Front Page

Bishop of Jerusalem to Take Court Action over Visa Refusal

March 4, 2011 – The Anglican Bishop in Jerusalem and Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Jerusalem, the Rt. Revd Suheil Dawani has been denied the renewal of his "Temporary Residency Status" in Jerusalem. This action was taken when the A-5 permits held by himself, his wife and youngest daughter were revoked by the government of Israel, effective 24 September 2010. Bishop Dawani was elected in 2007 as Bishop of the Diocese and was recognized by the State of Israel as the head of the Episcopal Diocese in accordance with the decision by the State of Israel in 1970 which acknowledged the Diocese as one of the thirteen recognized churches in Israel.

Kinnamon to Speak at Times Square Rally
Opposing Peter King Hearings on Islam

March 4, 2011 NEW YORK – the general secretary of the National Council of Churches will be among the religious leaders addressing a 2 p.m. rally in Times Square Sunday to protest Congressional hearings aimed at investigating Muslims in the United States. The hearings are organized by Rep. Peter King (R-N.Y.), chair of the House Homeland Security committee. Critics say the hearings on Islam are reminiscent of McCarthyism and will tend to "demonize" Muslims. The Rev. Dr. Michael Kinnamon, NCC general secretary, has been at the forefront of activities supporting the freedom of religion for all U.S. residents, including Muslims who have been targets of anti-Islam discrimination and open attacks for years, especially in the decade following the terror attacks of September 11, 2001.

General News

International Women's Day:
Sharing Experiences on Media Literacy and Gender

March 4, 2011 – In commemoration of the International Women's Day, March 8, the World Association for Christian Communication (WACC) is calling on its networks, members and partners from civil society groups, associations of media practitioners and media organisations to participate in UNESCO's Women make the news campaign. The theme of the campaign, "Media and Information Literacy and Gender," calls attention to the ‘importance of fostering media and information literate societies as a way to improve the understanding of women and men about gender perspectives in media and information systems.'

Caribbean Women's Bible Study Attracts UN Interest

February 24, 2011 – A Caribbean workshop on how reading the Bible can contribute significantly to ending male violence against women has caught the attention of the United Nations agency responsible for women's programmes. Toni-Ann Brodber, a representative from UN Women who attended a recent workshop in Grenada to test new models for Bible study, noted the critical contribution of faith-based communities in eradicating violence against women and expressed interest in supporting a campaign for action against violence that is connected to the Bible study project.

Reformed and Disciples Churches Plan for Joint Action

February 22, 2011 – The leaders of two families of churches with roots in the Protestant Reformation and a shared commitment to seeking visible church unity through cooperation have held talks in Geneva, Switzerland aimed at strengthening links among their member churches at the local and regional level. The meeting between the Disciples Ecumenical Consultative Council (DECC) and of the World Communion of Reformed Churches (WCRC) comes in the wake of the decision in June 2010 by the global governing body of the WCRC to accept the DECC as an associate member.

Lenten Campaign Focuses on Water and Just Peace

March 3, 2011 – "Water and Just Peace" will be the theme of this year's Lenten reflections provided by the Ecumenical Water Network (EWN). Starting on Monday 7 March the weekly reflections will explore the connection between access to water, struggles over this precious resource and building just peace. "The theme has been chosen because of its relevance to communities and churches around the world" says EWN coordinator Maike Gorsboth. "At the same time, the Seven Weeks are a chance for groups and individuals to prepare themselves for the call to just peace that will emanate from the International Ecumenical Peace Convocation that will be taking place in Kingston, Jamaica in May."

