Front Page

Tarek Mitri: Pact of Citizenship Binds Christians and Muslims Together

August 31, 2012 – "Quite often, it is not the relationship between the Muslim majority and the Christian minority that was, and is, at stake but justice, political participation, human rights and national dignity," said Dr Tarek Mitri. He added that "community-specific anxiety could not overshadow the common worries of Christians and Muslims" in the Middle East. Mitri, senior fellow at the American University of Beirut, is a former Lebanese cabinet minister and a former staff member of the World Council of Churches (WCC) responsible for the inter-religious dialogue and cooperation programme. He was addressing a public hearing on "Christians and changes in the Arab world" on 31 August during the WCC Central Committee meeting which is currently underway in Kolympari, Greece.

Communities Around the Globe Invited to ‘Pray for Ceasefire' Sept. 21.

September 7, 2012 ELGIN, IL – Sept. 21 is the International Day of Prayer for Peace – and it's not too late to participate! On Earth Peace is inviting all churches and community groups to use this day to lift up a message of peace and ceasefire in whatever ways make sense in your community, including shortly before or after the 21st itself. Currently 145 communities have signed up, including participants in Australia, Canada, the Democratic Republic of Congo, El Salvador, India, Jamaica, Nigeria, the Philippines, Thailand, and the US.

Ecumenical Patriarch Reaffirms Commitment to the Vision of the WCC

September 4, 2012 – The Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople Bartholomew I publicly reaffirmed the Ecumenical Patriarchate's commitment to the vision and mission of the World Council of Churches (WCC) on 3 September. He was addressing participants of the WCC Central Committee meeting in Crete, Greece. "The commitment of the Ecumenical Patriarchate to the vision and mission of the WCC – from the early formative and creative years through even the more difficult and contentious moments – has always been unwavering and paramount," said Bartholomew I.

Pakistan Churches Hail Arrest of Muslim Cleric for Framing Christian Girl

September 4, 2012 – Church officials and Christian activists in Pakistan said they were encouraged by the arrest of a Muslim cleric on charges of framing an illiterate Christian teenager on blasphemy charges. "This is a very positive development," Victor Azariah, general secretary of the National Council of Churches in Pakistan (NCCP), told ENInews Sept. 4 from his office in Lahore. "There is a strong demand even in the media now to end the abuse of the blasphemy law. We hope this will lead to a positive outcome," said Azariah, reacting to the Sept. 2 arrest of Muslim cleric Khalid Chishti on the charge of framing Christian girl Rimsha Masih.

General News

Youth Learn "Different Ways of Living Christian Faith"

3 September 2012 – It might seem like a trivial task to help with the logistical arrangements of a major meeting. However, for the "stewards" of the World Council of Churches (WCC), this task means more than merely helping out. "Yes, we do get to help with documentation and logistical arrangements of the meeting. However, this is accompanied by learning about different ways of living the Christian faith and experiencing a multi-cultural environment," said David Rubén Romero-Mazzini, working with the Evangelical Youth Network in Peru.

Latin American and Caribbean Lutherans Launch HIV Network
Quest for Dignity, Justice an Expression of God's Unconditional Love

September 4, 2012, BOGOTÁ, Colombia/GENEVA – The Lutheran World Federation (LWF) member churches in Latin America and the Caribbean have launched an HIV and AIDS network in the region utilizing biblical analysis to affirm this prophetic ministry. "When a part of the body of Christ suffers, the whole body suffers. In a well-connected and held body, the parts help each other," was the motto of the LWF meeting held in Bogota, Colombia, 11-12 August as a follow-up on recommendations from the region's 2012 church leadership conference. Rev. Rocio Morales of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Colombia invited participants to analyze the Scriptures through the lenses of healing and liberation.

