hillsong and the Baptist Church of NSW. ‘Message of Cross' Forms Basis for Resolving Disputes March 13, 2009 – Like a smoke alarm or a fire extinguisher, the LCMS dispute-resolution process is a tool the church prefers not to use, but proves valuable when the need arises. Recently trained as a "reconciler" for the process, Caitlin Dinger says she doesn't look forward to using what she's learned – but she expresses hope for how it can be put to use. She was among 18 laypersons and professional workers who participated in a Jan. 12-16 training session in St. Louis. "One of the key things is that reconciliation is not an event; it's a way of life, an ongoing process," says Dinger, a director of Christian education at Christ Memorial Lutheran Church, East Brunswick, N.J. ABC Network to Air Pascha: the Resurrection of Christ March 12, 2009, NEW YORK – GOTelecom, the television minnistry of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America, will premiere Pascha: The Resurrection of Christ, a program highlighting Orthodox Christian Pascha, or Easter. The program, produced for ABC television network, and sponsored by FAITH: An Endowment for Orthodoxy and Hellenism, is scheduled to air on ABC affiliates across the country in mid to late April. "This is a wonderful opportunity to portray our meaningful Holy Week and Resurrection Services to a nationwide audience," commented Nicholas J. Furris, Senior Producer and Director of GOTelecom. "The program, videotaped at the Archdiocesan Cathedral of the Holy Trinity during Pascha last year, depicts our faith not only as beautiful and sacred, but also very relevant." Repentant Stranger Gives Church ‘Manna from Heaven' March 12, 2009, DALLAS – Money has been turning up unexpectedly since January at the Episcopal Church of the Resurrection in Dallas, Texas and Tuesday, March 10 was no exception. "Today we received a $500 check from a man in Frisco [Texas] whose heart was touched by our story," the Rev. Canon Victoria Heard said in a telephone interview. "God is doing things at Resurrection. We're just scratching our heads and wondering what's going to happen next." Parishioners were mystified in January when a repentant stranger left a cashier's check for $3,255 along with $13 in cash and an itemized list of his past misdeeds in a back pew. FORT WORTH: Continuing Diocese Requests ‘Orderly Transfer of Assets' March 6, 2009 – The standing committee of the continuing Episcopal Diocese of Fort Worth (Texas) and Provisional Bishop Edwin Gulick have written to former bishop Jack Iker to request a "peaceful and orderly transfer of property and other assets." "Our hope is to work together with those who left the Episcopal Church to make this period of transition as painless as possible in what has been a sad time for all of us," said the Rev. Frederick Barber, president of the standing committee. March 6, 2009 – A survey by Public Religion Research released March 6 shows that mainline Protestant clergy are much more likely to identify themselves as liberal and Democrat than conservative or Republican. The "Clergy Voices" survey showed that clergy of The Episcopal Church, which it included in its definition of mainline Protestants, and the United Church of Christ (UCC) – 66 percent and 74 percent, respectively – were the most likely to call themselves liberal. Overall, 48 percent of the clergy surveyed chose that label. Conferences to Consider Church Structure March 10, 2009 – United Methodists meeting in this year's annual sessions will vote on 32 proposed constitutional amendments, many of them related to the denomination's structure as a global body. Delegates to the 62 U.S. annual conferences and the 73 conferences in Africa, Europe and Asia will consider 23 amendments approved earlier by the 2008 United Methodist General Conference, the denomination's top legislative body. The amendments, proposed by the Task Force on the Worldwide Nature of the Church, are for the creation of regional conferences to establish a uniform denominational structure. Job Loss Provides Opportunity to Serve Others March 12, 2009, PEORIA, Ill. – For Becci Monge, the economic downturn has hit close to home. A mother of two young children, Monge was employed at Peoria-based Caterpillar Corp. until last December. "That's when I found out I was losing my job at Caterpillar University," she said. With additional time on her hands, Monge said she asked God in prayer, "What is it you want me to do with my extra time?" "God talks to me all the time," she