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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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May 7, 2009, PURI, Orissa State, India/GENEVA – A group of theologians, ethicists, anthropologists and staff working on adaptation and mitigation measures related to climate change, are calling for the Lutheran communion's global solidarity with vulnerable communities that are acting to address the impact of climate change. "To be in communion with creation, means to be in solidarity with those victimized by climate change, who inspire and motivate our commitment and actions to redress climate change," stated the 23 persons following a Lutheran World Federation (LWF) "Climate Change Encounter in India." ELCA Presiding Bishop Speaks to Antipoverty Activists May 5, 2009, WASHINGTON – The Rev. Mark S. Hanson, presiding bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), spoke to more than 1,200 faith-based and antipoverty activists here at the Mobilization to End Poverty event, April 26-29. He called on participants to "hold each other accountable" for the work they are doing to end poverty. The event was held to engage participants in making antipoverty work a political priority. Lawmakers Praise Church as Civil Voice on Poverty May 6, 2009, WASHINGTON – National lawmakers encouraged United Methodist bishops to keep fighting against world hunger and disease, saying civil voices are necessary to break through partisan politics on issues such as health care and poverty. "United Methodists have a long history of advocating for the poor and feeding the hungry, both in body and in spirit," Sen. Richard Lugar, R-Ind., told church leaders during their May 5 visit to Capitol Hill. Bishops navigated their way through the stinging rain to meet with legislators from their states on issues relating to the church's four areas of focus – developing principled Christian leaders, creating new churches and renewing existing ones, engaging in ministries with the poor and stamping out killer diseases of poverty by improving global health. Bishops Launch ‘Rethink Church' with Worker Outreach May 5, 2009, GAITHERSBURG, Md. – Mario Ramirez of El Salvador comes daily to a trailer on a parking lot in this Washington, D.C., suburb looking for work as a gardener or general day laborer. On May 5, some 15 United Methodist bishops visited the ministry site, called Casa de Maryland, bearing support, fellowship and Holy Communion as part of the launch of a "Rethink Church" campaign taking United Methodist faith out into the world. Ramirez and the bishops shared the same goal: to build a future where every person is treated with equality and dignity. May 5, 2009, KINGSTON, Jamaica – Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams told the representatives of the Anglican Consultative Council (ACC) meeting here May 5 that he wants the Anglican Communion be "more cohesive and more theologically aware." During his 40-minute presentation on the recommendations of the Windsor Continuation Group's final report, Williams said that he does not have "complete and absolute confidence that the Anglican Communion in something like the form it had 20 years ago is going to survive this crisis" over authority and differing theological perspectives. Court Ruling ‘Tentatively' Favors Episcopal Church, Diocese May 6, 2009, SAN JOAQUIN – A Fresno County, California, judge, who tentatively ruled that Bishop Jerry Lamb and not John-David Schofield is the legitimate episcopal authority in the Diocese of San Joaquin, is expected to make a final determination within the next several days. One day before a scheduled May 5 hearing of the Diocese of San Joaquin v. Schofield, California Superior Court Judge Adolfo M. Corona released a tentative summary judgment, a customary court practice. Brethren Disaster Ministries Offers Workcamps in Haiti May 7, 2009, ELGIN, IL – Brethren Disaster Ministries is seeking volunteers to help build homes in Haiti, as part of a new disaster recovery project following hurricanes and storms that caused widespread destruction last year. The longterm response project was initiated earlier this year by Brethren Disaster Ministries and the Church of the Brethren Haiti Mission. It has been funded by grants totaling $305,000 from the Church of the Brethren's Emergency Disaster Fund. Jeff Boshart is serving as the Haiti disaster response coordinator, working with Haitian consultant Klebert Exceus, in cooperation with Haiti mission coordinator Ludovic St. Fleur and the Haitian Brethren congregations. ELCA Book of Faith Initiative Embraces Online Social Network May 8, 2009, CHICAGO – Members of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) are reading and discussing the Bible as part of the church's Book of Faith initiative. That