[ENS] Church leaders rally, speak out against anti-Muslim rhetoric / 'Move beyond fear': Planned Qur

[<mdavies@episcopalchurch.org>]

>Episcopal News Service
>September 8, 2010

>Episcopal News Service is available at
>http://www.episcopalchurch.org/ens.

Follow us on Twitter: http://twitter.com/episcopal_news

>Today's Episcopal News Service includes:

* TOP STORY - Church leaders rally, speak out against anti-Muslim
rhetoric
* TOP STORY - Bulletin inserts for Sept. 19 outline process for 
Anglican
Covenant study
* DIOCESAN DIGEST - SOUTHERN OHIO: 'Flat pastors' go on worldwide
vacation
* DIOCESAN DIGEST - TEXAS: House of Deputies president to headline
inclusion conference
* DIOCESAN DIGEST - PENNSYLVANIA: Standing Committee asks for help in
getting bishop to leave
* WORLD REPORT - PHILIPPINES: Christian group urges speedy probe of
hostage deaths
* OPINION - 'Move beyond fear': Planned Quran burning is religious
stupidity
* OPINION - Time to scrutinize the 'restoration' experts
* CALENDAR - Upcoming special events and services
* SPIRITUAL REFLECTIONS - September 12, 2010 - Sixteenth Sunday After
Pentecost, Proper 19 - Year C
* DAYBOOK - September 9: Today in Scripture, Prayer, History
* EPISCOPAL BOOKS & RESOURCES PICK - "Love God, Heal Earth"

>_____________________

>TOP STORIES

Church leaders rally, speak out against anti-Muslim rhetoric

>By Matthew Davies

[Episcopal News Service] Plans by a Florida-based evangelical 
Christian
pastor to burn copies of the Quran on Sept. 11 -- the anniversary of 
the
World Trade Center terrorist attacks -- and a recent surge in violence
against Muslims is being met with widespread condemnation by church
groups and leaders who are calling for religious tolerance and an end 
to
anti-Islamic attitudes.

Pastor Terry Jones of the Dove World Outreach Church in Gainesville,
Florida, has said he will proceed with what he is calling 
"International
Burn a Koran Day" despite warnings from high-ranking church and
governmental leaders that his actions could have grave consequences 
for
national security and Christians throughout the world.

On Sept. 7, White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs echoed the 
concern
recently expressed by Gen. David Petraeus, NATO's International 
Security
Assistance Force commander in Afghanistan, that the Quran burning 
could
danger U.S. troops and citizens abroad.

Full story: http://www.episcopalchurch.org/79425_124391_ENG_HTM.htm

>- - - - -

Bulletin inserts for Sept. 19 outline process for Anglican Covenant
study

[Episcopal News Service] Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori,
House of Deputies President Bonnie Anderson and Executive Council 
member
Rosalie Simmonds Ballentine are calling on all Episcopal congregations
to engage in discussion of the proposed Anglican Covenant at some time
during the next two years. ENS Weekly bulletin inserts for Sept. 19
explain the timelines for these conversations and how they may inform
the church's official response at General Convention 2012.

Inserts may be downloaded here:

http://www.episcopalchurch.org/95270_ENG_HTM.htm

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

>_____________________

>DIOCESAN DIGEST

TEXAS: House of Deputies president to headline inclusion conference

>By ENS staff

[Episcopal News Service] Episcopal Church House of Deputies President
Bonnie Anderson will be the featured speaker at an October conference
about the inclusion of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender 
Christians
in the life and ministry of the Episcopal Church.

Full story: http://www.episcopalchurch.org/81803_124387_ENG_HTM.htm
_ _ _ _ _

SOUTHERN OHIO: 'Flat pastors' go on worldwide vacation

>By ENS staff

[Episcopal News Service] The two pastors of Indian Hill
Episcopal-Presbyterian Church in the Diocese of Southern Ohio had 
quite
a fun, but "flat" summer.

Full story: http://www.episcopalchurch.org/81803_124405_ENG_HTM.htm
_ _ _ _ _

PENNSYLVANIA: Standing Committee asks for help in getting bishop to
leave

>By Mary Frances Schjonberg

[Episcopal News Service] The members of the Episcopal Diocese of
Pennsylvania's Standing Committee have asked  the leaders of the House
of Bishops for their "support and assistance in constructing a way to 
go
forward in this diocese and to secure Bishop [Charles] Bennison's
retirement or resignation."

Full story: http://www.episcopalchurch.org/81803_124409_ENG_HTM.htm

More Diocesan news: http://www.episcopalchurch.org/81803_ENG_HTM.htm

>_____________________

>WORLD REPORT

PHILIPPINES: Christian group urges speedy probe of hostage deaths

>By Maurice Malanes

[Ecumenical News International, Manila] A Christian group has joined a
demand in the Philippines for a speedy and impartial probe of a recent
hostage-taking incident that led to the deaths of eight Hong Kong
tourists in what some commentators said was a mishandled rescue by
police.

Full story: http://www.episcopalchurch.org/81808_124382_ENG_HTM.htm

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

>_____________________

>OPINION

>Time to scrutinize the 'restoration' experts

>By Tom Ehrich

[Episcopal News Service] Everyone seems to have a solution for
"restoring" America.

