c. 2005 Religion News Service
Pope Says `We’ll See’ to Invitation to Visit San Antonio
(RNS) Pope Benedict XVI smiled and responded, “We’ll see,” when invited to visit San Antonio, Texas, next year for the 275th anniversary of that city’s historic downtown San Fernando Cathedral, according to a newspaper report.
San Antonio Archbishop Jose Gomez told the San Antonio Express-News that the invitation was extended in the Pope Paul VI Audience Hall during a July 1 gathering for archbishops who received the pallium, the principal symbol of their office, the day before.
During the gathering, each bishop knelt before the pope to receive his blessing, then rose and exchanged a few words with him, the Express-News reported. When Gomez did so, he mentioned the upcoming birthday celebration of San Fernando Cathedral.
The 78-year-old pontiff couldn’t believe at first that an American church could be so old, Gomez told the newspaper. “He asked, `Is it possible?”’ Gomez said, but then the pope remembered the cathedral was built during Spanish colonial times.
Founded March 9, 1731, by 15 families who came from the Canary Islands at the invitation of King Phillip V of Spain, the San Fernando church was planned as the center of life in the new settlement. The cornerstone of the building was laid in 1738, making it the oldest parish church in Texas. Today, San Fernando Cathedral draws more than 5,000 to each weekend’s Masses.
Pope John Paul II prayed and spoke to students in religious formation at San Fernando on Sept. 13, 1987, as part of a 22-hour visit to San Antonio in which more than 1 million people saw him _ more than in any other city on that 10-day tour to the United States.
_ Bobby Ross Jr.
Evangelical Christian Publishers Association Announces Annual Awards
(RNS) Lee Strobel and Garry Poole’s “Experiencing the Passion of Jesus” has won the Jordon Christian Book of the Year Award.
The award, bestowed by the Evangelical Christian Publishers Association, was announced Monday (July 11). Nineteen other Gold Medallion prizes were given in separate categories.
“The Purpose Driven Life” by Rick Warren was awarded a Double Diamond Award in recognition of over 20 million units sold. It won the book of the year award in 2003 and 2004.
The ECPA Lifetime Achievement award was presented to Barbara Johnson for her contributions to the Christian bookselling industry.
The 2005 Gold Medallion Book Award winners by category were:
Bibles: “The Hands-On Bible” by Group Publishing Inc. (Tyndale House Publishers Inc.); Reference Works/Commentaries: “New Testament Theology” by I. Howard Marshall (InterVarsity Press); Fiction: “Oceans Apart” by Karen Kingsbury (Zondervan); Biography/Autobiography: “A Table in the Presence” by Lt. Carey H. Cash (W Publishing Group).
Theology/Doctrine: “The Holy Trinity” by Robert Letham (P&R Publishing Co.); Devotional: “His Passion” by David R. Veerman, editor (Integrity Publishers); Inspirational: “It’s Not About Me” by Max Lucado (Integrity Publishers); Christian Living: “When God Doesn’t Answer Your Prayers” by Nancy Pearcey (Crossway Books); Missions/Evangelism: “A Case for a Creator” by Lee Strobel (Zondervan); Christian Ministry: “New Light on Depression” by David B. Biebel; D. Min. & Harold G. Koenig; M.D. (Zondervan).
_ Hugh S. Moore
Companies Unveil Ethical Guidelines for `Big Box’ Retail Outlets
(RNS) Two ethically based financial management companies with investments in large-scale stores like Wal-Mart have issued guidelines intended to minimize the community opposition that often accompanies construction of new “big box” retail outlets.
Christian Brothers Investment Services and Domini Social Investments have large-scale retail in their portfolios and control nearly $6 billion in assets. CBIC manages Roman Catholic institutional investments on behalf of various dioceses, educational and religious institutions. Domini manages mutual funds for investors “seeking to create a positive change in society,” according to the report.
CBIS Corporate Advocacy Coordinator Julie Tanner said store siting is a central component of a retailer’s business plan and the implications can be far-reaching. She insisted that ethical considerations make good financial as well as moral sense.
