Front Page

Justice Is at Heart of HIV Commitments, Multi-faith Conference Hears

July 19, 2010 – A multi-faith meeting on the eve of the 18th International AIDS Conference in Vienna has heard calls for faith communities to keep commitments they have made to promote universal access to HIV treatment, care, support and prevention. "This has to do with a basic issue of justice, not at least gender justice," the general secretary of the World Council of Churches, Rev. Dr Olav Fykse Tveit, said in an address to the 17 July multi-faith conference at Vienna's Technical University.

WCC Calls for Repeal of Pakistan Blasphemy Law after Killings

July 23, 2010 – "Great dismay" at the shooting and killing of two young Christians in Faisalabad on 19 July was expressed by the World Council of Churches (WCC) general secretary Rev. Dr Olav Fykse Tveit in letters to Pakistan's president and its prime minister. Pastor Rashid Emmanuel and his brother Sajid Emmanuel were shot dead on court premises by unidentified gunmen when they were taken there by police to face a charge of blasphemy against Islam. In his letters, Tveit appealed to the Pakistani authorities "to ensure immediate and necessary actions to bring to justice those who are responsible" for the murders.

ARIZONA: Sudanese Congregation Still Fearful of Being Targeted
‘A Wound in the Church' Remains a Year after Police Confrontation

July 16, 2010 – Although the confrontation between police and two worshippers at St. Paul the Apostle Episcopal Sudanese Church in the Diocese of Arizona happened a year ago, there is still "a wound in the church," according to the Rev. Anderia Arok, vicar. As Arizona's controversial immigration law, which aims to target and deport undocumented persons, is scheduled to go into effect July 29, average Sunday attendance is still down by about half and parishioners remain fearful of being targeted, Arok told ENS July 14. The incident began last July when two Sudanese immigrants were confronted by police while sitting in a car in front of the church, located at Seventh Avenue and Buckeye Road in southeast Phoenix, he said.

Desmond Tutu to Retire from Public Life

July 22, 2010 – Human rights activist and Archbishop Emeritus of Cape Town Desmond Tutu announced July 22 that he will retire from public life later in the year. Tutu served as the general secretary of the South African Council of Churches from 1978–1985. He received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1984 for his work through SACC. He served as archbishop of Cape Town and primate of Southern Africa from 1986-1996, and was appointed chair of the South Africa Truth and Reconciliation Commission in 1995. Tutu was one of the leaders of the anti-apartheid movement in South Africa and frequently led demonstrations and spoke out publicly on the world stage in support of democracy and civil rights.

ARIZONA: Trinity Cathedral to Host July 29 Prayer Vigil as Part
of Immigration Law Protest Injunction or No Injunction, Activists Say They Intend to Rally

July 22, 2010 – Local and national activists are planning an ecumenical prayer service at Phoenix's Trinity Episcopal Cathedral as part of a "Day of Non Compliance" on July 29, when Arizona's controversial immigration law is to go into effect. The Rev. Canon Carmen B. Guerrero, canon for peace and justice ministries in the Episcopal Diocese of Arizona, a vocal opponent of the SB1070 legislation which aims to detain and deport undocumented persons, confirmed that the cathedral will host a 6 a.m. prayer vigil on July 29. A coalition of community activists called for boycotts, civil disobedience and nationwide protests against the law at a July 21 press conference on the steps of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement building in downtown Phoenix.

General News

Five Churches in Asia Join LWF
Membership Reaches 145 Churches and 70.1 Million Members

July 21, 2010, STUTTGART, Germany – Five new churches, all of them in Asia, have joined the Lutheran World Federation (LWF). The LWF Council approved their admission at its meeting 18-20 July. Three of the new churches are from Myanmar: the Lutheran Church of Myanmar, founded in 1995 with 1,620 members; the Myanmar Lutheran Church, founded in 1998, with 2,150 members; and The Mara Evangelical Church, founded in 1984, with 21,573 members. Also joining the LWF membership were the Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in India, founded in 2007, with 15,400 members; and the Northern Evangelical Lutheran Church of Nepal, established in 1943, with 676 members.

