Front Page

WCC Commends G7 Relief of Haiti's Debt, Asks IMF to Follow Suit

February 8, 2010 – The World Council of Churches (WCC) has welcomed the initiative by the seven most industrialized nations (G7), which pledged this past weekend to write Haiti's debts with them off. In a letter from the WCC general secretary, the Rev. Dr Olav Fykse Tveit, the WCC also asked for the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and other international financial institutions to follow the G7 example and make sure financial support to Haiti is "grant-based and not debt-creating."

ECUMENICAL PATRIARCHATE: Catechetical Homily on the Commencement of Holy and Great Lent

February 14, 2010 – Tomorrow, we enter the period of Holy and Great Lent. In the Lenten vespers of Forgiveness chanted this evening, we shall hear the sacred hymnographer urging us to "begin the time of fasting with joy, submitting ourselves to spiritual struggle" in preparing to welcome the great Passion and joyful Resurrection of our divine-human Lord. Therefore, what is demanded is a joyful disposition in order to embrace fervently the spiritual struggle of this period of contrition in purification and prayerfulness.

Ecumenical Water Network Delves into "Holy Waters" During Lent
Blessing of Waters on the Feast of Epiphany near the Finnish Orthodox Monastery of Valamo

February 11, 2010 – "Holy Waters" is the theme of this year's Lenten reflections provided by the Ecumenical Water Network (EWN). Starting on Monday 15 February the weekly reflections will explore the connection between the way water is used in different liturgical practices and our "daily water." "This year's Seven Weeks recall the deep liturgical roots of baptism and baptismal preparation as the heart of Lent, pointing to the use of water by the church at prayer." says the Rev. Dr John Gibaut, director of the Commission on Faith and Order of the World Council of Churches (WCC).

"We Are Committed to Justice," Say Reformed Church Leaders

February 10, 2010 – Leaders of two global networks of Reformed churches set to merge in June have issued a statement declaring their commitment to a continued focus on justice concerns following the merger. The text includes specific reference to racial justice. The statement was drafted by members of a joint working group following meetings in Grand Rapids, United States, last week which focussed on the creation of the World Communion of Reformed Churches (WCRC) from a union of the World Alliance of Reformed Churches (WARC) and the Reformed Ecumenical Council (REC).

HAITI: Scammers Continue to Solicit Donations Fraudulently

February 12, 2010 – For the second time in the month since a magnitude-7 earthquake decimated parts of Haiti on Jan. 12, evidence has surfaced of fraudulent emails soliciting money in the name of Episcopal Diocese of Haiti Bishop Jean Zaché Duracin. The Rev. Lauren Stanley, an Episcopal Church-appointed missionary to Haiti and Duracin's liaison in the U.S., told ENS Feb. 12 that she learned of the latest scam from the Rev. Chris Dobson, ecumenical and global partnership officer for the Church of England's Diocese of Bristol.

General News

Evangelism and Church Growth Initiative

February 12, 2010 – Following the resolution passed at ACC-14 to promote ‘Evangelism and Church Growth Initiative' a Core Group of Animators has been appointed to take the work forward under the auspices of the Mission Department of the Anglican Communion. Its first meeting took place at St Columba's, Woking, UK, from 11 to 15 January 2010. The main purpose of the Evangelism and Church Growth Initiative (ECGI) is to promote evangelism and church growth work throughout the Anglican Communion. As well, as facilitating the sharing of news, stories, experiences and strategies of various evangelism and church growth initiatives.

Message about Easter from the Anglican Secretary General

February 12, 2010 – The Date of Easter 2010 and 2011 Christians throughout the world should be aware that the date of Easter as calculated by both Eastern and Western traditions in Christianity will fall on the same day in both 2010 and 2011. Members of the Anglican Communion, especially those with close relationships with the Orthodox families of Churches, both Eastern and Oriental, may wish to take the opportunity to mark this in some way, perhaps by sending greetings to their Orthodox neighbours or some meaningful joint gesture.

