Front Page

National Council of Churches USA Calls for Common Easter Date in All Christian Traditions

March 29, 2010 – The National Council of Churches USA is renewing a call to all Christians to set a common date for Easter, the celebration of Jesus Christ's resurrection from the dead. Easter, as calculated by both Eastern and Western traditions in Christianity, will fall on the same day in both 2010 and 2011. Most years, Easter is celebrated on different dates in Western and most Orthodox churches because of ancient discrepancies in calculating the calendar. The NCC, which describes itself as "the ecumenical voice of America's Orthodox, Protestant, Anglican, historic African American and traditional peace churches," includes 35 member communions representing 45 million Christians in 100,000 congregations throughout all 50 U.S. states.

Defying the Wall, Palm Sunday Demonstrators Break out of Bethlehem

March 29, 2010 – Echoing Jesus' ride through into Jerusalem about two thousand years ago, crowds of people waving palm branches accompanied riders on a pony and two donkeys through a checkpoint between Bethlehem and Jerusalem on Sunday, the Christian festival of Palm Sunday. The march began with a small group at Manger Square in central Bethlehem. As the crowd, accompanied by music and carrying signs or Palestinian flags, moved through the town, more and more people joined until it numbered about 150 Palestinians, Israeli activists, journalists and internationals. The march was to protest the limitations placed upon Palestinians – Christians and Muslims – to travel to Jerusalem for worship at the holy sites in the city.

Euclid Avenue UCC Update: ‘Christ Is Our Cornerstone'

March 29, 2010 – Greeting members and guests "here in this new place," the Rev. Terri Young led Euclid Avenue Congregational UCC in Palm Sunday worship March 28, held at the site of the recently vacated First United Methodist Church in Cleveland. "My New York friend reminds me that 60 blocks is just three miles away," said Young, referring to the new location necessitated by a lightning-induced fire last week that destroyed the church's 123-year-old building down the street from First United. "This is the day that the Lord has made," she said. "We will be glad and rejoice in it." Standing in front of a hearty five-foot bouquet of spring flowers and greens donated by nearby Trinity Cathedral Episcopal Church, Young assured about 100 worshipers that "you are no longer strangers, wanderers."

Easter Messages

"Why Do You Seek the Living among the Dead? He Is Not Here but Is Risen."

April 4, 2010 – Dear Brothers and Sisters, We pray that the peace and joy of this most blessed time of the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ, be with you always. Christ suffered and died for us washing us clean from the sin of Adam and Eve, by His Precious Blood shed upon the altar of the Cross. As we were laid to rest with Jesus in the tomb, we all gloriously rose with Him on Easter morning, reborn to new life in Christ our Lord through Baptism. As we ask God to bless your weeks of fasting and prayers. We likewise ask our loving Lord to grant peace to the world, comfort to the suffering and rest to all our faithful departed. As we share in the Joy of our salvation in Christ, let us praise and thank God.

Archbishop of Canterbury – Christians Need to "Witness Boldly and Clearly"

March 31, 2010 – In his ecumenical Easter Letter to fellow church leaders, the Archbishop of Canterbury urges those living in politically secure environments to offer practical support as well as prayers for suffering Christians around the world, particularly in Zimbabwe, Mosul, Egypt and Nigeria: "We need to keep our own fears in perspective. It is all too easy to become consumed with anxiety about the future of the Church and society. We need to need to witness boldly and clearly but not with anger or fear; we need to show that we believe what we say about the Lordship of the Risen Christ and his faithfulness to the world he came to redeem" Full text of the letter: When St John tells us that the disciples met behind locked doors on the first Easter Day (John 20.19), he reminds us that being associated with Jesus Christ has never been easy or safe.

He Has Taken My Hopelessness Away

Easter 2010 – Is there anyone on earth who hasn't experienced a loss of hope? This experience is so common to humanity that I'm sure we all know the signs: tears, lack of energy, confused thinking, fear, withdrawal. So we can easily imagine how Mary Magdalene was feeling that day as she went to Jesus' tomb. She had seen her Lord and Savior, Jesus, crucified on the cross just days before. She went to the garden, prepared to anoint the lifeless body of her beloved Master with spices. But when she arrived, she didn't even have the comfort of performing this traditional ritual. Jesus' body was gone. "They have taken my Lord away," she cried. Her Lord – who represented her hope for this life and the next – was gone.

