Religion Press Release Services

** MEDIA ADVISORY ** MEDIA ADVISORY ** MEDIA ADVISORY **

This week’s edition of the PBS newsmagazine program RELIGION & ETHICS NEWSWEEKLY (distributed Friday, December 22 at 5 p.m., check local listings) will feature the following reports:

* Perspectives: "A Look Back at the Year 2006” — Rajiv Chandrasekaran, former Baghdad bureau chief for The Washington Post and the author of “Imperial Life in the Emerald City,” Laurie Goodstein, national religion reporter at The New York Times and Kim Lawton, correspondent and managing editor of RELIGION & ETHICS NEWSWEEKLY, join host Bob Abernethy for a roundtable studio discussion of the past year's top news stories impacting the faith community.

* Feature: "Partners in Care" — Lucky Severson explores how “Partners in Care,” an initiative created by Maryland National Guard Chaplain William Sean Lee to support vets in need, is helping a divorced mom who served in Iraq to rebuild her life with the aid of the local faith community.

* News Feature: “Virginia Episcopal Church Breakaway” — Kim Lawton reports on the historic vote by eight congregations in the Virginia Diocese of the Episcopal Church to break away the U.S. denomination over its ordination of a gay bishop.

To request a transcript of these reports, send an e-mail to rosenbleethl@religionethics.org or go to the program Web site at http://www.pbs.org/wnet/religionandethics where the transcript and streaming video of each story will be available after 8:30 p.m. on Friday.

For information, contact:
Lynn Rosenbleeth
Publicist
Religion & Ethics NewsWeekly
202-216-4404
rosenbleethl@religionethics.org

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About Religion Press Release Services
Religion Press Release Services distributes press releases, press advisories, photos and other stories on behalf of religious organizations, denominational offices, think tanks, watchdog groups, advocacy groups, coalitions, foundations, colleges, universities, seminaries, publishers and others.

The organizations and/or individuals who submit materials for distribution by Religion Press Release Services are solely responsible for the facts in and accuracy of their materials. Religion Press Release Services will correct any errors brought to its attention.

Contact Us
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**FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE**

MGM RELEASES FINAL ROUND OF THE “ROCKY” SERIES, ROCKY BALBOA, OPENING IN THEATERS NATIONWIDE TODAY, DECEMBER 20, 2006

SYLVESTER STALLONE TRIUMPHANTLY BRINGS BACK ONE OF HOLLYWOOD’S ORIGINAL AND GREATEST STORIES OF PERSEVERANCE, HOPE, FAITH AND LOVE

Los Angeles, CA (December 20, 2006) – In a movie that some are calling a powerful allegory of faith, Sylvester Stallone returns as Rocky Balboa, for the sixth and final episode of the “Rocky” series, telling the uncompromising story of victory, failure and “fighting the good fight.” The wholesome, family-friendly film (rated PG) releases today through MGM, in theaters nationwide.

“As someone who began listening on the call as a giggling skeptic and who does not expect Rocky Balboa to be heralded as a Christian film, I have to confess I was won over by the real-life story of redemption I heard. I'm believin' it.”
- Stuart Shepard, Managing Editor of Focus on the Family’s Citizenlink.com

Like its Rocky predecessors, Rocky Balboa is a story of impossible odds, self sacrifice, integrity and hard work, as the character’s “warrior spirit” fights to let go of the past and believe in those who believe in him, for one final round with a formidable opponent.

Although Hollywood has recently taken note of values-based films that include elements of faith, the 30-year-old Rocky story displayed these concepts long before the media was paying attention. Today, Stallone brings back what has long been there in the heart of Rocky.

"This one will hopefully bring forward Rocky's more spiritual side,” Stallone says. “I really love this character, he's a part of me and I'm longing to bring him back.”

Rocky Balboa, the character created by Sylvester Stallone, became a present-day symbol for those who venture to go the distance in life, who risk making their dreams a reality, and whose unyielding faith brings them to their destiny. Viewed by Stallone as a “20th Century gladiator in a pair of sneakers,” Rocky Balboa carries on the heroism, dignity, courage and soul that have made the movies the greatest “underdog” stories of our time.

With faith and values being a rarity in Hollywood’s action films, Rocky Balboa breaks the mold as an inspirational, family-friendly experience that depicts a man who honorably answers the call in his life. As the retired Rocky returns to the ring with “something left to give,” despite his aging body, we are urged to look within ourselves and find the courage to fight our own personal struggles through perseverance, support, and prayer.

“I recommend you to see it. Great movie and a lot of life application as it relates to our faith.”
- Bob Cavinder, Crystal Cathedral

"Life is hard, and faith can help us to face some of those challenges and issues in our past. You see Rocky do that throughout the movies but particularly it comes to kind of a peak in this movie and it was exciting to see."
- Jud Wilhite, Senior Pastor, Central Christian Church in Las Vegas, Nevada

Building on these themes, Motive Entertainment, the company which has spearheading the most significant faith-based marketing initiatives for Hollywood blockbusters, including “The Passion” and “The Chronicles of Narnia,” has decided to turn its attention to Rocky.

“As longstanding Rocky fans, we thought it would be great to put together a selection of Rocky resources that faith and family leaders can use as preaching and teaching tools,” says Paul Lauer, President of Motive Entertainment. “Rocky Balboa is a beautiful film – one that all Rocky fans should see, especially people of faith, because it’s a powerful parable of our spiritual lives – our victories, our falls, and the importance of getting back up and persevering to the end.”

www.rockyresources.com

PUBLICITY CONTACT FOR FAITH-BASED MEDIA

Motive Entertainment Partnership

Lesley Burbridge-Bates
615.321.6400
lesley@motivemarketing.biz

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Religion Press Release Services distributes press releases, press advisories, photos and other stories on behalf of religious organizations, denominational offices, think tanks, watchdog groups, advocacy groups, coalitions, foundations, colleges, universities, seminaries, publishers and others.

The organizations and/or individuals who submit materials for distribution by Religion Press Release Services are solely responsible for the facts in and accuracy of their materials. Religion Press Release Services will correct any errors brought to its attention.

Contact Us
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Vikram Masson
navyashastra@shastras.org
(201) 674-2065
www.shastras.org

Troy, Michigan, USA --December 20, 2006-- Navya Shastra, the international Hindu reform organization, has issued an apology to the Dalit communities of India. The organization issued the apology after consulting with Hindu activists and its own Dalit members.


