Beit Jala (ENI). The pastor of the Evangelical Lutheran church and orphanage in this West Bank town and the children in his care waited nervously yesterday to see whether a fragile Israeli-Palestinian cease-fire would hold. For three days this week, fighting raged in and around the church, where 45 Palestinian children huddled for safety. Early in the morning on 28 August, the Israeli army invaded the church compound as they fought with Palestinian militants. At the height of the fighting, the pastor, Jadallah Shihadeh, spoke to ENI in his offices, while outside the building Palestinians fired guns and threw home-made bombs at Israeli troops, who responded with tank and machine-gun fire. [833 words, ENI-01-0306]

Quarrels over slavery and Middle East strain UN racism summit

Durban (ENI). Tensions in the run-up to the UN World Conference against Racism deepened yesterday as Jewish groups complained of being victimised and rows continued among the 6000 delegates over the wording of their agenda and final declaration. The gathering - the third such conference on racism organised by the UN - opens here today. Pre-conference disagreements over the Middle East escalated into spats between Jewish and pro-Palestinian groups. ''I came here to talk about Holocaust education and I have found that I am having to justify being Jewish,'' said Karen Pollock, a spokeswoman for the European Jewish Congress. [538 words, ENI-01-0307]

Australian church leaders plead case of refugees on container ship

Sydney (ENI). Australian churches have sent a delegation to the national capital, Canberra, to plead with the government and Australians generally for a "fair go" for asylum seekers aboard the Norwegian container ship, the Tampa, presently drifting in Australian waters off Christmas Island. The delegation, led by the vice president of the National Council of Churches in Australia, (NCCA), Professor James Haire of the Uniting Church, said the church leaders had come to Canberra "to appeal to Australians to show the values we're famous for". [813 words, ENI-01-0308]

30 August 2001

Amsterdam (ENI). As same-sex couples in Germany begin practising their new right to legally register their partnerships, a number of Protestant churches are considering whether to offer church blessings for such unions. Already two of Germany's 24 Protestant regional churches - in North Elbia and in the Rhineland - offer such a blessing. These developments follow the enacting on 1 August of Germany's new partnership law allowing what have been dubbed "gay marriages". [436 words, ENI-01-0305]

29 August 2001

Harare (ENI). Violence will never lead to peace and justice in Zimbabwe, said Dr Konrad Raiser, general secretary of the World Council of Churches, who was leading a six-member delegation in southern Africa and arrived in Zimbabwe on Sunday night. Dr Raiser's visit coincided with the publication by the Zimbabwe Council of Churches of a pastoral letter condemning the violence that has gripped this southern African nation. [741 words, ENI-01-0303]

Tutu Academy founded to develop African leadership

Johannesburg (ENI). Archbishop Desmond Tutu has launched an initiative to help develop leadership skills at all levels in African countries. The new Desmond Tutu Leadership Academy aims to find and educate leaders in fields such as community activism, management, higher education and politics, said senior programme officer Zola Makosana. The institution marks a new departure for the former Anglican Archbishop of Cape Town who, following the end of apartheid, chaired South Africa's Truth and Reconciliation Commission before taking a year's sabbatical in the United States. [323 words, ENI-01-0304]

27 August 2001

New York (ENI). Describing his election as presiding bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) as a "daunting call", Bishop Mark Hanson says he wants mission, rather than internal controversies, to guide the 5.1 million-member denomination in the years ahead. But in an interview with ENI following his election earlier this month, Bishop Hanson said he fully expected the ELCA - one of the biggest mainline Protestant denominations in the United States - to experience its share of controversies during his six-year term, which begins on 1 November. [887 words, ENI-01-0302]

24 August 2001

New Delhi (ENI). Indian Christians are at the forefront of a campaign to place discrimination against India's lower caste Dalit community - once known as "untouchables" - on the agenda of a major UN conference on racism that begins in South Africa next week. The National Council of Churches in India (NCCI), which groups 29 Orthodox and Protestant denominations, has called on the government to support the demand for caste discrimination to be discussed at the World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination and Related Intolerance which opens in Durban, South Africa, on 31 August. However, the Indian government is steadfastly opposed to the issue of caste discrimination being discussed at the gathering. It says that the caste issue is not the same as racism and that any discrimination on the basis of caste should be treated as an internal Indian affair. [610 words, ENI-01-0301]

