http://www.wfn.org/ Official news releases of national and world faith groups en-us http://www.wfn.org/2009/07/msg00046.html Thu, 02 Jul 2009 23:30:09 -0500 recognize the Pingpu people as aboriginals. http://www.wfn.org/2009/07/msg00044.html Thu, 02 Jul 2009 23:30:09 -0500 Episcopal Life Online is available at http://www.episcopalchurch.org/elife. http://www.wfn.org/2009/07/msg00043.html Thu, 02 Jul 2009 16:10:04 -0500 CHICAGO (ELCA) -- Preachers, presiding ministers and Bible study leaders chosen for the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Americas (ECLA) Churchwide Assembly in Minneapolis this August come from diverse backgrounds. The preachers, presiders and Bible study leaders were chosen by the Rev. Mark S. Hanson, ELCA presiding bishop. The Rev. Jennifer P. Ollikainen, associate for worship resources, said the goal with this group was to have broad representation of the church body. http://www.wfn.org/2009/07/msg00042.html Thu, 02 Jul 2009 12:45:04 -0500 CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago (LSTC) asked a special finance task force to assess the impact of a decision by the board of neighboring McCormick Theological Seminary. McCormick will initiate a process to disengage from a real estate arrangement with LSTC as early as June 2010. http://www.wfn.org/2009/07/msg00041.html Thu, 02 Jul 2009 20:30:12 -0500 CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The presiding bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) expressed heartfelt commitment to the unity of the ELCA and deep confidence that unity will not be lost because of decisions that will be made at the 2009 ELCA Churchwide Assembly. The Rev. Mark S. Hanson commented on church unity in light of a proposed social statement on human sexuality, and a report and recommendation on ELCA ministry policies to be considered by the assembly. His remarks were contained in a June 30 message to ELCA professional leaders. The ELCA Churchwide Assembly meets Aug. 17-23 http://www.wfn.org/2009/07/msg00045.html Thu, 02 Jul 2009 20:30:12 -0500 GENEVA, 2 July 2009 (LWI) - The Lutheran World Federation (LWF) has expressed great concern about the situation in Honduras following the military coup detat on Sunday, 28 June. LWF General Secretary Rev. Dr Ishmael Noko said in a statement on 2 July that the communion of 140 member churches feared the instability and polarization of society provoked by these events would undermine hard-won development gains, fostering widespread social upheaval and worsening conflict in the country. http://www.wfn.org/2009/07/msg00039.html Thu, 02 Jul 2009 20:30:12 -0500 Weve heard the Rev. Geoffrey Black speak twice this week =96 once during his nomination speech Friday night, and last night after his election as General Minister and President of the UCC was affirmed. Both times he invited the church to join in ministry together with him and other members of the Collegium. http://www.wfn.org/2009/07/msg00038.html Thu, 02 Jul 2009 08:55:18 -0500 General Synod delegates on Monday adopted a resolution affirming the Accra Confession, an ecumenical document calling for more equitable and just global economic systems. The 24th General Council of the World Alliance of Reformed Churches (WARC) in 2004 adopted The Accra Confession: Covenanting for Justice in the Economy and the Earth. The UCC is one of 214 members of WARC, which has a combined membership of 75 million Christians in 107 countries worldwide. http://www.wfn.org/2009/07/msg00037.html Thu, 02 Jul 2009 08:55:10 -0500 A General Synod tradition continues here in Michigan as the host conference rolls out the dough, baking and buying cookies for delegates and visitors. And the rabbits multiplying at on Friday morning are no match for the cookies proliferating in DeVos Gallery D. Nancy Westcott of First Congregational UCC in Battle Creek, Mich., is the General Synod Cookie Coordinator, a position requiring extraordinary skills in organization, time management and good humor. Since December, she and her committee have been contacting churches throughout the Michigan conference through newsletters, email, and ph http://www.wfn.org/2009/07/msg00036.html Thu, 02 Jul 2009 08:55:03 -0500 Brothers and sisters in Christ, I want to report to you the intent of the Obama Administration toward same-gender people in loving partnerships. The Rev. Yvette Flunder of City of Refuge UCC in San Francisco took the floor of the plenary session at the UCCs General Synod Tuesday afternoon to report that the President has expressed his resolve to end the Dont Ask, Dont Tell policy of the United States military, to end the Defense of Marriage Act and to refuse to sign a non-discrimination act that doesnt extend civil rights protection to transgendered people. http://www.wfn.org/2009/07/msg00035.html Thu, 02 Jul 2009 08:45:03 -0500 The Rev. Geoffrey Black, who has served for nearly a decade as minister of the UCCs New York Conference, was called by election Tuesday evening to succeed the Rev. John Thomas as General Minister and President of the