 |
 |
 |
 |
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
|
China Christian Council to Host WCC Meeting in China May 30, 2012 – The World Council of Churches (WCC) will, for the first time since its 1948 inauguration, be holding its first meeting in Shanghai and Nanjing in the People's Republic of China, focusing on the unique situation of Chinese churches and ecumenical relations in the region. The meeting will take place from 9 to 16 June, organized by the WCC Commission of the Churches on International Affairs (CCIA) and hosted by the China Christian Council (CCC) and the National Committee of the Three Self Patriotic Movement of the Protestant Churches in China. The CCC, with its 23 million members, is the largest member constituency of the WCC in Asia. WCC General Secretary Condemns Violence in Syria May 29, 2012 – In a recent statement, the World Council of Churches (WCC) general secretary Rev. Dr Olav Fykse Tveit has condemned the violence occurring in Syria, expressed solidarity with the victims, and invoked prayers for peace in the country. "I express my deep pain over the massacre of innocent people and especially children that took place last Sunday in Taldou village, in the area of Houla, near Homs, in Syria," said Tveit in the statement. "We, as churches, cannot but condemn this inhumane act and manifest our feelings of solidarity with the families of the victims, mourning their beloved ones," he added. In the statement, Tveit expressed grave concern over the cycle of violence which has been continuing for more than a year. General Secretary Announces Decision June 1, 2012, ELGIN, IL – Church of the Brethren general secretary Stan Noffsinger today made an announcement concerning the BMC Kaleidoscope Coordinator as a Brethren Volunteer Service (BVS) project. The decision was shared in a letter addressed to Carol Wise, executive of BMC – the Brethren Mennonite Council for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Interests. "After conversations with the Church of the Brethren Mission and Ministry Board Executive Committee and a conference call with members of the board, I have withdrawn the BMC Kaleidoscope Coordinator as a BVS project as it is currently defined," the letter said. Global Food Crisis Fund Gives First Round of Grants for 2012 June 1, 2012 ELGIN, IL – A first round of grants for 2012 has been announced by the Church of the Brethren's Global Food Crisis Fund (GFCF). Totaling $23,500, the grants have supported work toward food security in the Sahel region of northern Africa, Haiti, and Honduras. The GFCF has given $5,000 this year for a total of $35,000 since 2009 for wells and food programs to NAGARTA, a nonprofit organization in Niger. Niger is in the Sahel region of Africa situated just south of the Sahara desert and continuing southward into the savanna regions that cross the entire continent, touching numerous countries. In a Changed World, Churches Need to Rethink Communications May 29, 2012 – The world of communication has changed so radically in the past 20 years that it is time for churches to rethink how they communicate concerns about injustice and conflict, said a group of Christian communicators gathered in Busan, South Korea. Busan is the site of the next assembly of the World Council of Churches (WCC), scheduled for Oct. 20 to Nov. 8, 2013. The group of journalists and communication advocates met this week to draft a statement on the theme of the assembly, "God of life, lead us to justice and peace." CBS Highlights Interfaith AIDS Action May 31, 2012 – Sex, drugs and AIDS make a lethal mix that doesn't get much compassion, even from people of faith. Scientific advances in prevention and life-extending drugs means those with the virus can live longer, healthier lives, but the stigma of how the disease is spread still is killing as effectively as the disease, said the Rev. Don Messer, a United Methodist pastor who believes faith communities can lead the way in ending discrimination associated with AIDS. An interview with Messer will be part of a CBS interfaith special, "HIV & AIDS: Awareness & Compassion," which will be broadcast June 17. The documentary profiles the interfaith movement to assist those living with HIV/AIDS to live productive and healthy lives. Battle Against Addiction Moves to Classroom May 30, 2012 – A United Methodist-related university in Oklahoma City is taking a major step forward in the fight against one of the nation's most difficult problems. Oklahoma City University has created a program in addiction-prevention studies in which students may earn a bachelor's degree. "The degree is designed to help combat one of our nation's most widespread and destructive problems," says Peter Messiah, director of the school's addiction-prevention efforts. CANADA: Dialogue Renewed with the United Church May 30, 2012 – The Anglican Church of Canada has entered a new round of dialogue with the United Church of Canada. The aim is to explore ways in which the two churches can work together for more effective ministry and mission. "Much of the impetus for these conversations is coming from the grassroots of our two churches," says Archdeacon Bruce Myers, the Anglican church's coordinator for ecumenical relations. "Many communities across Canada are served by ecumenical shared ministries in which Anglicans and United church people and clergy work and worship side by side. They're asking our churches' leadership to find ways to facilitate such cooperation in mission and ministry." "Bullying" Religioso Aumenta En Las Escuelas Del País 30 mayo 2012, CIUDAD DE MÉXICO – Un registro oficial de la Asociación de Padres de Familia indicó, recientemente, que al menos unos 90 casos de "bullying" han sido reportados a este organismo, mientras se afirma que unos cinco mil hechos de este tipo permanecen sin hacerte públicos por temor de las propias víctimas. Celebran En Unidad El Día De Pentecostés Pidiendo Por La Vida, La Justicia Y La Paz 29 mayo 2012, CIUDAD DE GUATEMALA – Revestidos con estolas rojas fueron acercándose, uno a uno, obispos, pastores protestantes y sacerdotes católicos, que concelebraron juntos la oración ecuménica de Pentecostés, realizada el pasado 19 de mayo en la parroquia católica Nuestra Señora del Sagrado Corazón, donde unas 200 personas entonaban cantos al Espíritu Santo, mientras en las afueras reventaban cuetillos y bombas, como se acostumbra en las fiestas de los pueblos guatemaltecos. 