Front Page

Conscientious Objection Sees Positive Global Trend but Serious Problems Remain

May 13, 2009 – In spite of a global trend to better recognize the right to conscientious objection – which is marked with an International Day on 15 May – those who exercise that right are often discriminated against, persecuted, repeatedly punished or sent to prison in many countries, first results of a study being conducted by the World Council of Churches (WCC) show. Aimed at providing input to the upcoming meeting of its Central Committee in late August, the WCC study looks at the serious problems faced by conscientious objectors around the world, as well as actions taken by churches and church-related organizations to support them. Korea, Israel and the United States are examples of countries where conscientious objection may put people through a tough time.

Lutherans Call for Immigration Reform Before End of 2009

May 12, 2009, CHICAGO – Lutherans are urging the Obama Administration to reform immigration enforcement actions, and for Congress and the president to enact "fair and humane" immigration reform before the end of 2009. In a May 12 statement, 16 synod bishops of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) and Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service (LIRS) expressed concern over the damage to communities and families by immigration raids, detention and other enforcement actions. Based in Baltimore, LIRS is one of the nation's leading agencies in welcoming and advocating for refugees and other immigrants.

Message of the Presidents of the WCC at Pentecost 2009

May 12, 2009 – "Brothers and sisters, what should we do?" (Acts 2:37b) The year 2009 began with grave concern about the catastrophic economic situation of the world of wealth. Towards the end of 2008, in the midst of a life that to many was apparently without problems, disastrous financial and economic difficulties suddenly came to light. It was reminiscent of the first Pentecost of the Christian era when everything seemed to be going well for believers of the time. Many had made the customary pilgrimage to Jerusalem to mark the festival. They came in large numbers with good intentions of worshipping as usual. Then, when like a mighty rushing wind the Holy Spirit came upon the disciples, filling them and leading them "to speak in other languages, as the Spirit gave them ability," the pilgrims were astonished and amazed.

Divisions Are Deep but Can Be Healed, Archbishop of Canterbury Tells ACC
Communion's Future Rests on How it Structures its Relationships, Williams Says

May 11, 2009, KINGSTON, Jamaica – Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams in his presidential address to the Anglican Consultative Council (ACC) here May 11 compared the Anglican Communion's long-standing divisions to those in the Holy Land. "The other day we were giving quite intense attention to the situation in the Holy Land and in that discussion I thought there are echoes of language we hear nearer home," Williams said. "Well, thank God, our divisions and our fears are not as deep and as poisonous as those between communities in the Holy Land, but I think you may see why some of the same language occasionally awakes echoes." It was also through the lens of Holy Land politics that Williams suggested during his address a possible way forward.

General News

Lutheran Publications Win Honors from Associated Church Press

May 12, 2009, INDIANAPOLIS – The Lutheran, the magazine of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), took home four "Best of the Christian Press" awards from the Associated Church Press convention May 6-8 for work in 2008. Other ELCA magazines – Lutheran Partners and Lutheran Woman Today – each received two awards. Café – Stirring the Spirit Within won top honors, Best in Class Award of Excellence, in the category of Independent Web site or e-zine. Elizabeth McBride and Deborah Bogaert edit the site. Café is the Web-based magazine of Women of the ELCA, the church's women's organization.

Global Reformed Church Leaders Celebrate Calvin by Planning Merger

May 13, 2009 The 16th century Reformer, John Calvin, continues to influence the Christian church today. At an historic meeting in Geneva, Switzerland later this month, leaders of two global Reformed church organizations will gather to plan their merger into one worldwide communion of churches. "This move towards unity is a fitting tribute to Calvin by his modern day heirs,," says Peter Borgdorff, President of the Reformed Ecumenical Council (REC). The meeting of the executive committees of the World Alliance of Reformed Churches (WARC) and the Reformed Ecumenical Council marks the first time the two groups have met in the city where Calvin urged the diverse factions of the church to join in "visible unity."

Archiepiscopal Encyclical Designates "AHEPA Sunday" for 2009

May 17, 2009 – AHEPA Sunday To the Most Reverend Hierarchs, the Reverend Priests and Deacons, the Monks and Nuns, the Presidents and Members of the Parish Councils of the Greek Orthodox Communities, the Distinguished Archons of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, the Day, Afternoon, and Church Schools, the Philoptochos Sisterhoods, the Youth, the Hellenic Organizations, and the entire Greek Orthodox Family in America Beloved Brothers and Sisters in Christ, Christ is Risen! It is with these joyful words of the Resurrection of Christ which we proclaim during this Paschal season, that I write to you about the significance of the work of the American Hellenic Educational Progressive Association (AHEPA).