Central Committee Wants Safe Communities for Women and Men

September 4, 2012 – During a plenary session at its current meeting, the World Council of Churches (WCC) Central Committee explored emerging issues that hinder gender equality and the building of a safe community for women and men in churches and societies around the world. The plenary took place on 3 September, during the WCC Central Committee meeting currently taking place at the Orthodox Academy of Crete in Kolympari, Greece. The Central Committee is the council's primary decision-making body between assemblies, which meets approximately every 18 months.

Workcamp Coordinators Wrap up Their Service, Review the Summer

September 7, 2012, ELGIN, IL – The Church of the Brethren's Workcamp Office is simultaneously wrapping up the summer and gearing up for next summer's events. The church held 23 workcamps this summer: 7 for junior high youth, 13 for senior highs, 1 for young adults, and 2 for intergenerational groups. Attending those camps were approximately 500 people – over 100 advisors and adult participants as well as over 350 youth and young adult participants. At each camp there were also two leaders provided by the Workcamp Office. Out of those leaders, about 33 were volunteers who committed a whole week away from home, family, and work to help out.

Alaska Music Camps Build Community While Teaching Children

September 6, 2012 – They say music's a universal language. To the Rev. Belle Mickelson of the Diocese of Alaska, it's also a healer and community builder. Almost two decades ago, she spent an evening drinking tea and playing music with the elders of Galena, a central-Alaskan village along the Yukon, after leading a 4-H fisheries workshop there. "I asked, ‘How are things in Galena?' They were so depressed and discouraged because of all the suicides." The suicide rate in Alaska is twice the national average and even higher among native Alaskans. The state also has one of the country's highest per-capita alcohol-consumption rates.

Maryland District Superintendent Takes ‘Prayer Bike Tour'

September 7, 2012 – "The church needs to engage itself … to meet people where they are," said the Rev. Evan Young, newly appointed superintendent of the three-county United Methodist Annapolis District, Baltimore-Washington Annual (regional) Conference. "One way is through hobbies." One of Young's hobbies is cycling, so he decided to try what he dubbed the "Prayer Bike Tour" of his district on Aug. 26. Traveling 55 miles in 4.5 hours from the district's southernmost church – Friendship United Methodist – to the northernmost, Linthicum Heights, he said the "object was to pray for churches and pastors in my district and for those who live in our mission field."

Who Cares for Caregivers?

September 5, 2012 – Harriett Marshall's husband, Bob, required 24-hour care the last five years of his life. And, no matter how much you love someone, providing continual care takes a toll on the caregiver. Marshall said she is thankful she had the assistance of volunteers with the Care Team Ministry at her church, St. John's United Methodist in Dover, N.H., to do some of her chores and give her a respite now and then.

United Methodist ‘Church' on a Ferry Boat

September 4, 2012 – How do you attract tourists to worship with your church during the months of summer vacation? The little Michigan towns of St. Ignace and Mackinaw City have both tourists and locals standing in line for 30 minutes for a seat at their Vesper Cruise services led by various local denominations. On a balmy August evening onboard the Arnold Ferry boat called "Ottawa" stands a man in sandals, shorts and grey sweatshirt who could pass for a "fudgie" – the nickname given to tourists who travel to the Upper Peninsula of Michigan to vacation and buy fudge.

Ecumenical News

Central Committee Discusses Statement on Unity

September 3, 2012 – A draft statement on Christian unity, intended for the 10th Assembly of the World Council of Churches (WCC) in 2013, was presented on 30 August to the WCC's 60th Central Committee meeting. The Central Committee is the WCC's primary governing body between Assemblies, representing the 349 member churches. It convenes approximately once every eighteen months and is currently meeting at the Orthodox Academy of Crete in Kolympari, Greece. According to the statement, the church is a "foretaste of the new creation," called to be a "sign to the whole world of the life God intends for all."