30 mayo 2012, MANAGUA, Nicaragua – Un sector evangélico, liderado por el pastor Domingo Medina, marchó por las calles de esta capital el pasado jueves 24 y culminó frente a la Asamblea Nacional, por considerar que las pretensiones del movimiento gay-lésbico y transexual van contra natura "porque contradicen la voluntad de Dios." Recibió apoyo de la iglesia Católica. Ahí pidieron la destitución del procurador de los Derechos Humanos, Omar Cabezas. Consejo De Iglesias Elige Nuevo Presidente Y Emite Declaración En Torno a La Paz 28 mayo 2012, LA HABANA, Cuba – El reverendo Joel Ortega Dopico, pastor de la Iglesia Presbiteriana-Reformada, acaba de ser elegido presidente del Consejo de Iglesias de Cuba (CIC), en la recién concluida Asamblea 45 de ese organismo ecuménico que concluyera este fin de semana, con la instalación de la nueva directiva y una declaración pública de su posición frente a la paz amenazada en el mundo de hoy. Delegación En Visita a Nigeria Espera "Una Transformación De La Realidad" 31 mayo 2012 – Una delegación internacional de alto nivel compuesta por dirigentes cristianos y musulmanes hizo pública una declaración conjunta al final de su visita a Nigeria el 25 de mayo, en la que expresaron la esperanza de que su "visita sea un ejemplo internacional de colaboración interreligiosa entre musulmanes y cristianos destinada a promover la paz y la armonía entre personas de distintas religiones." 1 junio 2012, MADRID, España – La Iglesia Evangélica Española (IEE) emitió un comunicado referido a la crisis económica en España donde pone de manifiesto su solidaridad con aquellas personas que están sufriendo directamente y, de forma más intensa, los efectos de la crisis económica y financiera que es, afirman, una crisis del modelo social neoliberal. El Secretario General Del CMI Condena La Violencia En Siria 31 mayo 2012 – En una reciente declaración, el Rev. Dr. Olav Fykse Tveit, secretario general del Consejo Mundial de Iglesias (CMI), condena la violencia en Siria y expresa su solidaridad con las víctimas, orando por el restablecimiento de la paz en el país. "Expreso mi profundo pesar por la masacre de personas inocentes, y en particular de niños, que tuvo lugar el domingo pasado en el pueblo de Taldo, en la región de Houla, cerca de Homs, en Siria," dijo Tveit en la declaración. Celebración Ecuménica De Oración Por La Unidad De Los Cristianos 31 mayo 2012, MONTEVIDEO, Uruguay – "Todos seremos transformados por la victoria de Nuestro Señor Jesucristo," es el lema de la Semana de Oración por la Unidad de los Cristianos, que en el Río de la Plata se celebra del domingo de Pentecostés- 27 de mayo- al domingo 3 de junio. El Consejo de Iglesias Cristianas del Uruguay (CICU) celebrará la Unidad en el Templo valdense de Montevideo este aábado 2 de junio a las 19 hs. Report Reveals "Grim Picture" of Human Rights in Iran May 26, 2012, WASHINGTON, DC – Iran's human rights record continued to display "many negative trends" last year, according to a US government spokesman. Assistant Secretary of State for Democracy, Human Rights and Labor, Michael H. Posner, described the current situation as "a very grim picture." Speaking at the press briefing on the 2011 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices, Mr. Posner noted – among other abuses in Iran –intolerance of dissent, restrictions on freedom of speech, unfair trials, and extensive use of the death penalty. VIRGINIA: ‘Continuing Congregations' Turn Focus to Future May 30, 2012 – The past weeks have been a time of transition for the Diocese of Virginia. Congregations that have worshiped away from their home churches for more than five years have made joyful homecomings to their church buildings. The entire diocese has joined in celebrating these returns, all while entering into a discernment process to help these congregations make plans for the future. The recent returns and celebrations have been a longtime coming for the four "continuing congregations" that have worshipped in temporary spaces while the diocese and breakaway congregations that had joined the Convocation of Anglican Churches in North America fought over rights to diocese-owned properties in the courts. Addressing the HIV Pandemic in South Sudan June 1, 2012 – Bishop Moses Deng-Bol of Wau Diocese of the Episcopal Church in South Sudan, believes in a church that encourages forgiveness, reconciliation and peaceful co-existence. In a recent interview he shared how churches in his country are trying to address issues presented by the HIV pandemic. Deng-Bol has been engaged with the Ecumenical HIV and AIDS Initiative in Africa (EHAIA), a project of the World Council of Churches (WCC), which he says has inspired religious leaders as well as congregation members to challenge the stigma attached to HIV and the exclusion of HIV-positive people from their communities. Calls for Iran to Uphold Right to Education Intensify May 31, 2012, GENEVA – The Baha'i International Community has joined with 16 other non-governmental organizations to call upon the government of Iran to urgently address the state of higher education in the country. A joint statement addressed to Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, is the latest in a growing number of protests around the world at Iran's abuses of the right to education. In their statement launched today, the 17 organizations note that more than 600 students, and some university lecturers, have been arrested since 2009 for peacefully expressing their opinions. CANADA: What Would Happen If We Say ‘No' to the Anglican Covenant? May 30, 2012 – The Anglican Church of Canada needs more clarity around what the "relational consequences" would be for not adopting the proposed Anglican Communion Covenant. This is one of the key messages that Council of General Synod (CoGS) members said the church must convey when the 15th Anglican Consultative Council (ACC) meets in New Zealand Oct. 27-Nov. 7. All member provinces of the Anglican Communion have been asked to report on progress made in response to the covenant, which has been recommended as a way of healing divisions triggered by debates over the issue of sexuality. |