2009 World Refugee Day Theme: Real People, Real Needs

May 13, 2009 – Church World Service urges congregations and communities to observe World Refugee Day, celebrated this year on June 20. This year's CWS resources emphasize how important it is for our nation to continue to welcome refugees, even in this time of economic recession. A flyer suitable for use as a congregational bulletin insert or handout at community events builds on the United Nation's theme for this year's observances, "Real People, Real Needs." The worship resource considers the example set by the Zarephath widow (I Kings 17), who shared her last piece of bread with Elijah during a famine. God rewarded her faith by sustaining her household until the famine ended.

Stewardship Process Helps Leaders Manage What God Gives

May 14, 2009 – Seeing stewardship everywhere, Rev. John Duerr is making it a regular theme for a second year in his preaching and teaching at Hope Lutheran Church in Warren, Mich. And, the pastor intends to continue that approach for three more years as the congregation's leaders engage the topic on a regular basis. "It has been a godsend," says Duerr, describing his congregation's experience with "Faith Aflame: Stewardship 360 Degrees," a comprehensive look at the Christian's responsibility as a manager, or steward, of everything God gives.

ELCA Pastors, Family Tale, Lead to Motion Picture

May 11, 2009, CHICAGO – Felix "Uncle Bush" Breazeale sat in the front passenger seat of the hearse headed to his funeral. In back was the coffin he'd made himself from walnut. The 73-year-old recluse was a man of few words but not even close to death on that hot June day in 1938. Thousands of people from several states gathered for the service in a Tennessee field. Most wanted to see Breazeale, a scraggly-bearded man who insisted on a funeral before he died. "Just wanted to hear what the preacher has to say about me while I am alive," he told a newspaper. A movie version of the event is expected in theaters later this year, in part because of the persistence of a pastor in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA).

Change Raises Trust Issues in Church

May 15, 2009, NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Five years ago, The United Methodist Church created a new body – the Connectional Table – to be stewards of the church's ministries, mission and money, and to help run the denomination more effectively between quadrennial General Conferences. This year, amid a global economic crisis that is shrinking church finances, the Council of Bishops is calling for the creation of another group to oversee the work of the church and present a plan for reordering the life of the denomination. The task given to the proposed steering committee sounds a lot like the mandate given the Connectional Table by the 2004 General Conference.

Ecumenical News

World Churches to Mark 100 Years of Landmark Mission Event

May 14, 2009 – As the centennial of a landmark mission event approaches in 2010, a global study process is mobilizing churches, theological institutions and mission bodies around the world. The World Mission Conference that took place in Edinburgh, Scotland, in 1910 brought together some 1,200 representatives mainly linked to the Western missionary movement. In addition to its focus on evangelism, the historic gathering emphasized cooperation and unity. "It is because of this concern for unity that Edinburgh 1910 is widely considered the symbolic starting point of the contemporary ecumenical movement, although there were no Orthodox nor Catholic delegates present at that time," says Nayiri Baljian, an Armenian Orthodox from the US. "In 2010, as opposed to 1910, we look forward to a gathering and its preceding study process that is much more inclusive and representative of the global church."

Ecumenical Partners Pledge to Continue Journey with Anglican Communion
ACC Passes Multi-faceted Statement on Ecumenical Matters

May 11, 2009, KINGSTON, Jamaica – Two of the six ecumenical guests attending the Anglican Consultative Council (ACC) meeting here said that tension over defining the Anglican Communion are not unexpected, are similar to challenges they face and do not threaten their partnerships with Anglicans. Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada Eastern Synod Bishop Michael Pryse told reporters on May 9 that "the strains and stresses that you are experiencing in the communion" are not damaging to Anglicans' relationship with the Lutheran World Federation, which he represents.

Spanish News

Iglesias Del Mundo Celebrarán Centenario De Histórico Evento Misionero

14 mayo 2009 – A medida que se acerca el centenario en 2010 de un acontecimiento que marcó un hito histórico de la misión cristiana, un estudio moviliza iglesias, instituciones teológicas y organismos de misión en todo el mundo. La Conferencia Misionera Mundial que tuvo lugar en Edimburgo, Escocia, en 1910 reunió a 1.200 representantes vinculados principalmente al movimiento misionero occidental. Además de estar centrada en la evangelización, esa histórica reunión puso énfasis en la cooperación y la unidad.

