Front Page

Christian and Muslim Scholars Seek Common Front to Confront Greed
LWF Interfaith Encounter in Malaysia to Address Economic Issues

September 26, 2011, KOTA-KINABALU, Malaysia/GENEVA – Muslim and Christian scholars are meeting in Kota-Kinabalu, Malaysia, 25-30 September, to address the spiritual and moral roots of the current global economic crisis, in a consultation organized by The Lutheran World Federation (LWF). The 40 scholars and faith leaders, economists and grassroots organizers gathered at the Sabah Theological Seminary will engage one another and seek new ways to speak and act together on economic issues. Deliberations will be held under the topic "Interfaith Dialogue Engaging Structural Greed Today."

WCC Sees Opportunity for Peace in Palestine's UN Application

September 28, 2011 – The World Council of Churches (WCC) has today urged strong positive action by the United Nations on behalf of Palestine. While the WCC has advocated justice for Palestinians and Israelis for decades, the United Nations Security Council's consideration of full membership for Palestine was hailed by the WCC and regional churches as an opportunity for peace. In his statement, Rev. Dr Olav Fykse Tveit, the general secretary of the WCC, said, "It is now a unique opportunity for the UN to take important decisions, to fulfil its role according to the UN charter, to make peace with justice prevail between Israelis and Palestinians, and with their neighbours."

Jerusalem Bishop's Residency Permit Reinstated after Months of International Diplomacy

September 27, 2011 – The residency permits and visas that enable Anglican Bishop in Jerusalem Suheil Dawani and his family to reside legally in Jerusalem have been reinstated after 13 months of the documentation being denied by Israel's Ministry of Interior. "I want to thank all of you, my friends and colleagues throughout the Anglican Episcopal Communion and the worldwide Christian community, for your continued support throughout this time," said Dawani, a Palestinian Christian, in a Sept. 27 letter sent to international partners.

Church Reaction Mixed on Immigration Ruling

September 30, 2011 – United Methodist reactions to a federal judge's rulings on Alabama's new immigration law were as mixed as the rulings themselves. U.S. District Court Judge Sharon Lovelace Blackburn allowed key provisions of the legislation to go into effect. However, she blocked part of the law church leaders feared would criminalize routine acts of ministry, such as transporting children to Sunday school. "The judge's decision … protects our churches' ministries from prosecution under this over-reaching law and substantially protects our religious liberties," said Bishop William H. Willimon of the North Alabama Annual (regional) Conference.

General News

Biblical Interpretation must Be Relevant to Issues Facing People
Report from LWF Consultation on Contemporary Lutheran Hermeneutics

September 23, 2011, NAIROBI, Kenya/GENEVA – Biblical interpretation must be relevant to issues facing society, including HIV and AIDS, scholars urged during a global consultation of The Lutheran World Federation (LWF) deliberating contemporary Lutheran understanding of Scripture. "Our Lutheran tapestry is varied and vividly colored: in order to keep it whole and strong, we seek to find ways to recognize the integrity and authenticity of each strand in a spirit of mutual love," stated the consultation's final report titled, "Contemporary Lutheran Hermeneutics for the Life of the Church."

Supporting Parents Dealing with HIV/AIDS Impact

September 29, 2011 – In a new book titled Parenting: a Journey of Love author Dr Fulata Lusungu Moyo of the World Council of Churches (WCC) offers profound perspectives on parenting, especially in context of HIV/AIDS in Sub Saharan Africa. Parenting: a Journey of Love is designed for parents and guardians, enabling them to be a gender socializing institution for children, especially in situations impacted by HIV/AIDS. This includes improving their understanding of theological, ethical, spiritual and social implications of HIV/AIDS, and the challenges to overcome stigma with compassion. The book is one of the "Called to Care" workbook series published by Strategies for Hope.

CANADA: Anglicans and Lutherans Mark 35 Years of Ordaining Women

September 27, 2011 – This year marks the 35th anniversary of the ordination of women to the priesthood in the Anglican Church of Canada and the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada. Special services and other events will take place from Nov. 30 to Dec. 2 in historic Lunenberg, N.S. The gathering will be a time of "celebration, reconnecting, sharing stories, renewing baptismal and ordination vows, and a variety of workshops to equip us in future ministry," say organizers of Reflecting the Light of Christ. The celebration will begin with a eucharist on Nov. 30, St. Andrew's Day. This is the same day that in 1976, the Anglican Church of Canada ordained six women priests from four dioceses. Scotia and Prince Edward Island. Moxley will preside over the Nov. 30 eucharist.