We Need Your Ecumenical Commitment, Tveit Tells Lutheran Assembly

July 21, 2010 – The Lutheran insistence on the fact "that we are one because we are sharing the one and same Christ, because we receive the same gift" is something the ecumenical movement needs now "more than ever," said the World Council of Churches (WCC) general secretary Rev. Dr Olav Fykse Tveit speaking in Stuttgart on 21 July. Tveit was greeting participants at the beginning of the 11th Assembly of the Lutheran World Federation (LWF) gathered in Stuttgart, Germany from 20-27 July. The theme of the Assembly is "Give Us Today Our Daily Bread." Over a thousand participants from all over the world, including 418 delegates from 140 churches in 79 countries are attending the event.

Hollywood Movie ‘Get Low' Features ELCA Pastor's Extended Family

July 22, 2010, CHICAGO – The Rev. Elizabeth C. Birkholz's grandfather loved to tell the story about Felix "Bush" Breazeale, a reclusive man from Cave Creek, Tenn., who threw himself a funeral party – while still alive – in 1938, so he could hear what people would say about him. Birkholz's grandfather, Frank "Buddy" Robinson, drove the hearse. More than 10,000 people attended the funeral. "My grandfather told this story all the time. It was his best and favorite story," Birkholz told the ELCA News Service. The story is now being told in the Hollywood movie, Get Low, to be released July 30 in Los Angeles and New York.

Lutheran World Federation Meets in ‘Confident Hope,' Says President

July 21, 2010, STUTTGART, Germany – Lutherans are meeting in Stuttgart, Germany, for their international assembly at a time when "the world is in pain," said the Rev. Mark S. Hanson, president of the Lutheran World Federation (LWF) and presiding bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, according to a July 21 news release from Lutheran World Information (LWI). Hanson made the comment in his address here to the LWF Eleventh Assembly.

LCMS Convention Requests ‘Thorough Response' to ELCA Social Statement

July 19, 2010, HOUSTON – In the final hours of The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod (LCMS) convention here, delegates requested "a thorough response" to the 2009 Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) social statement, Human Sexuality: Gift and Trust. With little debate delegates voted 934-18 to adopt the resolution July 17. The resolution stated that the social statement "suggests a concept of ‘bound conscience' as a ‘distinctly Lutheran' principle of theology." It also said the concept "was central to the rationale" of the ELCA assembly's actions which made it possible for people in publicly accountable, lifelong, monogamous, same-gender relationships to serve as clergy and other professional workers.

Lutheran World Federation President Pleads for Unity Despite Differences

July 22, 2010, STUTTGART, Germany – The Rev. Mark S. Hanson, president of the Lutheran World Federation (LWF) and presiding bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), appealed to delegates at the LWF assembly here to hold together and avoid splits in the face of differences over issues of sexuality, according to Ecumenical News International (ENI). "It is not the time for further traditions of Lutheranism to emerge in the world. We have to find unity," said Hanson in his address to delegates July 21.

ELCA Sierra Pacific Synod to Receive Seven Pastors by ‘Rite of Reception'

July 20, 2010, CHICAGO – The Sierra Pacific Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) is celebrating a "Rite of Reception" service for seven pastors on July 25 at St. Marks Lutheran Church, San Francisco. "The service is being offered in the spirit of reconciliation and hope for the future of this church," said the Rev. Mark W. Holmerud, bishop of the ELCA Sierra Pacific Synod, Oakland, Calif., which serves Northern California and Northern Nevada. In April the ELCA Church Council authorized a rite proposed by the ELCA Conference of Bishops designed to receive pastors from Extraordinary Lutheran Ministries (ELM) onto the ELCA's roster of ordained ministers.

