Episcopal Life Online Newslink October 19, 2007
Episcopal Life Online is available at http://www.episcopalchurch.org/elife.
Today's ELO Newslink includes:
* DIOCESAN DIGEST - DOMINICAN REPUBLIC: Eucharist to mark diocese's 110th anniversary * WORLD REPORT - CENTRAL AFRICA: Provincial dean declares two Zimbabwe dioceses of Harare and Manicaland vacant * WORLD REPORT - CHINA: Charity is important Christian mission, Amity Foundation leader says * WORLD REPORT - MIDDLE EAST: Archbishop of Canterbury 'disappointed' over cancellation of OneVoice 'People's Summit' in Jericho * WORLD REPORT - PAKISTAN: Churches condemn carnage during Bhutto rally in Karachi * WORLD REPORT - SOLOMON ISLANDS: Melanesian Brothers' Great Conference commences * OPINION - Do more than visit: A mission call from behind bars to plant churches in prisons * ARTS - Music and prayer at the nation's cathedral call for world peace
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DIOCESAN DIGEST
DOMINICAN REPUBLIC: Eucharist to mark diocese's 110th anniversary http://www.episcopalchurch.org/81803_91120_ENG_HTM.htm
More Diocesan news: http://www.episcopalchurch.org/81803_ENG_HTM.htm
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WORLD REPORT
CENTRAL AFRICA: Provincial dean declares two Zimbabwe dioceses of Harare and Manicaland vacant http://www.episcopalchurch.org/81808_91112_ENG_HTM.htm
CHINA: Charity is important Christian mission, Amity Foundation leader says http://www.episcopalchurch.org/81808_91106_ENG_HTM.htm
MIDDLE EAST: Archbishop of Canterbury 'disappointed' over cancellation of OneVoice 'People's Summit' in Jericho http://www.episcopalchurch.org/81808_91107_ENG_HTM.htm
PAKISTAN: Churches condemn carnage during Bhutto rally in Karachi http://www.episcopalchurch.org/81808_91111_ENG_HTM.htm
SOLOMON ISLANDS: Melanesian Brothers' Great Conference commences http://www.episcopalchurch.org/81808_91108_ENG_HTM.htm
More World news: http://www.episcopalchurch.org/81808_ENG_HTM.htm
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OPINION
Do more than visit
A mission call from behind bars to plant churches in prisons
By David A. Nyberg
[Episcopal Life] Incarceration rates in this nation continue to rise. A constantly increasing number of men and women spend a portion of their lives reaping the whirlwind of their sin in an America most of us know little about.
The mission statement in Luke's fourth chapter clearly calls us to reach out to prisoners. Who, but Christ, can change a criminal? However, while it is a worthy Christian labor to visit the prisoners, the mission statement calls us to "proclaim release to the captives."
It is time for the church to establish many permanent outposts in our prisons. As the Bickersteth brothers planted Anglican missions in Japan and China and as Daniel Sylvester Tuttle nourished missions here in the mountain west, through your hands, the church can plant a permanent mission in the outback of America.
The Episcopal Church has not ignored this mission. Indeed, the Episcopal Church does more in our prisons than other denominations. During her years here in Nevada, our presiding bishop regularly visited the state's correctional institutions (as has Bishop Jerry Lamb since Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori left). But it is again time to refocus.
Full story: http://www.episcopalchurch.org/80050_91109_ENG_HTM.htm
More Opinion: http://www.episcopalchurch.org/80050_ENG_HTM.htm
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ARTS
Music and prayer at the nation's cathedral call for world peace
[Diocese of Washington, Washington Post] It was an extraordinary night of prayer and music in the nation's capital when more than 2,500 gathered October 16 for an interfaith celebration at Washington National Cathedral (http://www.cathedral.org) to express their desire for global peace and an end to the continuing war in Iraq.
Throughout the evening, renowned musicians and religious leaders from diverse traditions expressed their collective desire for peace in song and word.
"Thanks for coming to give peace a chance," David Crosby, Grammy Award winner, told the crowd at the cathedral, before he and Graham Nash launched into "Lay Me Down."
When people gather to pray for peace, "what you are praying for is an end to war," Washington Bishop John Bryson Chane, who was the evening's emcee, told the congregation. He said it was not an anti-war event, but a moment to call on nations to lay down all arms. "War," he said, "is the ultimate declaration of human failure. What we are saying is: 'Enough is enough.'"
Full story: http://www.episcopalchurch.org/81827_91115_ENG_HTM.htm
More Arts: http://www.episcopalchurch.org/81827_ENG_HTM.htm