Front Page

In Dominican Republic, Gathering Explores Climate Justice Perspectives

December 8, 2010 – What started in 2004 as a 2,000-square-foot organic garden behind La Iglesia Santa Maria Virgen in Itabo, Cuba, grew to a community-wide project that empowered people and spread to vacant lots, yards and other dioceses. "A small group of people, in small places, doing small things, can change the face of the earth," is a popular saying in Cuba, said Bishop Griselda Delgado Del Carpio of the Episcopal Church of Cuba. Delgado, formerly the rector of Santa Maria Virgen, shared the story of her parish's garden during a presentation here Dec. 7, the first day of the inaugural Episcopal Climate Justice Gathering.

Climate Talks Must Not Fail Again Says WCC

December 10, 2010 – In a statement to the high-level segment plenary of the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Cancun, Mexico, a delegation of the World Council of Churches (WCC) has criticized the lack of action during the last decade. "Humankind is at present dancing on the edge of the abyss. We cannot afford another failure from the governments as in Copenhagen," said the statement that was read out by Bishop Gustavo Rodriguez Vega, president of Caritas Mexico. The statement also affirmed the determination of faith based organizations to "efforts to offer security, prosperity and dignity to the life of men, women and children around the world, caring also for all the wonders of God's good Creation, sustaining the treasure of life. A life which needs to be lived with dignity, justice, equity and peace, where the rights of peoples to safe drinking water, sanitation, clean air and a climate apt to support life may become a reality."

Bethlehem/Washington Prayer Service to Bring the Holy Land Home
Joint Simulcast Will Connect Worshippers on 2 Continents

December 10, 2010 – Bethlehem will come to Washington, D.C., this Christmas, by way of a joint simulcast service in English and Arabic that will connect worshippers on two continents. Christians in the D.C. area will assemble at Washington National Cathedral on Dec. 18 for the fourth annual service with Palestinian Christians gathered at the Christmas Lutheran Church in the town where Jesus was born.

Letter from Santo Domingo to All Churches

December 8, 2010 – A final declaration from the Historic Peace Church conference in Latin America has been released, in the form of a "Letter from Santo Domingo to all churches." The meeting of representatives of Mennnonite churches, the Society of Friends (Quakers), and the Church of the Brethren from 17 countries in Latin America and the Caribbean was held in Santo Domingo, the Dominican Republic, from Nov. 27-Dec. 2, 2010. Following is the letter, or final declaration.

Church's Eagle Scouts Soar into History

December 10, 2010, DALLAS – Twenty-one-year-old Terence Juan Cochran's pride was apparent as he looked at the 12 African-American teens making history for Troop 914, the Boy Scouts of America and St. Luke "Community" United Methodist Church. "I never imagined we would get to this point," said Cochran, a Troop 914 Eagle Scout since 2005, as he viewed the boys, their church mentors and family members gathered at the ceremony in which the 12 joined Scouting's elite. The ceremony marked the second time ever this many African-American Boy Scouts were bestowed the Eagle Scout rank at one time, according to the Boy Scouts of America National Council.

General News

Washington DC Women Gather to Celebrate Circles of Names

December 10, 2010 WASHINGTON – More than 75 women and men gathered at Wesley Theological Seminary here November 18 to honor the Rev. Drema McAllister-Wilson and other women who have made significant contributions to the ecumenical movement and the lives of the individuals they encountered. McAllister-Wilson was cited for her work in supporting persons, families and communities facing grief and loss. The event, one of several local events taking place this fall, was part of the National Council of Churches Circles of Names campaign. The meeting was hosted by Anne Hale Johnson, honorary chair of the campaign. The Circles of Names Campaign is a project of the National Council of Churches to create a circle of support for women's ministries by asking a thousand persons to give $100 in the name of a woman who helped shape their faith.

Smart Chosen to Lead Teen Challenge

December 6, 2010 – The Assemblies of God Executive Presbytery recently ratified the appointment of Jackie R. (Jack) Smart to serve as the president for Teen Challenge International USA. Smart was appointed by the Teen Challenge International USA board of directors. The appointment was approved by AG Executive Leadership Team, with the EP confirming the appointment in its November meeting. Smart began serving in Teen Challenge in 1979, first as a staff member, then as assistant director at Teen Challenge International of Mid-America in Cape Girardeau, Missouri. Before accepting the national leadership position, he served as executive director of Teen Challenge International of Mid-America and Teen Challenge of Missouri Boarding Academy.