Lutherans Take Historic Step in Asking for Forgiveness from Mennonites

July 22, 2010, STUTTGART, Germany – In what the Rev. Mark S. Hanson described as possibly "the most significant legacy this assembly will leave," the Eleventh Assembly of the Lutheran World Federation (LWF) here took the historic step of asking the Mennonites for forgiveness for past persecutions, according to a news release from Lutheran World Information (LWI). Delegates unanimously approved a statement July 22 calling Lutherans to express their regret and sorrow for past wrongdoings towards Anabaptists and asking for forgiveness, the release said. Hanson is LWF president and presiding bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA).

UMC Top Court Takes up Membership Issues

July 23, 2010 – The United Methodist Judicial Council is being asked to revisit a decision allowing a pastor to bar a gay man from joining his congregation. When the denomination's top court meets Oct. 27-30 in New Orleans, seven of the 31 docket items revolve around membership issues, including the right of pastors to decide who is worthy of membership. Judicial Council Decision No. 1032, from Oct. 29, 2005, related to the case of the Rev. Ed Johnson, who had been the senior pastor at South Hill (Va.) United Methodist Church until he was placed on an involuntary leave of absence by the Virginia Annual (regional) Conference. Bishop Charlene Kammerer upheld the action.

Ecumenical News

Lutheran World Federation President Says Ecumenical Commitment to Continue

July 22, 2010, STUTTGART, Germany – The Lutheran commitment to ecumenism will not end until members can share the Eucharist with other churches, said the Rev. Mark S. Hanson, president of the Lutheran World Federation (LWF) and presiding bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, according to a news release from Lutheran World Information (LWI). The LWF Assembly is the organization's highest legislative body, and it is meeting here July 20-27. The LWF is 140 member churches in 79 countries, representing more than 70 million Christians worldwide.

Spanish News

El Compromiso Luterano Con La Unidad Es "Más Necesario Que Nunca,"
Dice El Secretario General Del CMI

22 julio 2010, STUTTGART, Alemania – El movimiento ecuménico necesita hoy "más que nunca" la insistencia luterana en que "somos uno porque compartimos el mismo y único Cristo, porque recibimos el mismo don," dijo el secretario general del Consejo Mundial de Iglesias (CMI), Rev. Olav Fykse Tveit, en Stuttgart ayer. Tveit saludó a los/as participantes al comienzo de la Undécima Asamblea de la Federación Luterana Mundial (FLM) reunida en Stuttgart, Alemania, del 20 al 27 de julio.

Muy Cerca Del Río Jordán Escasea El Agua – Para Los Palestinos

20 julio 2010 – Hace unos días, me encontraba yo repartiendo botellas de agua a unas pocas millas del único río importante de Israel/Palestina, el Jordán. La aldea de Al Fasayel se halla en un paisaje desértico, en contraste con los cercanos asentamientos israelíes, que tienen acceso a cantidades casi ilimitadas de agua. En la misma aldea de Al Fasayel no ha habido agua en los grifos durante más de siete semanas.

Asesinan Pastor Evangélico Por Error

23 julio 2010, CIUDAD DE PANAMÁ – El pastor evangélico Herminio Rivera fue asesinado por error al quedar atrapado en una guerra entre las pandillas Matar o Morir y El Pentágono, cayendo abatido en "reemplazo" de un miembro de esta última. Así se desprende de las declaraciones suministradas a las autoridades por los tres sospechosos detenidos -uno de estos menor de edad-, quienes abiertamente se identificaron como miembros de Matar o Morir, que opera en San Miguel.

Acuerdan Realizar Concilio Teológico Sobre Ordenación
De Mujeres En La Iglesia Presbiteriana

23 julio 2010, CIUDAD DE MÉXICO – Luego de un intenso debate, la Asamblea General de la Iglesia Nacional Presbiteriana de México (INPM), reunida en Toluca, Estado de México, tomó el jueves 22 el acuerdo de realizar un concilio teológico en julio de 2011, a fin de llegar a una resolución sobre la ordenación de las mujeres a los ministerios. Este paso se dio luego de que el Sínodo del Centro y otros cuerpos eclesiásticos presentaran la solicitud formal, especialmente ante el hecho de que en varias iglesias locales se ha ordenado a algunas mujeres como Ancianas de Iglesia y Diaconisas.

