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Rev. N. J. L'Heureux, Jr., Publisher & Editor
Rev. Pedro Bravo-Guzman, Editor-in-Chief
An Ecumenical Report of Local and Global News
in God's Household
Published by the Queens Federation of Churches
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November 21, 2011, WASHINGTON – While members of the Congressional Super Committee all but acknowledged their failure to reach an agreement on the federal budget, humanitarian agency Church World Service joined with people of faith in cities across the United States on Sunday in sending a clear message to the Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction and Congress that cuts to programs for the most at risk families and children in the United States and abroad would cost lives and harm America. As part of a nationwide Super Vigil, people of diverse faith communities united in prayer at public rallies in cities across the country. At a rally in Washington across the street from the White House, the crowd heard national leaders representing Christian, Jewish and Muslim faiths speak to the moral imperative to protect the most vulnerable among us. Tens of Thousands Respond to Invitations to Back to Church Sunday November 25, 2011 – Congregations increased by nearly a quarter at more than 4,200 churches on Back to Church Sunday on 25th September 2011 – an average of 19 extra people per church. Overall 18 per cent of participating churches reported that nearly 14,000 extra people attended church on Back to Church Sunday 2011 in Great Britain; over 10,000 of these attended Church of England churches. Archbishop Tutu Urges South Africans to Attend November 23, 2011 – Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu has urged South Africans to join world faith leaders, political leaders and pop stars at an "extraordinary" mass rally on November 27 at the King's Park Stadium in Durban. The Archbishop is to host the "We Have Faith – Act Now for Climate Justice" rally and concert, at which he will lead a call to world leaders attending the COP17 climate change talks in Durban that they should reach a fair and legally binding agreement to curb climate change. Dallas Church Grows in Relevance as Community Garden Feeds Neighbors November 22, 2011 – Members of the tiny Episcopal Church of Our Saviour asked themselves this question eight years ago: If the church closed, would it be missed? The answer, congregants sadly agreed, was no. They cast about for ideas to help the church connect with the surrounding neighborhood, eventually deciding to start a community garden as an outreach ministry. It was truly a leap of faith in 2003, well before the "eat local" craze and before Michelle Obama planted an organic garden on the White House lawn. Church members chose the project for one simple reason: "We had no money," said garden coordinator Becky Smith. Christmas Message 2011 from the World Council of Churches General Secretary November 25, 2011 – "For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all." (Titus 2:11, KJV) Grace to you and peace in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. May the appearance of the gracious salvation of the Triune God enlighten our hearts, minds and spirits in this joyous season. New Testament accounts of the advent and nativity of Jesus stress the all-encompassing nature of the Christ event. Without reservation, the Biblical text says that God's grace appears to all, offering the promise of forgiveness, healing and reconciliation with God in heaven and with our neighbours on earth. The grace of God has appeared in the person of Jesus Christ. He appears for the sake of marginalized shepherds and their families in his homeland. Presiding Bishop Says ELCA Is Deeply Rooted in God's Mission November 19, 2011, CHICAGO – In his report to the Church Council of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), Presiding Bishop Mark S. Hanson said that the ELCA is "a church deeply rooted in God's mission (and) in the belief that Christ frees us all to serve our neighbor and seek the common good." The council, which serves as the ELCA's board of directors, met here Nov. 11-13. "Never underestimate the power of the Holy Spirit to bring forth fruit from our labors. (In 2005), this church invested in a young woman's education. Leymah Gbowee wanted to study peacemaking, and we gave her an (International Leadership) scholarship," said Hanson. Anglicans Everywhere Can Take a Lead in Ending Gender Violence and Caring for the Survivors November 25, 2011 The Revd Terrie Robinson said today that churches across the Anglican Communion are uniquely placed to challenge and change how society thinks