Front Page

There's Value in Diversity, Say Young People from Three Faiths

August 12, 2009 – Religious diversity is an unavoidable reality today – and an opportunity, according to the participants of an interfaith seminar held in July at the World Council of Churches (WCC) Ecumenical Institute at Bossey outside Geneva, Switzerland. The three-week course, which had the theme "Building an Interfaith Community," was attended by young Christians, Jews and Muslims from all over the world. Students heard presentations on Christianity, Islam and Judaism, and on the contributions of each of the religions to peacemaking.

CWS to Stress Link Between Water, Hunger at Global Conference

August 12, 2009, NEW YORK – As participants converge on Stockholm in hopes of finding ways to solve the problem of the world's dwindling supply of water, experts from global humanitarian agency Church World Service will attend the meeting to promote the simple but often overlooked connection between water and hunger. "Relieving hunger often has to begin with access to clean water," said Rajyashri S. Waghray, CWS's New York-based director of Education and Advocacy. "It may seem like a simple idea, but we forget that without water, food is impossible to grow and difficult to preserve and prepare."

ELCA Clergy Support Gay, Lesbian Rights, Ordination, Survey Says

August 13, 2009, CHICAGO – Results of a national survey show that a majority of clergy of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) – 54 percent – support ordination "with no special requirements" for people who are gay or lesbian, according to an Aug. 5 news release. The Clergy Voices Survey was conducted in May 2009 by Public Religion Research, an independent public opinion research organization that provides "research-based" information and advice on religion, values and public policy. Public Religion Research is based in Washington D.C.

Churches for Middle East Peace Expresses ‘Grave Concern' over East Jerusalem Eviction

August 10, 2009 – Churches for Middle East Peace (CMEP) sent a letter August 7 to U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton that expressed concern over the Israeli government's eviction of Palestinians from East Jerusalem and called for the their immediate return. "This population substitution is clearly designed to continue efforts to expand Israeli presence and control over Palestinian areas of East Jerusalem. This action took place in the sensitive Sheikh Jarrah section of East Jerusalem close to the 1949 Armistice Line or Green Line.

Archbishop Tutu, Justice O'connor Honored with Presidential Medals of Freedom

August 13, 2009 – Archbishop Emeritus of Cape Town Desmond Tutu and U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor were among 16 people honored with the Presidential Medal of Freedom, presented by President Barack Obama at an August 12 awards ceremony at the White House in Washington, D.C. Nobel Peace Prize laureate Tutu is a leading anti-apartheid activist and O'Connor, an Episcopalian, was the first woman appointed to serve on the U.S. Supreme Court.

General News

Faith Alive Book Addresses Dangers of Internet Sex

August 13, 2009 – Faith Alive Christian Resources has just released Behind Closed Doors, a book by two psychologists that chronicles the problem of addiction to Internet pornography among Christians, including pastors, describes problems that this type of addiction can create, and provides solutions for how people can break the cycle of addiction. Subtitled Christians, Pornography, and the Temptations of Cyberspace, the book comes out of the Hope and Healing Institute in Grand Rapids, Mich. The institute describes itself as "a non-denominational ministry that integrates the inspiration of faith with insight from the behavioral sciences."

UCC Expands Social Networking Community

August 11, 2009 – New features added recently to myUCC have greatly expanded the robustness of the United Church of Christ's social networking community at ucc.org. "Many of the new features have been among the most requested since we launched myUCC last spring, so we're very excited about the changes," says the Rev. J. Bennett Guess, the UCC's director of communications. "Users can now post immediate status updates and view aggregated feeds of others' activities."

H1N1 Influenza Confirmed among Some ELCA Youth Gathering Participants

August 11, 2009, CHICAGO – Health officials in North Dakota and South Dakota have confirmed cases of H1N1 influenza among teenagers and adults who attended the 2009 Youth Gathering of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). About 37,000 teenagers, adult leaders and volunteers attended the gathering held in New Orleans, July 22-26. North Dakota health officials reported that five teenagers and adults who attended the gathering tested positive for the novel H1N1 influenza.