New Common English Bible Translation Draws on Expertise of 17 Anglican, Episcopal Scholars

September 29, 2011 – The hardest problems in biblical translation aren't about the English, they're about the Greek or the Hebrew, according to one Episcopalian involved in production of the new Common English Bible. Firstly, said the Rev. Dr. William F. Brosend II, translators have to agree on which Hebrew or Greek text to use, and even after that choice is made, questions arise because scholars disagree on some of the words in those manuscripts. "That's probably where most conversation happens, not which English word to use," Brosend said of translation work in a recent interview.

Spanish News

CLAI Completa 33 Años De Fundación

28 septiembre 2011, BRASIL – Evangélicos, anglicanos, bautistas, metodistas, luteranos y reformados recordaron el domingo 25, los 33 años de fundación del Consejo Latinoamericano de Iglesias (CLAI), dieron gracias por la existencia del organismo e intercedieron por el ministerio ecuménico. Cuidando de la Creación y promoviendo la Justicia Ambiental fue el tema de la celebración, acoplando a la liturgia el poema "El Bicho," del escritor brasileño Manuel Bandeira.

Llama Obispo De Managua a La Unidad De Evangélicos Y Católicos Ante Las Migraciones

28 septiembre 2011, MANAGUA, Nicaragua – El obispo auxiliar de Managua, Silvio Báez, llamó a los políticos nicaragüenses a que no se interesen más por el voto de los miles de emigrantes, sino que deben de preocuparse más por dotarlos de su documentación para obtener su pasaportes, a fin de que trabajen con tranquilidad en Costa Rica. También llamó a los costarricenses a terminar con la xenofobia y la discriminación por el hecho de que nicaragüenses quieran tener una nacionalidad de ese país, porque "Dios nos manda a que seamos una misma familia."

Celebran Segundo Encuentro Teológico Inter-Generacional

29 septiembre 2011 – LA HABANA, Cuba –"Hacia un ecumenismo del siglo XXI: defendiendo la vida," fue el título de este encuentro, en el cual participaron, del 14 al 16 de este mes en la ciudad de Camagüey, al centro de la Isla, pastores, líderes y teólogos de 13 denominaciones evangélicas y protestantes, a fin de darle continuidad a un evento similar que tuviera lugar en la capital cubana tres años atrás. El presente encuentro tuvo como objetivo primordial el análisis y el enfoque de las perspectivas y el quehacer teológico en Cuba, desde la visión y la opinión de distintas generaciones de cristianos y cristianas.

CMI Ve Oportunidad Por La Paz En Solicitud Palestina a La ONU

29 septiembre 2011 – Ayer, el Consejo Mundial de Iglesias (CMI) ha instado a las Naciones Unidas para que tomen medidas positivas a favor de Palestina. Si bien el CMI ha abogado por la justicia para palestinos e israelíes durante décadas, la consideración por parte del Consejo de Seguridad de las Naciones Unidas de que Palestina pase a ser miembro de pleno derecho fue acogida por el CMI y por las iglesias regionales como una oportunidad para obtener la paz.

Metodistas Organizan Vigilia Por La Niñez

30 septiembre 2011, BRASIL – La Iglesia Metodista del Brasil realiza en este sábado, 1 de octubre, la Vigilia Nacional de Oración por la Niñez, que este año tiene por lema "¡Señalizar el Amor de Dios! Todo Dentro." "La niñez, en nuestra sociedad, no está recibiendo el cuidado necesario, es preciso estar atentos y luchar por ellas, porque son frágiles y corren riesgos diariamente," anotó la coordinadora del Departamento Nacional de Trabajo con Niñas y Niños (DNTC), Elci Pereira Lima. La vigilia llega también a los padres y madres, porque las criaturas aprenden con los ejemplos de las personas de su entorno.

National News

Verdict Called ‘Travesty of Justice' as Muslim Students Who Heckled
Israeli Ambassador Are Found Guilty of Misdemeanor Charges

September 24, 2011 – In a surprising rollercoaster of a day, 10 Muslim students –arrested for heckling the Israeli ambassador to the United States during a speech at the University of California's Irvine campus last year – on Sept. 23 were convicted, sentenced and said they will appeal the guilty verdict. Gasps and muffled weeping filled the packed Southern California courtroom as a clerk read the unanimous verdicts for the ten defendants: guilty of conspiracy to disrupt a public meeting and guilty of disrupting a public meeting.