about gender-based violence. Speaking at the start of the annual Sixteen Days of Activism Against Gender Violence the Anglican Communion Networks Co-ordinator and Women's Desk Officer explained that every day millions of adults and children, both rich and poor, experience violence against based on their gender. "Most are women and girls but men and boys can also be victims of gender-based violence, and stigma is attached to them by society every bit as much as it is to women," said Mrs Robinson." Iglesia Católica Cuestiona Resultados Electorales Y Obispo 22 noviembre 2011, MANAGUA, Nicaragua – Los Obispos de la Conferencia Episcopal de Nicaragua (CEN), después de analizar los resultados de las elecciones del pasado seis de noviembre, tal como se esperaba, en un comunicado de ocho puntos, dejó claro, esta semana que concluye, que el Consejo Supremo Electoral (CSE) es el culpable de irrespetar los resultados de las elecciones, lo que se interpreta, entre los politicos y la sociedad, como que la legitimidad del proceso electoral quedó entre dicho. Bendice Iglesia Católica Peregrinación De Danzas Tradicionales 24 Noviembre 2011, MÉXICO – La tradición danzaria prehispánica del país fue bendecida por la Iglesia Católica, en vísperas del comienzo de lo que serán las llamadas peregrinaciones, cuando más de 150 grupos del país se disponen a participar de la Bendición de las danzas, una de las tradiciones más esperadas en el país. La Diaconía Profética Es Una Importante Herramienta Para Transformar El Mundo 24 noviembre 2011, SAN LEOPOLDO, Brasil – "Es preciso mantener la perspectiva profética de vigilancia y denuncia de las situaciones de violación de los derechos humanos y de la naturaleza, así como seguir dedicándose a las tareas teológicas y pastorales de formación de un liderazgo con los mismos principios proféticos y evangélicos," afirmó, el lunes 21 de noviembre el secretario general del Consejo Latinoamericano de Iglesias (CLAI), Rev. Nilton Giese, durante un encuentro promovido por el organismo ecuménico en asociación con el Consejo Mundial de Iglesias, en San Leopoldo. La Iglesia Luterana Manifiesta Su Apoyo 22 noviembre 2011, CONCEPCIÓN, Chile – El sábado se realizó la Gay Parade Chile 2011, Open Mind Fest, con la participación de 40 mil personas distribuidas en cuatro escenarios simultáneos en el Paseo Bulnes hasta el Parque Almagro. En el trayecto se instaló una pantalla gigante para proyectar la última campaña publicitaria de Benetton, que causó controversias en varios sectores, y que llevó al retiro de la imagen de Benedicto XVI por protestas de la comunidad Católica. 23 noviembre 2011, BUENOS AIRES, Argentina – Un acto de reconocimiento a instituciones educativas por su labor de enseñanza basada en la inclusión, la convivencia y el respeto de los derechos humanos se llevará a cabo el 24 de noviembre a las 18 hs. en el Salón Libertador del Palacio San Martin, organizado por la Secretaría de Cultos. Celebran Día Mundial De Oración Y Acción Por La Niñez 23 noviembre 2011, CIUDAD DE GUATEMALA – Con una tarde artístico-cultural, dirigida a niños y niñas, la Red Global de Religiones a favor de la Niñez celebró, este domingo 20 de noviembre, el Día Mundial de de Oración y Acción por la Niñez, bajo el lema "construyendo una cultura de paz en la familia, desde la Plaza de la Constitución, frente a la Catedral Metropolitana. Mensaje De Navidad 2011 Del Secretario General Del Consejo Mundial De Iglesias 25 noviembre 2011 – "La gracia de Dios se ha manifestado para salvación a toda la humanidad." (Tito 2:11, RVR1995) Gracia y paz a todos ustedes en el nombre de nuestro Señor Jesucristo. ¡Que la manifestación de la salvación misericordiosa del Dios trino ilumine nuestros corazones, mentes y espíritus en esta época de alegría! Los relatos del Nuevo Testamento del adviento y la natividad de Jesús ponen de relieve el carácter universal del acontecimiento de Cristo. Comunidades Por La Vida, Proyecto Ecuménico Que Avanza Hacia Nuevas Estrategias 22 noviembre 2011, LA HABANA, Cuba – Representantes de diversos proyectos encaminados a dar fe de la labor de la Iglesia en su ayuda a solucionar los problemas locales de las comunidades, socializaron los resultados alcanzados hasta al presente, en un encuentro recientemente celebrado en la ciudad de Camagüey, al centro de la Isla, promovido por el Área de Diaconía del Consejo de Iglesias de Cuba (CIC). UN Strongly Condemns Iran's Human Rights Violations; November 21, 2011, UNITED NATIONS – Using some of its strongest language to date, the United Nations General Assembly has roundly condemned Iran for its "serious ongoing and recurring human rights violations." By a vote of 86 to 32, with 59 