Deliver Us from Evil

December 8, 2010 – In November last year, one of the world's leading exorcists quietly slipped into Sydney at the invitation of the Catholic Church. It was a long journey for Father Jeremy Davies, exorcist for London's Westminster Archdiocese, but there was important business afoot for the grey-haired 74-year-old. The destination for Davies, co-founder of the International Association of Exorcists in Rome, was Mary MacKillop Place in North Sydney, where the tomb of Australia's only saint lies. Waiting for him were 27 other priests, including Bishop Julian Porteous, the Auxiliary Bishop of Sydney, second only to Cardinal George Pell in the Sydney Archdiocese. For the next two days Father Davies led a discreet forum on the ancient rite of exorcism: the expulsion of demons and evil spirits from those who fear they are possessed.

Peace Church Conference Approves Final Document from Meeting in Santo Domingo

December 3, 2010 – A final document was approved at the close of the Historic Peace Church conference in Latin America, held in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, Nov. 27-Dec. 2. The conference gathered 77 Mennonites, Church of the Brethren, and Friends (Quakers) from 17 countries. The document will be made public in the next few days. It represents a "sense of the meeting," with an approval process.conducted in the consensus tradition of the Friends. The paper was formulated by a committee that had the job of reducing several days of presentations, testimonies, reports, and stories into a document of common understandings.

Documentary on 2000-year-old Christian Prayer Available on Comcast and FIOS
"Mysteries of the Jesus Prayer" to Air Beginning December 15

December 7, 2010, NEW YORK – The long anticipated Mysteries of the Jesus Prayer, a documentary film on a 2000-year-old Christian prayer, will begin distribution December 15 for a three-month run in the SnagFilms Collection on Comcast and Verizon FIOS. The film will also be available on DVD and other on-demand channels and will open in theaters early in 2011. The ancient prayer is still used by monks and nuns in far away caves and monasteries. The Jesus Prayer is essentially the Kyrie Eleison ("Lord Have mercy") that is thought to have been first practiced by the Apostles.

‘Blue' Christmas Services Comfort When the Holidays Aren't Happy

December 10, 2010 – For the first time in four years, Margaret Rogers of Mira Loma, California, felt she could face Christmas in a new way. "The holidays have been so awful, so lonely," since her 22-year-old son Derek Crawford was shot and killed in Los Angeles in July 2006, said Rogers after attending a Nov. 30 "Blue Christmas" service at St. Mark's Church in Upland in the Episcopal Diocese of Los Angeles. After years of "shock, of feeling like I couldn't even hold a thought in my head," lighting a candle in her son's memory, singing the familiar songs, and hearing the Christmas story gave her hope for healing, even a sense of peace, she said.

Alternative Take on the ‘12 Days of Christmas'

December 10, 2010 – I have a love/hate relationship with the popular Christmas song, "12 Days of Christmas." I admit it is mostly a hate relationship. However, there were many things about the song that I didn't know. Did you know, for example, "true love" refers to God and "eight maids a-milking" refer to the eight beatitudes? For many, the lyrics are stuffed with religious symbolism.

Givers Pick Compassion over Consumerism

December 10, 2010 – "We swim in a sea of consumerism 365 days a year," declared Joseph Roitz, an Arkansas United Methodist. Those choppy waters can drown consumers in debt and regret that much of our "generosity" quite honestly does not reflect the spirit of Christmas. The antidote for many congregations is an alternative-giving fair or marketplace where shoppers discover that compassion, not consumerism, is the best way to honor the Christ-child.

Editorial Page

Editorial: Two Thumbs up for the New Election Culture

December 5, 2010 – The 5 Special Municipality Election is finally over and we can rejoice in seeing the efforts of many Taiwanese pro-democracy advocates finally pay off. Even though the election campaign was marred by the last-minute shooting of Sean Lien, son of former Vice-President Lien Chan, the night before election day, we've seen breakthroughs in DPP campaign strategies. Not only did the party try to help citizens understand its platform, it also refrained from attacking KMT opponents. This change of atmosphere is a positive step in the development of Taiwanese election culture.

