Amid the violence, a prayer of contrition and hope
As
the death toll in Gaza exceeded 350 in ongoing
Israeli attacks, and as violence continued in other
world hot spots, the General Secretary of the National
Council of Churches USA has offered a prayer of
contrition and a plea to God to "make war cease." The
Rev. Dr. Michael Kinnamon also signed on to a message from Churches
for Middle East Peace to President Bush to press for
an immediate cease- fire. As most of the 35 member
communions of the National Council expressed their dismay over the
sudden eruption of violence between Israel and Gaza, Kinnamon
offered this prayer:
"God of all creation, you who are so bound to humankind that you feel
the joys that complete us and the sorrows that rend us; God of
Abraham, you who have made covenant with our ancestors and called us
to be special instruments of your peace; we come to you in pain. You have commanded us to love our neighbors as ourselves; yet
throughout our world we see horrifying examples of our failure to
love as you command ... "
Read more.
Churches support Congo Sabbath to protect women
The
NCC has joined a growing number of religious leaders to
support the Congo Sabbath initiative to
demand an end to the mistreatment of women and girls in the Democratic Republic
of Congo. Hundreds of thousands of women and girls living in DRC have been
victims of brutal sexual violence, leaving them with
severe physical ailments. Seven in ten of these women go untreated because of inadequate medical facilities.
More.
Concerns for human trafficking in the season of love
The
National Council of Churches, at the September 2008
Governing Board, adopted a resolution on
Human Trafficking. In the resolution, NCC
member communions agreed to observe January 11 as Human
Trafficking Awareness Day through prayer, reflection, education and
actions that will assist in bringing an end to these forms of modern
day slavery.
Read more.
Churches will gather to advance the cause of peace
Three
historic peace churches are hosting an ecumenical
gathering here next week to stress the urgent need to
work for peace in the world. NCC General Secretary
Kinnamon and NCC eco-justice staff are among the
presenters. Heeding
God’s Call: A Gathering on Peace will be held January
13-17, 2009, in Philadelphia. Registration is currently open, and
more information can be found at
www.peacegathering2009.org.
More.
Ecumenical Advocacy Days convene March 13-16
A new congress and a new administration will be
grappling with the toughest issues in decades this March 13-16,
2009, when more than 700 persons of faith arrive from around the
country to press their views on peace, justice, the environment and
economic fairness. The seventh annual
Ecumenical Advocacy Days, meeting at the Hilton Alexandria Mark
Center under the theme, "Enough for All Creation."
More.
Robert J. Marshall, a founder of the ELCA, dies at 90
The
Rev. Robert J. Marshall, who helped pave the way for the
union of three Lutheran denominations into the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America,
died December 22 in Allentown, Pa., at 90. Described by ELCA Presiding
Bishop Mark S. Hanson as "one of those giants among
Lutheran leaders who served in the 20th century," Dr.
Marshall succeeded the Rev. Dr. Franklin Clark Fry in
1968.
More.
Leaders
ask Obama to ease travel restrictions to Cuba
NCC
General Secretary Michael Kinnamon joined Church World
Service Director John McCullough and more than a dozen
other Christian leaders Dec. 18 in asking
President-Elect Obama to ease travel restrictions to
Cuba that have made it harder for religious delegations
to visit or support church partners there. U.S.
religious institutions now qualify for only limited
travel licenses, and some have been unable to obtain
even those.
More.
Cardinal Dulles was a friend of NCC Faith and Order
The
death December 12 of Cardinal Avery Dulles was a sad
event for ecumenists related to the National Council of
Churches USA, both because of the Cardinal's friendship
with the Faith and Order Commission and because of his
father's close relationship with the Council in its
early years. The
late John Foster Dulles, a Presbyterian layman was active in both the National and World Councils of
Churches.
More.
NCC issues brochure on dangers of Christian Zionism
"Christian
Zionism" is a dangerous movement that distorts the
teachings of the Church, fosters fear and hatred of
Muslims and non-Western Christians, and has negative
consequences for Middle East Peace.
A
new brochure, Why We Should Be Concerned About Christian
Zionism, by the NCC (in English and Spanish) is now available as an
educational tool for groups who
want to share these warnings with their members.
More.