Spanish News

El Comité Central Debate Declaración Sobre Unidad

4 septiembre 2012 – El borrador de una declaración sobre la unidad cristiana, que se propondrá a la 10ª Asamblea del Consejo Mundial de Iglesias (CMI) en 2013, fue presentado el 30 de agosto en la 60ª reunión del Comité Central del CMI. El Comité Central es el principal órgano rector del CMI entre las asambleas y representa a las 349 iglesias miembros. Se reúne aproximadamente una vez cada dieciocho meses y actualmente está reunido en la Academia Ortodoxa de Creta en Kolympari, Grecia.

Secretario General Del CMI Informa Sobre
La Labor De Las Iglesias Por La Justicia Y La Paz

3 septiembre 2012 – El Dr. Olav Fykse Tveit, secretario general del CMI, dijo en su informe: "El Consejo Mundial de Iglesias (CMI) se define por las tres palabras clave que componen su nombre. Somos una organización mundial, estamos en todos los continentes, y por lo tanto somos solidarios los unos con los otros en la búsqueda de la paz, en su sentido más amplio, para toda la tierra."

Iglesia Reclama Respeto a La Vida Y La Dignidad De La Población Migrante

4 septiembre 2012, CIUDAD DE GUATEMALA – "Ser migrante no es delito," fue el mensaje central de la eucaristía celebrada durante el XVIII Festival de la Hermandad y la Paz, que la Iglesia Católica y varias organizaciones de derechos humanos y eclesiales celebraron este primer domingo de septiembre, en solidaridad con las personas que se ven obligadas a dejar sus familias, comunidades y países, buscando mejores condiciones de vida.

El Patriarca Ecuménico Reafirma El Compromiso Con La Visión Del CMI

5 septiembre 2012 – El Patriarca Ecuménico de Constantinopla, Bartolomeo I, reafirmó públicamente el compromiso del Patriarcado Ecuménico con la visión y la misión del Consejo Mundial de Iglesias (CMI) el pasado 3 de septiembre, cuando se dirigía a los participantes de la reunión del Comité Central del CMI en Creta, Grecia. "El compromiso del Patriarcado Ecuménico con la visión y la misión del CMI –desde los primeros años formativos y creativos, e incluso durante momentos más difíciles y controvertidos– ha sido siempre primordial e inquebrantable, dijo Bartolomeo I.

National News

Children's Disaster Services Aids Families Displaced by Isaac

September 7, 2012, ELGIN, IL – Children's Disaster Services (CDS) is aiding children in Louisiana who have been displaced by Hurricane Isaac. Fifteen CDS volunteers were deployed to this heavily impacted area on Sept. 3. As of Sept. 4, the group of CDS volunteers split up into two teams and have set up temporary child care centers in separate American Red Cross shelters. Fourteen volunteers are working in two larger shelters in the towns of Baker and Gonzales, La. R. Jan Thompson is serving as project manager, working out of Port Allen, La., to coordinate the response.

Bishop Robert Finn Found Guilty on One Charge of Failure to Report

September 6, 2012 – James R. Hobbs, one of three lawyers present representing Bishop Robert W. Finn, argued that while the bishop could be considered a mandatory reporter under Missouri law, he had not personally seen photographs Ratigan had taken of children. "Perhaps he should have, but he didn't think it necessary," J.R. Hobbs, one of Finn's three lawyers, told Torrence. "Bishop Finn believed in his heart that when this emerged, it was handled."

President Issues Proclamation for Prayer and Remembrance of 9/11

September 7, 2012 – President Obama Issues Annual Proclamation of National Days of Prayer and Remembrance for Anniversary of 9/11 President Barack Obama has issued a call for Americans to pray and otherwise memorialize the events of 9/11/2001. The three days of prayer were established by President George W. Bush and followed since that time.

Mississippi Begins Clean up after Isaac

September 4, 2012, GAUTIER, Mississippi – Episcopal clergy contacted along the Mississippi coast agree that the devastation caused by Hurricane Isaac could have been much worse. From Pascagoula to Bay St. Louis, a 50-mile stretch, the Diocese of Mississippi's six coastal churches sustained little damage from the category-1 hurricane that drenched the Gulf Coast between Aug. 28-30. "We are very happy to report that all our churches made it through Hurricane Isaac intact," said Diocese of Mississippi Bishop Duncan Gray, III.