discussion is being propelled with Internet technology. An estimated 2,400 members have signed on to the Book of Faith social network made possible through Ning, an online platform for users to create their own social networks. "Ning is really very similar to Facebook," said Bill Huff, assistant director for the Book of Faith initiative, ELCA Vocation and Education, St. Paul, Minn. Ablaze! Faith-Sharing Counter Exceeds 10 Million May 7, 2009 – The Web-based "counter" that tracks the number of times LCMS Lutherans have shared their faith with others as part of the Ablaze! movement hit 10,006,997, as of April 29. That figure includes some 310,000 additions from the Synod's Southeastern District, which has been recording Gospel-sharing events for three years and last month added them to the Ablaze! Web site. Sally Hiller, who has been overseeing the districtwide Ablaze! emphasis, says "people are becoming more comfortable in seeing and seizing the opportunities to share their faith" and now the initiative is "beginning to gain momentum" in the district. Archbishop Demetrios Makes Official Visit to Headquarters of ROCOR May 6, 2009, NEW YORK – Yesterday, May 5, 2009, Archbishop Demetrios of America, responding to a formal invitation, made an official visit to the Headquarters of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia (ROCOR), the first such visit of a Primate of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese in more than 40 years. The visit was reciprocal in nature, as Archbishop Demetrios had received the new First Hierarch of ROCOR, His Eminence Metropolitan Hilarion, at the Headquarters of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese in June of 2008, after the enthronement of the latter. Communique of the Holy Eparchial Synod May 1, 2009, NEW YORK – The Holy Eparchial Synod of the Holy Archdiocese of America convened for its regular Spring Session in the Synodal Room of the Holy Archdiocese in New York on April 29 and 30 under the presidency of His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios of America. The Holy Eparchial Synod deliberated on a series of issues pertaining to the life of the Church. Among them, the following were discussed: 1. Liturgical Issues – The Holy Eparchial Synod worked for the preparation of a Service Text for the induction of the heterodox into the Orthodox Church through the administration of the Sacrament of Chrismation. Lutheran Seminarians Support Task Force Recommendation May 6, 2009, CHICAGO – In an open letter to the 65 synod bishops of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), Lutheran seminarians expressed their support for a recommendation that would allow Lutherans in committed same-gender relationships to be included on professional church rosters. On Feb. 19 the Task Force for ELCA Studies on Sexuality released a report and recommendation for a process to consider changes to ministry policies that could make it possible for Lutherans who are in "publicly accountable, lifelong, monogamous, same-gendered relationships" to serve as ELCA associates in ministry, deaconesses, diaconal ministers and ordained ministers. Archdiocese Settles Jacksonville Lawsuit May 7, 2009, NEW YORK – The Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America announced today that the lawsuit brought by Jacksonville, Florida plaintiffs in September 2007 has been settled. There has been no finding of fault or liability against the Archdiocese. The September 2007 lawsuit was based upon allegations of inappropriate behavior by Fr. Nicholas Graff while he served as priest of St. John the Divine Greek Orthodox Church in Jacksonville, Florida. The June 13, 2007 suspension placed on Fr. Graff continues and prohibits him from acting in any liturgical, pastoral, administrative or other official capacity within the Orthodox Church. Archpastoral Reflections of His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios of America May, 2009 May 7, 2009 – Since our 39th Clergy-Laity Congress last summer, we have been consistently and methodically devoting a series of reflections to analyzing various elements of its theme: "Gather My People to My Home." In past reflections, we have explored whom we precisely mean when we speak of "God's People." We have reflected upon different and equally valid ways of understanding what it is that we reference when we speak of the Church as "God's Home." In building upon this foundation, we are now ready to devote our next few reflection pieces to the word "Gathering," which is a central concept of our Congress' theme, and perhaps, its most complex and demanding action. Shepherd's Spring Holds Grand Opening for Heifer Global Village May 7, 2009, ELGIN, IL – The public is invited to the grand opening celebration of a new Heifer Global Village at Shepherd's Spring in