wfn.org | [ELD] California Supreme Court rules disputed property belongs to general church / Presiding Bishop

["Matthew Davies" <mdavies@episcopalchurch.org>]

>Episcopal Life Daily
>January 5, 2009

Episcopal Life Online is available at  http://www.episcopalchurch.org/elife.

>Today's Episcopal Life Daily includes:

* TOP STORY - California Supreme Court rules disputed property belongs  to
general church
* TOP STORY - Presiding Bishop renews call for Gaza ceasefire
* WORLD REPORT - SOUTHERN AFRICA: Religious leaders praise apartheid  fighter
Helen Suzman
* PEOPLE - Gregory Cameron elected bishop of St. Asaph in Wales
* DAYBOOK - January 6, 2009: Today in Scripture, Prayer, History

>_____________________

>TOP STORIES

California Supreme Court rules disputed property belongs to general  church

Decision may have national implications; bishop 'looks forward' to
reconciliation

>By Pat McCaughan

[Episcopal News Service, Los Angeles] In a landmark ruling that could  have
national implications, the California Supreme Court on January 5 upheld  an
earlier court decision that buildings and property do not belong to
dissident congregations but to the Diocese of Los Angeles and the  general
Episcopal Church.

Associate Justice Ming W. Chin, writing for the court, said the diocese  held
the property and buildings in trust for the wider mission and ministry  of
the church.

The ruling affects St. James Church in Newport Beach, All Saints Church  in
Long Beach and St. David's Church in North Hollywood.

Full story: http://www.episcopalchurch.org/79901_104046_ENG_HTM.htm

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Presiding Bishop renews call for Gaza ceasefire

>By Matthew Davies

[Episcopal News Service] Israel's ten-day military operation in the
Palestinian-controlled Gaza Strip was stepped up with a ground assault
January 3 amid renewed calls from religious and political leaders for an  end
to the violence that has claimed more than 500 lives.

"The high number of civilian deaths and injuries, which continue to  include
noncombatants, women, and children, will only prolong the violence years
into the future," said Episcopal Church Presiding Bishop Katharine  Jefferts
Schori in a January 5 statement. "The first steps toward peace will only
come if all parties unite behind an immediate ceasefire."

Episcopal Relief and Development has donated an initial emergency grant  of
$15,000 to the Episcopal Diocese of Jerusalem in support of the Al Ahli  Arab
Hospital in Gaza City. An institution run by the Jerusalem diocese, the
hospital is providing critical healthcare services to Christians,  Muslims
and anyone in need.

Full story: http://www.episcopalchurch.org/79901_104041_ENG_HTM.htm

More Top Stories: http://www.episcopalchurch.org/elife

>_____________________

>WORLD REPORT

SOUTHERN AFRICA: Religious leaders praise apartheid fighter Helen Suzman

>By Munyaradzi Makoni

[Ecumenical News International, Cape Town] Helen Suzman, for many years  a
lone liberal crusader against apartheid in South Africa's parliament,  and
who died on New Year's Day aged 91, has been praised by religious  leaders as
her life was celebrated when she was buried on January 4.

Full story: http://www.episcopalchurch.org/81808_104045_ENG_HTM.htm

More World news: http://www.episcopalchurch.org/81808_ENG_HTM.htm

>_____________________

>PEOPLE

Gregory Cameron elected bishop of St. Asaph in Wales

[Episcopal News Service, Church in Wales] The Rev. Canon Gregory  Cameron,
deputy secretary general of the Anglican Communion Office in London, was
chosen by members of the electoral college of the Church in Wales to be  the
next bishop of the Diocese of St. Asaph, Archbishop of Wales Barry  Morgan
announced January 5.

Cameron, 49, will become the 76th bishop of St. Asaph, an area covering  the
northeast corner of Wales. His election follows the retirement in  December
of the Rt. Rev. John Davies who served as bishop of the diocese from  1999.

A Welshman who was ordained in the Diocese of Monmouth, Cameron has been
involved in the ecumenical relations of the Anglican Communion for the  past
five years. Previously, he served as chaplain to then Archbishop of  Wales
Rowan Williams, who is now Archbishop of Canterbury.

Full story: http://www.episcopalchurch.org/81831_104043_ENG_HTM.htm

More People: http://www.episcopalchurch.org/81831_ENG_HTM.htm

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>DAYBOOK

On January 6, 2009, the church celebrates the Epiphany.

* Today in Scripture: http://www.episcopalchurch.org/82457_ENG_HTM.htm

* Today in Prayer: Anglican Cycle of Prayer:

http://www.anglicancommunion.org/acp/index.cfm

* Today in History: On January 6, 548, the Jerusalem church observes
Christmas on this date for the last time as the church moves to  celebrating
the birth of Jesus on December 25.