, said she was surprised and saddened by the verdict. "Obviously, this is emotionally devastating for people of conscience. This is going to have repercussions for freedom of speech for every American. But, we're going to fight this," she added.

Church of the Brethren Announces Layoffs from Denominational Staff

September 29, 2011 – Nine positions on the Church of the Brethren denominational staff have been cut as part of balancing the 2012 budget. The layoffs follow a new management structure for staff announced in August by general secretary Stan Noffsinger. The need to reduce next year's budget was anticipated for some time by staff and board doing financial planning. For two years the Mission and Ministry Board has chosen to use reserves to balance the Core Ministries budget, wanting time to complete a strategic plan before making changes in staffing structure.

International News

Regional Church Gathering in the Dominican Republic to Focus on "Being a Good Neighbour"

September 22, 2011 A Caribbean theologian and church leader says churches in North America and the Caribbean have a responsibility to be good neighbours and proclaim the need for healing and grace in the post 9/11 era. "The world longs for the example of peace and unity that comes when each becomes a real neighbour to the other," says Yvette Noble-Bloomfield, Regional Deputy General Secretary with the United Church in Jamaica and the Cayman Islands. Noble-Bloomfield will be preaching at the opening service of a gathering of regional churches in the Dominican Republic that will focus on the theme "Who is my neighbour?"

Desmond Tutu and Jose Ramos-Horta Join Calls for Release of Baha'i Educators

September 26, 2011, NEW YORK – As a number of Baha'i educators appear in court in Iran, two Nobel Peace Prize winners have sharply criticized the Iranian government, comparing its actions to "the Dark Ages of Europe" or the "Spanish Inquisition." The remarks by Desmond Tutu, the Anglican Archbishop Emeritus of Cape Town, and Jose Ramos-Horta, President of East Timor, appear in an open letter to the academic community published today in the "Huffington Post," under the title ‘Iran's war against knowledge.'

Churches Mark Anniversary of Statement Calling Racism a Sin

26 September 26, 2011 – Churches today are marking the 25th anniversary of a declaration that racism is a sin. The declaration known as the Belhar Confession was adopted by the Dutch Reformed Mission Church in South Africa on 26 September 1986. The confession, issued in the context of the anti-apartheid movement opposing the country's legislation that segregated people by race, attracted wide attention from churches and secular organizations. A message to mark the anniversary issued by WCRC General Secretary Setri Nyomi says: "The World Communion of Reformed Churches deems the Belhar Confession as one of those gifts to the church worldwide which is still relevant today – not just to the South African situation of the 1980's.”

WCC General Secretary Visits Armenian Churches

September 26, 2011 – Rev. Dr Olav Fykse Tveit, general secretary of the World Council of Churches (WCC), participated in the 20th anniversary of Armenia's independence, had extensive conversations with the Catholicos of All Armenians, Supreme Patriarch Karekin II, visited the Armenian Apostolic Church, as well as the Memorial to the Armenian Genocide at Tsitsernakaberd, and spoke at a theological seminary at the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin. This was part of Tveit's official visit to Armenia, which took place from 21 to 23 September 2011.

Christmas Comes Early at the World Communion

September 27, 2011 – In these hard times of austerity, with governments and churches across the Global North cutting their budgets right, left and centre, it's exceptional to find a church organization anxious to give money away. Today, the World Communion of Reformed Churches is that exception. The WCRC Partnership Fund finds itself in the happy position of wanting to give its member churches up to USD 450,000 before the end of 2011. The Partnership Fund is one concrete way in which the WCRC shows itself to be a communion, helping member churches to carry out projects in mission or service that otherwise they could not afford.

Work More Closely with Civil Society on Horn of Africa Crisis, UN Urged
LWF Says Religious Groups Are Active Throughout Region

September 28, 2011, NEW YORK, USA/GENEVA – The Lutheran World Federation (LWF) has called on the United Nations (UN) to intensify its collaboration with civil society in the Horn of Africa in dealing with the "grave crisis" caused by drought and conflict in the region. "Churches and religious organizations of other faiths are present and active throughout the region. They are engaged at the local level in impressive interfaith dialogue and acts of reconciliation, compassion and human solidarity," said LWF representative Mr Dennis Frado, who presented the organization's statement at the 24 September UN ministerial-level mini-summit on the Horn of Africa crisis, held in New York.

