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WCC Central Committee Meeting Begins with Prayers for Justice and Peace

August 29, 2012 The opening service of common prayer at the WCC Central Committee meeting invoked reflections on "God of life, lead us to justice and peace," the theme of the WCC 10th Assembly. "We hope and pray every day for justice in our lives, not only for our families, our countrymen and those who share our opinion, but for all our fellow human beings." With this affirmation the Central Committee meeting of the World Council of Churches (WCC) began yesterday.

Altmann Affirms Signs of Hope in the Ecumenical Movement

August 29, 2012 – "The WCC can be and still is prophetic today," said the Rev. Dr Walter Altmann, moderator of the World Council of Churches (WCC) Central Committee, reflecting on highs and lows in the ecumenical movement and on the identity of the WCC. In a Central Committee session on 29 August, Altmann spoke of "sailing" the ecumenical movement, traditionally symbolized as a boat, and how its journey continues towards "transformation and overcoming injustice." The 150-member Central Committee is currently meeting at the Orthodox Academy of Crete in Kolympari, Greece.

Tveit Reports on Churches' Work for Justice and Peace

August 29, 2012 – The World Council of Churches (WCC) "is defined by all the three key words in our name. We are global, in all continents, and therefore also in solidarity with one another, seeking peace in all its meaning for the whole earth," said the WCC general secretary Rev. Dr Olav Fykse Tveit. He said it is time to "harvest the fruits" of ecumenical life and work, and pondered "what we have learned" since the WCC 9th Assembly at Porto Alegre, Brazil in 2006. The WCC general secretary was reporting on 29 August to the Central Committee, a primary decision-making body of the WCC which reflects and deliberates on the present and future work of the council, making course corrections while also recognizing and celebrating its achievements.

General News

Churches Pray and Care for Creation

August 30, 2012 – Every year, from 1 September to 4 October, parishes and congregations in various parts of the world consecrate some time to reflect, celebrate and organize activities in relation to creation. As of 2008, the WCC has invited churches to observe Time for Creation through prayers and actions. Over the years, especially through contributions from churches in the Pacific, Africa and Latin America, materials have been offered through the WCC website. This year, having been declared as the International Year of Sustainable Energy for All, the WCC is encouraging churches to focus on this topic.

WCC Statement Invokes New Understanding of Mission

August 30, 2012 – The first ecumenical affirmation of mission since 1982, invoking a new understanding of mission and evangelism amidst a changing world and ecclesial landscape, has been presented to the Central Committee of the World Council of Churches (WCC). The statement, titled "Together towards life: Mission and Evangelism in changing landscapes," was prepared by the WCC's Commission on World Mission and Evangelism (CWME). It was presented to the WCC Central Committee on Thursday, 30 August.

Episcopal School of Los Angeles Welcomes First Classes

August 30, 2012, DIOCESE OF LOS ANGELES – The Episcopal School of Los Angeles, an independent coeducational day school in Hollywood, opened Aug. 27, serving students in grades six, seven and eight. ESLA began two years ago with summer and after-school programs emphasizing science, technology, engineering, and math. Now in its first year of regular classes, the school will add a grade level each year until the fall of 2017; the first seniors will graduate in 2018.

‘Want Prayer?' Progressive Lay Evangelists Take Church to the Streets

August 30, 2012 – Progressive lay evangelist Adrian Dannhauser has been known to stand on a busy Stamford, Connecticut street at lunchtime with a sign: "Want Prayer?" Sometimes she'd add a verbal invitation to those who approached. Others sometimes passed her by, slowed, turned around and returned. "You'd hear about the loss of a loved one just the day before," she recalled during a recent telephone interview. "Or, ‘my wife is having trouble getting pregnant.'

Sydney Anglicans Accused of Sexism over New Marriage Vows

August 30, 2012 – An Australian Anglican diocese has been accused of sexism over proposed new marriage vows requiring a wife to "submit" to her husband. Introduced as an alternative to the traditional vows that use the word "obey," the wording is expected to be considered at the Sydney diocese's synod in October. But some parishes are already using the vows within the conservative diocese, which also declines to ordain women. Muriel Porter, a Melbourne academic and laywoman who writes on Anglican Church issues, said replacing the word "obey" with "submit" was derogatory.

Loan Break for United Methodist Students

August 27, 2012 – The United Methodist loan program is offering a new option with lower interest and earlier repayment to help United Methodist college students struggling with increasing debt. BorrowSmart allows college students who are members of United Methodist churches to borrow $5,000 at 3.75 percent interest and begin repaying the loan in 90 days at $50 a month instead of deferring repayment. Students do not begin repaying most traditional student loans until six months after graduation or if they withdraw from school.

Acts of Repentance Guide Stresses Healing

August 28, 2012*8 By Barbara Dunlap-Berg "Repentance by itself makes the repentant feel good. We cannot just apologize. We need to focus on healing relationships. And then we need to realize that the learning is just beginning." Blenda Smith speaks from experience. The white laywoman from the Upper New York Annual (regional) Conference has served as a director of the United Methodist Commission on Christian Unity and Interreligious Concerns since 2004. Smith said she has moved from "cluelessness" to awareness, especially about the concerns of Native Americans and other indigenous people.

