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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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Church Called to Seek Unity, Justice and Peace March 15, 2012 – The church is called to seek justice and peace, as well Christian unity, the World Council of Churches (WCC) general secretary, Rev. Dr Olav Fykse Tveit, said Wednesday in an interview with Toronto Star ethics columnist, Ken Gallinger. Tveit is in Canada this week visiting the WCC member churches. The interview, which included comments from former WCC president and past Canada Senator, Lois Wilson, explored the diminishing role of the church in North America and European life. "There is an increasing number of Christians around the world, but the growth is mainly happening in the global south," Tveit said in the interview. Diverse Interfaith and Grass Roots Leaders March 14, 2012, NEW YORK – "This is not a Muslim Issue. This is an American Issue." Diverse Christian, Jewish, Sikh and Muslim leaders gathered yesterday at historic Riverside Church to jointly express concern about the recent reports of extensive NYPD monitoring of the local Muslim community, in coordination with the National Interfaith Letter sent to Mayor Bloomberg by the Shoulder to Shoulder Campaign on behalf of over 25 national and local religious groups, representing hundreds of thousands of people of faith, calling for an investigation into the NYPD's surveillance of Muslim communities and the materials used in police trainings. March 16, 2012 – Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams on March 16 revealed that he is to step down from his role at the end of the year. His decision comes after 10 years in the post and after accepting the position of Master of Magdalene College, Cambridge. The college said that Williams "has the capacity and vision to guide the College in a time of unprecedented change in higher education." In a statement issued from Lambeth Palace, the Primate of All England said: "It has been an immense privilege to serve as Archbishop of Canterbury over the past decade, and moving on has not been an easy decision. During the time remaining there is much to do, and I ask your prayers and support in this period and beyond. Rise in Christians Has China's Churches, Government Looking for Help March 14, 2012 – A small white chapel of Western design sits amid the high-rise residential buildings of Macau, a former Portuguese colony now administered by the People's Republic of China. Popularly known as the "Morrison Chapel" in honor of Scotsman and Presbyterian minister Rev. Robert Morrison, the first missionary to land in the region in 1807 and the first to translate and publish the Bible in Chinese, it was the first Protestant chapel built on Chinese soil. From there, Protestant Christianity spread throughout China. "This is where the gospel came to the Chinese," said the Rev. Stephen Durie, an Anglican priest and pastor of the chapel, officially christened a century ago as a nondenominational House of God, during a tour of the grounds in late February. Fluke Reacts to Limbaugh Comment March 14, 2012 – Google "Sandra Fluke" and you will find hundreds of news stories either praising or demonizing the young Georgetown law student for speaking out about the need for women to have insurance coverage for contraceptives. Behind all that buzz is a lifelong United Methodist who said growing up in the church taught her to speak out for others who need help, "even if that wasn't a popular thing to do." The Rev. Richard Fluke, Sandra's father, is a part-time licensed local pastor who shares the pulpit at Tatesville United Methodist Church in Everett, Pa., with two other pastors. Both he and his wife, Betty Kay, are proud of their daughter. ELCA Releases Draft Social Statement on Criminal Justice March 15, 2012, CHICAGO – The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) is addressing issues in the U.S. criminal justice system. The perspective of an ELCA task force on the topic is featured in the "Draft Social Statement on Criminal Justice" released to ELCA members and to the public March 15. While commending positive aspects of the system, the draft conveys some dissatisfaction with many areas about the criminal justice system that urgently need reform. "The task force was formed in response to concerns expressed from ELCA synods about the alarmingly high incarceration rates in the United States," said Cynthia Osborne, chair of the ELCA task force charged with developing the social statement. Archbishop of Cantebury's Interview with Press Association March 16, 2012 – Archbishop Rowan Williams spoke to the Press Association following the announcement that he will step down from the office of Archbishop of Canterbury at the end of December 2012 to take up the position of Master of Magdalene College, Cambridge. Watch the video or read a transcript of the complete interview. March 10, 2012 – Over the past 24 hours, 450 General Synod members of the Church of Ireland (together with several ecumenical guests) have come together from across the island and all the dioceses of the Church to engage with each other on this subject in innovative ways. It has been a substantial conversation reflecting strongly held convictions characterised by clarity of expression without judgmentalism. The conference enabled interactive