said. "And God showed me a way that I could help others with job loss and transitioning to new and different work." March 11, 2009 – Some forty-five religious, interfaith, and value-based organizations from five continents agreed to form a coalition to advance a "United Nations Decade for Inter-religious and Intercultural Dialogue, Understanding, and Cooperation for Peace." Coalition members expressed the hope that the UN Sixty-Fourth General Assembly, which will begin its deliberations in September 2009, will approve a resolution establishing such a decade from 2011-2020. Baptists, Adventists Meet to Underscore Common Christian Values March 13, 2009, SILVER SPRING, Maryland – Delegates from the Baptist World Alliance (BWA) met with Seventh-day Adventist world church President Jan Paulsen March 11 to affirm their denominations' common values and recommit to their shared goals of religious freedom. The meeting, which included other church leaders, took place at Adventist world church headquarters in Silver Spring, Maryland/USA. "[Adventists and Baptists] share a Christ-centric faith and many of the same values," said John Graz, director of public affairs and religious liberty for the Adventist church. "We also share a passion for religious freedom, and in many countries around the world we cooperate closely to promote and defend this freedom." Sudan: Interfaith Consultation Explores Deeper Engagement Between Christians and Muslims March 11, 2009 – The Episcopal Church of the Sudan's (ECS) Commission for Interfaith and Ecumenical Relations held its first consultation February 23-27 in Juba to address the goal "that Sudanese communities of different faiths understand, respect and live in harmony (co-existence) with each other," said a report from the Rt. Rev. Michael Jackson, bishop of the Church of Ireland's Diocese of Clogher, who attended the meeting. The consultation included presentations and discussions about ecumenical dialogue with Muslim partners; the relationship between Sudanese churches and the national government; a review of provision for Christian teaching and curriculum in schools; devising an interfaith curriculum in theological institutions; issues concerning the safety and dignity of women and children; and increased local interaction between Christians and Muslims to develop mutual understanding and respect, and to safeguard permanent prosperity. 12 marzo 2009 – Unas cuarenta y cinco organizaciones religiosas, interreligiosas y basadas en los valores de cinco continentes acordaron formar una coalición para promover un "Decenio de las Naciones Unidas para el Diálogo, la Comprensión y la Cooperación entre Religiones y Culturas en pro de la Paz." Los miembros de la coalición manifestaron su esperanza de que la Sexagésima Cuarta Asamblea General de las Naciones Unidas, que comenzará sus deliberaciones en septiembre de 2009, apruebe una resolución que establezca este decenio para el período 2011-2020. Calvino: Ecuménico Y Comunista, Dice Teólogo Sergio Arce 11 marzo 2009, GINEBRA, Suiza – Juan Calvino promovió el ecumenismo y el ideal comunista bíblico, señaló el Dr. Sergio Arce Martínez, uno de los más prominentes teólogos protestantes cubanos de los últimos cincuenta años. Como millones de reformados y presbiterianos en todo el mundo, Arce participa en un esfuerzo mundial de evaluación de la herencia calvinista, en el marco de las celebraciones por los quinientos años del nacimiento del gran reformador en Noyon, Francia, en 1509. 11 marzo 2009, BUENOS AIRES, Argentina – Tal y como prometió durante la campaña electoral, el presidente Barack Obama dio luz verde el lunes a la investigación con células madre embrionarias, subvencionadas con dinero público. En una ceremonia que tuvo lugar en la Casa Blanca, el mandatario dijo que su Gobierno apoya vigorosamente a los científicos que realizan estos experimentos y subrayó que la ciencia no está reñida con los valores morales. El Aborto Es Peor Pecado Que La Violación, Define Arzobispo 9 marzo 2009, RECIFE, Brasil – Peor que la violación es el aborto. Esa es la afirmación, definitiva, del Arzobispo de Olinda y Recife, José Cardoso Sobrinho, quien aplicó el Código de Derecho Canónico de la Iglesia Católica para excomulgar a la madre y al equipo médico que asistió a una niña de 9 años de edad, embarazada de gemelos, producto de la violación por parte de su padrastro, de 23 años. La niña, con 1,36 metros de altura y 36 kilos, había sido violada desde los seis años, así como su hermana, de 13 años. Iglesia