Arkansas Tries New Job Seeker, Employer Plan

August 31, 2012 – United Methodists in Arkansas are engaging in denominational matchmaking to pair potential employers with graduates of a job-training program for those recovering from addiction. The prospective match: Little Rock area church members who also are employers and graduates of the "Jobs for Life" program at Better Community Development, originally founded in 1967 as Black Community Developers, an outreach program of Theressa Hoover United Methodist Church. A side benefit from a successful marriage: a model that could be replicated across the denomination.

Ecumenical News

Central Committee Appreciates Faith and Order Convergence Text

August 31, 2012 – "Faith and Order has a long and significant history in the life of the ecumenical movement. Its two convergence texts, Baptism, Eucharist and Ministry and now The Church: Towards a Common Vision, provide our member churches with the necessary theological tools towards the full communion of our common fellowship," said Metropolitan Prof. Dr Gennadios of Sassima. Metropolitan Gennadios, representing the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople, serves as vice-moderator of the World Council of Churches (WCC) Central Committee. The Faith and Order convergence text on The Church: Towards a Common Vision, was presented at a public hearing of the WCC Central Committee on 29 August.

Spanish News

Academia Ortodoxa De Creta Acoge Reunión Del CMI

30 agosto 2012 Con un rico patrimonio cristiano y una larga historia de encuentros ecuménicos, la Academia Ortodoxa de Creta, en nombre del Patriarca Ecuménico de Constantinopla, acoge estos días la reunión del Comité Central del Consejo Mundial de Iglesias (CMI). Esta es la primera vez que la Academia Ortodoxa de Creta (AOC) acoge una reunión del Comité Central, que tiene lugar del 28 de agosto al 5 de septiembre en Kokympari, Grecia.

Convocatoria De La Revista Cultura Y Religión

28 agosto 2012 ARGENTINA – La revista Cultura y Religión de la Universidad Arturo Prat del Estado de Chile invita a los investigadores e investigadoras que escriben sobre temas del campo religioso desde la perspectiva de las ciencias sociales, a enviar sus papers para la edición del Vol. VII, N.1, del año 2013. Este número de Cultura y Religión estará centrado en las religiones en la Argentina, con Hilario Wynarczyk y Alejandro Frigerio como editores invitados.

ONG Denuncia Casos De Violencia Sexual De Carabineros a Alumnas Secundarias

30 agosto 2012, SANTIAGO, Chile – Múltiples denuncias de desnudez forzada y violencia genérica de parte de Carabineros contra estudiantes secundarias detenidas tras los desalojos de los liceos de Santiago ha recibido Corporación Humanas. Estos se sumarían a los casos de una menor de edad y una universitaria, en los que la organización de derechos humanos de mujeres presentó querellas por violencia sexual policial.

Altmann Afirma Señales De Esperanza En El Movimiento Ecuménico

30 agosto 2012 – "El CMI puede ser y sigue siendo actualmente profético," dijo el Dr. Walter Altmann, moderador del Comité Central del Consejo Mundial de Iglesias (CMI), en su reflexión sobre las vicisitudes del movimiento ecuménico y sobre la identidad del CMI. El 29 de agosto, en una sesión del Comité Central, Altmann dijo que el movimiento ecuménico, tradicionalmente simbolizado como un barco, debe seguir "navegando," y se refirió a que su peregrinación conduce hacia "la transformación y la erradicación de la injusticia."

La Reunión Del Comité Central Comienza Con Oraciones Por La Justicia Y La Paz

30 agosto 2012 – "Es nuestra esperanza y nuestra oración que haya justicia en nuestras vidas, no solo para nuestras familias, nuestros compatriotas y aquellos que comparten nuestras opiniones, sino también para todos los seres humanos." Con esta afirmación comenzó el martes, 28 de agosto, la reunión del Comité Central del Consejo Mundial de Iglesias (CMI).

Encuentro De Pastoral Urbana De La Región Buenos Aires

31 agosto 2012 – El jueves 30 de agosto se inició el Encuentro de la Pastoral Urbana de la Región Buenos Aires, cuyo tema es "El kerigma urbano," que se está desarrollando en la sede de la Universidad Católica Argentina, en Puerto Madero. Dio la bienvenida a los casi 400 asistentes el Pbro. Jorge Scheinig, de la diócesis de San Isidro, coordinador de la Pastoral Urbana de la Región Buenos Aires.

National News

Children's Disaster Services Completes Oklahoma Response, on Standby to Respond to Isaac

August 31, 2012, ELGIN, IL – Children's Disaster Services (CDS) recently completed a response to families and children affected by wildfires in Oklahoma, even as some 250 CDS volunteers are on standby awaiting a call to help out following Hurricane Isaac. Children's Disaster Services is a Church of the Brethren ministry that works cooperatively with the American Red Cross and FEMA, providing trained and certified volunteers to set up child care centers in shelters and disaster assistance centers. Specially trained to respond to traumatized children, CDS volunteers provide a calm, safe, and reassuring presence in the midst of the chaos that follows disasters. .