STATEMENT OF APOLOGY
We, at Navya Shastra, deeply regret and apologize for the atrocities committed on the sons and daughters of the depressed communities of India, including the tribals, the "untouchables" and all of the castes deemed as low.

We shamefully acknowledge that the ideals of varna and its practical manifestation in castes (jÃtis), promoted and encouraged the notions of inequality, lesser and greater, high and low, superior and inferior among human beings. An ideal that does not aspire for equality of human beings is not worthy of being an ideal.

Caste and varna have relegated many to a degradingly low status. This was a divisive, inhumane and a ruinous social construct. Navya Shastra fully recognizes this and rejects unequivocally as heinous and despicable varna and caste together with all Shastras and theories that endorse them or support the unjust and demeaning social hierarchy that these imposed on the Indian society. Navya Shastra understands that all Hindus cannot be equals when such theories are still amidst us.

We ask for forgiveness for what our forefathers did in the past to directly and indirectly contribute to any and all indignities heaped by one human being upon another in the name of Dharma and God, and which some among us continue to do even in this enlightened era.

The depressed and lowest castes have been the keepers and protectors of our oldest and most ancient traditions and wisdom. They have kept in practice the traditions that have become foundational to what we call "mainstream" Hinduism today. Some of the tribal languages, spoken even today, have provided the substratum for many of the spoken and classical languages of India. Most of our mainstream indigenous medicinal, agricultural, craftsmanship and other knowledge systems owe their origins to the knowledge and practices that have been propagated and retained within these castes over millennia. The folk performing arts were and are the main sources of input into the classical and popular art forms.

We want to celebrate and fete all these traditions on this day, and pay homage to them. These traditions form the very foundation on which the Indian civilization stands today.

*****
About Religion Press Release Services
Religion Press Release Services distributes press releases, press advisories, photos and other stories on behalf of religious organizations, denominational offices, think tanks, watchdog groups, advocacy groups, coalitions, foundations, colleges, universities, seminaries, publishers and others.

The organizations and/or individuals who submit materials for distribution by Religion Press Release Services are solely responsible for the facts in and accuracy of their materials. Religion Press Release Services will correct any errors brought to its attention.

Contact Us
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For Immediate Release

Washington, D.C., December 20, 2006 — RELIGION & ETHICS NEWSWEEKLY, the acclaimed PBS newsmagazine program produced by Thirteen/WNET New York, will feature consecutive studio discussions of this year’s top stories in the world of religion and ethics and those expected to make headlines in 2007. The studio segments will be included in the December 22 and 29 programs to be distributed at 5 p.m. ET (check local listings) to public television stations nationwide.

Rajiv Chandrasekaran, former Baghdad bureau chief for The Washington Post and the author of “Imperial Life in the Emerald City,” Laurie Goodstein, New York Times national religion reporter and Kim Lawton, RELIGION & ETHICS NEWSWEEKLY correspondent and managing editor, join host Bob Abernethy for the December 23 discussion and analysis of the top religion news stories of 2006. Topics addressed by the panelists include: sectarian violence in Iraq and the religious challenges confronting America and the Iraq government; the “demonization” of Islam by the West; religion’s impact on the 2006 elections; growing political, religious and social differences within the Protestant evangelical community; tensions over issues of homosexuality in the U.S. Episcopal Church and global Anglican Communion; U.S. diplomatic policy in the Middle East; and Hollywood’s embrace of faith-based films.

The following week, the program looks at major stories expected to make headlines in the coming year. E.J. Dionne, columnist for The Washington Post and a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution, Jeffrey Goldberg, Washington correspondent for The New Yorker, and Rachel Zoll, religion writer for the Associated Press, join Abernethy to discuss: possible outcomes in Iraq and the prospects for re-establishing Israeli-Palestinian dialogue; the likely agenda to be set by the new Democratic-controlled Congress; evangelical Christians’ broadening focus on social and environmental issues; the threat of schism within the U.S. Episcopal Church; the role of religion in the political process; nuclear proliferation in the Muslim world; and Pope Benedict’s efforts to reinvigorate the Catholic Church in Latin America.

Major funding for RELIGION & ETHICS NEWSWEEKLY is provided by Lilly Endowment Inc. with additional support from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, Mutual of America Life Insurance Company and individual supporters. Executive editor and host for the program is Bob Abernethy; executive producer is Arnold Labaton.

###

For more information, contact:

Mary Schultz
Director of Communications
Religion & Ethics NewsWeekly
schultzm@religionethics.org

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About Religion Press Release Services
Religion Press Release Services distributes press releases, press advisories, photos and other stories on behalf of religious organizations, denominational offices, think tanks, watchdog groups, advocacy groups, coalitions, foundations, colleges, universities, seminaries, publishers and others.

The organizations and/or individuals who submit materials for distribution by Religion Press Release Services are solely responsible for the facts in and accuracy of their materials. Religion Press Release Services will correct any errors brought to its attention.

Contact Us
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Contact: Nicole Rohling 301-270-0900, ext. 16
Associate Director
Email: nrohling@cnvs.org
Shane Yost 301-270-0900, ext. 19
Development Coordinator
Email: syost@cnvs.org


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 20, 2006

TAKOMA PARK, Md. – Volunteering with faith-based programs has seen an increase in the last year, according to a new report released today by Catholic Network of Volunteer Service (CNVS).

The 2005-2006 Membership Report finds that over 10,000 volunteers served in more than 200 CNVS member programs.

Among the findings:
* 68.8% of long-term volunteers (defined as nine months or longer) were between the ages of 21-25. This is an increase of 13.7% from last year.
* The number of married couples serving in CNVS programs was nearly 33% higher than last year. Last year there was a 22% increase.
* Nearly 50% of short-term volunteers (defined less than 9 months) served in social service fields while 40% of long-term volunteers served in education fields.
* 80.7% of volunteers were Catholic.
* For participating programs, over $4.8M was made available to CNVS volunteers in Segal AmeriCorps Education Awards.
* Over 30 of CNVS’ members were founded prior to 1980, including Gould Farm, Catholic Medical Mission Board, Mennonite Mission Network, Jesuit Volunteer Corps, Christian Appalachian Project and Lutheran Volunteer Corps.