Ecumenical News

Declaration by Catholic-Jewish Liaison Committee

March 3, 2011, VATICAN CITY – A joint declaration of the twenty-first International Catholic-Jewish Liaison Committee Meeting was published at midday today. The meeting was held in Paris, France from 27 February to 2 March. "The conference, titled ‘Forty Years of Dialogue – Reflections and Future Perspectives' addressed the past, present and future of Catholic-Jewish dialogue in its international settings," reads the English-language declaration. "The conference highlighted the positive relationship that began with Vatican Council II and the promulgation of ‘Nostra Aetate' (the declaration on the relationship of the Church to non-Christian Religions) in 1965."

Inter-Orthodox Consultation Begins Discussion on the Nature of the Church

March 4, 2011 – A week-long inter-Orthodox consultation with the aim of studying the Faith and Order document "The Nature and Mission of the Church" began its work on Thursday 3 March in Ayia Napa, Cyprus. The aim of the consultation is to offer distinctly Orthodox insights as part of a world-wide discussion of the doctrine of the Church, or "ecclesiology." The gathering is hosted by the Orthodox Church of Cyprus. Nearly forty participants from Eastern and Oriental Orthodox Churches, church leaders, university professors, theologians, men and women as well as youth, most of whom are members of the World Council of Churches (WCC) Commission on Faith and Order, will discuss the document and produce a common Orthodox response to this important theological text.

Spanish News

Alianza Mundial Bautista Califica De "Escandalosa Paradoja"
Desarrollo Tecnológico Y Pobreza

1 marzo 2010, ESTADOS UNIDOS – "A pesar del progreso científico y el desarrollo tecnológico, la humanidad no ha podido resolver su mas escandalosa paradoja," afirma la Alianza Mundial Bautista (Baptist World Alliance, según sus siglas en inglés), en comunicado hecho público, recientemente, con motivo del Día por la Justicia Social en el Mundo. El documento, firmado por Ville Callam, secretario general de la BWA, expresa que: "En un mundo con tanta riqueza, que todavía tiene 925 millones de personas desnutridas, como se indica en la más reciente estadística entregada por la Organización de las Naciones Unidas para la Agricultura y la Alimentación (FAO), estas estadísticas de hambre y pobreza demuestran que la injusticia social todavía domina nuestro mundo actual.

Fortalecer La Construcción Ecuménica De La Paz En Colombia

28 febrero 2010 – Medio siglo de conflicto civil alimentado por el dinero de la droga y la hegemonía empresarial ha dejado a Colombia con decenas de miles muertos y con la segunda población mayor de personas desplazadas (aproximadamente 4 millones) de todo el mundo. Ha dejado también un país y una sociedad que ansían la justicia y la paz. La búsqueda de una alternativa de paz para este largo conflicto fue la principal motivación para que el Comité Central del Consejo Mundial de Iglesias (CMI) aprobara una declaración en la que se insta a que se incremente la construcción ecuménica de la paz que se está produciendo ya en el país.

Director Del Observatorio Ecuménico Denuncia Persecución Y Amenazas

1 marzo 2010, TEGUCIGALPA, Honduras – Leonel Casco Gutiérrez, defensor de los Derechos Humanos en Honduras y director del Observatorio Ecuménico para los Derechos Humanos en Honduras (OEDHH), interpuso una denuncia a favor de su persona y de su esposa, con motivo de ser víctimas de persecución y amenazas por parte de sicarios del Gobierno.

Campaña De Cuaresma Se Centra En El Agua Y La Paz Justa

4 marzo 2010 – "Agua y Paz Justa" será el tema de las reflexiones cuaresmales para este año que ofrece la Red Ecuménica del Agua (REDA). A partir del lunes 7 de marzo las reflexiones semanales examinarán la conexión entre el acceso al agua, las luchas por este valioso recurso y la construcción de una paz justa. "Se ha elegido este tema debido a su importancia para las comunidades e iglesias de todo el mundo" dice la coordinadora de la REDA, Maike Gorsboth.