Tech-Savvy Outreach: New UCC Commercial Set to ‘Spiral' on April 16

February 8, 2010 – The United Church of Christ will launch its next "God is Still Speaking" commercial on April 16, utilizing the church's best broadcasting arsenal: its own members. "Yes, a new Stillspeaking ad is coming," says the Rev. Felix Carrion, coordinator of the UCC's Stillspeaking Ministry, "and what makes this debut so significant is that we are counting on the moxy of our million-plus supporters to spiral this viral message around the world."

World Mission Seeks 200-plus Missionaries

February 11, 2010 – If you have a "heart for service" and you can speak English, LCMS World Mission would love to talk to you about missionary service. More than 200 opportunities to serve in some 30 countries are available. Among those needed are music and early childhood teachers, doctors and nurses, computer and finance specialists, and agricultural and construction workers. But the largest number of openings are for those who can simply converse with people who want to practice their English skills: U.S. Lutherans who are willing to share their faith as they build relationships with people across the globe.

COLORADO: Grace & St. Stephen's Receives Grant to Preserve Historic Office Building

February 9, 2010 – The Colorado State Historical Fund of the state historical society has awarded a $170,700 grant to Grace and St. Stephen's Church for preservation of McWilliams House, which houses the church offices. The grant money will augment $114,468 the church is contributing toward the project, according to Mark Stritzel, chair of the McWilliams House Rehabilitation Committee, and owner of Stritzel Construction Management Co. Grace and St. Stephen's, the first Episcopal church in the Colorado Springs area of the Denver-based Diocese of Colorado, requested assistance for stabilization and rehabilitation of the building's exterior.

Free Pharmacy Will Open in Ohio Church

February 10, 2010 – United Methodists are working with community partners and staff members of the United Methodist Board of Global Ministries to establish a free pharmacy to serve the poor in central Ohio. The Charitable Pharmacy of Central Ohio, set to open by late February, is an initiative of the West Ohio Annual (regional) Conference. It will operate in partnership with area hospitals, medical associations, health organizations and foundations. A licensed pharmacist, Allan Zaenger, 53, will be executive director of the pharmacy at the Livingston (Ave.) United Methodist Church in Columbus.

Ecumenical News

Idea for an Ecumenical Catechism: Vatican Official

February 9, 2010 – A Vatican official has proposed a shared "ecumenical catechism" among Catholics, Anglicans, Lutherans, Methodists and members of Reformed churches, as a fruit of four decades of dialogue. "We have affirmed our common foundation in Jesus Christ and the Holy Trinity as expressed in our common creed and in the doctrine of the first ecumenical councils," Cardinal Walter Kasper, president of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity, is quoted saying by the Catholic News Service.

Harvesting the Results of Lutheran-Catholic Dialogue

February 10, 2010, VATICAN CITY – Following today's general audience, the Pope met with a delegation from the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, led by Bishop Mark Hanson. Addressing the group in English, the Holy Father expressed the hope that "the continuing Lutheran-Catholic dialogue both in the United States of America and at the international level will help to build upon the agreements reached so far. "An important remaining task," he added, "will be to harvest the results of the Lutheran-Catholic dialogue that so promisingly started after the Vatican Council II.

Editorial Page

Editorial: Love Isn't Merely a Handout to Appease Our Consciences

February 7, 2010 – Love is one of the most extolled virtues of Christianity regardless of time and space. Sadly, we also see this virtue oversimplified or conveyed in a loveless manner all around the world too in the form of a "consumption item" or the latest "trend." And so, we join the bandwagon of love. "Bandwagon effect" can best be explained with the following scenarios: Imagine a wagon coming to town and many people jumping on to hitch a ride somewhere. As the wagon moves forward more and more people climb on, but the latter don't know what the fuss is all about, they merely don't want to be left out. Imagine again that a department store is having a big clearance sale.

Spanish News

Líderes Religiosos Cubanos Rinden Homenaje Al Sacerdote Y Teólogo Francois Houtart En Sus 85 Años

11 febrero 2010, LA HABANA, Cuba – Un grupo de líderes cristianos cubanos, así como practicantes de religiones cubanas de origen africano, académicos y activistas sociales, homenajearon, en la noche de este martes 9 de febrero, al sacerdote y teólogo católico belga Francois Houtart por su 85 cumpleaños, en el templo bautista "Ebenezer," de la barriada de Marianao en esta capital. El ingeniero Joel Suárez, coordinador general del Centro Memorial "Doctor Martin Luther King; Jr.," destacó que Houtart "como cristiano, como revolucionario," hizo "de su vida, personalmente de la solidaridad, lo que algunos llaman el ejercicio político y afectivo del amor eficaz de los Evangelios."

