During the summer months ecumenical news dries up as church leaders, pastors, and theologians head off on their holiday plans. However, this year a very significant event occurred while we were all at the lake. Since 2001, Methodists have expressed appreciation for the Lutheran-Roman Catholic "Joint Declaration on the Doctrine of Justification" (JDDJ). Not long after the formal affirmation of the JDDJ, representatives of the Methodist World Council and the World Alliance of Reformed Churches gathered with the two signatories to discuss the possibilities of expanding the consensus to include their constituencies. This summer, on July 23, the World Methodist Conference, a gathering of 76 churches in the Methodist tradition, affirmed the Joint Declaration in a signing ceremony together with Lutheran and Roman Catholic representatives.

Church leaders and inter-church organizations around the world have been speaking out about the current crisis in the Middle East and, despite differences in perspective, are urging an immediate ceasefire.

The World Council of Churches website news for 8 August: A joint appeal signed today by the leaders of the World Council of Churches (WCC), the Lutheran World Federation (LWF) and the World Alliance of Reformed Churches (WARC) calls "upon Israel and Hezbullah to end the fighting in Lebanon" and "upon the United States, the European Union, and the Arab States to exercise their influence toward this end". It also calls "upon the Israeli government, the Palestinian Authority, and Hamas to end the conflict in Gaza". With the title "A call to end the violence", the joint appeal is signed by WCC general secretary Rev. Dr Samuel Kobia, LWF president Bishop Mark Hanson and WARC president Rev. Dr Clifton Kirkpatrick. Full text at www.oikoumene.org/en/news/.

In Canada, KAIROS, the umbrella organization for church peace and justice groups, issued a plea for a diplomatic solution in the Middle East on 25 July. It begins: "Over the recent weeks, we have seen the escalation of military conflict between Israel, Palestine and Lebanon. We are deeply troubled by these events, and pray for those who are suffering as a result. We join our voices with the many around the world calling urgently for ceasefire and a diplomatic solution before more lives are lost and more communities devastated. ... The current escalation began in Gaza and continues there. On June 30, 2006, we shared the call of Department of Service for Palestinian Refugees (DSPR). DSPR partners the world over were urged to press their governments to push for a diplomatic solution to resolve the episode of violence that threatened the life of a kidnapped Israeli soldier, countless civilians and Palestinian infrastructure." Full text at www.kairoscanada.org/e/times/current.asp#1.

In the United States, the National Council of Churches' website states that "the NCC has been calling for an immediate ceasefire and a brokered peace since hostilities began in the Middle East. The NCC's Interfaith Relations Ministry has also created a Web page to bring ancient faiths together to pray for peace." The NCC has compiled the responses of Protestant, Orthodox, Anglican and Roman Catholic church leaders from around the world. You can read them at www.councilofchurches.org.

The Canadian Centre for Ecumenism and the Prairie Centre for Ecumenism join church leaders and inter-church organizations around the world in urging an immediate cessation of hostilities in the conflict between Israel and Hezbullah.

The CCE's new Executive Director Anthony Mansour and the Associate Director Adèle Brodeur write: "We call for an immediate implementation of the UN ceasefire resolution in the Middle East. As Ecumenical Centres, the current situation is contrary to our mission of promoting understanding and mutual respect of each one's religion. We urge people of all faiths to pray for peace."

Rev. Dr. Jan Bigland-Pritchard, Director of the Prairie Centre for Ecumenism, writes: "I would like to add my voice to the many voices calling for an immediate cessation of hostilities. I urge all who read this site to pray for a just and lasting peace in the Middle East and to consider assisting with the humanitarian needs that are emerging." Welcoming the news on Friday evening that the UN Security Council had passed a ceasefire resolution, Bigland-Pritchard added: "It is still too early to measure the effect of the UN resolution passed today calling for a ceasefire, but we shall continue to pray in the days ahead for an end to the violence and for a just and lasting peace."

"Why such awful destruction?" was the question heard over and over again by members of an ecumenical pastoral delegation in relation to Israel's attacks on Lebanon.