“We are encouraged that this report indicates an increase in the number of young adults volunteering in faith-based programs. In addition, the report reveals that more married couples are serving than in the past. Faith-based volunteers, young and old, married and single are helping their communities by meeting the needs of the poor and those who live on society’s margins, said Jim Lindsay, CNVS Executive Director. “CNVS is committed to extending the invitation to faith-based service to an even broader audience in the future.”

Established in 1963, Catholic Network of Volunteer Service (CNVS) is the premier non-profit association for domestic and international volunteer and lay mission programs. Currently, more than 10,000 volunteers and lay missioners serve in its member programs throughout the U.S. and in 108 countries worldwide. Volunteers serve in a variety of placements, including AIDS ministry, farming, construction, social services, parish ministry and education.

CNVS publishes an annual directory of its members, RESPONSE 2007. Copies of both the 2005-2006 Membership Report and RESPONSE 2007 are now available and can be requested through CNVS’ toll-free number at 800-543-5046 or by email at cnvsinfo@cnvs.org. An online version of the directory may also be found on the web at www.cnvs.org.

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About Religion Press Release Services
Religion Press Release Services distributes press releases, press advisories, photos and other stories on behalf of religious organizations, denominational offices, think tanks, watchdog groups, advocacy groups, coalitions, foundations, colleges, universities, seminaries, publishers and others.

The organizations and/or individuals who submit materials for distribution by Religion Press Release Services are solely responsible for the facts in and accuracy of their materials. Religion Press Release Services will correct any errors brought to its attention.

Contact Us
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Religion News Service, 1101 Connecticut Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20036 (202) 463-8777

Contact: Dr. John D. Garr
678 6153567 or 678 3577771
johngarr@hebraiccenter.org

(Atlanta, GA) – After four years of intensive planning by an international and ecumenical team of Regents, Atlanta-based Hebraic Heritage Christian Center (www.hebraiccenter.org) announces the beginning of registration for its first course offerings January 1, 2007.

“From the very beginning,” states HHCC founder and president Dr. John Garr, “we have purposed to employ today’s most advanced communications technologies to deliver a quality curriculum to a global constituency.”

Under the leadership of Dr. Don Stanley, former Network Director for BBC television and now HHCC’s Dean of Educational Technology, a unique on-line educational model has been designed that has received high praise from distance learning professionals at major universities.

Dr. Lisa M. Decker of Hunter College of the City University of New York writes: “As an administrator of higher education, with nearly 15 years of experience in the field of distance learning, I have never seen an on-line educational product that so adequately addresses various learning styles in its delivery.” To see the HHCC Classroom Video Demo, see www.hebraiccenter.org and click on Online Demo.

Dr. Clifford Denton, one-time educational researcher at Oxford University and now HHCC’s Dean of Education, is leading the team of scholars in developing courses with accompanying resources.

Hebraic Heritage Press, the publishing arm of HHCC, will soon release a new book by one of the school’s Regents, Isaac C. Rottenberg. Entitled, Judaism – Christianity – Paganism: A Judeo-Christian Worldview and its Cultural Implications, this book will be a compendium volume to Rottenberg’s Christian Jewish Dialogue: Exploring our Commonalities and our Differences published by HHCC in 2006. Both of these books are available at www.hebraiccenter.org. For scholars’ endorsements, see www.isaacrottenberg.com.

Both the curriculum and the Internet delivery system created by the HHCC team of scholars, business leaders, and technicians represent intense historical and theological research and cutting edge technology and electronic media. By blending both the ancient and the futuristic, HHCC is now able to deliver a superb educational experience to students in their own place, in their own preferred time, and at their own pace.

Students of all ages can enroll immediately for courses in Bachelor’s and Master’s degree programs in Biblical Studies and Theology by contacting Hebraic Heritage Christian Center by the Internet (www.hebraiccenter.org), by phone (678 6153567), or by mail (P. O. Box 450848, Atlanta, GA 31145-0848).

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About Religion Press Release Services
Religion Press Release Services distributes press releases, press advisories, photos and other stories on behalf of religious organizations, denominational offices, think tanks, watchdog groups, advocacy groups, coalitions, foundations, colleges, universities, seminaries, publishers and others.

The organizations and/or individuals who submit materials for distribution by Religion Press Release Services are solely responsible for the facts in and accuracy of their materials. Religion Press Release Services will correct any errors brought to its attention.

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Jan. 29-30 event ‘to show love and concern for Anglican brethren, begin healing process’

FROM:
St. Andrew House Center for Orthodox Christian Studies
23300 Davison Avenue, Detroit, MI 48223

DETROIT – In response to numerous enquiries, St. Andrew House Center for Orthodox Christian Studies will host “Faith of Our Fathers: A Colloquium on Orthodoxy for Anglicans” Jan. 29-30 for clergy of the Episcopal Church in the United States, the Anglican Church of Canada, and other churches in the worldwide Anglican Communion.

While the colloquium is designed for Anglican clergy, it is also open to Anglican laity, and to clergy and laity from other Christian faiths. Seating is limited, however, and priority will be given to Anglicans on a first-come, first-served basis.

The purpose of the colloquium is educational, according to the Most Rev. Nathaniel, Archbishop of Detroit and the Romanian Episcopate of the Orthodox Church in America, and founder and president of St. Andrew House.

“’Faith of Our Fathers’ will be an opportunity to explain who we Orthodox are to our Anglican brethren, and to show our love and concern for them in their time of trial,” Archbishop Nathaniel said, referring to doctrinal divisions within the Episcopal Church and the Anglican Church of Canada, and among the member churches of the worldwide Anglican Communion. “We hope Orthodoxy might be a salve that can help begin a process of healing,” he said

Including Archbishop Nathaniel, there will be nine principal speakers at the colloquium. They will compare Orthodox and Anglican theology, liturgy and church order, and the seven who are converts from Anglicanism to Orthodoxy will discuss their personal journeys and offer practical advice for Anglican clergy considering Orthodoxy.

Seven of the speakers are Orthodox priests: the Rev. Dr. Heiromonk Calinic Berger, Hermitage, Pa.; the Very Rev. Gregory Mathewes-Green, Linthicum, Md.; the Rev. James Stephen Freeman, Oak Ridge, Tenn.; the Very Rev. William Olnhausen, Cedarburg, Wis.; the Rev. John Parker, Mount Pleasant, S.C.; the Very Rev. Patrick Henry Reardon, Chicago; and the Very Rev. John Reeves, State College, Pa.