Iglesias Fortalecen Colaboración Mutua a Través
De Taller De Evangelización Y Mayordomía

19 julio 2010, QUITO, Ecuador – Por invitación del obispo Luis Fernando Ruiz de la Diócesis Central de la Iglesia Episcopal del Ecuador y el Consejo Académico del Programa de Educación Teológica de esa Diócesis, el obispo Naudal Alves Gomes, de la Diócesis de Curitiba de la Iglesia Episcopal Anglicana del Brasil, facilitó un taller de tres días para 30 participantes sobre evangelización y mayordomía/corresponsabilidad en el Centro Diocesano Episcopal en esta ciudad.

La Rev. Karin Achtelstetter Nombrada Secretaria General De La WACC

21 julio 2010, TORONTO, Canadá – La reverenda Karin Achtelstetter es la nueva Secretaria General de la Asociación Mundial para la Comunicación Cristiana- WACC. Al hacer el anuncio en nombre de la Junta, el Presidente de WACC, Dennis Smith, dijo: "La Rev. Achtelstetter posee la capacidad de gestión, el conocimiento, la experiencia de liderazgo y el potencial para el crecimiento profesional que es necesario parala WACC en este momento."

Metodistas Piden Justicia Para Funcionarios Despedidos

23 julio 2010, CIUDAD DE MÉXICO – Admitiendo que no siempre han hecho siempre el esfuerzo necesario para ponerse al servicio del pueblo, para escucharlo, la Iglesia Metodista de México emitió un llamado a todos los sectores sociales y a los gobernantes para que actúen con justicia en el caso de la liquidación de la empresa estatal Luz y Fuerza del Centro. La edición del 9 de octubre de 2009 del Boletín Oficial informaba la decisión del gobierno de liquidar la empresa, tarea confiada al Servicio de Administración de Bienes. nación con justicia y paz para todos los habitantes."

Pastores Por La Paz Volvieron a Violar El Bloqueo Norteamericano a Cuba

23 julio 2010, LA HABANA, Cuba – Luego que las autoridades norteamericanas de inmigración y aduana registraran los vehículos e intentaran retener algunos donativos, los 85 caravanistas de la edición 21 de Pastores por la Paz, lograron traspasar la frontera con México este miércoles, para traer al país unas 100 toneladas de ayuda material, dedicadas este año, de manera especial, para los niños cubanos.

National News

Hurricane Katrina Recovery Camps Due to Shut down in August

July 16, 2010 – Two stalwarts of the post-Hurricane Katrina recovery effort on the Gulf Coast will close their doors at the end of August, just after the fifth anniversary of the devastating storm that destroyed a wide swath of the coast. Mission on the Bay in Bay St. Louis, which had earlier merged with the Diocese of Mississippi's Camp Coast Care, is due to close by Aug. 31. Also due to close that day is Camp Victor. Both organizations, run by Lutheran Episcopal Services of Mississippi, began as camps to shelter survivors of the Aug. 29, 2005 storm and then served as staging grounds for volunteers who traveled to the coast to help with recovery and rebuilding.

Lutherans Remind New Orleanians That ‘They Are Not Forgotten'

July 19, 2010, CHICAGO – The two largest Lutheran denominations in the United States are committed to helping rebuild the U.S. Gulf Coast following the 2005 hurricane season, which included Hurricane Katrina. Although two separate church bodies, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) and The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod (LCMS) are fixed on reminding the people of New Orleans that "they are not forgotten." The ELCA is the largest Lutheran denomination in the United States with 4.6 million members.

International News

Early Morning "Praise Dance" Classes Help Church Plant Gospel Seeds

July 18, 2010 – Beginning July 1, 2010, Dong-Ning Presbyterian Church in Tainan will open a Praise Dance class at a small park on Youth Road in eastern Tainan City. The class will be the third of its kind that the church has started in recent years. The church is calling on Christians who live nearby to invite friends and relatives to join this program so that more people can get some exercise every morning. Praise Dance Ministry is sponsored by the church's women's fellowship and classes are taught by a retired teacher.