El Comité Central Del CMI Centra Su Atención En La Paz Y La Justicia

1 marzo 2011 – La justicia y la paz constituyeron el marco para la planificación y evaluación de los programas en la reunión del Comité Central del Consejo Mundial de Iglesias (CMI) celebrada en Ginebra, del 16 al 22 de febrero de 2011. El Comité Central se mostró esperanzado, en particular, con respecto a las próximas reuniones mundiales que centrarán su atención en una "paz justa": la Convocatoria Ecuménica Internacional por la Paz en Kingston, Jamaica, en mayo de este año, y la próxima Asamblea del CMI de Busan, Corea del Sur, en octubre de 2013.

Metodistas Reflexionarán Sobre El Aborto

28 febrero 2010, BUENOS AIRES, Argentina – Frank de Nully Brown, obispo de la Iglesia Metodista (IEMA), envió una Carta Pastoral al metodismo argentino para activar una "sincera reflexión" sobre la despenalización del aborto que próximamente se debatirá en el Congreso Nacional. Damos a conocer el texto completo de la Carta Pastoral firmada el 25 de febrero y distribuida el domingo 27 en todas las congregaciones metodistas del país. "El tema de la despenalización del aborto, que será motivo de debate en el Congreso Nacional, exige desde nuestra fe cristiana una profunda y sincera reflexión que contribuya a la valoración de la vida y el respeto y la dignidad de todos los seres humanos en nuestra sociedad," enfatiza la carta.

El CMI Insta a Incrementar La Construcción Ecuménica De Paz En Colombia

28 febrero 2010, GINEBRA, Suiza – Medio siglo de conflicto civil alimentado por el dinero de la droga y la hegemonía empresarial ha dejado a Colombia con decenas de miles muertos y con la segunda población mayor de personas desplazadas (aproximadamente 4 millones) de todo el mundo. La búsqueda de una alternativa de paz para este largo conflicto fue la principal motivación para que el Comité Central del Consejo Mundial de Iglesias (CMI) aprobara una declaración en la que se insta a que se incremente la construcción ecuménica de la paz que se está produciendo ya en el país.

Presentan La Biblia Traducida Al Idioma Maya K'iche

2 marzo 2011, CIUDAD DE GUATEMALA – En el marco del acercamiento a la Exhortación Apostólica Postsinodal Verbum Domini, monseñor Julio Cabrera presentó la reciente publicación de la Biblia traducida al k'iche, el más hablado de los 22 que idiomas mayas que predominan en el país, como fruto del trabajo de 23 años de un equipo coordinado por el sacerdote francés Bernardo Guos y de la licenciada Isabel Sucuquí, maya-hablante, originaria de Chiché, El Quiché. Monseñor Cabrera explicó que el último año se empleó para la digitalización del documento en Bilbao, España, y de ahí se envió a China para su impresión, desde donde llega ahora esta Biblia para ser entregada al pueblo guatemalteco.

Afirma El Papa Que La Muerte De Jesús Fue
Consecuencia Del "Estabblishment" Sacerdotal De La Época

4 marzo 2010, CIUDAD DEL VATICANO – Para el papa Benedicto XVI, en su segundo libro sobre la figura máxima del cristianismo titulado Jesús de Narazaret, desde su entrada en Jerusalén a la Resurrección, los judíos como pueblo no fueron responsables de la crucifixión y muerte de Cristo, sino el "establishment" sacerdotal y los secuaces de Barrabás, según se adelantó en Roma ayer, ante el anuncio de la presentación del título el próximo 13 de marzo, primer domingo de Cuaresma.

Las Iglesias, Las ONG Y Los Gobiernos Deben
Esforzarse En Combatir El SIDA, Dice El CMI

1 marzo 2010, GINEBRA, Suiza – Después de tres decenios de la pandemia del SIDA, resulta evidente que las iglesias, los organismos no gubernamentales y los gobiernos tienen que multiplicar sus esfuerzos para combatir la enfermedad y sus efectos, dijo el órgano rector central del Consejo Mundial de Iglesias (CMI) durante su reunión de febrero de 2011. El CMI, en una de sus iniciativas programáticas más eficaces, ha creado y distribuido unos 50.000 ejemplares de libros con el fin de afrontar los duros desafíos pastorales y teológicos del SIDA en África.