General News

Fan into Flame Tops $55.9 Million, Funds 29 Missionaries

April 2, 2010 – Fan into Flame, the capital campaign to raise $100 million for new Ablaze!-related ministries, has raised a total of $55,974,047 – representing some 21,500 gifts and pledges – as of March 26.

ELCA Affirms 41 Congregational ‘New Starts'

April 1, 2010, CHICAGO – Starting new congregations is a top priority for the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). For 2010 the denomination has affirmed 41 "new starts" across the United States. "These new starts represent what America is becoming, as 23 (of the 41 new starts) are among immigrant populations," said the Rev. Stephen P. Bouman, executive director, ELCA Evangelical Outreach and Congregational Mission (EOCM). Bouman said the 41 new starts are a sign of "hope for our beloved church" in the Easter season. "In the Resurrection of Jesus, all things are possible," he said. Although it's no secret that some serious disagreements continue "to mark our life together in the church" and "if the U.S. economy continues to struggle, God's call to mission is being blessed by the Spirit in the midst of it all," said Bouman.

Butterflies, Seder Meal Enrich Holy Week

March 29, 2010, FRISCO, Texas – Look at the typical calendar of United Methodist Holy Week events, and you're likely to find worship services on Palm Sunday, Maundy Thursday and Good Friday and, of course, a festive Easter celebration. You might even discover an Easter-egg hunt for the children and a youth-led sunrise service. Grace Avenue United Methodist Church, 10 years young, takes things to a new level. This 1,100-member, Dallas-area congregation begins Holy Week with a palm processional during services on Palm Sunday and the preceding Saturday. Children lead in the excitement of worship and are encouraged to take the palm branches home to remind them of Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem.

Editorial Page

Editorial: Relying on the Cross – the Mark of Salvation and Suffering

March 28, 2010 – God has a comprehensive plan to redeem humanity which has always progresses as scheduled. From the beginning to the end, nothing about this redemption plan is left up to chance. Jesus' birth marked the start of this plan because his birth and his life were fulfillments of prophesies uttered by many prophets in the Old Testament. Jesus' suffering, or his "passion," marked the culmination of God's salvation plan. Jesus offered himself as a sacrifice for the sins of humanity so that the relationship between God and humanity could be restored. He endured unimaginable suffering and became the mediator between humans and God. Because of Jesus' sacrifice, Christians all over the world remember and celebrate Passion Week around this time every year.

Spanish News

Iglesia Católica Y Otros Sectores De La Sociedad Demandan Rostros Nuevos En La Política

29 marzo 2010, MANAGUA, Nicaragua – La Iglesia Católica y otros sectores de la sociedad están demandando a los políticos y diputados a poner rostros nuevos y honestos en cargos públicos, después de la llamada Marcha de las Escobas, realizada la pasada semana en esta capital y convocada por la Unión Democrática y la Coordinadora Civil. Al respecto, el obispo auxiliar de la Arquidiócesis de Managua, monseñor Silvio Báez Ortega, dijo que la Iglesia Católica y sus obispos piensan que es necesario sanear las instituciones del país, empezando por la elección de 25 funcionarios públicos, y que no sea solo cambiar por cambiar, "porque queremos ver rostros nuevos, capaces y honestos," comento el prelado ante la propuesta para seleccionar magistrados en el Consejo Supremo Electoral (CSE).

Comunidades Marginadas En Estados Unidos Reciben
Visita De Obispo Anglicano De Centroamérica

30 marzo 2010, SAN SALVADOR – Comunidades históricamente marginadas en los Estados Unidos: la comunidad homosexual y la latina, recibieron la visita del Obispo Primado de la Iglesia Anglicana de la Región Central de América (IARCA), Martín Barahona, el pasado domingo "Somos doblemente marginados; estamos indocumentados y somos gay, pero somos una comunidad muy unida," dijo Elena, un trasvertido que, junto a otros, se reúne con frecuencia en un bar de un barrio diverso de San Francisco. "Dios les ama, no les condena, para él no hay exclusión," dijo Barahona, quien les instó a mantenerse fuertes y potenciar su fe y espiritualidad.