The ninth speaker, Frederica Mathewes-Green, wife of Fr. Mathewes-Green and a nationally known writer, speaker and radio commentator (www.frederica.com), is an Orthodox layperson.

Except for Archbishop Nathaniel, who is a convert from Roman Catholicism, and Fr. Berger, who is “cradle Orthodox,” all the speakers are converts to Orthodoxy from the Episcopal Church.

The colloquium is expected to attract other Orthodox clergy representing most major Orthodox jurisdictions in North America, including the Most Rev. Job, Archbishop of Chicago and the Diocese of the Midwest of the Orthodox Church in America (www.oca.org), and other hierarchs.

The colloquium will be held at St. Paul of the Cross Passionist Retreat Center, 23333 Schoolcraft Road, near the intersection of Interstate 96 and Telegraph Road.

The colloquium will begin with registration at 5:00 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 29 and conclude with a farewell reception at 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 30. It will feature a Vespers service on Monday evening at nearby St. Raphael of Brooklyn Orthodox Church in commemoration of the Synaxis of the Ecumenical Teachers and Hierarchs: Basil the Great, Gregory the Theologian, and John Chrysostom (see icon in colloquium logo and following sidebar).

The registration fee for the conference is $75 per person. It includes meals and refreshments at retreat center. Reservation of a room, either single or double, for Monday night at the retreat center is $75. The deadline for registration is Monday, Jan. 15.

To obtain further information and register for the colloquium, visit www.orthodoxdetroit.com. For further assistance, contact the colloquium coordinator, David Adrian, at (248) 322-9226 or david.adrian@adrianassoc.com.

St. Andrew House Center for Orthodox Christian Studies was founded in 2001. Its mission is to promote the Orthodox Christian faith by word and example through formal instruction, worship and good works. It exists to serve the Orthodox clergy and faithful of metropolitan Detroit and to be a symbol of the unity of the faith.
# # #

SIDEBAR:
Synaxis of the Three Ecumenical Teachers and Hierarchs: Basil the Great, Gregory the Theologian, and John Chrysostom

(From the Orthodox Church in America, www.oca.org)

During the eleventh century, disputes raged in Constantinople about which of the three hierarchs was the greatest. Some preferred St. Basil (Jan. 1), others honored St. Gregory the Theologian (Jan. 25), while a third group exalted St. John Chrysostom (Nov. 13).

Dissension among Christians increased. Some called themselves Basilians, others referred to themselves as Gregorians, and others as Johnites.

By the will of God, the three hierarchs appeared to St. John the Bishop of Euchaita (June 14) in the year 1084, and said that they were equal before God. "There are no divisions among us, and no opposition to one another."

They ordered that the disputes should stop, and that their common commemoration should be celebrated on a single day. Bishop John chose Jan. 30 for their joint Feast, thus ending the controversy and restoring peace.
# # #

CONTACT:
David Adrian
Adrian & Associates, Inc.
(248) 322-9226
(248) 515-4607 cell
david.adrian@adrianassoc.com

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Religion Press Release Services distributes press releases, press advisories, photos and other stories on behalf of religious organizations, denominational offices, think tanks, watchdog groups, advocacy groups, coalitions, foundations, colleges, universities, seminaries, publishers and others.

The organizations and/or individuals who submit materials for distribution by Religion Press Release Services are solely responsible for the facts in and accuracy of their materials. Religion Press Release Services will correct any errors brought to its attention.

Contact Us
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Group to launch new Jesus Project

PRESS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Nathan Bupp
Phone: (716) 636-7571 x 218
E-mail: nbupp@centerforinquiry.net

Amherst, New York (December 19, 2006)—The Committee for the Scientific Examination of Religion (CSER), a project of the Center for Inquiry/Transnational, will host a landmark conference on critical Biblical and Qur’anic research at the University of California at Davis on January 25–28 of 2007. The conference is being co-sponsored by the Department of Religious Studies at the University. Titled “Scripture and Skepticism,” the conference will explore the legacy of skepticism and historical-critical interpretation in the study of religious texts, founders and ideas. WORKING RELIGION WRITERS AND REPORTERS WILL BE ABLE TO ATTEND CONFERENCE SESSIONS FREE OF CHARGE.

“This era of heightened religious sensitivity and neo-fundamentalism is threatening our ability to objectively and critically examine the sacred texts of Christianity, Judaism, and Islam,” said CSER chair, R. Joseph Hoffmann. Historical-criticism emerged during the Enlightenment as a new way of interpreting religious texts that involved questioning the traditional understanding of the writings, as well as the authorship and dating of the texts themselves. In recent years, however, historical-criticism has been de-emphasized in favor of faith-commitments, theology, or literary experiments such as Postmodernism. The aim of the conference is to explore the grounds for this accelerating disuse of skeptical, historical-critical methods. Hoffmann argues, “How can the public trust that they are getting an objective illustration of historical fact from their clergy when critics are being silenced in our universities and seminaries across the country?”

“We have assembled a stunning group of scholars for this occasion, all of whom have made landmark contributions to the understanding of the Bible, the Qur’an, and their contexts,” said Hoffmann. Among the presenters are: Gerd Lüdemann, Adela Yarbro Collins, Andrew Rippin, James Tabor, Alfred-Louis de Prémare, Richard E. Rubenstein, Paul Kurtz, and Ibn Warraq. An awards banquet will also honor some leading lions in the field, such as John Dominic Crossan, Elaine, Pagels, and David Noel Freedman.

The conference will also initiate “The Jesus Project,” which will be devoted to examining the case for the historical existence of Jesus based on a rigorous application of historical critical methods to the gospels and related literature.

Unlike the “Jesus Seminar,” founded in 1985 by the late Professor Robert Funk of the University of Montana, the new Seminar regards the claim that Jesus of Nazareth was an historical figure as a “testable hypothesis.” Hoffmann said that the project has been called for by a number of scholars who felt that the first Jesus Seminar may have been—for political reasons—too reluctant to follow where the evidence led. Declared Hoffmann, “When you have pared the sayings of Jesus down to fewer than twenty, one begins to wonder about the survivors. Moreover, the Jesus Seminar was not successful in papering over fatal disputes about the authenticity of even those.”

