Front Page

Work with Muslims Opens ‘New World'

September 20, 2010 – As I hear the debate rage over the building of the Cordoba House Community Center in Lower Manhattan, it causes me great sadness to watch two religious leaders whom I admire castigated and derided by media, politicians and a group of people who don't really know them or their work. I know their work. I am a member of the Church of St. Paul and St. Andrew United Methodist. In 2003, I had the privilege of working with Daisy Khan and Imam Feisal Rauf on a project that opened a new world of interfaith understanding to me.

Buddhists and Christians Call for a Just Economy

September 20, 2010 – A common word on international economic practices has been spoken by representatives of Christian and Buddhist traditions who met in late August at Payap University, Chiang Mai, Thailand. The theme of their consultation was "Engaging Structural Greed," and their closing statement is titled "A Buddhist-Christian Common Word on Structural Greed." The consultation in Chiang Mai was co-sponsored by the World Council of Churches and the Lutheran World Federation.

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CWS to Lawmakers: Say ‘Yes' to Clean Water

September 23, 2010, WASHINGTON, DC – When 1 billion people in the world are getting sick or dying from diseases caused by drinking contaminated water, we cannot afford to let pass an opportunity to seriously increase access to clean water for people living in developing countries. "Water is a public trust, a global public good. Because it is critical for life and human dignity, access to water needs to be fully implemented as a fundamental human right. Governments ultimately have a duty to ensure all have affordable, equitable access to water," says John L. McCullough, executive director and CEO of humanitarian agency Church World Service (CWS).

Communion Report to the UN Highlights Anglicans' Work Towards Hitting Poverty Targets

September 21, 2010 Anglicans from across the world have contributed to a report to the United Nations about church-supported projects that are working to meet the Millennium Development Goals. Between the 20 and 22 September global leaders are meeting in New York for the UN's review of its Millennium Development Goals. The Anglican Observer at the UN Ms Hellen Wangusa has compiled a report on what Anglicans are doing to contribute towards the global effort to halve poverty by the UN's 2015 deadline.

WCC General Secretary Says New Global Economic Framework Is Needed to Meet MDG 2015

September 22, 2010 – The general secretary of the World Council of Churches (WCC), Rev. Dr Olav Fykse Tveit, wrote today in a letter to UN secretary general Ban Ki-Moon that "without significant transformations in global economic frameworks the attainment of the MDGs (Millennium Development Goals) by 2015 is endangered." Referring to the current UN high-level summit on the MDGs taking place in New York, the letter expressed concern that governments need to do more to address the root causes of poverty. The MDGs were adopted by world leaders in 2000. Without addressing the root causes of poverty, justice-oriented reforms will not be possible, Tveit said in the letter.

Unfair Economic Systems Sustain Poverty, Advocates Say

September 23, 2010, NEW YORK – The question almost seemed to answer itself. "Must we change the global economic system in order to eradicate hunger and poverty?" The answer: a strong yes, as participants from a number of humanitarian, church and advocacy groups who participated in a Sept. 22 forum co-sponsored by Church World Service gathered to ask what systemic change is needed to empower impoverished people around the world. The forum – one of numerous events held in connection with a United Nations summit to assess progress on the eight Millennium Development Goals to cut extreme poverty in half by 2015 – was a dialogue among experts and advocates, giving them a chance to discern what changes are needed eradicate poverty.

House of Bishops Issues ‘Theological Resource,' Pastoral Letter on Immigration
Episcopalians Should Respect Migrants' Human Dignity, Differences of Opinion on Policies

September 21, 2010 – The House of Bishops, at the conclusion of the Sept. 16-21 meeting in Phoenix, told the Episcopal Church that the starting point for any effort towards immigration reform begins with "an obligation to advocate for every undocumented worker as already being a citizen of God's reign on earth and one for whom Christ died." The statement came in a 17-page document titled "The Nation and the Common Good: Reflections on Immigration Reform," which is meant to be used as a theological resource on migration and immigration.

MDG Summit Opens amid Calls for Action, Not Just Words
Archbishop of Canterbury Says Churches Can Offer Vision, Energy, Faith

September 20, 2010 – The call for a renewed commitment to the world's poor was a refrain included in speeches made Sept. 20 on the opening day of the United Nations' three-day summit in New York on the Millennium Development Goals. "The challenge will be to follow words with action to bring about positive change for the billions of people who need the MDG promise of a decade ago honored," Helen Clark, U.N. Development Program administrator and former New Zealand prime minister, told the morning plenary session.