Conmemoración Por La Vida De Monseñor Romero En San Francisco

30 marzo 2010, SAN SALVADOR – Un evento inter-religioso celebrado en la Catedral Episcopal de La Gracia, en San Francisco, California, sirvió para rendir homenaje al testimonio del obispo mártir Monseñor Oscar Arnulfo Romero, quien fuera asesinado mientras celebraba una misa en la capilla de un hospital para enfermos terminales en la capital salvadoreña. La celebración incluyó danza, testimonios, una exposición fotográfica, y se realizó de manra bilingüe, coordinada por el sacerdote episcopal Tommy Dillon y seguidores de monseñor Romero. La homilía corrió a cargo del reverendo Dean Brackley, miembro de la escuela de la teología de la Universidad Centroamericana "José Simeón Cañas"-UCA-, de la compañía de Jesús en El Salvador.

Human Rights News

Youth Petition Against Discrimination

March 31, 2010 – Human rights supporters stopped to sign the petition in the Grand Central subway station. The New York Chapter of Youth for Human Rights International (YHRI) began its part of a worldwide petition drive in Times Square and at Grand Central Subway Station on March 26th in honor or the International Day for the Elimination of Discrimination, to tackle the problem of discrimination. In focusing on Article 2 of the UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), which states that "everyone is entitled to all the rights and freedoms set forth in this Declaration, without distinction of any kind, such as race, color, sex, language, religion or social origin, property, birth or other status," YHRI New York has gathered together youth of Russian, Indian, and US descent to get support for broad support for education on Human Rights.

Religious Liberty News

Christ on Cross ‘Could Be Porn under Indonesian Law'

March 30, 2010 – Even the naked body of Christ may be considered as pornography under Indonesia's new anti-porn law, Catholics fear. The fears arose after the Constitutional Court declared the anti-pornography law (enacted by the Government in 2008) to be compatible with Indonesian public policy, Fides reports. Fides sources say that Indonesian civil society groups, including moderate Muslims, Christians, and Hindu groups, as well as associations dedicated to protecting freedom and human rights, have challenged the document. "It is not that we are pro-pornography," Catholic sources explained, "but because it is feared that this law lends itself easily to exploitation.

VIRGINIA: State Supreme Court Will Hear Episcopal Church's, Diocese's Appeals April 13

March 30, 2010 – The Supreme Court of Virginia has told the Episcopal Diocese of Virginia and the Episcopal Church that it will hear arguments April 13 in two cases concerning church property, according to the diocese. Both the diocese and the Episcopal Church had asked the court nearly a year ago to review a Fairfax County Court judge's rulings in a series of church property lawsuits. The appeal is based on a number of grounds, including a challenge to the constitutionality of Virginia's one-of-a-kind "Division Statute" (Section 57-9(A)), which dates to the Civil War and is triggered when there is a so-called "division" of a church or religious society, as well as the rulings of the circuit court in applying the law.

SOUTH CAROLINA: All Saints Pawleys Island Factions Settle Dispute

March 30, 2010 – Breakaway members of All Saints' Episcopal Church in Waccamaw in Pawleys Island, South Carolina, and those who wished to remain in the Episcopal Church have negotiated an end to what had been one of the Episcopal Church's longest-running property disputes. The members of the parish who remained members of the Episcopal Diocese of South Carolina were a minority of the congregation. They petitioned the U.S. Supreme Court to review a September 2009 state Supreme Court ruling that overturned a lower court decision in favor of them. The Episcopal Church filed a brief on March 12 asking the court to "summarily reverse" the decision of the Supreme Court of South Carolina without a full review of the lower court's ruling."