Candidatos Evangélicos a La Caza De Votos Para Congreso

9 febrero 2010, COLOMBIA – Los actuales integrantes y candidatos cristianos evangélicos en y al senado: Ricardo Arias Mora, Edgar Espíndola Niño, Claudia Rodríguez de Castellanos, Víctor Velásquez Reyes, Jorge Enrique Gómez, Jorge Trujillo Sarmiento, Charles Schultz y los representantes: Luis Felipe Barrios, Luís Salas, Orlando Velandia, Fernando Augusto Ramírez, entre otros, esperan lograr una curul en la selecciones para congreso el próximo 14 de marzo.

Dialoga CLAI Sobre Cooperación Ecuménica Y Proyectos De Solidaridad Con Haití

8 febrero 2010, ARGENTINA – Convocados por la Mesa Nacional CLAI-República Dominicana, y con el apoyo de la Secretaría Regional de CLAI para Caribe y Gran Colombia, se realizó en la primera semana de febrero una importante reunión para dialogar sobre la cooperación ecuménica y los proyectos de solidaridad con el sufrido pueblo de Haití. Del cónclave participaron los y las líderes de las Iglesias de CLAI en República Dominicana, el Servicio Social de Iglesias Dominicano, referentes de Cristian AID, ACT-ALIANZA y Alianza de Iglesias Presbiterianas y Reformadas de América Latina (AIPRAL).

Agradece Iglesia Metodista De Haití La Solidaridad Y Hermandad Cristiana De La Región

11 febrero 2010, PUERTO PRÍNCIPE, Haití – Una carta emitida el pasado 28 de enero por el reverendo Paul Gesner, presidente de la Iglesia Metodista de Haití, da fe de la respuesta de las organizaciones cristianas del continente a la crítica situación de ese país tras el terremoto del pasado enero. "En nombre de la Iglesia Metodista en Haití y el pueblo haitiano, les damos las gracias.

Protestantes Inician Una Campaña Para Reclamar Al Gobierno Español Una Pensión Para Sus Pastores Jubilados

11 febrero 2010, ESPAÑA – La Iglesia Evangélica Española reclama al Gobierno de España el derecho a cobrar una pensión por parte de los pastores protestantes jubilados o sus viudas. Los evangélicos españoles llevan años reclamando al Gobierno español que sea reconocido el derecho a cobrar una pensión por parte del Estado para sus pastores jubilados o sus viudas. Tanto la Iglesia Evangélica Española (IEE) como FEREDE (Federación de Entidades Religiosas Evangélicas de España) han realizado gestiones a diferentes niveles para lograr que sea reconocido el mencionado derecho. Todas las gestiones realizadas hasta ahora con los diferentes ejecutivos que han conformado el Gobierno de España desde la llegada de la democracia han sido infructuosas.

Iglesia Católica Preocupada Por Situación Política De Panamá

11 febrero 2010, CIUDAD DE PANAMÁ – Sectores de la vida nacional y la Iglesia Católica, a través de su órgano de información, hacen un llamado al presidente Ricardo Martinelli para que detenga la "desmedida ambición de poder," que está llevando al país a lo que podría ser la "peor crisis política institucional de las últimas décadas." La preocupación de la entidad religiosa se plantea en el Semanario Panorama Católico, que señala que, ante la situación surgida en la Procuraduría de la Nación, "por encima de a quién le cabe la razón, está el interés y la paz social de la nación."