Mission Hospitals Face Uncertain Future

September 28, 2011 – More than a dozen long established and cherished mission hospitals are unlikely to survive the next decade unless health policies and practices change in many African and Asian countries. The warning was issued by Anglican mission agency USPG, at an event supported by the Archbishop of Canterbury. The event, at Lambeth Palace, saw the launch of a new health policy that could save the hospitals. Hospitals and clinics in many African and Asian countries are often over-stretched, sustained by declining foreign donations and lacking drugs and facilities. Under USPG's new health programme, Hands on Health, health facilities are being thrown a lifeline.

Shohreh's Story: How Iran Violated a Top Student's Rights

September 28, 2011, GENEVA – Like many young people the world over, Shohreh Rowhani grew up with high hopes of a good university education. But now she has run up against a system which – while promising opportunity on the surface – is cruelly designed to block her and other young Iranians from ever getting a degree. Ms. Rowhani is a Baha'i, and her experience is made all the more unjust by the fact that she is among Iran's most gifted students; she ranked 151 in the country after passing the national university exam in her chosen field of languages. In other words, her result put her among the top 1% of candidates who took the exam.

Church of England Publishes Latest Statistics on Web

September 28, 2011 – Parish giving holds up; younger vocations increase The Church of England has today published its latest information about parish income and expenditure and trends in ministry numbers in Church Statistics 2009/10. The attendance statistics included were published in February 2011. This year's financial statistics show that the 2008 credit crunch began to affect church income in 2009, though not in terms of parish giving nor as hard as many charities.

Southern Africa Bishops Support Anglicans in Zimbabwe, Primate Heading to Harare

September 29, 2011 – Southern Africa's Bishops have reaffirmed their support for Anglicans in Zimbabwe, as Archbishop Thabo Makgoba prepares to accompany the Archbishop of Canterbury on his pastoral visit there next month. At their twice-a-year meeting held in Benoni this week, the Synod of Bishops repeated their concerns at the difficult situation faced by Anglicans in Zimbabwe, and voiced their continuing support and prayers. Dr Makgoba will travel at the invitation of Dr Rowan Williams, who will also go to Malawi and Zambia during his visit to the Church of the Province of Central Africa.

Lutheran Churches Pledge Capacity for Holistic Mission
LWF Consultations Focus on Mission in 21st Century

September 30, 2011, GENEVA – Following a series of regional seminars and consultations, Asian and African Lutheran church leaders have pledged to improve and integrate their human resources and institutional capacities to respond to the challenge of doing mission in the 21st century. The Lutheran World Federation (LWF) Department for Mission and Development (DMD) convened "Strategic Leadership Seminars/Consultations" in August, in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, and in Nairobi, Kenya, to enhance accompaniment programs. Held under the theme, "Empowering Communion/Communities through Education and Training: Responsible Stewardship," the consultations were geared to help implement a key priority of the LWF Strategy 2012-2017 – assisting churches to grow in capacity for holistic mission while deepening relationships within the communion.

In England, Role of Women Debate Continues

September 28, 2011 – It was an honor to be invited by Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams to speak at the Transitions Conference, held at Lambeth Palace on Sept. 19. I offered the keynote address, bridging the theology and actual practice of women in the episcopate. The Church of England continues to proceed toward having women in this order of ministry. While England has become accustomed to the ministry of women in the priesthood, it is understood that women in the episcopate will be a major culture shift in the exercise of the ministry itself and in the currently all-male House of Bishops. The matter is still hotly debated and a source of great institutional anxiety, particularly with the coming 2012 General Synod where measures and codes of practice regarding alternative oversight for those who cannot abide the authority of a female bishop will be debated.

Middle East News

Anglican Bishop in Jerusalem Granted Permission to Remain in the City

September 27, 2011 – The Anglican Bishop in Jerusalem and his family are celebrating today after finally getting permission to remain in the city after many months of legal and diplomat appeals. The Rt. Revd Suheil Dawani, who is also Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Jerusalem, today spoke of his delight at finally getting the Residency Permits that as someone born in Nablus in the West Bank must have to stay in East Jerusalem, where St. George Anglican Cathedral and the bishop's offices are located. "It is with great pleasure, and with God's help, that I and my family have received our Residency Permits," he said in a statement to his supporters.