LOS ANGELES: Appellate Court Grants Episcopal Church's,
Diocese's Petitions in Newport Beach Property Case

March 30, 2010 – The California Court of Appeal has told a lower trial court to enter an order enforcing the interests of the Episcopal Church and the Diocese of Los Angeles in the real property and other assets claimed by St. James Anglican Church, a breakaway congregation in Newport Beach. The March 26 opinion from the Fourth Appellate District follows on from the California Supreme Court's 2009 decision affirming that parish property is held in trust for the Diocese of Los Angeles and the Episcopal Church. Following the state supreme court's decision, the diocese and the Episcopal Church asked for the enforcement order from the Superior Court of Orange County.

New York Metro News

NEWARK: Church Mulling $2 Million Offer for Tiffany Windows

March 29, 2010 – The vestry of St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Paterson, New Jersey, is scheduled to vote March 31 on whether to accept an anonymous collector's $2 million offer to buy 13 of its stained-glass windows. The collector, who first made the offer about a year ago, also would pay for removal, restoration and window-replacement costs, said St. Paul's rector, the Rev. David Wolf. Famous artisan Louis Tiffany created 12 of the windows at the Diocese of Newark church; his contemporary, artist John La Farge, designed the other. The potential buyer hopes to exhibit the windows this fall and asked the church to decide no later than April to provide time to prepare them to show.

General Theological Seminary Suspends Dean Search, Faces Financial Crunch
Presiding Bishop Will Appoint Advisory Group

March 31, 2010 – Facing what some have termed a financial crisis, the board of trustees of the General Theological Seminary has suspended its search for a new dean and president and is looking for ways to cover the expense of the 2010-2011 school year. Meanwhile, at the request of the trustees, Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori will convene a small group of advisors outside of General to address the seminary's financial concerns. The group is meant to provide "fresh eyes and will serve in an advisory capacity," according to the Rev. Dr. Charles Robertson, canon to the presiding bishop.

International News

Anglican Peace and Justice Network Communique

March 30, 2010 – We, the delegates to the triennial meeting of the Anglican Peace and Justice Network in Geneva, Switzerland, have spent the week of 14-20 March 2010, exploring issues of human rights and examining the role of the United Nations, the World Council of Churches (WCC), and other faith-based and humanitarian organisations in upholding the rights of individuals and communities throughout the world. Embedding our learning and discussions in a theology of justice as right relationship with God, with one another, and with all Creation, and in the Anglican Five Marks of Mission, we have focused on international laws relating to particular themes.

Emphasis on Theological Formation That Is Relevant to African Mission Priorities
the Petition for Daily Bread in an African Context

March 29, 2010, ABUJA, Nigeria/GENEVA – Zimbabwean church leader Bishop em. Dr Ambrose Moyo has reminded African Lutheran churches of the urgent need to adapt their theological education and ministry formation to the continent's needs. Moyo elaborated the churches' crucial role for the continent's Christian leadership when he addressed church leaders and other representatives of The Lutheran World Federation (LWF) member churches attending the 24-28 March Africa Pre-Assembly and Church Leadership Consultation in Abuja, Nigeria.

Taiwanese Medical Team Report on Rescue Work in Haiti

March 28, 2010 – As soon as countries all over the world heard about Haiti's 7.0-magnitude earthquake, many formed rescue and relief teams and sent them to Haiti. Taiwan also sent its own team of rescue workers via Taiwan Root Medical Peace Corp. Taiwan Root Medical Peace Corp, a private, non-sectarian, non-profit organization dedicated to improving quality of life through provision of medical services and health education, sent a team of 65 medical professionals to Haiti. The group included Changhua Christian Hospital anesthesiologist Dr. Yeh Liang-tsai.

African Youth Insist Their Full Participation Will Improve the Whole Church
Major Roles in Evangelism, Bible Study and Sunday School Teaching

March 29, 2010, ABUJA, Nigeria/GENEVA – Youth representatives of The Lutheran World Federation (LWF) member churches in Africa are calling on the continent's church leadership to accord young adults their rightful place and participation in order to enhance better development of the church. Presenting the youth message at the 24-28 March Africa Pre-Assembly and Church Leadership Consultation in Abuja, Nigeria, the 22 young men and women reiterated that the youth in any human society represent the strength and future of humanity. Their message was based on a one-day consultation held prior to the pre-assembly opening in Abuja.