Haitian Recovery Marked by Many Small Successes

July 16, 2010 – Humanitarian groups such as United Church of Christ mission partner Church World Service are the first to acknowledge that, six months after the devastating Jan. 12 Haiti earthquake, the road to recovery will be long and difficult. "We are all frustrated by the apparent lack of speedy recovery for Haiti," said Aaron Tate, the Haiti earthquake response coordinator for Church World Service, on the half-year anniversary of the quake, which fell on July 12. Tate, based in Port-au-Prince, noted that there "were a lot of dreams early on that this was an opportunity to build a ‘new Haiti' better than the old Haiti."

PCT Announces Historic Conference in Wake of ECFA

July 18, 2010 – As the Ma administration got ready to sign an Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement (ECFA) with China, PCT General Assembly Executive Committee convened its second meeting on July 6 and confirmed it'd hold a "State of National Affairs Conference" on October 26-28, 2010, at Presbyterian Bible College in Hsinchu. The conference's theme will include the role and mission of churches as Taiwan faces yet another season of crises and turning points. PCT will invite nearly 200 representatives from various NGOs in Taiwan and abroad to discuss latest national developments from the perspectives of NGOs, churches, and political parties.

Mutiny Rumblings among Senior Australian Catholic Clergy

July 16, 2010 – ‘Everyone in this room knows very well that George Pell was transferred from Melbourne so he could get the red hat so he would become an elector of the pope. And that was the sole reason...Most bishops would be in favour of the bishops electing the cardinals...What happens at the moment is the pope appoints the cardinals who then elect the pope who then appoints more cardinals and on and on it goes. So it's a vicious circle. And it is deliberately designed to ensure we do not have another Pope John XXIII.'

Anglican Relief, Development and Advocacy Alliance a Step Closer to Becoming Reality

July 23, 2010 – A working group from across the worldwide Anglican Communion met at Lambeth Palace between 12 and 14 July to plan how to turn the proposed Anglican Alliance on relief, development and advocacy into a reality. Professionals from five continents working on advocacy, relief and community development programmes reviewed responses to a public consultation on the foundational document and the issues arising from them, and worked together to chart a way forward for the first few years of the Alliance.

College Students Get Involved in Prison Ministries this Summer

July 18, 2010 – Armed with 300 copies of Heart Farmer, a weekly digest published by Taiwan Church Press detailing touching testimonies of lives changed by God, Taitung County Christian Prison Ministries Association and Hualien College Ministries entered Tai-Yuan Penitentiary to share the gospel with inmates. Taitung has the highest number of penitentiaries in Taiwan. It has 7 prisons and 4 of them, including Tai-Yuan, used to house the most violent criminals in the nation in the past. According to the association, many inmates have repented of their sins and put their faith in Christ after reading "Heart Farmer" in the past few years.

Lutheran World Federation Assembly Focused on Alleviating Hunger

July 20, 2010, STUTTGART, Germany – Saying that "hunger is not God's fault, it's our fault," the Rev. Mark S. Hanson, president of the Lutheran World Federation (LWF) and presiding bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, introduced the theme of the LWF's Eleventh Assembly, "Give Us Today Our Daily Bread," at a news conference here July 19, according to an LWF news release. "If people lack what they need for daily life, it is because we have failed to ensure that the good things of God's creation are justly and equitably distributed to all," Hanson said.

Middle East News

Taking Water to the Jordan

July 20, 2010 – A few days ago, I was handing out bottles of water within a few miles of Israel/Palestine's only major river, the Jordan. The village of Al Fasayel lies in a desert landscape, a contrast to nearby Israeli settlements, which have access to almost unlimited water. Al Fasayel itself has not had water on tap for over seven weeks. The Jordan Valley is an area of stunning natural and rugged beauty. The mountainsides are barren, the illegal settlements in the valley floor dark, fertile green. But the valley is also an area of discrimination and grinding poverty.