Spanish News

La Unidad, Factor De Crecimiento De La Iglesia En China

08 diciembre 2010 – De izquierda a derecha: Zhang Shuilian, Kan Baoping, Olav Fykse Tveit, Mathews George Chunakara, Shan Weixiang, Gu Jingqin. La unidad entre los protestantes chinos constituye un factor importante en el rápido crecimiento de la iglesia en China, según dijo el secretario general del Consejo Cristiano de China, el pastor Kan Baoping, durante una visita al Centro Ecuménico en Ginebra, Suiza.

CMI Apoyará Esfuerzos Ecuménicos De Paz En Colombia

10 diciembre 2010, GINEBRA, Suiza – El Consejo Mundial de Iglesias (CMI) celebró una consulta sobre acompañamiento ecuménico en Colombia en Ginebra los días 2 y 3 de diciembre con el propósito de explorar las vías para iniciar un programa internacional ecuménico de acompañamiento en Colombia, como una contribución al proceso de paz en ese país sudamericano.

Concilio De Iglesias De Puerto Rico Emite Comunicado En Contexto De Nuevo Conflicto Universitario

9 diciembre 2010, SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – Un comunicado emitido por el Concilio de Iglesias de Puerto Rico muestra la preocupación de este organismo por lo que parece ser la renovación inminente del conflicto entre los universitarios y el Gobierno, cuando, refiriéndose a la Navidad, plantea que "Los símbolos de luces, guirnaldas, encendidos y adornos reflejan el corazón de un pueblo que celebra en medio de la crisis agobiante que vive el país."

Obispos Llaman a Denunciar Corrupción Y Piden Transparencias En Elecciones

7 diciembre 2010, MANAGUA, Nicaragua – Los obispos católicos piden observadores nacionales e internacionales en las elecciones presidenciales de 2011, y rechazan la figura de acompañamiento electoral (CSE), bajo la presidencia de Roberto Rivas, señalando actos de corrupción, según dieron a conocer esta semana que concluyen. Rivas fue denunciado ante el Ministerio Público por el supuesto delito de acto de corrupción, por Lulio Marenco García y dos integrantes más del Grupo de Abogados Democráticos.

Luteranos Y Católicos Denuncian El Abandono Y Maltrato Carcelario

9 diciembre 2010, SANTIAGO, Chile – Un voraz incendio se registró en la madrugada de ayer en la cárcel de San Miguel, en el piso cuarto de la torre 5 norte y sur, ubicada al sur del gran Santiago donde perecieron 83 reos mientras más de una decena se encuentran con quemaduras que comprometen sus vías respiratoria. Los heridos se encuentran repartidos en los diferentes centros asistenciales de la capital.

Human Rights News

Philippine Justice Minister Discusses Human Rights with WCC Delegation

December 9, 2010 – "Good intentions are not enough," said the secretary of the Philippine department of justice, Leila de Lima, during a meeting with the World Council of Churches (WCC) delegation currently visiting the Philippines. She met with the "Living Letters" team on Friday 3 December. The group of church representatives from Asia, Europe, Africa, Australia and Canada visited the Philippines, 1-5 December, with the aim of looking at the current human rights situation in that country. They spoke with the justice secretary prior to an encounter with participants in a hunger strike supporting parties involved in the "Morong 43" case. The Morong 43 have been detained since February following their arrest during a workshop sponsored by an alliance of health workers in Morong, Rizal province.

National News

ELCA Chaplain to Lead Invocation at National Christmas Tree Lighting Event

December 6, 2010, CHICAGO – The Rev. Darrell D. Morton, assistant for federal chaplaincy ministries to the presiding bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), will present the invocation at the 87th National Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony, Thursday, Dec. 9, in Washington. This year's tree lighting ceremony takes place at 5 p.m. EST on the Ellipse, between the National Mall and the White House.