LWF General Secretary Says Quest for Daily Bread Is Also a Spiritual Issue
"What Is Enough? Perspectives on Food Security and Sovereignty"

August 12, 2009, GENEVA – The General Secretary of the Lutheran World Federation (LWF) has urged Lutherans around the world to challenge systems that keep nearly one billion people hungry. "The quest for ‘daily bread' is not only a deep ethical, moral and theological question but also an existential and spiritual challenge for our worldwide family of Lutheran churches," says Rev. Dr Ishmael Noko.

Native American Dialogue Points to Issues of Trust

August 13, 2009, OKLAHOMA CITY – Churches and seminaries must acknowledge centuries of abuses against Native Americans before they can work effectively with Indians, a church leader said. "Don't say what happened then is ancient history," said the Rev. Thom White Wolf Fassett, former head of the United Methodist Board of Church and Society. "Those issues are not resolved. We need to deal with the resentment, anger and distrust that Native Americans feel." Fassett spoke as part of an Aug. 8 Native American Dialogue sponsored by St. Paul School of Theology at Oklahoma City University and the United Methodist Oklahoma Indian Missionary Conference.

Ecumenical News

Lutherans' Reconciliation with Mennonites Would Be an Occasion for Healing
Mennonite World Body Hears Study Commission Results and Proposed Lutheran Action

August 14, 2009, ASUNCION, Paraguay/GENEVA – Despite the painful history of Lutheran condemnations of Anabaptists, collaboration with Mennonites around the world has helped move Lutherans to seek reconciliation with them, said Rev. Dr Ishmael Noko, general secretary of the Lutheran World Federation (LWF). "We have come to desire this new level of reconciliation as we have come to know you better," Noko told over 5,000 delegates attending the Mennonite World Conference (MWC) Assembly on 15 July in Asuncion, Paraguay.

BWA Urges Dialogue Between Baptists and Muslims

August 12, 2009 VALLEY FORGE, PA – Neville Callam, general secretary of the Baptist World Alliance (BWA), spoke to their annual meeting, held in Ede, Netherlands, July 25- Aug 1, calling on the international fellowship to set up a commission that would deal primarily with Baptist conversation with Muslims. Speaking to the General Council meeting on July 31, he noted that a commission would "provide space for shared reflection," and "receive contributions from ongoing dialogue taking place around the world." Since then, Baptists and Muslims have gathered in Amman, Jordan, as well as Andover Newton Theological School, to learn more about each other and to stand together on the common ground between them.

Editorial Page

Editorial: Rethinking "Diakonia" and How it Relates to Modern Society

August 9, 2009 – According to the Presbyterian Church tradition, the role of deacons or "diakonia" is to take care of the church's general affairs, including assisting church elders and pastors in teaching believers and managing the daily activities of the church. Consequently, many have assumed that deacons have special status within a church and being chosen to become a deacon is a necessary step or process before one can be "promoted" to the position of an elder. Such a misconception is actually misleading and brings us back to the way things were before the Protestant Reformation. Before that time, the Catholic Church saw deacons as the Pope's helpers during mass.

Spanish News

Líder De La Universal Acusado De Lavado De Dinero

12 agosto 2009, BRASIL – El Ministerio Público del Estado encaminó denuncia, aceptada por el juez de la 4ª Vara Criminal de São Paulo, contra el obispo Edir Macedo y otros nueve integrantes de la Iglesia Universal del Reino de Dios (IURD), acusados de formación de cuadrilla y lavado de dinero. Según datos del Ministerio Público, los acusados usaban donaciones de fieles para beneficio propio, favoreciéndose de la inmunidad tributaria concedida por la Constitución del país a entidades religiosas. Así, usaban valores destinados a la IURD, sobre los cuales no incidían tributos, para la adquisición de bienes particulares.

Jóvenes Cristianos Con Discapacidad Discuten Sobre La Crisis Actual

14 agosto 2009, LA HABANA, Cubs – La Red Ecuménica en Defensa de las Personas con Discapacidad (EDAM) del CMI, a través de su coordinación para América Latina, ha lanzado el reto a los jóvenes de las iglesias del continente a celebrar consultas nacionales sobre la crisis contemporánea del mundo de hoy. En Quito, Ecuador, jóvenes con discapacidad de toda Latinoamérica recibirán, del 13 al 15 de octubre próximo, insumos para realizar dichos encuentros, y abordarán, con sentido analítico, la crisis de nuestra contemporaneidad; es decir, la crisis global y la financiera, la ecológica, la alimentaria, la del agua, la moral y ética, y la espiritual.