General News

Program Nurtures At-Risk Kids of Inmates

September 23, 2010 – Joy Block-Wright spent 18 months in federal prison for forgery. Today she serves as director of Redemption Kids, a ministry for children and youth, ages 6 to 18, whose parents are incarcerated. "I've always had Christ in my life," Block-Wright said, "but I backslid very badly."

Study Shows Young Clergy Increasing

September 23, 2010 – Nathan Phillips grew up United Methodist, but it was as a participant in campus ministry at Mississippi State University that he first discerned a calling to enter ordained ministry. "It gave me opportunities to grow not only in relationship to God but also in opportunities to serve," he said. "It gave me space to hear him calling, ‘This is what I created you for.' … My own relationship with him taught me that the greatest help I can give is to share Jesus Christ with others." Phillips, 26, is now a second-year student at Asbury Theological Seminary in Wilmore, Ky., and plans to become an ordained elder.

Disciples Are Asked to Start Faithful Conversations on Immigration

September 22, 2010 – The immigration debate in this country has frequently been marked by rancorous discussion and divisive political decision-making. However, as people of faith, Disciples are being asked to plan conversations around the topic of immigration starting on the Columbus Day weekend to consider what God is calling your congregation to say and do about immigration today. The conversations also can take place throughout the month of October or at a time convenient for your congregation.

UCC Will Launch New Stillspeaking Commercial During Special ‘Friend-raising' Weekend

September 25, 2010 – A new 60-second video message from the United Church of Christ will help kick-off the Stillspeaking Ministry's National Friend-Raising Weekend, Nov. 5-7. "We will launch our next video ad on Friday, Nov. 5, with the help of members and friends who will share it with millions across the internet," says the Rev. Felix Carrion, coordinator of the UCC's Stillspeaking Ministry. "As we learned earlier this year, our best broadcasting arsenal is our members' enthusiasm to advance our messages forward via social networking."

CWS: New U.S., Global Nutrition Initiatives Can ‘Save Tomorrow's Generation'

September 22, 2010, NEW YORK – The announcement of the new United Nations Scaling Up Nutrition "SUN" Roadmap and the Tuesday (Sept. 21) launch of the joint U.S.-Ireland "1,000 Days: Change a Life, Change the Future" initiative to reduce child under-nutrition gives hope that the world might save millions of children's lives and the future of tomorrow's generation, says global humanitarian agency Church World Service. U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Irish Foreign Minister Michael Martin announced the joint 1,000 Days initiative in New York, as the UN goes into this week's General Assembly session and deliberation on the status of the Millennium Development Goals.

Two New Mission Boards Meet for Orientation

September 23, 2010 – The two new mission boards formed out of sweeping structure changes adopted by this summer's Synod convention met for the first time during a Sept. 9-10 orientation in St. Louis for all those newly elected or appointed to service in the national Synod. About 80 people – board and commission members, other LCMS officers and Synod staff members – participated in the orientation held prior to the Sept. 11 installation service for Synod officers at Concordia Seminary, St. Louis.

Editorial Page

Editorial: Spiritual Formation for Christians

September 19, 2010 – The first clause in PCT Church Law states that PCT regulations are inspired by the Bible, the Nicene Creed, the Westminster Confession, and the PCT statement of faith. It would be an understatement to say that spending time reading the Bible every day is vital for all Christians. In fact, helping Christians stay rooted in Scripture and teaching them how to be in tune with God is the responsibility of every pastor and elder. Jesus modeled for us a life filled with intimate times spent with God and learning and doing God's will.

Spanish News

Según Social Watch, La Cumbre De Naciones Unidas Fue Pobre

24 septiembre 2010, NUEVA YORK – "Si los pobres fueran un banco, ya hubieran sido salvatados con más dinero," dijo Roberto Bissio, director internacional de Social Watch, al reaccionar ante el documento oficial de Naciones Unidas (ONU), luego de reunirse en su 63° Asamblea General. La mayoría de países se reunió esta semana en Nueva York para revisar el cumplimiento de los Objetivos del Milenio (ODM), metas que se establecieron en el año 2000 y que plantean: superar la pobreza, lograr la educación primaria universal, promover la igualdad de los génerso, reducir la mortalidad infantil, mejorar la salud materna, combatir VIH/SIDA, garantizar la sostenibilidad del medio ambiente, fomentar la asociación mundial para el desarrollo.

WACC Llama a Comunicar La Paz a Través De Expresiones Prácticas

21 septiembre 2010, TORONTO, Canadá – Para conmemorar el Día Internacional de la Paz, este 21 de septiembre, la Asociación Mundial para la Comunicación Cristiana (WACC, por sus siglas en inglés) hace un llamado a los individuos y las organizaciones de la sociedad civil, para que comuniquen la paz y creen expresiones prácticas para la construcción de ella.