United Church of Christ. Thomas was ineligible for an additional term. The announcement of Blacks election was greeted with a standing ovation. In brief remarks, the new general minister and president thanked the delegates and spoke of his high expectations of working with other members of the UCCs five-person Collegium of Officers. Echoing his remarks at the time of his nominati http://www.wfn.org/2009/07/msg00033.html Thu, 02 Jul 2009 08:40:15 -0500 Obadiah Ballinger, chair of the Council for Youth and Young Adult Ministries (CYYAM), announced the newly elected members of the council during the business session at GS27 Tuesday morning. Following a contested election here at General Synod, I have the privilege of announcing the newly elected or appointed members of CYYAM, Ballinger said. We await appointments from Disabilities Ministries, the UCC Coalition, the Council of Hispanic Ministries and the Council of American Indian Ministries. http://www.wfn.org/2009/07/msg00034.html Thu, 02 Jul 2009 08:40:08 -0500 Recognizing that it is meeting in one of the hardest hit states of the current recession, UCC General Synod 27 declared itself in solidarity with the people of the state of Michigan and those throughout the country who struggle and are struggling in the current economy. In a resolution of witness, adopted unanimously at their meeting in Grand Rapids, UCC delegates pledged to keep the people of Michigan in their prayers and asked national and local church bodies and congregations to undertake renewed efforts to envision, encourage, support and strengthen their support programs serving those af http://www.wfn.org/2009/07/msg00032.html Thu, 02 Jul 2009 08:40:08 -0500 The 27th General Synod underscored the importance of Global Ministries Be a Global Mission Church initiative Tuesday morning, voting to adopt a resolution asking all settings of the UCC to pursue the Global Mission Church designation. The Global Mission Church initiative connects local congregations and other settings of the church to overseas mission. Global Ministries asks those entities that adopt the Global Mission designation to enter into a specific process to become a Global Mission Church. Churches adopting the designation are asked to embrace certain practices: praying for partners a http://www.wfn.org/2009/07/msg00031.html Thu, 02 Jul 2009 08:35:06 -0500 General Synod 27 took place next to water. Water was a central element in the stage design, and was present during all worship and meetings. And water again played a key role as Synod closed Tuesday evening with worship. The Rev. Patricia E. deJong recalled Matthews Gospel story of Jesus and the disciples and the Sea of Galilee. While Jesus walked on water in the Sea of Galilee, it is Peter who provides the drama. Will he or wont he step out of the boat and walk with Jesus? http://www.wfn.org/2009/07/msg00030.html Thu, 02 Jul 2009 08:30:31 -0500 With a history of advocating environmental, economic and social justice stewardship, the United Church of Christ added a consideration for respecting personal, congregational and community habits as churches and church bodies select meeting venues. The Resolution on Responsible Meeting Practice was adopted this afternoon at the denominations General Synod 27. Just and responsible practices are foundational to all discussions of sustainability today, the resolution states. A more spiritually-focused description is: To live wisely within Gods creation...honoring the generations that have gone b http://www.wfn.org/2009/07/msg00029.html Thu, 02 Jul 2009 08:30:16 -0500 How many times have Synod-goers heard that in the past four days, and how many butt-numbing hours have they spent in those seats? Well, maybe not so numbing. Over and over, United Church News staffers have heard delegates and visitors comment that the portable chairs in the meeting rooms and Plenary Hall were among the most comfortable they have ever used. http://www.wfn.org/2009/07/msg00028.html Thu, 02 Jul 2009 08:30:06 -0500 The proposal to institute a town hall meeting on justice issues one day before each General Synod was postponed indefinitely when it came to the plenary floor Tuesday afternoon with its committee recommending no action. The resolution was brought by the Pacific Islander and Asian American Ministries, and Ron Fujiyoshi of the Hawaii Conference urged the committee to support a biennial gathering of justice advocates who would create a two-year justice platform for the UCC. http://www.wfn.org/2009/07/msg00026.html Thu, 02 Jul 2009 08:25:39 -0500 Citing both specificity and urgency, General Synod 27 passed without amendment Tuesday a resolution Calling for the Support of H.R. 676 =96 Single Payer National Health Care Reform to Advance Health Equity for All and to Eliminate Health Disparities. Mary Beth Cross, a delegate from the Nebraska Conference, said after a unanimous vote out of committee Monday that the time to rally is now.=20 This is a Gospel-mandated mission of faith for everyone to make sure that universal health care becomes a reality.