Concluye La FTL Consulta Sobre Iglesia, Poder Y Misión En América Latina

10 agosto 2009, COSTA RICA – Miembros de las distintas tradiciones protestantes-evangélicas, procedentes de 12 países americanos, se dieron cita el 6 y 7 de agosto en la Universidad Nacional de Costa Rica, para participar de la consulta Iglesia, poder y misión en América Latina, organizada por la Fraternidad Teológica Latinoamericana (FTL).

Conferencia Episcopal Peruana Lamenta Declaración Del Ministro De Justicia

13 agosto 2009, PERÚ – Un pronunciamiento del arzobispo de Trujillo y presidente de la Conferencia Episcopal Peruana, monseñor Miguel Cabrejos Vidarte, dice que lamenta las recientes declaraciones del Ministro de Justicia de ese país, en las que implica a un miembro de la Iglesia Católica como instigador de los hechos de violencia, ocurridos en Bagua, y que dejaron como saldo la muerte de policías y nativos.

Evangélicos Y Católicos Condenan Agresión a Libertad De Expresión

14 agosto 2009, MANAGUA, Nicaragua – Líderes evangélicos y católicos condenaron la agresión de que fuera objeto el periodista Mario Sánchez y los marchistas de la Coordinación Civil (CC), en los predios de la Catedral, donde esa organización tenía permiso para realizar un acto cultural. Horas después de los violentos hechos, el presidente de Nicaragua Daniel Ortega, justificó la agresión y acusó a los miembros de la CC de cometer el grave delito, según sus propias palabras, "de gritar en la calles."

Hay Valor En La Diversidad, Dicen Jóvenes De Tres Religiones

12 agosto 2009 – La diversidad religiosa es hoy una realidad inevitable, pero también una oportunidad. Así lo afirmaron participantes en un seminario interreligioso organizado en julio por el Consejo Mundial de Iglesias. El curso de tres semanas, cuyo tema fue "Construir una Comunidad Interreligiosa," contó con la participación de jóvenes cristianos, judíos y musulmanes de varios países y tuvo lugar en el Instituto Ecuménico de Bossey, en las afueras de Ginebra, Suiza.

Alientan a Iglesias De Honduras a Permanecer Junto Al Pueblo

10 agosto 2009 – Un equipo ecuménico internacional que visitó Honduras en nombre del Consejo Mundial de Iglesias (CMI) y del Consejo Latinoamericano de Iglesias (CLAI) alentó a las iglesias del país a que "acompañen al pueblo en su búsqueda de la paz con justicia y el restablecimiento de la democracia." Visitando el país centroamericano entre el 2 y el 7 de agosto como Cartas Vivas, el grupo ecuménico enfatizó la necesidad de "hacer escuchar las voces cristianas que se levantan en defensa de los derechos humanos y las acciones humanitarias."

National News

CRWRC Cleans up after Sunday Storms Rip Through West Michigan

August 12, 2009 – Chainsaw crews left CRWRC's Disaster Response offices in Byron Center, Michigan, this morning ready to do clean-up and tree removal after storms devastated the West Michigan lakeshore Sunday night and closed roads to the town of Fruitport on Monday. Inquiries by Christian Reformed World Relief Committee, staff to the denomination's churches in Fruitport and the surrounding area revealed that congregation members were not seriously affected by the storm. Sunday evening's weather event downed trees, cut off electricity, and damaged homes and cars.

Lutherans Commend, Remain Hopeful on Recent Immigration Detention Reform

August 13, 2009 – Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service (LIRS) commended the U.S. Department of Homeland Security for taking steps to improve the immigration detention system and remains "hopeful" that such comprehensive reform continues. LIRS is one of the nation's leading agencies in welcoming and advocating for refugees and immigrants. Based in Baltimore, LIRS works on behalf of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod and the Latvian Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.