According to Hoffmann, the goal is not to “disprove” Jesus or to sensationalize the question of his existence, but to acknowledge the question and examine it impartially—without theological or apologetic constraints. CSER will publish the results of the new Seminar’s work through an agreement with Prometheus Books of Amherst, New York.

Paul Kurtz, the chairman and founder of the Center for Inquiry and Prometheus Books, summed up the significance of these new endeavors when he said, “The public is largely unaware of the rich tradition of Biblical and Qur’anic criticism, which has existed for over 200 years. We need to make these findings available to all who wish to obtain a more critical and scientific explanation of the development of the world’s great religions.”

CSER was founded in 1983 and is now a research committee of the Religion and Science division of the Center for Inquiry in Amherst, New York. It encourages the use of the historical and applied sciences in the study of religion and provides educational programs for the public as part of its religious-literacy initiatives. Scholars and others interested in the work of The Jesus Project may contact R. Joseph Hoffmann at rhoffmann@centerforinquiry.net or Gwyneth MacRae at gmacrae@centerforinquiry.net.

The Center for Inquiry/Transnational, a nonprofit, educational, advocacy, and scientific-research think tank based in Amherst, New York, is also home to the Council for Secular Humanism, founded in 1980, the Committee for Skeptical Inquiry (formerly CSICOP), founded in 1976, and the recently formed Commission for Scientific Medicine and Mental Health. Their research and educational projects focus on three broad areas: religion, ethics, and society; paranormal and fringe-science claims; and medicine and health. The Center’s Web site is www.centerforinquiry.net

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About Religion Press Release Services
Religion Press Release Services distributes press releases, press advisories, photos and other stories on behalf of religious organizations, denominational offices, think tanks, watchdog groups, advocacy groups, coalitions, foundations, colleges, universities, seminaries, publishers and others.

The organizations and/or individuals who submit materials for distribution by Religion Press Release Services are solely responsible for the facts in and accuracy of their materials. Religion Press Release Services will correct any errors brought to its attention.

Contact Us
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Contact:
Sr.Ruth Lautt, O.P., Esq.
(212) 870-2320
sr.ruthl@gmail.com
(New York, New York) December 19, 2006

Christians For Fair Witness on the Middle East questions the relative silence from mainline Protestants as Hamas and soldiers loyal to President Abbas move closer to civil war following the murder of three children of a senior Fatah officer and the ensuing violence between the two main Palestinian factions. There has also been silence from our churches with regard to the assassination of Pierre Gemayel in Lebanon on Nov. 21.

“The specter of violence in the Middle East has many faces,” says Fair Witness National Director Sister Ruth Lautt, O.P., Esq. “The despair of Palestinians about their future and an independent state is pushed further by the violent internal battles being waged among their own political parties and militias. Why are our churches reluctant to confront this situation?”

“Over recent years, U.S. churches have fashioned strong ties to the Palestinian community,” noted the Rev. Dr. Peter A. Pettit at the Institute for Jewish-Christian Understanding of Muhlenberg College, Allentown, PA. “They therefore have an opportunity, and perhaps a burden, to raise their prophetic voices again in solidarity with the Palestinian people. Whether the Palestinian churches can address the violence in their own society is another question, but at least their partners in the U.S. need to be challenging these dire developments and offering resources to find another way forward.”

Rev. Roy Howard, pastor of Saint Mark Presbyterian Church in Rockville, MD, says, “The commitment to peace cannot be limited to the conflict between Israel and its adversaries. When innocent lives and the stability of daily life are shattered by internal strife, we are called to address the powers responsible and call them to a more responsible stewardship of their power.”

“For the churches to remain credible, we cannot raise our voices only to point out Israel’s faults. Our Christian commitment to peace and human dignity demands honest and searching critique of all the forces in conflict. If we become only megaphones for one side or the other, we lose any hope of effective engagement. The Palestinian and Israeli peoples deserve better from us,” says Rev. Bruce Chilton, Bell Professor of Religion at Bard College and rector of the Episcopal Church of St. John the Evangelist, Barrytown, N.Y.

*****
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Rhonda Price
rprice@gardenoflife.com
561-371-9407

WEST PALM BEACH, FL - Dieting and exercising are tried and true New Year's resolutions that are usually forgotten by February. Strive to be different this year by adopting extraordinary health resolutions such as eating more dark chocolate, sunbathing, taking a supplement that wards off major diseases and avoiding deadly emotions. These are just a few tips suggested by New York Times best selling author Jordan Rubin in his latest book, The Great Physician's Rx for Women's Health (Thomas Nelson publishers) released on January 3 with co-authors Nicki Rubin and Dr. Pancheta Wilson.

Written to address the specific health needs of women, the book offers natural ways to combat common concerns such as weight gain, diabetes, cancer, osteoporosis, estrogen dominance, menopause and more.

"Making some simple changes to your daily routine can reap enormous health benefits," says Rubin, whose books such as The Maker's Diet and The Great Physician's Rx for Health and Wellness have sold millions of copies worldwide.

Healthy resolutions for men and women to consider in 2007 include:

* Take one tablespoon of omega-3 cod liver oil every day to boost the immune system, ward off major illnesses, and to promote healthier skin and nails.
* Toss unhealthy corn oils and shortening and switch to cooking with healthy fats such as coconut oil, butter and olive oil.
* Two ounces of organic dark chocolate a day packs a health punch with antioxidants and bioflavenoids as well as the release of endorphins that act as antidepressants.
* Get at least 15 minutes of direct sunlight a day. Our bodies derive vitamin D from the sun, which is crucial for bone health, has cancer-fighting properties and assists with blood cell formation.
* Reduce toxins from your environment. "Buy house plants to reduce pollution indoors and water filters to remove chlorine and other harmful chemicals from your water," suggests Rubin. "And throw our household cleaners with harsh chemicals that can cause allergies and irritation."
* Forgive yourself and others. "The stress of harboring deadly emotions builds up toxins in the body," explains Rubin. "Write down anything a person has done to offend you, and then ask God to help you forgive that person."

For more information or to interview Jordan Rubin, contact Rhonda Price at 561-371-9407 or Tamera Herrod at 561-753-2933.

*****
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The organizations and/or individuals who submit materials for distribution by Religion Press Release Services are solely responsible for the facts in and accuracy of their materials. Religion Press Release Services will correct any errors brought to its attention.