Sharpsburg, Md. The celebration takes place May 9 from 2-4 p.m. Admission is free. Shepherd's Spring is an outdoor ministry center of the Church of the Brethren's Mid-Atlantic District, providing summer camp programs and retreat and conference facilities. The district has worked closely with Heifer International, – a nonprofit organization originally begun by the Church of the Brethren dedicated to ending world hunger and poverty – to bring the Heifer Global Village experience to Shepherd's Spring. Small Town Lutheran Impacts World with Big Heart May 5, 2009, CHICAGO – Maryn Olson grew up in an Iowa town of 300 people, but her world is anything but small. Although not yet 30, many consider her a model of "faith in action" because of her tireless work battling social injustices rooted in a compassion for others. At Olson's alma mater, Indiana's Valparaiso University, financial aid officer Phyllis Schroeder remembered the 2002 graduate's involvement on the prayer team. "We could count on Maryn to keep us alert to those social justice issues that needed to be addressed," Schroeder said. "She knew what was going on in the world, the nation and on campus." Women of the ELCA Opens Registration for Cross-Cultural Immersion May 7, 2009 – Women of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) is offering a cross-cultural immersion experience Sept. 9-13 with the Chippewa Cree Tribe at the Rocky Boy Reservation in the Bear Paw Mountains near Box Elder, Mont. The program is limited to 13 participants, and registration is open until Aug. 7. Inez Torres Davis, Women of the ELCA director for justice, will conduct the immersion. "The gift of a cross-cultural immersion is one that will inform a woman as well as alter her life. Women are invited to open their hearts, ears and hands so that they might see the world in a different way, sometimes for the first time," she said. May 8, 2009, KINGSTON, Jamaica – The representatives of the Anglican Consultative Council (ACC) affirmed May 8 the Windsor Continuation Group's final report, which includes moratoria on same-gender blessings, cross-border interventions and the ordination of gay and lesbian people to the episcopate. The resolution noted the "deep cost" of observing those moratoria and calls the Anglican Communion to "pray for repentance, conversion and renewal; leading to deeper communion." The members narrowly rejected (33-32) an attempt to add a fourth moratoria that would have banned litigation over the taking of property by those who leave a diocese or province. The text of the resolution follows. May 8, 2009, KINGSTON, Jamaica – The representatives of the Anglican Consultative Council (ACC) decided on May 8 that the Ridley Cambridge Draft of an Anglican covenant needs more work before it can be presented to the communion's provinces for adoption. The resolution that the ACC passed after a long day of debate: 1. thanks the Covenant Design Group for their faithfulness and responsiveness in producing the drafts for an Anglican Communion Covenant and, in particular, for the Ridley Cambridge Draft submitted to this meeting; 2. recognizes that an Anglican Communion Covenant may provide an effective means to strengthen and promote our common life as a communion; May 4, 2009, KINGSTON, Jamaica – A former Episcopal Church priest accepted into the Church of Uganda in 2005 has not been allowed to participate in the May 2-12 meeting of the Anglican Consultative Council here because his relationship with the East African province is "a result of a cross provincial intervention." "The instruments of communion have each in different ways stated that Anglicans should not exercise ministry in another jurisdiction without the permission of the bishop in that place," the Rev. Canon Kenneth Kearon, Anglican Communion secretary general, said at a May 4 news briefing. Editorial: Bringing Our Children Before God May 7, 2009 – A Chinese author once wrote a story about a trainer who saw a wounded young eagle that had fallen from a tree. Because he loved eagles, the trainer picked up the young eagle and began to teach it how to fly and hunt. His goal was to transform this ordinary eagle into the highest and farthest flying bird. At the end of the story, the trainer removed the blinders from the eagle's eyes and released it into the sky. The eagle, relishing the fresh air and its newfound freedom, flew away and disappeared into the vast and blue sky above. 