International News

Ecumenical Team Encourages Honduran Churches to Stand by the People

August 10, 2009 – An international ecumenical team that visited Honduras on behalf of the World Council of Churches (WCC) and the Latin American Council of Churches (CLAI) has encouraged the churches in Honduras to "accompany the people in their search for peace with justice and the re-establishment of democracy." Visiting the Central American country 2-7 August as a Living Letters team, the ecumenical group stressed the need for "Christian voices be heard [ ... ] in defence of human rights and in support of humanitarian actions."

ELCA Presiding Bishop Urges Lutherans to Sign Letter to Obama about Sudan

August 10, 2009, CHICAGO – The Rev. Mark S. Hanson, presiding bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), is encouraging the 4.6 million-member church to advocate for peace in Sudan. He is asking that the denomination's professional leaders sign a letter addressed to U.S. President Barack Obama that calls for lasting peace in the Northeast African country. In an Aug. 4 letter to ELCA members Hanson described the situation in Sudan, suggested ways Lutherans can take action for peace, and encouraged congregations to participate in the "Interfaith Weekend of Prayer for Sudan" Aug. 28-30.

KENYA: Greed Destroying the Environment, Church Leaders Say

August 11, 2009, NAIROBI, Kenya – Protestant churches in Kenya are warning that greed is destroying the country's environment, bringing drought, famine, hunger, malnutrition and general scarcity. "We are today reaping the fruits ... greed and imprudence sowed in the past," said the Rev. Peter Karanja, the National Council of Churches in Kenya's general secretary, on August 6. He urged citizens in the east African country to adopt tree planting as an act of religious and social restoration. Karanja, an Anglican priest, announced the church council's commitment to planting one million trees each year as the Kenyan government unveiled a power rationing program for the forthcoming three months.

Faith and Joy Keep Revival Going in Modern Russia

August 12, 2009, MOSCOW – The gray, murky snow is plowed high in waves against the busy city streets. Women in black, spike-heeled boots and fur-covered coats stride forward as if on a Parisian runway, while below them old women crouch among the shuffling swarms, begging for rubles to buy their bread. Down the street, police officers openly hustle bribes from drivers who are too busy to argue bogus tickets. Elsewhere, it is every well-groomed man for himself, as the latest cell phones slip into high-fashion pockets.

Middle East News

ELCA Presiding Bishop, Other Leaders Criticize Palestinian Evictions

August 12, 2009, WASHINGTON – In an Aug. 7 letter to U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, the Rev. Mark S. Hanson, presiding bishop, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), and 17 other U.S. religious leaders expressed "grave concern about the eviction of 50 Palestinians from their homes." They also urged the U.S. Department of State to insist on the "immediate reversal of this ill-considered eviction and on the restoration of these houses to their former residents." Such an action undercuts U.S. peace-making efforts, the religious leaders wrote.

People in the News

Appointment of New Director for Unity, Faith and Order Announced

August 14, 2009 – The Secretary General, Canon Kenneth Kearon, has announced the appointment of Canon Dr Alyson Barnett-Cowan as Director for Unity, Faith and Order at the Anglican Communion Office. The post is a new one in the Communion, and arose after some restructuring following the election of Canon Gregory Cameron, formally Director of Ecumenical Affairs and Deputy Secretary General, as Bishop of St Asaph in the Church in Wales. Canon Barnett-Cowan is currently Director of Faith, Worship and Ministry of the General Synod of the Anglican Church of Canada, a post she has held since 1995.

ELCA Seminary Professor, Pastor to Preach on Ecumenical Radio Show

August 11, 2009, CHICAGO – The Rev. David J. Lose, a pastor of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) and professor at Luther Seminary, St. Paul, Minn., will preach Aug. 23 and Sept. 13 on "Day 1," a nationally broadcast radio program. Lose serves as the Marbury E. Anderson Chair in Biblical Preaching at Luther Seminary, where he joined the faculty in 2000. Luther Seminary is one of eight ELCA seminaries. On Aug. 23 Lose will explore John 6:59-69, a teaching of Jesus that caused some of his disciples to turn away from him.