Contact Us
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Michael Crowley
Craig ‘n Co.
818-760-1077
Michael@craignco.com

Los Angeles, December 2006-Craig Taubman is breaking through to the national entertainment market through multiple major corporate promotions and partnerships.

Beginning next week, Craig 'n Co., Taubman's record label, will partner with Sprint Communications and the online Sprint Music Store to offer a free Hanukkah Music Download from the label's Holiday CD's: Celebrate Hanukkah and The Hanukkah Lounge. In addition, ring tone market leaders Zingy (www.zingy.com) will be carrying Taubman's music exclusively this holiday season.

A new distribution deal between Craig 'n Co. and Universal Fontana will be selling Craig 'n Co. CD's into major retailers such as Barnes & Noble, Borders, Best Buy, and Virgin Records, as well as on Amazon.com and itunes.com, as Craig 'n Co. continues to spread into the mainstream market.

Thousands of college students across the country have been receiving holiday care-packages made up of Taubman's CDs, Krispy Kreme donuts and Jelly Belly jellybeans through "The College Connection" program, sponsored by Krispy Kreme.

"This has been one of our most exciting holiday seasons to date," commented Taubman from his Studio City office. "We are reaching new customers and families across the nation with new, exciting and innovative Jewish music for Hanukkah."

For more information on Taubman, and to arrange for review CDs, photos and interviews, please call 818-760-1077 or 310-339-1060, visit www.craignco.com, or email michael@craignco.com.

*****
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The organizations and/or individuals who submit materials for distribution by Religion Press Release Services are solely responsible for the facts in and accuracy of their materials. Religion Press Release Services will correct any errors brought to its attention.

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December 14, 2006
For immediate release

Contacts:
For the Episcopal Diocese of Olympia and St. Stephen's Episcopal Church:
Norah Joslyn, 206-325-4200, ext. 313, njoslyn@ecww.org
For St. Stephen's Anglican Church and St. Charles' Anglican Church:
Mark Cutshall, 206-356-2191, Mcutsh@aol.com

SEATTLE -- A covenant agreement between the Episcopal Diocese of Olympia and three congregations will allow St. Stephen's Anglican Church in Oak Harbor, Wash., and St. Charles' Anglican Church in Poulsbo, Wash., to maintain their ongoing ministries in their current, respective locations. In addition, St. Stephen's Episcopal Church ministry will return to the Oak Harbor facility in a mutually agreed-upon relationship with the Anglican congregation.

In effect until June 30, 2014, the agreement means St. Charles' Anglican Church and St. Stephen's Anglican Church will continue to use the existing church properties for a 7.5-year period. Additionally, the St. Stephen's Episcopal congregation will have use of the Oak Harbor church building for Sunday worship and other programs on terms spelled out in the agreement.

The Rt. Rev. Vincent W. Warner, Bishop Diocesan of the Diocese of Olympia is grateful that this covenant agreement is accomplished. Bishop Warner has been in ongoing relationship with all parties involved since members of St. Charles' and St. Stephen's Anglican congregations decided to disassociate from the Episcopal Church.

"The agreement provides for St. Stephen's Episcopal Church to once again worship in its church," Warner said. "The agreement provides a number of years in which no action will be taken regarding property. The essence of the agreement is to provide space and time for the worldwide Anglican Communion to address the issues it faces and for the people in our congregations to be at worship with their friends and neighbors, building and rebuilding relationships." He added that putting the emphasis on our values of relationship and ministry has helped find a way to build an agreement based on faith and trust rather than litigation and judgment.

The two-day mediation sessions that took place this past July 5-6 in Seattle were facilitated by the Rt. Rev. Edward S. Little, II, Bishop of Northern Indiana, and Judge Terrence Carroll, retired Washington State Superior Court Judge and a member of the Judicial Dispute Resolution Center in Seattle. Part of the mediation agreement included the acceptance of the terms by the governing bodies of the three churches and the Diocese of Olympia. The final agreed-upon covenant is the result of work that continued in the months since July.

In October 2004, members of St. Charles' and St. Stephen's voted overwhelmingly to disassociate from the Episcopal Church. To remain in the Anglican Communion, St. Charles' and St. Stephen's came under the ecclesial oversight of the Diocese of Recife in Brazil. The two congregations are also aligned with the Anglican Communion Network which represents over one thousand congregations in North America. Members of St. Stephen's who did not agree with that decision chose to continue the ministry of St. Stephen's Episcopal Church in the Oak Harbor community and have been holding services in homes.

The Ven. Rev. Duncan Clark, rector of St. Charles' Anglican Church and Anglican Archdeacon said, "This agreement is significant for several reasons. It allows both Anglican parishes to continue to be good stewards of our resources, avoids a potentially adversarial relationship with the Diocese of Olympia and most importantly helps our two congregations remain focused on fulfilling the Great Commandment - to love the Lord and one another as ourselves - and the Great Commission - to spread the good news of Christ's forgiving love throughout our local communities, the Pacific Northwest and the world. In the wake of the tumultuous 2003 General Convention of the Episcopal Church, we took seriously the Archbishop of Canterbury's invitation for an 'ordered and mutually respectful separation.'"

Bishop Warner and Archdeacon Clark expressed hope that this agreement may offer a model of reconciliation for Anglican parishes and Episcopal dioceses throughout the church.

*****
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The organizations and/or individuals who submit materials for distribution by Religion Press Release Services are solely responsible for the facts in and accuracy of their materials. Religion Press Release Services will correct any errors brought to its attention.

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For Hanukkah, COEJL/JCPA ask the Jewish community to engage in energy conservation by switching to energy efficient light bulbs

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 13, 2006

CONTACT: Rabinowitz/Dorf Communications
(202) 265-3000

NEW YORK – In time for Hanukkah, the Jewish festival of lights, two national organizations are asking the Jewish community to add a modern-day twist to their holiday celebration by switching from regular light bulbs to energy efficient, cost effective compact fluorescent light (CFL) bulbs. This contemporary Hanukkah celebration is part of a larger climate change campaign, “A Light Among the Nations,” launched by the Coalition on the Environment and Jewish Life (COEJL) and the Jewish Council for Public Affairs (JCPA).