abstentions, the Assembly's Third Committee today approved a six-page resolution that catalogs a wide range of abuses in Iran, including "a dramatic increase" in executions, the use of torture, the systematic targeting of human rights defenders, pervasive violence against women, and continuing discrimination against minorities, including members of the Baha'i Faith. Georgia Supreme Court Upholds Property Ruling November 21, 2011 – The Georgia Supreme Court has affirmed a lower court ruling that the real property and other assets of Christ Church Episcopal in Savannah are held in trust for the Diocese of Georgia and the Episcopal Church. The text of the 6-1 opinion, as well as the dissenting opinion, is online. The court's opinion, issued Nov. 21, said that two lower courts properly applied the "neutral principals of law" approach, previously adopted by that court and approved by the U.S. Supreme Court as a constitutional method for resolving church property disputes. Trustees Approve Plans for New Virginia Seminary Chapel November 22, 2011 – Plans for the new "Chapel for the Ages" at Virginia Theological Seminary were approved Nov. 9 by the board of trustees of the historic seminary in Alexandria, according to a VTS press release. The new structure will replace Immanuel Chapel, built in 1881, which was destroyed Oct. 22, 2010 in an accidental fire. Based on recommendations by the Chapel for the Ages committee to the board's building and grounds committee, the trustees unanimously approved concept designs developed by Robert A.M. Stern Architects of New York. November 25, 2011 – The historic Anglican mission agency CMS (the Church Mission Society) has appealed to its community to pray for the recruitment process for a new Executive Director. The move comes following the appointment of the organisation's Community Leader Revd Canon Tim Dakin to the bishopric of Winchester. Writing to CMS members, Martyn Snow, Vice-chair Trustees and Chair of Appointment Panel said, "We have done our best as trustees to listen to all the feedback we have been given (and there has been lots of it – thank you!) and have now agreed a job description and person specification for someone who will be both Community Leader and Executive Director of CMS as an organisation. Network Aims to Make Pilgrimage a Greener Experience November 24, 2011, ASSISI, Italy – An estimated 100 million people make some kind of pilgrimage every year, some for a few hours, others for days or months. To address the environmental impact of these journeys – and to assist the world's holy places to become as environmentally sustainable as possible – a new network has been launched which brings together pilgrim sites from 10 faith traditions. They range from the Sikh Golden Temple in Amritsar, India, and the Armenian Orthodox holy city of Etchmiadzin, to Jerusalem – a major pilgrimage destination for the Jewish, Christian and Muslim faiths. November 23, 2011, GENEVA – Lutheran churches are among those joining the United Nations' UNiTE to End Violence against Women campaign that aims to eliminate violence against all women and girls. The campaign brings together a host of UN agencies and offices to end violence against women; its social mobilization platform engages churches and other players from civil society, with targeted actions around the International Day of Elimination of Violence against Women on 25 November. The Lutheran World Federation (LWF) action plan "Churches Say ‘No' to Violence against Women" is a resource used by church leadership and congregations in addressing the issue of violence against women. Church of Sudan Synod Condemns Violence, November 23, 2011 – An outspoken statement from the Episcopal Church of Sudan's Provincial Synod has called for an end to aerial bombings, the executions of civilians, and armed conflict – particularly the "cancer of the Western Equatoria State...the Lord's Resistance Army." In the statement, released today after its three-day meeting, the Synod called repeatedly called for peace, and an end to conflict, and stressed its role in the life of the two countries. Sierra Leone Appoints 2 Women to D.S. Posts November 27, 2011 – The Sierra Leone Annual (regional) Conference now has two female district superintendents, ending a 15-year absence of women in this position. The Rev. Mariama Bockari, 52, has been appointed to the northern Makeni District and the Rev. Etta Nicol, 70, to the Moyamba District in the south, the conference's second largest district after the Freetown District in the country's capital. The conference's first and only other female district superintendent, the Rev Mary Johnson, was appointed in 1985; she retired in 1996. |