Hurricane Isaac

August 29, 2012 – Brethren Disaster Ministries monitors progress of storm, Children's Disaster Services prepares volunteers to respond, Haitian and Dominican Brethren send updates Brethren Disaster Ministries staff are monitoring the damage being caused by Hurricane Isaac – now downgraded again to a tropical storm – as it continues to make its way north across Louisiana, Mississippi, and other areas of the Gulf Coast. Children's Disaster Service associate director Judy Bezon reports that CDS volunteers are on alert, ready to set up child care centers in shelters following the storm.

ELCA Synods Struck by Hurricane Isaac Begin to Assess Damage

August 31, 2012, CHICAGO – In the past week Hurricane Isaac has caused flooding and damage across parts of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America's (ELCA) Southeastern and Texas-Louisiana Gulf Coast Synods. Both synods are now working with ELCA Disaster Response and their congregations, as well as other social service providers to assess needs in the area and begin the clean-up process. In the ELCA Texas-Louisiana Gulf Coast Synod, where Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans seven years ago this week, most of the damage has been caused by heavy winds and flooding.

ELCA Leaders Hopeful about Citizenship for Undocumented Youth

August 27, 2012, CHICAGO – As thousands of young people are now seeking legal temporary residency in the United States, under the Obama administration's Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals process, leaders of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) are hopeful about this first step toward citizenship for undocumented immigrant youth. "This executive action is a good move in the right direction," according to the Rev. H. Julian Gordy, bishop of the ELCA Southeastern Synod based in Atlanta. "However, we will continue to work to see the DREAM Act made law so that young people, who are Americans in every way except place of birth, might have access to citizenship."

International News

Anglican Alliance's Philippines Appeal – Iglesia Filipina Independiente

August 29, 2012 – Continuous heavy rains caused by the Southwest Monsoon and aggravated by Typhoons Saola and Haikui have left more than 2.4 million people affected. The areas of Luzon and Visayas have been severely affected. According to the latest reports 67 people have died, 362,300 people have evacuated to 729 evacuation centres and an additional 284,200 people are staying with relatives and friends.

Orthodox Academy of Crete Hosts Major WCC Meeting

August 28, 2012 – With a long history of Christian heritage and ecumenical encounter, the Orthodox Academy of Crete (OAC) is now hosting the World Council of Churches (WCC) Central Committee meeting. The academy was offered as a venue under the sponsorship of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople, a founding member of the WCC. This is the first time that the OAC has hosted a Central Committee meeting. The event is taking place from 28 August to 5 September in Kolympari, Greece.

LWF to Assist Syrian Refugees in Jordan
World Service Joining Response to Record Influx

August 29, 2012, GENEVA – The Lutheran World Federation (LWF) is joining efforts to respond to the growing influx of Syrian refugees in Jordan. On 28 August, the LWF signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Jordan Hashemite Charity Organization (JHCO), the agency mandated by the Jordanian government to manage and coordinate assistance to Syrian refugees in Za'atari refugee camp. The LWF will provide shelter, camp management, psycho-social support and education services in the camp, which is located near the city of Mafraq, some 70 kilometers from the Syrian border.

Lutherans Launch Peace-building Efforts in Assam
Interfaith Seminars to Equip Leaders with Conflict Transformation Skills

August 29, 2012, GENEVA – Member churches of The Lutheran World Federation (LWF) are spearheading efforts to restore peace between ethnic communities in Assam, India, following violence that has left 80 dead and forced hundreds of thousands to flee their homes. Violence erupted between the ethnic Bodo community and migrant Muslims in Assam when four youths were killed in July. While there have been some longstanding issues between the groups, they have mostly lived side-by-side peacefully and the recent deadly clashes have taken many villagers by surprise. "Our village was very peaceful. We have been living with the Muslim brothers and sisters as neighbors," said Hira Mosahary, 39, a member of the Northern Evangelical Lutheran Church (NELC) congregation in Goladangi.

ELCA Working to Meet Needs of Syrian Refugees in Neighboring Jordan

August 24, 2012, CHICAGO – The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) is responding to the needs of Syrian refugees in Jordan, where an estimated 150,000 Syrians – 39,600 of which are registered with the United Nations as refugees – have fled. As the conflict in Syria continues to worsen, some Syrians have also fled to Iraq, Lebanon and Turkey. The Rev. Munib A. Younan, bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land and president of The Lutheran World Federation, has been in conversation with Jordanian officials about how Lutherans can best be involved in addressing the needs of Syrian refugees.

WCC Pays Respect to Victims of Road Accidents

August 27, 2012 – The World Council of Churches (WCC) general secretary Rev. Dr Olav Fykse Tveit joined the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) in honouring the victims of road accidents. "Every single human being is precious in the eyes of God as they are created in the very image of God,? said Tveit. He addressed a memorial service on Sunday, 26 August at the Christos Polentas park in Chania, Greece, the site of a memorial sculpture in remembrance of victims of road accidents dedicated as part of the UN Decade of Action for Road Safety (2011-2020).