International News

Banned from Making Their Mark

September 6, 2012, NEW YORK – In practically any other country of the world, a teenage chess champion, a national judo standout and a talented pianist would be valued as contributors to their society. In the example of three young Iranians, however, being members of the Baha'i Faith has meant a ban on competing and performing at the highest levels. Judoist Khashayar Zarei, chess player Pedram Atoufi, and pianist Pegah Yazdani are all victims of Iran's systematic policy – spelled out in a government-backed 1991 memorandum – to "block" the progress and development of Baha'is and "deny them any position of influence."

LWF Welcomes Peace Talks in Colombia
General Secretary: Incorporate Principles for Just, Sustainable Peace

September 4, 2012, GENEVA – The Lutheran World Federation (LWF) has welcomed the announcement of peace talks in Colombia and urged that the dialogue incorporate principles for a just and sustainable peace. In a public statement issued today, LWF General Secretary Rev. Martin Junge expressed thanksgiving and hope that the Government of Colombia and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) are entering into peace talks.

French Polynesia Should Be Decolonized, Says WCC

September 5, 2012 – The Central Committee of the World Council of Churches (WCC) issued a public statement on 4 September calling for re-inscription of the French Polynesia (Maohi Nui) on the list of countries to be decolonized. In 1947 the French government had Maohi Nui removed from such a list drawn up by the newly formed United Nations. A public statement adopted by the Central Committee calls on French authorities "to fulfil their obligations and provide all necessary means for the economic, social and cultural development of the Maohi people" and "urges France to compensate all those affected by nuclear testing and radioactivity" in the vicinity.

WCC Calls for Dialogue and Prayer in Support of Peace in Syria

September 5, 2012 – Calling for an immediate end to all forms of violence in Syria, the World Council of Churches (WCC) Central Committee issued a public statement on 4 September requesting "all parties to engage in dialogue – as the only solution – in order to safeguard the unity and pluralistic nature of historic Syria." The statement noted that "the Christian presence in the Middle East is part of the social and cultural constituency of the society they live in" and that Syrian Christians "have a historical role to play in building up a future society based on the mutual respect and dialogue of life" within the country. Christians make up approximately ten percent of the Syrian population.

Prominent Speakers Address Justice and Reconciliation

September 7, 2012, MONTREAL – The establishment of justice and genuine reconciliation demands greater attention to the challenging work of rebuilding human relationships on the basis of love and mutual regard across historical barriers of injustice and ignorance. That was among the messages conveyed by distinguished contributors to the 36th conference of the Association for Baha'i Studies North America which attracted more than 1,400 participants here, 9-12 August 2012. Former Canadian Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Irwin Cotler MP, gave a personal account of the principles that he has striven to apply throughout his career.

West Africa Set to Have Two Provinces, Two Archbishops

September 4, 2012 – The Church of the Province of West Africa has revealed that it is holding a special synod at the end of the month to adopt a constitutional change that will see the creation of two provinces with two archbishops. The Provincial Secretary, The Revd Canon Fr Anthony Eiwuley, said today that the Church will be meeting at Cuttington University in Liberia September 27-29 for a special synod. "At this synod, we shall be adopting an amendment to our constitution to give room for the establishment of two administrative provinces," he said

People in the News

Metropolitan Gennadios Receives Honorary Fellowship

September 4, 2012 – In recognition of his work for peace, dialogue and Christian witness, the vice-moderator of the World Council of Churches (WCC) Central Committee, Metropolitan Prof. Dr Gennadios of Sassima of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople, has been awarded an honorary fellowship by the Orthodox Academy of Crete (OAC). The conferral of the fellowship was announced on 3 September at the WCC Central Committee meeting, which is currently taking place at the OAC in Kolympari, Greece.