Luterana Decide Excomunión Del Consejo Directivo De La Comunidad De Oberá 10 marzo 2009, BUENOS AIRES, Argentina – En un hecho sin precedentes, trece integrantes del Consejo Directivo de la Iglesia Luterana Olaus Petri de la norteña ciudad de Oberá de la provincia de Misiones, en la Mesopotamia argentina, fueron excomulgados y se llamará a asamblea para normalizar la institución. La gota que colmó el vaso y disparó la sanción fue el cierre del templo por supuestas refacciones, por lo que ayer los pastores debieron celebrar la misa en plena calle. Libro Sobre La Iglesia Católica En Cuba Viene a Llenar Vacío Histórico 9 marzo 2009, LA HABANA, Cuba – Presentado recientemente en la Feria Internacional del Libro, clausurada en La Habana el pasado febrero y ahora con extensión a las provincias del resto del país, el volumen "Historia de la Iglesia Católica en Cuba, La Iglesia en las patrias de los criollos (1516-1879)" viene a llenar un vacío informativo acerca de la presencia de la religión en la mayor de las Antillas. Episcopales Observan Elección Presidencial 13 marzo 2009, SAN SALVADOR – Veinticinco observadores nacionales e internacionales estará movilizando la Iglesia Episcopal durante las elecciones para presidente y vicepresidente del próximo domingo 15 de marzo. Entre los episcopales que viene a observar las elecciones llega el obispo Julio Murray, Presidente del Consejo Latinoamericano de Iglesias (CLAI); este ejercicio está integrado por laicos, laicas, sacerdotes mujeres y hombres de los Estados Unidos, Canadá y El Salvador. Testimonio: Día Mundial De Oración En Colombia 9 marzo 2009, COLOMBIA – El 6 de marzo por la noche más de 100 delegadas de las iglesias católica, anglicana, luterana, presbiteriana, menonita, hermandad en Cristo, pentecostal y evangélica se reunieron en la parroquia de Santa Teresita para celebrar el Día Mundial de Oracion (DMO). En el altar central se realizó una excelente exposición sobre Papua Nueva Guinea, país que preparó el culto, basándose en Romanos 12, 4-21 y Exodo 2,1-10. Media Advocates Decry Grammy Awards Liquor Ad March 4, 2009 – The United Church of Christ's Office of Communication, Inc. has joined 28 other religious, public-policy and substance-abuse organizations in signing on to a letter to CBS-TV, expressing disappointment over the network's recent airing of a hard-liquor ad on it largest stations and affiliates. During the broadcast of the 51st Grammy Awards on Feb. 9, CBS broke its long-standing, voluntary ban of spirits advertising on broadcast TV by airing an ad for Absolut Vodka. Affiliates in 14 leading markets ran a 30-second spot titled "Hugs" in the third hour of programming, marking the first time a commercial for a distilled-spirits product has appeared on any CBS-owned local broadcast stations Lutherans Anticipate, Prepare for Spring Floods March 13, 2009 – According to the National Weather Service many Midwestern communities are experiencing moderate to major flooding, and rivers and streams continue to rise. Flooding has already occurred in Illinois, Indiana and Ohio, while in North and South Dakota, Wisconsin and elsewhere new snowfall could yield severe flooding in the spring and summer, said Michael Nevergall, assistant director for the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America's (ELCA) Domestic Disaster Response. Nevergall said Lutherans should not "wait for disaster to happen. Take action today." In Guatemala, Adventists Mourn Murdered Pastor March 11, 2009, GUATEMALA CITY, Guatemala – Guatemalan Seventh-day Adventists are mourning the loss of a minister after he was gunned down in Guatemala's southern region February 26. Erick Cerritos (33), a native of Guatemala, was travelling in his car with his family when he was intercepted by another car and shot several times. Cerritos, who had spent more than a decade serving as a minister in the neighbouring country of Honduras, is the latest victim in a string of escalating violence the church in Guatemala has experienced. WARC Delegation Urges South African Reformed Churches March 10, 2009 – Senior leaders of the Reformed church movement, while lamenting the painful difficulties that have stalled unity talks among four Reformed churches in South Africa, hold out hope for reunification to become a reality. A nine-member delegation headed by WARC's president, Clifton Kirkpatrick, had been invited to mediate the discussions between two of the four South African Reformed churches engaged in a process of Reformed reunification. Institute