Entrusted by the World Council of Churches (WCC), the Conference of European Churches (CEC), the Lutheran World Federation (LWF), and the World Alliance of Reformed Churches (WARC) with the mission of expressing global ecumenical solidarity with churches and people affected by the conflict in the Middle East, the delegation returned with the task of transmitting the hopes and expectations of the churches in Lebanon, Palestine and Israel to the international ecumenical family.

"Pourquoi une destruction si épouvantable?" C'est la question que les membres d'une délégation pastorale œcuménique n'ont cessé d'entendre à propos des attaques israéliennes contre le Liban.

Chargée par le Conseil œcuménique des Eglises (COE), la Conférence des Eglises européennes (KEK), la Fédération luthérienne mondiale (FLM) et l'Alliance réformée mondiale (ARM) d'exprimer la solidarité du monde œcuménique envers les Eglises et les populations touchées par le conflit au Moyen Orient, la délégation est rentrée avec pour mandat de transmettre à la famille œcuménique internationale les espoirs et les attentes des Eglises du Liban, de Palestine et d'Israël.

The United Church of Canada's 39th General Council has rejected a proposal calling for divestment from Israel, in favour of what is described as a "pro-peace" investment strategy. The proposal originally presented to the General Council called for the church and its congregations to selectively divest from corporations that support or contribute to the Israeli occupation of Palestinian territories.

The General Council is held every three years as the highest decision making body in the United Church of Canada (UCC). The meeting August 13 to 19 was in Thunder Bay, Ontario. Approximately 400 commissioners from across Canada participated in the General Council meeting.

The Canadian Centre for Ecumenism has a new director, effective August 1st. Anthony Mansour, the successful candidate, comes to the CCE from an extensive background in management. He holds a bachelor's degree in physics from Bishop's University in Lennoxville, Québec; an MBA from Southeastern University in Washington, DC; and a certificate in Orthodox theology from the Université de Sherbrooke in Longueuil, Québec. He has also served for 11 years as a reserve officer with the Canadian Air Force and holds both Canadian and US pilot licenses. He has two children, Brent (12) and Elizabeth (10). A member of the Orthodox Church in America, he serves as sub-deacon at The Sign of the Theotokos, an OCA parish in Montréal. He is fluent in both English and French.

In announcing the appointment, Jean-Louis D'Aragon, s.j., chairperson of the board stated: "Anthony Mansour brings strong organizational and communication skills, coupled with his many years of community service." During ten years with General Electric, Mansour served in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, as Senior Manager with responsibility for the Middle East and North Africa.

The Board of the Canadian Centre for Ecumenism has issued the following press release to announce the appointment.

Le centre canadien d'œcuménisme est heureux d'annoncer la nomination de Anthony Mansour au poste de directeur exécutif du Centre. M. Mansour possède une vaste expérience d'homme d'affaires. Il tient une licence dans la physique de Bishop's University dans Lennoxville, Québec ; un MBA de Southeastern University à Washington, C.C ; et un certificat en théologie orthodoxe d'Université de Sherbrooke dans Longueuil, Québec. Il a aussi servi pendant onze ans dans l'Armée de l'air canadienne en tant que capitaine de réserve et détient des brevets de pilote du Canada et des États-Unis. Il a deux enfants, Brent (12) et Elizabeth (10). Un membre de l'Église orthodoxe en Amérique (OCA), il sert de sous-diacre au Signe du Theotokos, une paroisse d'OCA dans Montréal. Il parle couramment l'anglais et le français.

En annonçant la nomination, Jean-Louis D'Aragon, s.j., président du conseil d'administration a énoncé : « Anthony Mansour apporte au Centre de solides dons d'organisateur et de communicateur en plus de nombreuses années de service à la communauté. » Pendant dix ans avec General Electric, Mansour a servi dans Riyadh, Arabie Saoudite, en tant qu'administrateur principal pour le Moyen-Orient et l'Afrique du nord.

Le conseil d'administration du Centre canadien d'œcuménisme a publié un communiqué de presse pour annoncer la nomination.