Pueblos Indígenas Buscan Afirmación Política

13 mayo 2009 – "Ser pueblo indígena no consiste en llevar vestidos coloridos, sino en comprometerse en la lucha política por un proyecto de civilización alternativo al actual modelo agotado por la crisis," dice María Chávez, indígena boliviana y consultora para cuestiones indígenas en el Consejo Mundial de Iglesias (CMI). María Chávez pertenece al pueblo Aymara, grupo indígena de la región andina de América del Sur. Como encargada del proyecto del CMI de Solidaridad con los Pueblos Indígenas,

Mensaje De Los Presidents Del CMI En Pentecostés De 2009

12 mayo 2009 – "Hermanas y hermanos, ¿qué tenemos que hacer?" (Hechos 2:37b) El año 2009 comenzó con la grave preocupación por la catastrófica situación económica del mundo de la riqueza. Hacia fines de 2008, en medio de una vida que para muchos se presentaba sin problemas, de repente salieron a la luz desastrosas dificultades económicas y financieras. Fue algo parecido a lo que ocurrió el primer Pentecostés de la era cristiana, cuando todo parecía ir bien para los creyentes de la época. Muchos habían hecho la acostumbrada peregrinación a Jerusalén para celebrar la fiesta.

National News

New Organization Helps Churches Tackle Poverty in Their Neighborhoods

May 14, 2009 The Communities First Association (CFA) is an exciting new way for churches of all denominations to address poverty in their own neighborhoods – and work toward community life that is better for everyone in the long-term. CFA's work is being launched formally by the Christian Reformed World Relief Committee (CRWRC), a founding member of this fast-growing ecumenical movement. By using "asset-based community development," CFA helps churches, organizations, and individuals recognize the resources they already have and then utilize those resources to make positive improvements in their neighborhoods.

International News

Iranian Baha'i Leaders' May Face New Accusation on Anniversary of Imprisonment

May 12, 2009, NEW YORK – The seven Baha'i leaders currently imprisoned in Iran are facing the anniversary of their arrest this Thursday, along with new and extremely grave accusations, after spending a year in jail without formal charges or access to their lawyer, Shirin Ebadi. "Despite their obvious innocence and the call by many for their immediate release, these seven men and women have been in legal limbo for a year now, against all international human rights standards," said Bani Dugal, the principal representative of the Baha'i International Community to the United Nations.

Sri Lankans Running for Their Lives Receive Food and Shelter Through CRWRC

May 15, 2009 While the U.N. Security Council and U.S. President Barak Obama are expressing concern and urging an end to violence, the Christian Reformed World Relief Committee (www.crwrc.org) is providing emergency meals and temporary shelter to 15,000 Sri Lankan civilians who have made it to overcrowded camps in the northwestern and central portions of the country. With local and international partners, CRWRC is providing $150,000 worth of cooked meals to families and individuals in IDP – internally displace persons – camps in Manik Farm, Vivaniyu.

PCT Clarifies Meaning of Stewardship During CEO Training Seminar

May 17, 2009 – Shortly after its 54th General Assembly Annual Meeting, the Presbyterian Church in Taiwan (PCT) held a training seminar for all newly-appointed CEOs of its affiliated organizations. The training was held on May 8th at PCT headquarters and General Secretary Andrew Chang and Church Law Committee leader Li Sheng-hsiong were among the main speakers. The theme of the seminar was "Faithful Stewardship" and over 16 evangelical organizations and 37 newly-appointed CEOs attended the training. PCT Assistant Moderator Lai Hsien-Chang used the prophet Nehemiah as a role model for all new CEOs.

Life Difficult for Pakistanis Fleeing Conflict

May 15, 2009 NEW YORK – Church World Service staff responding to the humanitarian crisis in Pakistan precipitated by recent fighting between Pakistani military forces and Taliban insurgents in the northwest part of the country are providing a glimpse into the on-the-ground realities of the situation. "Children without shoes walk for miles to reach a camp without adequate facilities or the overcrowded home of a poor relative," said a report issued May 14 by CWS Pakistan/Afghanistan.

Indigenous Peoples Seek Political Affirmation

May 13, 2009 – "Being indigenous peoples is not about wearing colourful garments but about being engaged in the political struggle towards an alternative to the current, crisis-laden model of civilization," says María Chávez, an indigenous person from Bolivia who is a consultant for indigenous issues at the World Council of Churches (WCC). María Chávez belongs to the Aymara people, a native group from the mountain regions of South America. As the person in charge of the WCC Solidarity with Indigenous Peoples project, she will be coordinating the participation of an ecumenical delegation at the 8th session of the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues to take place in New York City, 18-29 May.

ELCA Pastor Heads to Iraq in Friendship

May 15, 2009, CHICAGO – The Rev. Brooks Anderson is traveling to Iraq May 16 to extend a hand of friendship to the people there. "It's timely and feels Spirit-led," said Anderson, 76, Duluth, Minn., a retired pastor of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. Anderson will spend six days in the northeastern Kurdish village of Raniyah. He's traveling with five others from Duluth in hopes of establishing lasting ties between the cities. "Building friendships across boundaries that divide us is always a good thing, and sometimes critical to peacemaking," Anderson said. "We call it grassroots citizen diplomacy." The goal may seem farfetched to outsiders, but less so in Duluth. Anderson accomplished a similar feat with Russia during the Cold War in 1986 when he led a group to Petrozavodsk.