23 August 2001

London (ENI). Churches are being urged to promote an alternative model of development based on the transformation of personal relationships rather than concentrating narrowly on the aim of economic growth. Such a model would include removing exploitative economic and gender relationships within a country, and honouring children and older people, as goals to stand alongside debt and trade issues. [571 words, ENI-01-0300]

22 August 2001

New Delhi (ENI). Remarks by India's prime minister, Atal Behari Vajpayee, appearing to suggest that Indian Christians are engaged in "conversion" have led to angry scenes in parliament and have been condemned by churches. The controversy broke out following remarks at the weekend by the prime minister in which he was reported to say that although "missionaries are engaged in laudable work, some have a conversion motive which is not proper". Mainstream churches reject the idea that their social or educational programmes are intended to be a vehicle for the conversion of people of other faiths. They also fear that suggestions that they are engaged in conversion are being used to promote intolerance at a time of increasing anti-Christian violence. [499 words, ENI-01-0298]

10 years after coup, Putin seeks inspiration from Russia's Christian roots

Moscow (ENI). Ten years after the coup attempt that triggered the end of Soviet communism, Russia's president has said that his country needs to seek its inspiration from its Christian roots. "Without Christianity, without the Orthodox faith and culture which sprang from it, Russia would have hardly existed as a state," said President Vladimir Putin during a visit to the Solovetsky monastery, on the Solovki Islands, part of Russia's northern White Sea archipelago. "Today, now that we are rediscovering ourselves, it is very important, useful and timely to return to these sources in our search for the moral foundations of our life." [796 words, ENI-01-0299]

21 August 2001

New York (ENI). The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) has elected Mark Hanson, a prominent Minnesota Lutheran, as its new presiding bishop. Hanson, bishop of St Paul, Minnesota, who takes over as the ELCA's presiding bishop on 1 November, will succeed H. George Anderson, who is retiring. [691 words, ENI-01-0296]

Restore trust in politics, Nicaraguan churches tell presidential candidates

Managua (ENI). Nicaraguan church leaders marked the formal beginning of their country's election campaign at the weekend by calling on politicians to do more than make empty promises. Presidential candidates should "make a commitment to the people of Nicaragua that goes beyond electoral promises, avoiding both verbal and physical violence," stated the Council of Evangelical Churches (CEPAD), in a letter issued on 14 August. The council's letter was addressed to the three presidential candidates in the elections, scheduled for 4 November. [742 words, ENI-01-0297]

20 August 2001

Vancouver (ENI). Attending worship where incense is used or where worshippers use liberal amounts of perfumed scents can make liturgy "life threatening" for parishioners who suffer from lung problems, according to Canadian campaigners for "scent-free" zones in churches. One in five Canadians suffers from a lung problem, according to Canada's Lung Association, many of whose provincial branches offer advice to churches wishing to become scent-free. [610 words, ENI-01-0295]

17 August 2001

Jerusalem (ENI). Churches in Jerusalem have embarked on a week of prayers dedicated to ending the Israeli-Palestinian conflict that some observers fear may escalate into a new Middle East war. The decision was taken by the heads of the churches in Jerusalem, amid rising concern about the violence in the region. Warning that "hatred and a desire for revenge is rampant on both sides - Israeli and Palestinian," the church leaders issued an appeal to "all our people, throughout this land, to join us in intensifying our prayers for peace, with justice, and reconciliation". [565 words, ENI-01-0293]

After Calcutta ceremony, Vatican to decide if Mother Teresa can be a saint

New Delhi (ENI). The process of deciding whether to declare Mother Teresa a saint has moved a step forward with the conclusion in India this week of the crucial first stage. A solemn ceremony held on 15 August at St Mary's Church in Calcutta marked the end of a two-year diocesan inquiry into the "life, virtues and reputation of sanctity" of Mother Teresa, the founder of the Missionaries of Charity (MC), who died 4 years ago. The next step will be a decision by the Vatican on whether or not to beatify Mother Teresa. Beatification - which confers the title "blessed" - is a major step on the path to canonisation or sainthood within the Roman Catholic church. [649 words, ENI-01-0294]

16 August 2001

Jerusalem (ENI). The Greek Orthodox Church has elected Irineos I, a 62 year-old bishop, as the new patriarch of Jerusalem, overcoming strong Israeli efforts to block his candidacy. He has now become one of the most powerful Christian leaders in Israel, head of the church that is guardian of most of the holy sites. Irineos, born on the Greek island of Samos, was elected on 13 August, eight months after the death of the previous patriarch, Diodoros I. Israel had for four months tried to block the white-bearded Irineos, and four other candidates from the ballot. [677 words, ENI-01-0292]

15 August 2001

London (ENI). A leading Anglican church figure has warned against religious truth being eclipsed by "welfare materialism". In his newly published book, An Anglican Catechism, Canon Edward Norman argues that modern culture puts material conditions above spiritual belief and encourages self-indulgence rather than self-denial. The book is not an official Anglican statement of faith. Rather it is Norman's attempt to set out the teaching of the church, combining summaries of doctrine with interpretative commentary. [611 words, ENI-01-0291]

14 August 2001

New Delhi (ENI). One of India's biggest Protestant churches is stepping up its Aids education work in the face of a growing threat to the country from HIV/Aids. "With Aids becoming one of the biggest health hazards for the nation, we are extending our HIV awareness campaign to all the dioceses," according to Karuna Roy, who co-ordinates the work on HIV/Aids of the Church of North India (CNI), known as the church's "Aids Wing". In its campaign against HIV/Aids, the church has been targeting school students and young people. [498 words, ENI-01-0290]

13 August 2001

London (ENI). Churches in the former East Germany are in some ways worse off since German reunification than under Communism, an internationally known peace campaigner and churchman, Canon Paul Oestreicher, has claimed. He was speaking to ENI as Germany marked the 40th anniversary of the building of the Berlin Wall, which began with the sealing of the border between the Communist and Western parts of the city on 13 August 1961. [600 words, ENI-01-0288]

US religious leaders divided over Bush's stem cell decision

New York (ENI). United States President George W. Bush has received both praise and criticism from US religious leaders for his decision to allow limited US federal funding for embryonic stem cell research. President Bush's decision has been strongly criticised by the country's Roman Catholic Church, but has received support from mainstream Protestants, and from the leader of the conservative Christian Coalition. [863 words, ENI-01-0289]

10 August 2001

Geneva (ENI). The general secretary of the World Council of Churches, Dr Konrad Raiser, has described continued Israeli occupation of Palestinian territory as a "clear violation of international law". Speaking after a major consultation on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict organised by the WCC at its Geneva headquarters this week, Dr Raiser said that Israel was in a situation of "impunity" where violations of international law were not being followed up by effective sanctions. Dr Raiser was interviewed before the news of the attack by a Palestinian suicide bomber on a Jerusalem restaurant and Israel's subsequent retaliation against Palestinian targets. [593 words, ENI-01-0286]

Leading French Lutheran pastor joins Roman Catholic Church

Paris (ENI). The former superintendent of the Paris district of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of France has announced that he has joined the Roman Catholic Church, and has made it clear that he wishes to be ordained a Catholic priest. He told the French daily, La Croix, that his decision followed the signing in 1999 of the joint declaration on justification between the Roman Catholic Church and the Lutheran World Federation, which aimed to put an end to mutual condemnations dating from the Reformation era. "For me that agreement represented a historic stepping stone. From then on I could see no reason for maintaining the schism," he said. [668 words, [ENI-01-0287]

9 August 2001

New Delhi (ENI). Sri Lanka's president, Chandrika Kumaratunga, has postponed a controversial referendum on a new constitution for her country after representations from churches and religious leaders and other sections of Sri Lankan society. President Kumaratunga announced the postponement of the referendum on Tuesday night following meetings last week with religious leaders. A leading church figure described the planned referendum as an "act of desperation" by the president. [552 words, ENI-01-0285]

8 August 2001

New Delhi (ENI). The northern Indian state of Punjab has banned a controversial book on the founder of Sikhism - Guru Nanak Dev - because of derogatory references to Christians. The decision by the Punjab government has been welcomed by church representatives in the region. The notification said that the book "contained certain derogatory and malicious remarks which were intended to arouse passion and hurt the religious sentiments of a particular community." [442 words, ENI-01-0283]

WARC tells President Bush of concern over US policies

Holland, Michigan (ENI). A statement sent to United States President George W. Bush by the World Alliance of Reformed Churches (WARC) has drawn support from leading members of US churches who have long worked on the issues it addresses, which range from the death penalty to greenhouse gases. The statement, sent to President Bush and key members of his cabinet by WARC's executive committee, which met in Holland, Michigan, from 26 July to 4 August, was strongly critical of a range of US policies. [813 words, ENI-01-0284]

7 August 2001

Holland, Michigan, 7 August (ENI)--In "solidarity" with almost thirty of its member churches, the World Alliance of Reformed Churches is to hold its next executive committee meeting in Indonesia, despite reports of political instability and religious violence in the region. "The Alliance has not been known to wait until things are peaceful to show solidarity," said Dr Setri Nyomi, WARC general secretary. [615 words, ENI-01-0282]

6 August 2001

Amsterdam (ENI). A long-awaited new edition of a major German theological encyclopedia will be completed in September, according to its publisher. Described by Herder Verlag, the publisher, as "the largest Catholic theological lexicon in the German-speaking world and unrivalled throughout the world", the third edition of the Encyclopedia for Theology and Church (Lexikon für Theologie und Kirche) reflects the labours of more than 4000 academics. [396 words, ENI-01-0280]

S Africa still faces challenge of racism as it prepares for UN conference

Holland, Michigan (ENI). As South Africa prepares to host a world conference against racism later this month, it is still working to rid its own land of intolerance, according to a member of the South African parliament. Dr Bukelwa Hans, a member for Port Elizabeth of South Africa's national assembly, called on churches to help rebuild her country in the face of continuing racism. The United Nations World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia, and Related Intolerance is to meet in Durban, South Africa, from 31 August to 7 September. [810 words, ENI-01-0281]

3 August 2001

Harare (ENI). Zimbabwe's president, Dr Robert Mugabe, has called on the Roman Catholic Church to back his land reform programme and to support the poor as it did during Zimbabwe's liberation struggle in the 1970s. In a speech delivered this week at the opening of a gathering of Roman Catholic bishops from southern Africa, taking place near Zimbabwe's capital, Harare, President Mugabe criticised some church leaders for failing to support his land redistribution exercise. [548 words, ENI-01-0277]

Have courage to question 'status quo', says Cardinal Cassidy

Brighton (ENI). Christian churches need to "give the quest for unity a much higher place in our list of priorities", Cardinal Edward Idris Cassidy, the recently retired president of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity, has declared. Cardinal Cassidy made his remarks while addressing delegates to the 18th World Methodist Conference, meeting in Brighton, England, which ended on 31 July. "There is an urgent need for us to move away from the shore and out into the deep, to have the courage to question our status quo," he said. [703 words, ENI-01-0278]

World Methodists' top official hopes to promote global vision

Brighton (ENI). As a Methodist district superintendent George H. Freeman was used to travelling, but now he has given up the district and will travel the world. Freeman, from the United States, took over as general secretary of the World Methodist Council during its conference in Brighton, England, which ended on 31 July. "The horizon couldn't be broader," said Freeman, an ordained minister in the United Methodist Church (UMC), one of the biggest Protestant denominations in the United States, and the WMC's biggest member church. "I want to get to know members of the world-wide family as much as time and budget allows," he said. [457 words, ENI-01-0279]

2 August 2001

Brighton (ENI). After 25 years steering the fortunes of a world-wide Methodist membership now numbering 36 million, Joe Hale has retired as general secretary of the World Methodist Council. On 31 July, the final day of the 18th World Methodist Conference, which met in Brighton, in southern England, Hale handed over to his successor, George H. Freeman, superintendent of the Charlottesville District of the United Methodist Church's Virginia Conference in the USA. [592 words, ENI-01-0273]

In the face of global injustice, 'this is the time for action' by churches

Holland, Michigan (ENI). In an address marking the ecumenical movement's increasing preoccupation with the global economic order, a prominent leader of the movement has given churches an urgent reminder of the pressing need to eliminate poverty and restore human dignity for all peoples of the world. "In the 21st century, we cannot afford to waste time while people are dying," said Dr Setri Nyomi, general secretary of the World Alliance of Reformed Churches (WARC). [573 words, ENI-01-0274]

'Fullness of life' to be at centre of next Reformed world gathering

Holland, Michigan (ENI). Leaders of the World Alliance of Reformed Churches (WARC) are calling on their members to reflect on issues such as peace, economic justice and creation as they prepare for the organisation's next world gathering, scheduled for 2004. The gathering - known as the general council - will take place in Accra, Ghana, on the general theme "That All May Have Life in Fullness", an adaptation of the biblical verse John 10:10. [404 words, ENI-01-0275]

'Justice has not been done' if people can't control their lives, WARC told

Holland, Michigan (ENI). A Christian ethicist has challenged church leaders to examine their ideas of economic justice in order to avoid imposing western standards on the rest of the world. Dr Karen Lebacqz, professor of Christian ethics at the Pacific School of Religion in California, said Christians needed to "establish standards for justice across nations and peoples without in some way being disrespectful of others". [579 words, ENI-01-0276]

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