From Iowa to Florida, New Hampshire to New Mexico, congregations and Jewish institutions numbering nearly 500 throughout the country and representing all denominations (Reform, Orthodox, Conservative, Reconstructionist, Renewal and Chabad) of the Jewish community will participate in the campaign with special events during Hanukkah. Some examples include: the lighting of a public chanukiah with CFL bulbs at the Chicago Jewish Federation offices; engagement of local legislators and political conversations as part of a Hanukkah celebration in Minneapolis; the installation of a CFL bulb in the ner tamid in Atlanta; and the lighting of a custom-built, CFL-compatible chanukiah in a suburban Philadelphia synagogue.

The campaign, also known as “How Many Jews Does it Take to Change a Light Bulb?,” seeks to engage American Jewry in awareness, advocacy and concrete action to help stop global warming, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and conserve energy.

Global greenhouse gas emissions are projected to increase average Earth temperatures by 2.5 to 10.4 degrees Fahrenheit in this century, bringing rising seas, major weather and agricultural disruptions, environmental refugees, migrating diseases, and other dangers that most harm the planet's poor and vulnerable.

“We are thrilled about the response we’ve had to the campaign so far,” said Barbara Lerman-Golomb, COEJL’s executive director. “It is truly remarkable that tens of thousands of members of the Jewish community will be commemorating Hanukkah by working to fulfill one of the greatest tenets of Judaism – tikkun olam (repairing the world). Each day the number of participants and the demand for CFLs being purchased through COEJL is growing. We estimate that we will be reaching to 50,000 bulbs sold which will prevent over 18,000 tons of carbon dioxide emissions from entering our atmosphere."

The campaign is inspiring bright ideas to enhance the holiday celebration in terms of awareness of the issue of energy conservation. In addition to the planned events, many synagogues are also handing out bulbs as part of their Hanukkah service and celebration. Hanukkah begins Friday evening, December 15 and continues for eight days.

“Climate change is causing climate injustice around the world,” says Rabbi Steve Gutow, executive director of the Jewish Council for Public Affairs. “As Jews we can not stand idly by as others suffer.”

If every U.S. household changed just one CFL bulb, the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions would be the same as taking 1.3 million cars off the road. CFLS save approximately $55 over the lifetime of the bulb and last up to eight times longer than regular incandescents.

The JCPA and COEJL are also advocating that action taken by individuals and community organizations needs to be matched by such comparable initiatives by government and business as: mandatory action to curb U.S. greenhouse gas emissions; further development and use of fuel-efficient vehicles and energy-efficient appliances; regional and state renewable electricity standards; and repeal of subsidies to multinational oil and gas companies that continue our dependence on foreign oil.

“Judaism prohibits wasteful consumption,” Lerman-Golomb continues. “Engaging American Jewry in this simple step – changing a light bulb – will have a huge impact on not only reducing energy consumption, but on bringing about awareness of our energy use in this country.”

For more information on the campaign, visit www.coejl.org or call 212-532-7436.

###


COEJL is the leading Jewish environmental organization in the United States. Since its founding in 1993, COEJL has helped tens of thousands of Jews make a connection between Judaism and the environment.

JCPA is the community relations arm of the organized American Jewish community.

*****
About Religion Press Release Services
Religion Press Release Services distributes press releases, press advisories, photos and other stories on behalf of religious organizations, denominational offices, think tanks, watchdog groups, advocacy groups, coalitions, foundations, colleges, universities, seminaries, publishers and others.

The organizations and/or individuals who submit materials for distribution by Religion Press Release Services are solely responsible for the facts in and accuracy of their materials. Religion Press Release Services will correct any errors brought to its attention.

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Contact: Frank Tobin
323.661.3720 (cell)
or Dan Pitre, (800) 874.0999
323.309.8203 (cell)


For immediate release
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
December 12, 2006

LOS ANGELES – The largest outdoor celebration of the Rosary in Southern California in nearly 50 years will take place at the Rose Bowl, Pasadena, on May 19, 2007, it was announced on the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, Dec. 12, by Holy Cross Family Ministries, Easton, Mass., and its local member Family Theater Productions, Hollywood, which are planning the event in collaboration with the Archdiocese of Los Angeles.

“A World at Prayer Is a World at Peace: A Rosary Celebration, The Rosary Bowl” will take place between 6-9 p.m. and is free and open to the public. The special Eucharistic celebration will combine adoration, music, inspirational talks and prayer of the Rosary with people of different cultures and languages leading some of the prayers. The Rosary combines prayer, meditation and reflection on important events in the life of Jesus Christ, as seen through his mother, Mary.

Bishop Oscar Solis, Vicar for Ethnic (Multi-cultural) Ministries for the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, and the archdiocesan director of “The Rosary Bowl,” said, “The Blessed Mother is the special patroness of the City of Los Angeles and the object of special veneration by the Southland’s many ethnic communities. This Rosary celebration in Mary’s honor will enhance the prayer lives of our families, strengthen family unity and rely on Mary as an intercessor for world peace.”

Cardinal Roger Mahony, Archbishop of Los Angeles, has urged parishes, schools and individuals “to unite in prayer, labor and sacrifice in helping organize our communities’ participation in this Rosary celebration. … Your support is critical not only for its success but also for the opportunity to enhance the prayer life of everyone through the Holy Rosary.”

“The Rosary Bowl carries forward the tradition and mission of the ‘Rosary priest,’ Servant of God Father Patrick Peyton, CSC, a sainthood candidate, to support families by encouraging daily family prayer, specifically the Rosary,” stated Holy Cross Father John Phalen, president of Holy Cross Family Ministries, furthering Father Peyton’s mission.

Father Peyton’s 40 outdoor Rosary rallies throughout the world drew 28 million people, including 500,000 in San Francisco in 1961 and 2 million in the Philippines in 1985. The essence of Father Peyton’s 51-year ministry is captured in his famous slogan, “The Family that Prays Together Stays Together” and his other motto, “A World at Prayer Is a World at Peace.”

Holy Cross Father Wilfred Raymond, co-facilitator of the event and national director of Family Theater Productions, which Father Peyton founded in Hollywood in 1947, noted that “‘The Rosary Bowl’ is our first celebration of this magnitude since Father Peyton’s death in June 1992.”

The May 19, 2007 event follows the Eucharistic Family Rosary Crusade held at the Cotton Bowl in Dallas on May 13, 2005, the feast day of Our Lady of Fatima. Holy Cross Family Ministries was one of the sponsors of that event.