engagement by participants from a wide range of different perspectives, focusing on complex and sometimes contentious issues. The climate was one of respectful dialogue, all the more valuable for its structured mixing of people who have not before come together or conversed in such depth. March 14, 2012, GENEVA – The Lutheran World Federation (LWF) member churches continued to show slight growth globally in 2011, according to statistics gathered by the LWF Communion Office. The 145 churches belonging to the LWF, ten recognized congregations and one recognized council in 79 countries had a combined total of 70,514,046 members, an increase of 205,752 or 0.3 percent over the previous year. LWF churches in Africa and Asia mainly contributed to the growth, with Africa adding 658,752 new members (3.4 percent), and Asia 217,905 (2.5 percent), according to the 2011 annual statistical survey conducted by the LWF Office for Communication Services. Churches in the North America, Europe, and Latin America and the Caribbean regions experienced decreases in membership. Convert Priest Thrilled to Host Pope and Archbishop of Canterbury March 15, 2012, ROME, Italy – Catholic convert Father Peter Hughes prefers to describe himself as "an Anglican who is now in full communion with Peter." "In a personal sense I have made this journey, and it has been both a fascinating and a demanding one," said Fr. Hughes, the prior of San Gregorio al Celio monastery in Rome, in an interview with CNA. Fr. Hughes was received into the Catholic Church in 2000, after many years as an Anglican vicar in his native Australia and in England. This weekend he will experience his life come full circle as he hosts both Pope Benedict XVI and the Anglican Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams. Benedicto XVI Declarará Al Padre Félix Varela "Venerable" En Su Próxima Visita a Cuba 12 marzo 2012, LA HABANA, Cuba – El primer paso hacia la beatificación de declarar "benerable" al padre Félix Varela, una de las figuras cimeras del pensamiento cubano del siglo XVIII, será anunciado a finales de este mes por Benedicto XVI, a su paso por Cuba, según dieron a conocer fuentes vaticanas, este fin de semana que concluye. Ese reconocimiento a las "virtudes heroicas" del padre Varela (1788-1853), un destacado patriota de la historia de Cuba, parte de una nominación hecha por el prelado Rodolfo Cosimo Meoli, ante la comisión de cardenales y obispos de la Congregación Vaticana para la Causa de los Santos, la cual fue aprobada por unanimidad, aunque el cardenal prefecto de ese organismo, Angelo Amato, tendrá ahora que presentar la propuesta ante el sumo pontífice para que rubrique el decreto. Carta De Obispos Católicos De Estados Unidos Apunta a Falta De Libertad Religiosa 15 marzo 2012, ESTADOS UNIDOS – "Desde que les hemos escrito respecto a los críticos esfuerzos que estamos llevando a cabo juntos para proteger la libertad religiosa en nuestro amado país, muchos de ustedes nos han pedido que escribamos una vez más para actualizarlos respecto a la situación y pedir, nuevamente, la ayuda de todos los fieles en esta obra importante," expresa una Carta de los Obispos de Estados Unidos hecha pública este 5 de marzo, a través de diversos medios. En la misma se expresa: "Hemos hecho oír nuestras voces y no dejaremos de hacerlo hasta tanto no sea restaurada la libertad religiosa. La Iglesia Metodista Inicia Plan 13 marzo 2012, ROSARIO, Argentina – El pasado sábado 3 de marzo se llevó a cabo en las instalaciones de la UCEL (Universidad del Centro Educativo Latinoamericano) el lanzamiento del Plan Nacional de Capacitación de la Iglesia Evangélica Metodista Argentina (IEMA) "La Perla Escondida." Daniel Bruno, su responsable, aseguró: "el curso intentará iluminar las mentes para que el corazón pueda seguir ardiendo con una renovada y comprometida intensidad." Obispos Dominicanos Y Haitianos Analizan Temas Sociales De Mutuo Interés 14 marzo 2012, SANTO DOMINGO – La reunión de la Conferencia del Episcopado dominicano con el haitiano dará a conocer, esta tarde, los resultados del décimo primer encuentro entre ambas, el cual se desarrolla en la Casa de Evangelización María de la Altagracia, ubicada en el municipio Santo Domingo Este, durante tres días desde el pasado domingo, a fin de tratar temas de mutuo interés entre estos países. La Reforma Protestante Tiene Su Plaza Jardín En Igrejinha 14 marzo 2012, PORTO ALEGRE, Brasil – Después de completar 150 años de fundación, el miércoles 7, la Parroquia Evangélica Luterana de Igrejinha (una ciudad a 82 kilómetros de Puerto Alegre) celebró este hito el domingo 11, con un servicio seguido de la inauguración de una Galería de fotos de ese siglo y medio de existencia y la creación de la Plaza Jardín Lutero, cerca del puente de Juan Pedro Kichler. Piden Obispos Católicos El Respeto a Los Derechos Humanos De Migrantes Haitianos 16 marzo 2012, SANTO DOMINGO – Los obispos de República Dominicana y Haití, al concluir su reunión iniciada el pasado lunes en esta capital, hicieron público su deseo de sensibilizar a ambos gobiernos con el respeto a los derechos humanos de los haitianos y acabar de resolver su status como migrantes aquí. Trece Personas Toman Arquidiócesis De La Habana Ante La Visita Del Papa 15 marzo 2012, LA HABANA, Cuba – Trece personas que irrumpieron en la Basílica Menor de Nuestra Señora de la Caridad en La Habana, este