Condemns Russian Persecution of Jehovah's Witnesses March 13, 2009, WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Institute on Religion and Public Policy condemns Russia's recent harassment and discrimination of Jehovah's Witnesses. Since mid-February Russian prosecutorial authorities have performed over 500 "check-ups" on Jehovah's Witness groups around the country. This new wave of investigations was ordered by the Russian Prosecutor General's Office following their failure to shut down the Jehovah's Witness St. Petersburg headquarters on the grounds of extremism. Although the government has not found any violations of law, they are fishing through medical records, employment records, education records, and many other sensitive documents. Attacks at Massereene Barracks, Co. Antrim March 9, 2009 – From the Most Revd Alan Harper, OBE, Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of All Ireland: The lethal attack on Massereene Barracks leaving two people dead and four injured is deeply distressing and deplorable. I send my heartfelt sympathy to those who have been bereaved or injured. It has been clear for some time that there are forces of evil intent on destabilising our community and returning to days of confrontation such as we knew in the past but have been steadily working to move beyond. Churches Across Taiwan Unite to Pray March 9, 2009 – World Day of Prayer falls on the first Friday of March every year and this year's theme is to pray for Papua New Guinea. Taiwanese churches chose "There are many members in the body of Christ, but all are connected to one body" as the main theme for their prayer meeting. Participating churches and organizations included the Catholic Church, Episcopal Church, Methodist Church, Lutheran Church, National Council of Churches Taiwan, Salvation Army, YWCA, etc. March 13, 2009 SVAY RIENG PROVINCE, Cambodia – For Cambodians in rural Svay Rieng province, a little sand goes a long way in helping make water safe for consumption. According to a report by humanitarian agency Church World Service, residents in 19 villages of Svay Rieng have been significantly reducing incidences of typhoid and diarrhea by drinking water filtered through affordable, user-friendly bio-sand water filter devices small enough to place in a home or office space. CWS has provided 1,216 of the filters to date in 56 Svay Rieng villages for use by people in some 1,900 households, schools, pagodas and commune halls. March 6, 2009, CANADA – Bishop John Chapman of the Diocese of Ottawa has appointed a doctrine and worship committee to determine whether same-sex unions can be blessed on a limited basis in the diocese. If the committee recommends that such blessings be allowed "in the spirit of experiential discernment," Chapman said it would only be offered in one parish, St. John the Evangelist, an inner city parish which has long advocated for the rights of gays and lesbians. "In the event that I instruct the parish of St. John the Evangelist to proceed, this is as far as I am prepared to move on the matter until General Synod 2010," he said in his March column at the diocesan newspaper, Crosstalk. The 2007 General Synod asked for a review of the marriage canon, which currently limits the sacrament to female-male couples, before the 2010 meeting in Halifax. Cuba Visit Brings Changes to Covenant March 12, 2009 – The United Methodist Florida Conference's longstanding relationship with the Methodist Church in Cuba will continue, but there will be some changes. That was the message from meetings in Cuba in late February between Florida Bishop Timothy Whitaker, Cuban Methodist Bishop Ricardo Pereira and officials from the Cuban religious affairs office. "The (Cuban) government has made it clear that it would like the relationship of the Methodist Church in Cuba and The United Methodist Church of the Florida Conference to continue," Whitaker said after returning from a three-day trip to island nation. March 12, 2009, GENEVA/LOUISVILLE – Peace-building initiatives and housing and education issues will be highlighted when a team of ecumenical representatives from around the world visits churches, ecumenical organizations and civil society movements in Israel and Palestine from March 14-21. Organized by the World Council of Churches (WCC) as part of its Living Letters initiative, the visit reflects the WCC's focus on the troubled region, where it sees the ongoing presence and witness of churches as crucial in the struggle for a just peace. |