Interfaith Commission warns of extreme DVD on Islam
Kinnamon on UN Advocacy week: justice is security
Ecumenical conference on trafficking: final report
Kinnamon and Kobia: protect the Christians of Iraq
NCC calls for support of beleaguered India Christians
Ecumenical response issued to 'A Common Word'
Church councils minister creatively to immigrants
The
NCC's Interfaith Relations Commission has raised alarm
over the mass distribution of 28 million copies of what
it termed a “distorted and misleading” DVD entitled:
“Obsession: Radical Islam's War Against the West." The
Commission charged that the DVD has the effect of
“fanning the sparks of mistrust, bigotry and hatred that
undermine the very foundations of a multi-religious
democracy.”
More.
As
keynote speaker at UN Advocacy week, the NCC general
secretary asked: As political life in the United States
undergoes major transition, can we advocate effectively
for a U.S. foreign policy that favors diplomacy over
force, for a foreign policy that seeks “security” not
through unilateral defense but through attentiveness to
the injustice that afflicts other children of God?
Read more.
The
Ecumenical Conference on Human Trafficking began at
12:30 pm on Monday, September 29, 2008 at the Church
Center for the United Nations, 777 United nations Plaza,
New York, NY, 10017 and finished at 12:30 pm on
Wednesday, October 1, 2008. There were 72
participants representing 15 different denominations or
faith communities, 3 interfaith organizations and 7
secular organizations.
The final report is here.
NCC
General Secretary Michael Kinnamon has welcomed a call
by World Council of Churches General Secretary Samuel Kobia "to quell the violence" against the Christian minority
in Iraq. Kobia issued the plea to officials of the United Nations
and the Iraqi government, seeking "swift action to quell
the violence in Iraq and to thwart activities aimed at
the expulsion of Christians and other minority
populations."
More.
Christians
make up two percent of the population of India, and for
the past 10 months they have been subject to violent
attacks at the hands of Hindus.
"This
persecution of Christians in India must stop!" declared
NCC General Secretary Michael Kinnamon at rally of
Indian Christians near United Nations headquarters in
New York. "We in the United States stand with you in
this time of anxiety and suffering. You are not
alone!"
More.
The
NCC Governing Board has approved an ecumenical response
to "A Common Word Between Us and
You," declaring Christianity and Islam "are compelled to find common
ground." The Muslim message
is a letter from Muslim scholars worldwide that seeks
dialogue with Christians based on love of God and love
of neighbor, two commandments central to both Islam and
Christianity, as well as to Judaism.
More
Compelled by faith to welcome all people as neighbors,
church people have developed creative and effective immigrations ministries. Across the country, city and
state councils of churches are welcoming additional ideas
to enhance their support of neighbors who are
sometimes dismissed as 'aliens.' For an overview
of their work – and ideas for ministries in your own
neighborhood – look
here.
The
newly formed NCC Health Task Force has
joined with AARP and others in promoting a campaign to urge all Americans to
seek policies that will better address the unmet needs of the poor and those
who lack adequate health care coverage. The NCC recently completed a study
in which more than 6000 congregations reported their own health ministries.
A groundbreaking survey reveals that churches spend a significant amount of time, energy and money in the ministries of health care. The
This 87-page book, edited by Dr. Antonios Kireopoulos, the National Council of Churches’
Senior Program Director for Faith and Order and Interfaith Relations, examines the issue of peace and international relationships with essays, Bible studies, prayers, litanies and other worship resources. 
A generation of
ecumenical and interfaith leaders knew Martin in ways history
has almost forgotten. As his 80th birthday
is celebrated January 15, his familiar image will appear in
churches, government offices, department stores and on flyers
hawking January sales. Teachers will point to his picture in
classrooms and require their classes to read his biography. He
will be quoted in sermons and in political ceremonies, almost
always from his August 1963 "I have a dream" speech. And television
news shows will broadcast brief clips of his 1963 speech, or of
his April 3, 1968 speech the night before he was killed: "I may
not get there with you, but we as a people will get to the
promised land." All
of which is accurate, but with each passing year Martin the
human being is mediated with fewer dimensions. He's becoming a
"marble person" like the historic statues that populate our
parks -- beautiful to behold but cold to the touch. "Sooner or later it
happens to everyone who passes on," says a Baptist pastor and
ecumenical leader who knew the oft-described martyred
civil rights leader. "But it's sad people will never know the
real Martin." There are many who have no idea Martin could make
you laugh until your stomach hurt with his imitations of other
preachers, or that he considered himself a pool shark on a par
with Minnesota Fats.
Your comments and suggestions are welcomed: