CANADA: Anglican, Lutheran leaders urge action on poverty during federal election
CONGO: Magnitude 6.8 earthquake shakes Africa
ENGLAND: Churches, Walt Disney send Christmas message to bingeing Britons
IRELAND: Archbishop Eames leads fight on child poverty
KENYA: Declining HIV/AIDS infections pleases churches
KENYA: Church leaders say politicians' election call is wrong move
UGANDA: Church leaders renew call for talks with LRA
WEST INDIES: Archbishop Gomez announces retirement

CANADA: Anglican, Lutheran leaders urge action on poverty during federal election

[SOURCE: Anglican Church of Canada] Church leaders are urging Anglicans and Lutherans to put the needs of children and families hard hit by poverty front and center in the federal election.

In a pastoral letter, Bishop Colin Johnson of Toronto asks Anglicans to question the election candidates about how they would improve the lives of the poor, especially children living in poverty. "Please ask party candidates if they are aware that one in every six children is living in poverty," Johnson says. "Ask what they plan to do about this critical issue."

The bishop's pastoral letter is endorsed by the Primate of the Anglican Church of Canada, Archbishop Andrew Hutchison, and Lutheran Bishop Michael Pryse. It is being sent to members of both churches, along with questions that Anglicans and Lutherans can ask local candidates about child poverty, the affordable housing shortage and related issues.

"An election is about choices," the church leaders write in the letter. "And not just about which name you choose to put your X beside. It's about choosing to put your faith into action, a faith inspired by a vision of justice and dignity for all. We can make that choice ... or we can choose to focus only on issues and policy proposals that benefit us personally. It's up to each of us."

Full story:
http://www.anglican.ca/news/news.php?newsItem=2005-12-09-a.fyi

CONGO: Magnitude 6.8 earthquake shakes Africa

[SOURCE: Episcopal Relief and Development] A magnitude 6.8 earthquake struck the eastern region of the Democratic Republic of Congo, near Lake Tanganyika and the Tanzanian border on December 5. The quake's epicenter was about eight miles underground and greatly affected Kalemie, a lakeside town of Congo.

Episcopal Relief and Development (ERD) partners in Congo have reported that 300 houses were destroyed and at least six people have been confirmed dead. The number of people injured and hospitalized is still unknown.

ERD is in contact with the Bishop Kahwa Henri Isingoma of Katanga and Kinshasa, and partners in Kalemie. Currently, our partners are assessing damage. ERD stands ready to respond and provide emergency assistance as needs are identified.

Full story and donations:
http://www.er-d.org/newsroom_70030_ENG_HTM.htm

ENGLAND: Churches, Walt Disney send Christmas message to bingeing Britons

[SOURCE: Ecumenical News International] London's Royal Albert Hall has been transformed into a glittering ice palace for the world premiere of the film version of C.S. Lewis' children's best-selling book, "The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe."

Anglican leaders have encouraged families to see the film that started its run in theatres on December 7. It cost 62 million British pounds (US$108 million) to make and features stars like Liam Neeson, Rupert Everett, Ray Windstone and Tilda Swinton. Evangelical publishing house Christian Publishers and Outreach has reached an agreement with the film's makers -- Hollywood giant Walt Disney Company -- to push the story's Christian theme in Britain's churches during the Christmas and New Year season. One parish in the southern England county of Kent -- St. Luke's, Maidstone -- is handing out 10,000 pounds (US$17,500) worth of tickets to single parents. Priests are being encouraged to write Christmas sermons around the tale of the Pevensie family children who stumble through an old wardrobe into another world known as Narnia "where it's always winter but never Christmas."

Full story by Trevor Grundy:
http://www.episcopalchurch.org/3577_70021_ENG_HTM.htm

IRELAND: Archbishop Eames leads fight on child poverty

[SOURCE: Church of Ireland] The Most Rev. Dr. Robin Eames, Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of All Ireland, hosted a December 6 forum on child poverty in Ireland which was attended by some 100 representatives from statutory, voluntary and church agencies from both Northern Ireland and the Republic.

The forum, held at the Dromantine Conference Centre, Newry, highlighted the major issues surrounding child poverty, seeking input about where the churches can respond meaningfully.

The seriously grave nature of the problem of child poverty throughout Ireland was made clear by the speakers and contributions from the floor: health, education, family life and the need for advocacy emerging as key areas to tackle.

In his opening address, Eames said, "We are not here to be comforted -- we are here to be uncomfortable until we reach out as churches, groups and individuals to understand and to alleviate if we can, the lot of children in poverty."

Eames saw the forum as a starting point for action and called on society "to take notice of the real story."

The organizing group, chaired by Eames, met immediately after the conference and will pursue the concerns raised.

Eames' opening address:
http://www.ireland.anglican.org/pressreleases/index.php?p=553

KENYA: Declining HIV/AIDS infections pleases churches

[SOURCE: Ecumenical News International] As the last candle signaling World Aids Day flickered out in Nairobi, church leaders in the East African country said they were energized by new statistics showing that HIV infections had dropped by 4 percent over a two-year period.

"This is commendable, but we ask the government to do more. We don't want to lose any more people through AIDS," the Rev. Peter Karanja, provost of All Saints Anglican Cathedral told Ecumenical News International in Nairobi after the December 1 events.

Kenyan churches have stressed behavioral change as a means for rolling back the pandemic, and felt their efforts were paying off following the drop in HIV prevalence from 10 percent of the population in 2003 to 6.1 percent of the 33 million people in 2005, according to government statistics.

"We see a movement and commitment towards safer and protected sex," Karanja said.

Full story by Fredrick Nzwili:
http://www.episcopalchurch.org/3577_70020_ENG_HTM.htm

KENYA: Church leaders say politicians' election call is wrong move

by Fredrick Nzwili

[SOURCE: Ecumenical News International] Kenyan church leaders have warned politicians not to push for the immediate holding of a general election following the defeat of a referendum backed by President Mwai Kibaki on a proposed new constitution.

"The referendum is over and the national agenda is healing, reconciliation, and the improvement of the economy," Anglican Archbishop Benjamin Nzimbi told journalists on December 1. "It would be inappropriate to use public resources in financing an expensive election process."

His stand was echoed by the Rev. Mutava Musyimi, general secretary of the National Council of Churches of Kenya (NCCK), who said, "We ask all political leaders, all leaders, ourselves included to uphold grace, forgiveness and sensitivity as the only way forward." Musyimi was speaking after a meeting of leaders from his grouping of Protestant churches in Limuru, near Nairobi. He noted that the defeat of the proposed laws had blurred the future of Kenya's constitutional reforms, but the calls for an election were misplaced.

After the resounding "No" vote in the November 21 referendum, Kibaki dissolved the ruling cabinet and began reshuffling his government. The NCCK wants Kibaki to appoint a committee of politicians, religious leaders, civil society, the private sector, disabled and youth groups to prepare a report on the process. That report could then be endorsed at a national conference and an agreement there could form a road map towards a new constitution.

"It is important that we draw from the lessons of the referendum with humility. We need to thoroughly examine the implications before making proposals for the next steps," said Musyimi.

Many church leaders have backed Kibaki in his latest moves, but they want him to form a government that can quickly work for the people. "The sacking of the whole cabinet will allow the president to look for people who can work in his government and foster unity," Roman Catholic Bishop Cornelius Korir told The Standard newspaper.

UGANDA: Church leaders renew call for talks with LRA

[SOURCE: New Vision Online] The Uganda Joint Christian Council (UJCC) has renewed its call for dialogue to end the 20-year Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) rebel war in northern Uganda, according to a report in New Vision online, a Ugandan news service, on December 9.

Top leaders of the council, including Anglican Bishop Zac Niringiye of Kampala, made the call December 8 during a press conference at the UJCC offices at Old Kampala. It was intended to announce the launch on the weekend of continuous national prayers until the war ends.

Niringiye, chairman of UJCC's National Task Force on the northern Uganda conflict, said announced a National Launch of Prayer for Reconciliation and Peace in Northern Uganda at Nakivubo Stadium from 10:00 am to 1:00 pm on December 10.

His Eminence, Jonah Lwanga, His Grace the Archbishop of the Church of Uganda, Luke Orombi and His Eminence, Cardinal Emmanuel Wamala have invited the public to the prayers.

Full story:
http://www.newvision.co.ug/D/8/13/470210

WEST INDIES: Archbishop Gomez announces retirement

[SOURCE: The Bahama Journal] Archbishop Drexel W. Gomez, primate of the West Indies, has confirmed that he will retire as Bishop of the Diocese of The Bahamas and the Turks and Caicos Islands at the end of December 2008, the Bahama Journal reports.

Having retired as Diocesan Bishop, it is mandatory that Gomez also retire as Archbishop and Metropolitan of the Province of the West Indies.

Full story:
http://www.jonesbahamas.com/?c=124&a=6431