Cambiar El Mundo Desde La Fe, Resume Una De Las Articulaciones Del Foro Social De Las Américas

23 septiembre 2010, LA HABANA, Cuba – A un mes de culminado el IV Foro Social de las Américas en la ciudad de Asunción, Paraguay, el Centro Memorial Doctor Martin Luther King, Jr; uno de sus organizadores, ha circulado un resumen de lo acontecido en el Foro de Fe y Política que, dentro del magno escenario de los debates, acaparó la atención en cuanto a los desafíos de la Iglesia y los movimientos eclesiales en América Latina hoy.

Presentan Libro "El Sexo De Los Ángeles"

22 septiembre 2010, LA HABANA, Cuba – Bajo ese sugestivo título, la autora de El sexo de los ángeles, libro que acaba de ser presentado aquí por su autora Isabel Moya, pretende romper prejuicios y tabúes que, a pesar de su antigüedad, permanecen vigentes en las actuales generaciones de la sociedad cubana en torno a la mujer. Editado por las publicaciones Acuario, del Centro Félix Varela, en esta capital, el volumen de 120 páginas lleva por subtítulo Una mirada de género a los medios de comunicación, en tanto no se acaba de resolver un lenguaje inclusivo que restañe viejos conceptos.

Decisión De Jesuitas De Ofrecer Cátedra a Álvaro Uribe, No Sólo Ofende a Colombianos, Afirma Sacerdote

24 septiembre 2010, ESTADOS UNIDOS – "La decisión de los jesuitas de Georgetown de ofrecerle una cátedra a Álvaro Uribe no sólo ofende, profundamente, a los colombianos que aún conservan principios éticos, sino que pone en alto riesgo la formación ética de los jóvenes que acuden a nuestra universidad en Washington," expresa el sacerdote Javier Giraldo Moreno en carta enviada al padre John Dear, director de esa alta institución religiosa.

Museo De Arte Religioso Se Abre a Las Personas Portadoras De Discapacidad

22 septiembre 2010, CALI, Colombia – Como parte de sus servicios pedagógicos, el Museo de Arte Religioso de Cali decidió buscar iniciativas integradoras a la institución, a fin de que personas portadoras de discapacidad puedan disfrutar de sus opciones culturales. Aquellas personas que estén interesadas en el arte sacro que se exhibe en esta instalación, no importan que posean algún tipo de discapacidad visual, auditiva o motora, podrán tener acceso a sus colecciones, a partir de un grupo de acciones emprendidas por la dirección y los trabajadores de ese museo.

Mujeres De África, Asia Y América Latina Apoyan Iniciativa Mundial Por La Salud De Mujeres Y Niños

22 septiembre 2010, ESTADOS UNIDOS – La Coalición Estrategias desde el Sur, que reúne a 43 redes mundiales y regionales que trabajan en derechos y salud así como VIH/sida bajo la coordinación de FEIM, celebra la iniciativa que presentará la ONU para mejorar la salud de mujeres, niñas y niños en los países en desarrollo y considera que esta es una oportunidad para que los servicios integrales de salud para esta población sean una realidad, especialmente en los países de África, Asia y América Latina y Caribe.

Arzobispo Luterano De Suecia Expone Sobre El Cambio Climático Y Los Desafíos De La Iglesia

22 septiembre 2010, SAN JOSÉ, Costa Rica – En el marco de la visita a Costa Rica del Arzobispo Luterano de Suecia, Anders Wejryds, se llevó a cabo la Conferencia Cambio Climático y Desafíos a las Iglesias, tema que forma parte del Convenio de Hermandad entre la Iglesia Sueca y la Iglesia Luterana Costarricense (ILCO). En el encuentro participaron representantes religiosos, líderes sociales y comunales quienes tuvieron la oportunidad de dialogar y hacer sus preguntas en relación a la función de la Iglesia en el tema del Medio Ambiente y Cambio Climático.

National News

UCC Website, Other Sites, Target of Hackers

September 20, 2010 – Visitors to the UCC's main website over the weekend of Sept. 18-19 may have received an ominous message upon loading certain pages: The website contains elements from the site opperlant.com which appears to host malware – software that can hurt your computer or otherwise operate without your consent. The attack was not directed at the UCC's website specifically, but at the service the UCC uses to display rotating notices and ads on its site.