International News

Chinese Church Officials See Unity Behind Growth

December 6, 2010 – Unity among Chinese Protestants is an important factor in the rapid growth of the church in China, the general secretary of the China Christian Council, the Rev. Kan Baoping, said during a visit to the Ecumenical Centre in Geneva, Switzerland. A 7-member delegation with top leadership from the China Christian Council met with the general secretary of the World Council of Churches (WCC) and other staff of church organizations based at the Ecumenical Centre on Monday, 6 December. It was the 4th such visit to the WCC secretariat since the post-denominational China Christian Council (CCC) was established in 1980.

Open Letter Speaks out for the Rights of All Iranians

December 7, 2010, NEW YORK – In an open letter to the head of Iran's Judiciary, the Baha'i International Community today contrasted the country's persecution of Baha'is with Iran's own call for Muslim minorities to be treated fairly in other countries. "We...request that the Baha'is in that country be granted their full rights of citizenship, in order that they may be able to fulfill their heartfelt aspiration to contribute, alongside their fellow citizens, to the advancement of their nation," says the letter. "This, indeed, is no more than what you rightfully ask for Muslim minorities who reside in other lands. Baha'is merely seek the same treatment from you," the Baha'i International Community states.

KENYA: Cooperate with International Court, Church Leaders Urge

December 8, 2010, NAIROBI, Kenya – Kenyan church leaders are calling on politicians to fully cooperate with the International Criminal Court, which is investigating the 2007-2008 post election violence that killed 1300 people. The call came after some politicians accused Moreno Ocampo, the ICC chief prosecutor, of creating "mischief," and playing a political game which they said is based on false evidence. "The ICC must start the trials immediately and there should be no sacred cows. Those who are going to be indicted must seek to clear themselves before a court," the Rev. Peter Karanja, the general secretary of the National Council of Churches of Kenya, told ENInews on Dec. 8.

Climate Justice Is Focus of Four-day Episcopal/Anglican Gathering in Dominican Republic

December 6, 2010 – Anglican and Episcopal leaders from North, South and Central America and the Caribbean are arriving Dec. 6 in the Dominican Republic for a four-day gathering to explore the intersection between poverty and climate change. "We're hoping to change the conversation in the church from one of climate change to climate justice," said the Rev. P. Joshua "Griff" Griffin, environmental justice missioner in the Diocese of California and one of the conference's organizers.

Deforestation, Intensive Storms and Floods Show Effects of Climate Change in Dominican Republic

December 9, 2010, SAN PEDRO, Dominican Republic – It is estimated that by 2050, 80 percent of the rivers in the Dominican Republic will have dried up unless something is done to stop deforestation and develop a strategy to slow climate change, said Silvio Minier of Oxfam. Minier, a former Jesuit priest who now works in advocacy and programs for Oxfam based in Santo Domingo, addressed the Episcopal Climate Justice Gathering Dec. 8, giving an overview of the local effects of climate change.

Episcopal Church Called to Prayer for Haiti
Diocesan Lay Leaders Stranded at Conference Site by Post-Election Violence

December 9, 2010 – In the midst of increasing violence in the Haitian capital of Port-au-Prince Dec. 9, Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori assured that country of the Episcopal Church's concern for its citizens. "Our prayers continue for the people of Haiti, particularly at this time of increased anxiety, uncertainty, and outbreaks of violence," Jefferts Schori said in a statement to Episcopal News Service. "May the Prince of Peace come speedily," she added, echoing the season of Advent.

Middle East News

Christmas in Iraq Filled with Fear for Christians

December 6, 2010 – More than 100 Christians killed or wounded in an attack on an Assyrian Catholic church a few weeks ago, churches damaged or destroyed by car bombs, rockets fired into Christian neighborhoods, the ongoing threat of kidnapping and torture . . . for Christians in Iraq, there's little else but Christ's birth to celebrate this Christmas season. According to AG World Missions Communications Director Randy Hurst, the situation for Christians in Iraq is growing more dangerous on a daily basis. "I talked with one of our representatives in the Middle East and he reports that Christians are fleeing one city in fear for their lives, with many small Christian villages now overflowing with refugees. He said that Al-Qaeda in Mesopotamia has vowed to force all non-Muslims out of Iraq and their threats are more than mere words. The representative also says that Christian refugees are now in desperate need of the basics of life. Food and shelter is in short supply."