“Conflicts can damage a company’s reputations and impact consumer confidence,” Tanner said. “As retailers expand throughout the U.S. and abroad, we believe they must take proactive steps to engage with communities and ensure that their cultural and environmental heritage remains intact.”
Domini General Counsel Adam Kanzer also said the guidelines should serve as a useful “starting point” for companies facing siting issues.
“Companies have damaged their relations with communities by contributing to urban sprawl, siting stores on land sacred to indigenous peoples and circumventing the open market by acquiring land through eminent domain proceedings,” Kanzer said. “We believe these problems can be avoided.”
In one controversial case, the town of Dunkirk, Md., passed a law restricting the size of retail outlets to 70,000 square feet after Wal-Mart announced it would build in the area. Wal-Mart’s response was to draw up plans for two stores next door to one another. But in May Wal-Mart abandoned the idea in the face of intense community opposition.
The guideline headings proposed by CBIS and Domini include:
_ social and environmental diligence
_ transparency
_ community consultation
_ relations with governments
_ respect for indigenous cultures
_ preservation of cultural heritage
_ environmental stewardship
_ protection of biodiversity
_ smart growth.
_ Hugh S. Moore
Mennonite Pastor Disciplined for Same-Sex Ceremony Remains in Post
SEATTLE (RNS) Despite becoming the first Mennonite minister to lose his credentials for officiating a same-sex commitment ceremony a year ago, the Rev. Weldon Nisly continues to serve as pastor of Seattle Mennonite Church.
Pacific Northwest Conference, an area conference of Mennonite Church USA, in April suspended Nisly’s ministerial credentials for up to two years for performing a July 2004 commitment ceremony for two women who are members of his congregation.
But his work goes on as before his discipline. He is allowed to remain in the pulpit because the congregation and not the conference calls the pastor to the position.
“I can no more be unordained than I can be unbaptized,” Nisly told Mennonite Weekly Review. “As long as this congregation is clear about that, … I will continue doing what I have always done.”
Mennonite Church USA guidelines prohibit pastors from officiating commitment ceremonies for people of the same gender. The denominational confession of faith states that “God intends marriage to be a covenant between one man and one woman for life.”
A statement from Pacific Northwest said the conference “asks its pastors and congregations to accept” the confession of faith.
The conference will review Nisly’s status after the suspension period.
“We are in a process that we do not see as having come to a conclusion,” said Pat Hershberger, chair of Pacific Northwest pastoral leadership committee. “The relationship continues with Weldon and with the Seattle Mennonite congregation.”
Nisly said he is realistic about having his credentials restored.
“Unless I repent, recant and promise not to do it again, nothing else matters to those who consider homosexuality a sin,” said Nisly, who has been pastor of Seattle Mennonite Church since 1995.
In a letter to conference officials last fall, he wrote that his decision to conduct the ceremony “is a consistent and faithful outgrowth of over 30 years of my Mennonite pastoral and peace ministry. I believe that the church’s stance on homosexuality is as serious and sinful as the church’s biblical support for slavery was in earlier centuries.”
While the first to have his credentials suspended, Nisly is the second Mennonite Church USA minister to be disciplined for participating in a same-sex commitment ceremony. In 2000, another conference issued a letter of reprimand to a retired pastor in Kansas.
_ Rich Preheim
Quote of the Day: Jay Sekulow, chief counsel of the American Center for Law and Justice, a conservative Christian law firm
(RNS) “We have had more response to this case than we have had to the decision on the Ten Commandments _ how about that? … I think it ranks up there with any case we have ever had in showing that the court does, in fact, impact your life.“
_ Jay Sekulow, chief counsel of the American Center for Law and Justice, in reference to Christian conservatives’ opposition to the recent Supreme Court ruling giving cities the right to seize property for development that generates tax revenue. Sekulow was quoted in the New York Times.
MO/LF RNS END