Bishops Urge Affirmative Vote on DREAM Act
to Give Conditional Legal Status to Undocumented Youth

September 20, 2010 – Ninety-six Episcopal Church bishops have sent a message to the U.S. Congress seeking approval of the Development, Relief and Education of Alien Minors Act, which is scheduled for a Senate vote on Sept. 21 and would give conditional legal status to the children of undocumented persons if they complete two years of college or the military. The bishops have signed a letter in support of the DREAM Act that has been sent to the Senate and the House of Representatives, according to Ana White, immigration and refugee analyst for the Episcopal Church's Office of Government Relations in Washington, D.C.

International News

Same Level of Assistance Needed for World's Poor as for Banks, Says Church Leader

September 20, 2010 – The same commitment to overcoming global poverty is needed as that which was generated in response to the crisis in the banking sector, a senior church official has told the head of the Swiss delegation to the UN summit meeting on the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) in New York this week. Setri Nyomi, general secretary of the Geneva-based World Communion of Reformed Churches (WCRC), told Switzerland's Foreign Minister, Micheline Calmy-Rey, that the resources found in 2008 to address the financial crisis surpassed what many thought was possible at the time.

New Movie Becomes Reference for Clergy on Handling Funerals

September 19, 2010 – Making funeral arrangements and presiding over memorial services are important tasks that come with the job of being a minister. To help ministers excel in handling such occasions, Shou-Shan Presbytery recently invited pastors to view and discuss the film "7 Days in Heaven" as part of their on-the-job training. The presbytery hoped the film would remind clergy of the importance of being by a family's side in the aftermath of the death of a loved one because a pastor's thoughtful assistance would enhance trust and intimacy between clergy and church members.

Prayers for Peace in Africa Echo Around the World

September 22, 2010 – "We pray for Africa, especially for Somalia, Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo where violence and suffering are a tragic reality," was the prayer from Nairobi at an International Day of Prayer for Peace event sponsored by the All-Africa Conference of Churches. In Jos, Nigeria, prayers for peace included Muslims and Christians praying together in the wake of community and church burnings, looting and killings. Around the world on Tuesday 21 September, ecumenical and inter-faith events for the annual World Council of Churches (WCC)-led International Day of Prayer for Peace (IDPP) were reported from Protestant and Catholic churches.

Youths' Strength Renewed Through Passionate Prayer Meeting

September 19, 2010 – Chiayi Presbytery hosted "Pray for Hearts to Melt!" regional youth prayer meeting on September 11, 2010, attended by more than 260 youths from various churches in the area. Presbytery leaders hoped the meeting would rekindle young people's zeal for God. The prayer meeting kicked off with a live band leading praise and worship, followed by testimonies and encouragements from Rev. Chang Jui-hsien from City Revival Church in Taipei.

WACC Statement on International Day of Peace

September 21, 2010 – To commemorate International Day of Peace, September 21, the World Association for Christian Communication (WACC) is calling on individuals and civil society organizations, to communicate peace and to create practical expressions of peace-building.

Christian-Seeker Judge Urges Public to Pick on Existing Laws, Not Judges

September 19, 2010 – In recent weeks, a series of trials involving sexual abuse of young girls that ended with overly light sentences have sparked public uproar across Taiwan and cast doubts on the integrity of judges and the judicial system in general. In response to the flurry of negative publicity judges have gotten as result of these lenient rulings, one judge who happens to be a Christian-seeker and regular churchgoer in central Taiwan said a lot of his colleagues who tried to judge fairly and with integrity had been feeling under pressure lately due to indiscriminate public backlash.

ELCA Missionaries Find Hope in Training of African Surgeons

September 23, 2010, CHICAGO – Jim Brown's life is full of extremes. There are days when his heart breaks, and there are days when his heart soars. As a surgeon in Cameroon for the past two years, Brown often finds himself feeling overwhelmed. "But the wonderful thing that I think about most is the training of surgeons in Africa," he said. "Only 1 percent of the world's surgical workforce is in Africa, yet Africa has the greatest surgical burden of any part of the world," said Brown.

INDIA: Kashmir Churches Relieved at ‘Tough Action' Against Quran Protests

September 23, 2010 – Church leaders in charge of the tiny Christian community in India's troubled Kashmir region have thanked the government for protecting them during recent violent protests. More than 25 protesters were killed and many more injured when security forces fired on mobs venting their anger on scattered Christian centers in Kashmir following reports that there had been a desecration of the Quran in the United States. "We are thankful to the government for protecting our people and centers with determination," said Bishop Pradeep Kumar Samantaroy, who heads the Church of North India's Amritsar diocese that covers Kashmir.