Take power away from liberal intellectuals, say some, and put 
"ordinary"
people in charge.

>Or make this a white-run, Christian nation.

Full story: http://www.episcopalchurch.org/80050_124392_ENG_HTM.htm

>- - - - -

'Move beyond fear': Planned Quran burning is religious stupidity

>By Leo Frade

[Episcopal News Service] How can anyone think that an act of hate and
religious fanaticism -- the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001 -- can
somehow be redeemed by an act of intolerance and religious stupidity?

I have been trying to decide whether Pastor Terry Jones of the Dove
Center in Gainesville, who is planning to burn copies of the Quran on
Sept. 11, has any idea of how much harm and persecution his action 
will
bring upon Christians living around the world -- and specifically 
those
living in countries with a majority Muslim population. I have traveled
extensively in the Middle East, and I am quite familiar with the
precarious situation of Christians in that area.

Full story: http://www.episcopalchurch.org/80050_124380_ENG_HTM.htm

More Opinion: http://www.episcopalchurch.org/80050_ENG_HTM.htm

>_____________________

>CALENDAR

A round-up of upcoming special events, services, concerts and diocesan
conventions taking place throughout the Episcopal Church is available 
at
http://www.episcopalchurch.org/calendar.htm

>_____________________

>SPIRITUAL REFLECTIONS

September 12, 2010 - Sixteenth Sunday After Pentecost, Proper 19 - 
Year

>C

>By the Rev. Ben E. Helmer

(RCL) Jeremiah 4:11-12, 22-28 and Psalm 14 (Track 2: Exodus 32:7-14 
and
Psalm 51:1-11); 1 Timothy 1:12-17; Luke 15:1-10

[Sermons That Work] Throughout Pentecost we have been hearing readings
that tell us about the nature of God. Today's readings follow that 
theme
with an in-depth look at God's merciful nature. A closer reading 
reveals
to us how God works in a covenant relationship with His people.

In the Exodus passage we find God's initial anger with the people whom
he has led to deliverance from slavery in Egypt. They have become 
bored
and disillusioned and have returned to the worship of other gods and
have built a golden calf as an image. Like anyone who has done 
something
good only to be rebuffed, God is angered by this repudiation and
threatens violent wrath until Moses intervenes.

Full reflection:

http://www.episcopalchurch.org/sermons_that_work_124108_ENG_HTM.htm

More Spiritual Reflections:

http://www.episcopalchurch.org/82457_ENG_HTM.htm

>_____________________

>DAYBOOK

On September 9, 2010, the church remembers Constance, Nun, and her
Companions, commonly called "The Martyrs of Memphis."

* 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 September 9, 2010, 1087, William I, "The
Conqueror" of England in 1066 and founder of several monasteries, 
died.

>_____________________

>EPISCOPAL BOOKS & RESOURCES PICK

"Love God, Heal Earth" from St. Lynn's Press, by the Rev. Canon Sally 
G.
Bingham, 227 pages, paperback, c. 2009, $17.99

[St. Lynn's Press] Foremost religious leaders from diverse faith
communities respond to the most controversial question of our time: 
Can
we save the earth? The answer could hinge on the phenomenon of the
fast-growing interfaith religious environmental movement. The author
makes the case for environmental stewardship that cuts across old
divisions of faith and politics. She presents 20 fellow religious
leaders and eminent scholars (from rabbis to evangelicals to 
Catholics,
Muslims and Buddhists) each contributing an original essay-chapter, 
with
personal stories of awakening to the urgent need for environmental
awareness and action. From all parts of the religious and political
spectrum, they come together to tell why caring for the earth is a
spiritual mandate, giving chapter and verse and offering plans of 
action
that go beyond the walls of religious congregations and out into the
broader community.

>Essays and contributors are:

"The Landscape Tradition: A Broader Vision for Ecotheology," by 
Stephen
Downs

"Globalization and Ecology," by Christine Burke, I.B.V.M.

"'For Your Immortal Spirit Is in All Things': The Holy Spirit in
Creation," by Denis Edwards

"Enfleshing the Human: An Earth-Revealing, Earth-Healing Christology,"
by Duncan Reid

"God's Shattering Otherness: The Trinity and Earth's Healing," by
Patricia Fox, R.S.M.

"Embracing Unloveliness: Exploring Theology from the Dungheap," by 
Lorna
Hallahan

"Up Close and Personal: In the End, Matter Matters," by Anthony Lowes

"The Relationship Quilt: Feminism and the Healing of Nature," by Lucy
Larkin

"A Timely Reminder: Humanity and Ecology in the Light of Christian
Hope," by Gregory Brett, C.M.

"Ecotheology as a Plea for Place," by Phillip Tolliday

"Situating Humanity: Theological Anthropology in Context of the
Ecological Crisis," by James McEvoy

"Bioethics, Ecology, and Theology," by Andrew Dutney.

To order, please visit Episcopal Books and Resources online at
http://www.episcopalbookstore.org, call 800-903-5544, or visit your
local Episcopal bookstore.