PROK and CWM Delegations Visit PCT Headquarters

March 28, 2010 – Former moderator of Presbyterian Church in the Republic of Korea (PROK) Rev. Kim Do-In, along with 6 other PROK Iksan Presbytery members, visited PCT headquarters on March 18. Rev. Kim currently serves as moderator of PROK Iksan Presbytery. With PCT General Secretary Andrew Chang overseas attending the funeral service of Dr. David Landsborough IV and a CWM conference afterward, the PROK delegation was greeted by Assistant General Secretary Kho Sing-doh. According to Rev. Kim Do-In, PROK currently has 350,000 members and 1,600 churches. Iksan Presbytery is one of the 24 presbyteries under PROK and the presbytery is marking its 94th anniversary this year.

Moderator Travels to Haiti for Easter Season Pastoral Visit

March 31, 2010, TORONTO – On Tuesday, April 6, 2010, the Moderator of The United Church of Canada, Mardi Tindal, will travel to Haiti leading a five-person United Church delegation on what is described as a pastoral visit. "After horrific death it can take a very long time before we can really hear Jesus' words, "Do not let your hearts be troubled"-but it takes less time when we accompany one another," says Tindal. She explains that the United Church's partners in Haiti are engaged in relief and reconstruction despite the trauma of losing family members, homes, and offices. "They have asked us to accompany them-pastorally and personally-and so, like good neighbours in time of crisis, we are going to be with them," she says.

Episcopalians' Gifts Head to Haiti's Quake Zone for Holy Week and Easter

March 31, 2010 – In the nearly three months since a magnitude-7 earthquake devastated large parts of Haiti on Jan. 12, Episcopalians have helped survivors in ways both large and small. The donations run the gamut from pick-up trucks to balls and dolls, to cite just three examples. The trucks, which have come to the Episcopal Diocese of Haiti through a major fund-raising effort in the Diocese of Virginia, are needed to ferry supplies to quake victims who have settled in church communities in hilltop villages outside of Port-au-Prince and Léogâne.

Middle East News

From South Africa to Palestine, a Message of Peace and Hope

April 1, 2010 – In an Easter message, more than 60 South African church leaders and Christian, Jewish and Muslim lay theologians have conveyed their solidarity with Palestinian Christians in their Kairos call. Recognizing Palestinian Christian "history of keeping the faith in the Holy Land," despite the circumstances, they urged Palestinians to be steadfast and resist being "forced out of your own land." Responding to the Kairos Palestine document, they recall the words of Nelson Mandela who said: "our freedom is incomplete without the freedom of the Palestinians." Conveying South African solidarity "with your cause," they express conviction that "justice will come to the Holy Land, as it came to us here in the southernmost part of Africa."

ELCJHL, Church of Scotland Affirm, Formalize Partnership

March 26, 2010, JERUSALEM, Israel-Palestine – Churches cooperate in order to strengthen evangelical Christian witness, not their institutions. Our interdependence as churches is a source of strength. This was part of the message of ELCJHL Bishop Munib Younan gave at the March 24, 2010, partnership service. There, Younan and the Rt. Rev. William Hewitt, moderator of the Church of Scotland, signed an agreement formalizing the relationship between the ELCJHL and the Church of Scotland. St. Andrew's Church in West Jerusalem hosted the afternoon event.

MIDDLE EAST: President Bishop Mouneer Anis Weighs in
On Court Case Involving Former Jerusalem Bishop

March 29, 2010 – President Bishop of the Middle East Mouneer Anis has expressed his sadness regarding an ongoing dispute between the Episcopal Diocese of Jerusalem and its former bishop and is urging prayers that it may be resolved soon. In a March 20 statement, Anis said he needed to clarify some of the details regarding the court case in which retired Jerusalem Bishop Riah Abu El-Assal is being charged for allegedly misappropriating about $1.5 million of tuition fees he collected from a diocesan-run school in Nazareth. El-Assal claimed ownership of Christ Church School following his retirement in March 2007 and his son continued as its principal.