Las Iglesias Precisan Apropiarse De Las Tecnologías Digitales

8 febrero 2010, PORTO ALEGRE, Brasil – Cambien las antenas, enfatizó el profesor Luciano Sathler al defender, en el Mutirão da Comunicación, la apropiación por las iglesias, escuelas e instituciones eclesiales de la tecnología digital, la web 2.0. "Precisamos dominar eso. El futuro es hoy," dijo, vaticinando el derrocamiento de los medios de comunicación de masas. Las iglesias corren el riesgo de hablar en el vacío, alertó el presidente de la Asociación Mundial para la Comunicación Cristiana (WACC-América Latina), advirtiendo que se está formando un nuevo perfil de consumidor en comunicación, que es al mismo tiempo, consumidor y productor.

CMI Elogia Al G7 Por Aliviar Deuda De Haití Y Pide Al FMI Hacer Lo Mismo

9 febrero 2010 – El Consejo Mundial de Iglesias (CMI) ha acogido con satisfacción la iniciativa del grupo de los siete países más industrializados (G7), que prometieron el pasado fin de semana cancelar las deudas de Haití. En una carta del secretario general del CMI, pastor Dr. Olav Fykse Tveit, el CMI pidió también al Fondo Monetario Internacional (FMI) y a otras instituciones financieras internacionales que sigan el ejemplo del G7 y aseguren que el apoyo financiero a Haití "consista en donaciones y no genere deuda."

Voces De Las Iglesias Se Suman Contra Propuesta De Ley De Amnistía En Nicaragua

10 febrero 2010, MANAGUA, Nicaragua – Líderes religiosos rechazaron aquí la pretensión de los diputados liberales de aprobar una Ley de amnistía para favorecer los delitos contra el erario público cometidos por el ex presidente Arnoldo Alemán y Eduardo Montealegre, ex candidato presidencial, en el proceso que se les sigue. El reverendo Roberto Baltodano Leiva, presidente del Consejo de Iglesias Evangélicas Pro Alianza Denominacional (CEPAD) y el secretario del Consejo Nacional de Pastores Evangélicos de Nicaragua (CNPEN), Pablo Sovalbarro, se manifestaron al respecto junto a otro grupo de pastores.

Red Ecuménica Del Agua Se Sumerge En "Aguas Sagradas" Durante La Cuaresma

11 febrero 2010 – Bendición de las aguas en el día de Epifanía cerca del monasterio ortodoxo de Valamo, Finlandia. "Aguas sagradas" es el tema de las meditaciones ofrecidas por la Red Ecuménica del Agua (REDA) para la Cuaresma de este año. Las meditaciones semanales, que empiezan el lunes 15 de febrero, examinarán la conexión entre la forma en que se utiliza el agua en las diferentes prácticas litúrgicas y nuestro uso cotidiano del agua.

International News

WCC Urges Release of Detained Filipino Church Worker

February 11, 2010 – The World Council of Churches (WCC) has urged President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo "to ensure the immediate release" of Dr Alexis Montes and other 42 health workers detained by military and police forces on 6 February. Montes, a physician, is a long-time staff member of the United Church of Christ in the Philippines. "I am distressed by the reported news that the detainees have been subjected to cruel and inhumane treatment amounting to torture and that they have been deprived of their basic human rights while in custody," the WCC general secretary Rev. Dr Olav Fykse Tveit wrote to President Arroyo in a 11 February letter.

Archbishop of Canterbury's Presidential Address to the Church of England General Synod

February 12, 2010 – In a wide-ranging address to the General Synod in London, the Archbishop of Canterbury discusses the nature of human freedom and the value of listening and learning from one another, in both national and international debates, as well as those occurring during Synod this week. The Archbishop began his address by urging caution in the debate on the Equality Bill: "The basic conflict was not between a systematic assault on Christian values by a godless government on the one side and a demand for licensed bigotry on the other. It was over the question of how society identifies the point at which one set of freedoms and claims so undermines another that injustice results."

Consultation Maps out Future Operations of Anglican Refugee and Migrant Network

February 12, 2010 – Representatives of Anglican Churches in Hong Kong, Taiwan, South Korea and the United States together with Anglican Church-backed non-governmental organisations conducted a fruitful discussion to design the plans and future operations of the Anglican Refugee and Migrant Network (ARMN) at the Consultation on ARMN held from 11 to 14 January 2010 at St. John's Cathedral in Hong Kong. At the end of the four-day consultation, representatives endorsed the general objectives of the ARMN, which are to encourage coordination, consultation and action on refugee/migration issues with the Anglican Communion, with partner communions, with ecumenical agencies, and with governments within their respective Provinces; to alleviate human suffering; and to determine and eliminate the root causes which lead to forced migration and create refugees.