National News

San Francisco Congregation Returns to the ELCA

March 4, 2011, CHICAGO – St. Francis Lutheran Church, San Francisco, rejoined the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) late last month by ratifying a new constitution and celebrating its return in a special worship service Feb. 27. The Rev. Mark W. Holmerud, bishop of the ELCA Sierra Pacific Synod, Sacramento, preached and formally received the congregation, describing the service as "joyous, healing and celebrative." In 1990 St. Francis called the Rev. Ruth Frost and the Rev. Phyllis Zillhart as its pastors. At the time, both were not eligible for the ELCA clergy roster because church policy did not allow people in same-gender relationships to serve as ELCA pastors. At about the same time, another San Francisco congregation, First United Lutheran Church, called the Rev. Jeff Johnson as its pastor. Johnson was also ineligible to serve.

International News

Anglican Alliance Director Calls on UK Government
to Rethink Plans to Cut Spending to the Poorest Countries

March 2, 2011 – The UK government's aid arm, the Department for International Development (DFID), in its report "Changing Lives, Delivering Results" has proposed cutbacks in funding for some multilateral agencies, and also cuts in spending to some developing countries. Director of the Anglican Communion's Anglican Alliance for Development, Relief and Advocacy Sally Keeble has today asked for a meeting with DFID officials to go through details of the proposed cuts which would have a serious impact on people in some very poor countries. In a letter to Secretary of State for International Development, Andrew Mitchell, she writes: "In particular the decision not to fund work in Burundi, Lesotho, Niger, Cameroon, Angola and the Gambia puts pressure on some of the poorest countries, which have very particular challenges in terms of size, geography and in some instances conflict.

WCC Condemns Murder of Minority Affairs Official in Pakistan

March 2, 2011 – In a letter to the prime minister of Pakistan, the general secretary of the World Council of Churches (WCC) expressed "great shock and dismay" at the assassination of Shahbaz Bhatti, the Pakistan government minister for Minority Affairs. Rev. Dr Olav Fykse Tveit noted that reports indicate that Bhatti "was assassinated by religious extremists because he was critical of the controversial blasphemy law in Pakistan." Condemning the "deplorable killing," the general secretary indicated that "we also are concerned about the vulnerable situation in which Pakistan's minority communities are living."

U.S. Muslims Lead the Condemnation of the Murder of Shahbaz Bhatti

March 3, 2011, NEW YORK – U.S. Muslims were among the leading voices of condemnation Wednesday following the assassination in Pakistan of Shahbaz Bhatti, the only Christian member of Pakistan's federal cabinet. Bhatti was shot dead in his car March 2 by assailants who left leaflets at the scene identifying themselves as "Taliban al Qaeda Punjab." The Islamic Society of North America (ISNA) said it was "outraged" by the brutal murder of Bhatti, who was Minister of Minorities in the Pakistan government. The Rev. Dr. Michael Kinnamon, general secretary of the National Council of Churches, also expressed outrage at the attack.

Middle East News

Archbishops of Canterbury and York
Strongly Condemn Murder of Pakistan Minorities Minister

March 2, 2011 – The Archbishop of Canterbury and the Archbishop of York have made the following statement condemning the murder of Shahbaz Bhatti, Minorities Minister in Pakistan: "It is with the greatest shock and sorrow that we have heard of the assassination of Mr Shahbaz Bhatti, Minister for Religious Minorities in Pakistan. This further instance of sectarian bigotry and violence will increase anxiety worldwide about the security of Christians and other religious minorities in Pakistan, and we urge that the Government of Pakistan will do all in its power to bring to justice those guilty of such crimes and to give adequate protection to minorities.