5 mayo 2009, COLOMBIA – Asivida considera infortunada y lamentable la declaración del Papa Benedicto XVI, en su visita al continente africano, en la que desaprobó el uso del preservativo como uno de los mecanismos de prevención eficaces en la lucha contra las enfermedades de transmisión sexual, como lo es el VIH y el Sida. "Es doloroso ver que un líder espiritual con la capacidad de convocar e influir sobre tantos seres humanos, se muestre tan insensible e incoherente frente a la realidad del gran número de muertes, huérfanos, huérfanas, viudas y viudos que causa el VIH y el Sida en África que podrían evitarse, usando preservativo en sus relaciones sexuales," afirman. Denunciado Por Maltrato, Golpea Brutalmente a La Asistente Social Que Realizaba Su Trabajo 6 mayo 2009, ARGENTINA – Organizaciones sociales de mujeres de la litoral provincia de Santa Fe denuncian que ayer por la tarde, la asistente social Marianela Tourn, mientras desarrollaba su labor cotidiana en la localidad de Tacuarendí (en el norte de la provincia), fue brutalmente agredida por un comerciante con antecedentes de maltrato familiar. Noruega Dedicará Dia Da Bíblia Ao País Caribenho 6 mayo 2009, LA HABANA, Cuba – A Sociedade Bíblica da Noruega (SBN) dedicará, em 2010, o Dia da Bíblia à Cuba, informaram visitantes do país europeu em visita a Ilha. A cada ano, a SBN celebra o Dia da Bíblia, dedicando-o a um projeto especial de país específico. Com isso, a organização pretende levar aos cristãos noruegueses um conhecimento mais profundo da nação selecionada, a fim de arrecadar fundos destinados ao envio de Bíblias e materiais de estudo. Líder Evangélico Fue Designado Jefe De Asesores En El Ministerio Del Interior 4 mayo 2009, LIMA, Perú – Tomás Gutiérrez Sánchez, sociólogo e investigador de temas religiosos y políticos, asumió este lunes la jefatura del gabinete de asesores de la Alta Dirección del Ministerio del Interior del Perú (MININTER). Gutiérrez, también teólogo y miembro de la Iglesia Bautista El Camino, es líder de la Fraternidad Teológica Latinoamericana (FTL-Perú) y autor de "El Hermano Fujimori, evangélicos y poder político en el Perú de los 90; Protestantismo y Política en América Latina; y Evangélicos, Política y Nueva Sociedad, entre otros libros. 5 mayo 2009 – La Semana Mundial por la Paz en Palestina e Israel, 4-10 de junio de 2009, tiene por objeto generar una acción conjunta de las iglesias en favor de una paz justa. Iglesias de 20 países han enviado ya noticias sobre sus planes al organismo convocante de la semana, el Consejo Mundial de Iglesias (CMI). Una organización comunitaria palestina ofrece un medio para que otros países se unan a la semana enviando a Belén oraciones de paz. "Cuando los niños de Shufa [en la Ribera Occidental] juegan cerca del asentamiento, los colonos israelíes creen que su seguridad está amenazada. La Gripe Porcina Mantiene Cerrado Los Templos. Repercusiones Y Beneficios 4 mayo 2009, CIUDAD DE MÉXICO – Las dos principales televisoras en México y varias cadenas de radio transmitieron en vivo una misa celebrada en la Basílica de Guadalupe a puerta cerrada, para la población católica que no pudo asistir a sus templos, debido a la alerta epidemiológica por el virus de influenza humana en el país, sin que otras confesiones religiosas tuvieran la misma oportunidad en estos medios de comunicación. A partir de las 9 de la mañana (tiempo local) comenzó la transmisión para el pueblo católico, toda vez que la jerarquía debió solicitar un "permiso especial" a la Secretaría de Gobernación, según el Reglamento de Asociaciones Religiosas y Culto Público, que le permitiría difundir actos de carácter religioso en medios masivos de comunicación. Tensión Entre Gobierno E Iglesia Católica Por Documento Acusatorio 6 mayo 2009, MANAGUA – La primera dama y coordinadora de comunicación ciudadana, Rosario Murillo del gobierno de Daniel Ortega, después de seis días de silencio, aclaró que el famoso documento, de relación entre la iglesia Católica y el Frente Sandinista de Liberación Nacional (FSLN) fue enviado por un supuesto hacker que saboteó su correo; también culpó a la derecha y a los medios de comunicación. Calificó al documento de "trasnochada maniobra mediática." Preparan La Semana Mundial Por La Paz En Palestina E Israel 5 mayo 2009, GINEBRA, Suiza – La Semana Mundial por la Paz en Palestina e Israel, del 4 al 10 de junio de 2009, tiene por objeto generar una acción conjunta de las iglesias en favor de una paz justa. Iglesias de 20 países han enviado ya noticias sobre sus planes al organismo convocante de la semana, el Consejo Mundial de Iglesias (CMI). Una organización comunitaria palestina ofrece un medio para que otros países se unan a la semana enviando a Belén oraciones de paz. Organizaciones Sociales Y Productivas Entregan Al Gobierno, Diez Medidas Para Solucionar La Crisis 7 mayo 2009, SAN JOSÉ, Costa Rica – Por invitación del gobierno, representantes del sector social y productivo nacional, como trabajadores, agricultores, ambientalistas, comunalistas, académicos, indígenas, cooperativistas, solidaristas, empresarios y religiosos, se hicieron presente en Casa Presidencial para dar seguimiento y presentar la propuesta de un diálogo nacional, junto a medidas prácticas que