martes en la tarde, luego de presentar un documento para que sea entregado al papa durante su próxima visita a Cuba, se negaron a abandonar el lugar, según una nota aparecida en el diario Juventud Rebelde hoy y firmada por Orlando Márquez, vocero oficial del cardenal Jaime Ortega Alamino. WCC General Secretary Expresses Empathy Following Belgian Tragedy March 15, 2012 – "Words alone are inadequate to express our sorrow," wrote World Council of Churches general secretary Rev. Dr Olav Fykse Tveit to the churches and people of Belgium following the death on Tuesday 13 March of 22 children and six adults in the crash of a hired coach near Sierre, Switzerland. The students and their teachers were beginning the journey home from a ski excursion in the Alps when their coach ran head-on into the wall of a highway tunnel. Another 24 pupils were injured in the accident; three of them remained in critical condition on Thursday. Tveit invoked the abiding love of God in support of the Belgian faith communities' "ministries of comfort and healing in this tragic time." ELCA Remains Engaged in Japan One Year Later March 16, 2012, CHICAGO – When one of the strongest earthquakes on record struck off the coast of Japan a year ago, the 4.2 million members of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) took immediate action, contributing $2.9 million to ELCA Disaster Response. These funds have provided food and clean water, care and counseling to help sustain earthquake survivors and support for programs that address disaster preparedness, sustainability and the redevelopment of communities and livelihoods. "Our church has walked in solidarity with our companion church in Japan from the very first moments of this disaster, when tsunami and nuclear crisis tragically compounded the impact of a massive earthquake," said the Rev. Rafael Malpica Padilla, ELCA executive for global mission. Evangelism and Church Growth Initiative Core Group (ECGI) Meeting in Kenya 6 March 12, 2012 – The Evangelism and Church Growth Initiative Core Group was invited and welcomed to St Julian's retreat centre, Limuru, by the Most Rev Dr Eliud Wakubala, Primate of the Anglican Church of Kenya. He presided at the first Eucharist and issued a challenge that in mission Jesus should be at the centre. Each morning's session began with a biblical reflection and discussion on how Jesus went about his evangelism, and what should be learnt from his approach. The core group began their meeting by visiting St Jerome's and the Church Army Africa Urban Mission Centre in Kibera, Nairobi. UN Monitor Highlights Failure of Iran's Justice System March 14, 2012, GENEVA – The United Nations investigator into human rights in Iran has sharply criticized the country's system of justice and human rights record. UN Special Rapporteur Ahmed Shaheed told a meeting of the Human Rights Council here that he had received testimony from more than 141 witnesses which highlighted "multifarious and systematic deficits in the Government's capacity to ensure respect for human rights." And in his formal written report to the Council, Dr. Shaheed focused to an extent not previously seen in UN investigations of Iran on the overall failure of the country's justice system. WCC Pays Tribute to Survivors of Fukushima Nuclear Accident March 12, 2012 – On the first anniversary of the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear accident in Japan, the World Council of Churches (WCC) issued a statement expressing solidarity with the victims and encouraging governments to take concrete steps to avoid such tragedies in future. The powerful Tohoku earthquake and tsunami on 11 March last year crippled the nuclear power station at Fukushima exposing people in the area to radiation, killing workers at the plant and forcing more than 100,000 people to abandon their homes. According to several reports, estimates of future cancer deaths due to accumulated radiation exposures in the population living near Fukushima range from 100 to 1000. Christian Leaders from Odisha Visit WCC Offices March 16, 2012 – A group of Christian leaders from Odisha (formerly Orissa), India visited the World Council of Churches (WCC) offices, sharing their experiences on working for religious freedom and lobbying for justice on behalf of religious minorities during the current session of the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva. The group was comprised of church leaders and civil society representatives. They met staff of the WCC and the Lutheran World Federation (LWF) on 8 March at the Ecumenical Centre in Geneva, Switzerland. In their meeting, the group recalled the violence perpetrated against Christians by Hindu extremists in Odisha in 2008. WCC Expresses Gratitude for Rowan Williams' Leadership and Contributions March 16, 2012 – Following an announcement from Lambeth Palace, London, that Dr Rowan Williams will be stepping down from his position as Archbishop of Canterbury, the World Council of Churches (WCC) expressed admiration for the archbishop's ongoing leadership and his significant contribution to the ecumenical movement spanned over several years. Archbishop Williams will be accepting a new position as master of Magdalene College at the University of Cambridge from January 2013, after leaving the office of Archbishop of Canterbury at the end of December this year, Lambeth Palace reported today. |