Church Nurtures Moral Character, Faith Through Rite of Passage Ceremony

February 7, 2010 – PCT Tainan Presbytery's Tai-peng-keng Maxwell Memorial Church held a rite of passage ceremony on January 27 attended by more than 500 people. The purpose of the event was to convey the importance of faith and maturity through a rite of passage ceremony for all 12-year-olds that included skits and songs. Event organizers made crowns for every 12-year-old to wear and highlighted that turning 12 is an important coming-of-age event in Jewish culture. As 12-year-olds took turns crossing a makeshift tunnel during a segment of the ceremony, they were greeted by their peers.

Church Structures Rest amid Rubble

February 8, 2010 – At least five Christian Reformed Church in Haiti (ECRH) church buildings in the Jacmel area, near Port-au-Prince, Haiti, were destroyed in the massive earthquake of Jan. 12, says Ad deBlaeij, CRWRC-Haiti staff member. While he and members of the ECRH have been active delivering food, tarps and other forms of aid to earthquake survivors, they have also taken a few moments to mourn the loss of these churches that meant so much to the pastors and people who worshipped in them. While the buildings can always be rebuilt, a part of the tradition that they represented has been lost. Consider, for example, Holy Trinity Church.

UGANDA: Church Condemns Homosexuality, Calls for Amendments to Proposed Bill

February 9, 2010 – The Church of Uganda called Feb. 9 for a new bill that that would amend the country's penal code to make its current anti-homosexuality laws more comprehensive. In a position paper the church said it had "concerns" with a proposed bill that would introduce the death penalty for people who violate portions of that country's anti-homosexuality laws. The bill has received condemnation from international religious and political leaders. The Ugandan church has said it wants to see amendments to the current law that address what it calls "loopholes," in particular to protect "the vulnerabilities of the boy child"; "proportionality in sentencing"; and "ensuring that sexual orientation is excluded as a protected human right."

Haiti Marks One-month Anniversary of Quake
Music, Art Offer Hope to Survivors

February 12, 2010 – Amidst the ruins of their diocese and their nation, Haitian Episcopalians have found ongoing hope in their music and art. "Some things are too difficult to express in words," said Jeanne Pocius, a trumpet professor at the Diocese of Haiti's now-destroyed Holy Trinity Music School in Port-au-Prince, paraphrasing Victor Hugo. "You see people being absolutely stoic and when the music begins, the tears begin to flow. It's healing, it's a great medication. It's a gift of the Holy Spirit."

Presiding Bishop Pays Pastoral Visit to Haitian Bishop
‘You Have Already Had Your Good Friday,' Jefferts Schori Tells Duracin

February 8, 2010 – Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori paid a poignant visit to Port-au-Prince Feb. 8 to survey with Episcopal Diocese of Haiti Bishop Jean Zaché Duracin the devastation wrought by the Jan. 12 magnitude 7.0 earthquake. After climbing over the ruins of the diocese's Cathédrale Sainte Trinité (Holy Trinity Cathedral), the presiding bishop turned to Duracin and said "You should skip Lent this year; you have already had your Good Friday." "Yes, we can all sing Alleluias together," Duracin replied, according to the Rev. Lauren Stanley, who accompanied Jefferts Schori on her five-hour visit.

ELCA Delegation Visits Closed Orthodox Seminary in Turkey

February 8, 2010, HEYBELIADA ISLAND, Turkey – They wait faithfully and hope. Two Orthodox leaders, Metropolitan Apostolos, abbot, and Father Dorotheos, maintain the Holy Monastery and Theological School at Halki, waiting for the day when students will be allowed to resume seminary studies here. The two met with an official delegation of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) here Feb. 7. The delegation, led by the Rev. Mark S. Hanson, ELCA presiding bishop and president of the Lutheran World Federation, traveled here to see the seminary and learn why it has remained closed by the government of Turkey since 1971.