buscan servir de guía a la solución de la crisis, situación que ha sumergido al país en pobreza y exclusión. Human Rights Group Takes to Streets for Rights for All May 8, 2009, NEW YORK – Youth for Human Rights, a world wide rights group promoting the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, took to the streets of New York Saturday, May 2, as other branches readied an international drive for May 9th. The effort will continue through May and beyond. Their mission was to get human rights education taught in schools everywhere, as a realistic and vital step to making those human rights universally respected. "When the Universal Declaration of Human Rights was published by the UN in 1948, it was planned that there would be a broad educational campaign," said Barbara Carmichael, one of the group's coordinators here. May 8, 2009, NEW YORK – When the Rev. Dean M. Kelley died on May 11, 1997, the loss was devastating for proponents of religious liberty. Kelley, who served as Executive for Religious Liberty of the National Council of Churches from 1960 to 1990, was a nationally recognized expert in the field who had defended the rights of such diverse groups as the Unification Church, Taos Pueblo Indians, Church of Scientology, Old Order Amish, Christian Scientists, Roman Catholics, Jews, Muslims and mainline Protestants. "When Dean Kelley died, an enormous amount of knowledge and experience died with him," said Wesley M. "Pat" Pattillo, the NCC's Senior Program Director for Justice and Advocacy and Communication. "Now, a remarkable publishing venture will make much of that knowledge accessible again for all religious groups working their way through First Amendment issues and church-state controversies." Flu Concerns Result in School, Church Closings May 4, 2009 – As the number of people infected with swine flu continues to increase nationwide, a small number of Episcopal schools and churches have decided to close temporarily. By Monday, the H1N1 virus had spread to 36 states, infecting 286 people (including one death), according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. St. Luke's Episcopal Church in Park City, Utah, canceled worship services on Sunday, May 3 "in support of our community's efforts to restrict the spread of the H1NI flu virus," according to the church's website. ELCA Provides Funds to Help Disinfect Schools in Mexico May 7, 2009, CHICAGO – The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) is providing $3,000 in an effort help clean public schools and assist low-income families purchase disinfectants to safeguard against influenza in Mexico. The ELCA sent the funds to Amextra, an ELCA companion ministry in Mexico. The funds will be used to help disinfect public schools in the town of Lomas, where there is no government assistance, according to Amextra. Lutherans Provided Funds, Engaged in Recovery Work in 17 Countries May 8, 2009 – In partnership with Lutheran churches and ecumenical agencies around the world, members of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) engaged in relief and recovery work in 17 countries in 2008. Through the church's International Disaster Response, more than $1.5 million was distributed to help provide food, medicine, drinking water, emergency shelter and other materials for survivors of natural and human-made disasters. The funds for disaster response are contributions from ELCA members, said Megan E. Bradfield, associate director for international development, ELCA Global Mission. CWS in Pakistan Begins Delivering Aid to Thousands Displaced by Conflict May 8, 2009, ISLAMABAD, Pakistan – With hundreds of thousands of people in northwest Pakistan fleeing fierce fighting in the region, international humanitarian agency Church World Service has personnel from its Pakistan/Afghanistan offices working to provide basic shelter, food, water and sanitation to those displaced in the region. Initial assessments by CWS aid workers on the ground indicate as many as 800,000 are now displaced by the most recent violence, on top of conflicts that pushed out a half-million people in the last year. Churches in Many Countries Preparing "World Week" May 5, 2009 – World Week for Peace in Palestine Israel, 4-10 June 2009 is intended to generate joint church action for a just peace. Churches in 20 countries have already sent news of their plans to the convenors, the World Council of Churches (WCC). A Palestinian community organization is offering a way for many more countries to join – by sending peace prayers to Bethlehem. "When the children of Shufa [in the West Bank] play too close to the settlement, the Israeli settlers feel their security is threatened. Children have been held and questioned for hours," an Ecumenical Accompanier in Occupied Palestinian Territory writes in a blog on the World Week website. |