Beth Mahoney, co-facilitator of “The Rosary Bowl” and mission director of Holy Cross Family Ministries, said, “We will use Father Peyton’s Rosary Handbook and his famed ‘Six Mountains’ methodology in creating this event.” The “Six Mountains” include: 40 Holy Hours; the celebration of 40 Masses; Sunday sermons; a Catholic school campaign; harnessing the spiritual power of the sick; and the event itself.

For more information and/or to indicate support for “The Rosary Bowl,” go online to www.rosarybowl.org or e-mail info@rosarybowl.org or call 1-800-874-0999.

–30 –

Editors: For Rosary Bowl artwork and archival photo and media clip go to “Press Room” at www.rosarybowl.org. For interviews with Father Phalen, Father Raymond or Beth Mahoney, contact: Frank Tobin / 323.661.3720 / fxtobin@aol.com

*****
About Religion Press Release Services
Religion Press Release Services distributes press releases, press advisories, photos and other stories on behalf of religious organizations, denominational offices, think tanks, watchdog groups, advocacy groups, coalitions, foundations, colleges, universities, seminaries, publishers and others.

The organizations and/or individuals who submit materials for distribution by Religion Press Release Services are solely responsible for the facts in and accuracy of their materials. Religion Press Release Services will correct any errors brought to its attention.

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For Immediate Release
News Contact:
Stephen Johnson, HireStrategy
Tel: (703) 547-6754
E-mail: Sjohnson@hirestrategy.com

KENMARE, COUNTY KERRY, IRELAND, December 13, 2006 -- The study of death and dying is a fairly recent development, most notably contained in the works of Dr. Elizabeth Kuebler-Ross. A convincing new guide to the ways of dying and the rituals of grief as they pertain to the Celtic peoples of Ireland, Scotland and Wales is Penelope Ann Thoms’ richly moving new book, Thin the Veil: Living and Dying within Celtic Spirituality (Booksurge: 2006).

An award-winning poet and writer, Thoms has lived for the past six years in a centuries-old farm cottage near Kenmare, a small village in County Kerry on the far southwest coast of Ireland.

As a hospice chaplain and spiritual director, Thoms introduces us to the rich Celtic history and lore as it relates to death, giving us a sacred place of miracles and extraordinary healing. How, for instance, can we cope with the death of a child? What role can animals play in helping us grieve and face our own deaths? How do we keep the door open to God in our lives?

In simple, moving prose, Thoms gives us deeply felt personal anecdotes that reveal how ancestors, saints, prayer, holy places and sacred spaces can sustain us in our darkest times and how we can create a “cairn” or circle of care around the dying and ourselves.

In her review of Thin the Veil, New York Times best-selling author Ellen Tanner Marsh writes: “Wise and profound, Thoms doesn’t just teach us how to die with grace, but also how to live our lives as fully as possible, noticing the sacred in each and every detail. For anyone who has ever lost a loved one or who is facing his or her own demise, this extraordinary and beautifully written book is a powerful balm, an uplifting anodyne for each and every soul.”

Thin the Veil (ISBN 1-4196-2706-6) is available at bookstores, from the publisher at orders@booksurge.com or online at www.Amazon.com.

For more information about Penelope Ann Thoms’ Thin the Veil, to set up a telephone interview with the author, or to request a review copy of the book, please contact Stephen Johnson at HireStrategy: (703) 547-6754 or SJohnson@hirestrategy.com.

*****
About Religion Press Release Services
Religion Press Release Services distributes press releases, press advisories, photos and other stories on behalf of religious organizations, denominational offices, think tanks, watchdog groups, advocacy groups, coalitions, foundations, colleges, universities, seminaries, publishers and others.

The organizations and/or individuals who submit materials for distribution by Religion Press Release Services are solely responsible for the facts in and accuracy of their materials. Religion Press Release Services will correct any errors brought to its attention.

Contact Us
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MEDIA ALERT

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:
Kate Pride Brown
229-924-6935, ext. 2566
kpride@habitat.org

AMERICUS, Ga. (Dec 12, 2006) — New Habitat for Humanity partner families around the world will spend their first Christmas in a simple, decent home of their own thanks to caring neighbors helping those in need.

To find Habitat homeowners in your area who are celebrating their first Christmas in a home of their own, visit www.habitat.org/local to locate your closest Habitat affiliate.

Rana Rose and her six year old daughter, Aaliyah, fled New Orleans the day before Hurricane Katrina struck. When they were finally able to return a month later, they found that everything they owned had been destroyed. With little more that a few days’ clothing, they relocated to Hagerstown, N.J., and applied for a house with Habitat for Humanity of Washington County. With more than 500 hours of sweat equity completed, the family will move into their new house just in time for the holidays. Now settled in Hagerstown, Rose hopes to complete her degree in accounting while working at her new job with Fleetwood Trailers. Contact: Dori Nipps, 301-791-9009, dorinipps.hfhwc@att.net.

The Ansahs were living in a one-bedroom apartment in New York City and expecting their first child. Life became more complicated when they learned that they would soon be the parents of quadruplets. Unable to afford more than one bedroom, they sought assistance from Habitat for Humanity New York City. On Dec 16, the Ansahs will join four additional families in dedicating a five-story building in the South Bronx that they helped to renovate as part of their sweat equity. The Ansahs’ new two-story duplex has plenty of space for their four crawling nine-month-olds. With a playground right across the street, the Ansahs have truly come home, just in time for the holidays. Contact: Bev Cheuvront, 718-246-2519, bcheuvront@habitatnyc.org.

Cindy Caruso of Orem, Utah, was sharing an apartment with her sister and 17-year-old son, Justus, when she was approved to become a homeowner through Habitat for Humanity of Utah County. “It feels absolutely wonderful to be a homeowner,” Caruso said. “I have loved calling to have the utilities set up and when they ask, ‘Are renting or buying?’ I have to catch myself because for the first time I can say ‘buying.’ I have dreamed of this for years. We have been living here for a week now and it feels like we are finally home.” Contact: Kena Mathews, 801-344-8527, kena@hfhus.org

Many Habitat partner families felt the blessings of Angelique Overstreet when she joined the program. A house painter by trade, Overstreet fulfilled her sweat equity requirement by helping Habitat partner families in Springfield, Mo., build their homes, including teaching them how to complete a professional paint job. As Christmas nears, Overstreet and her three children will finally move into their own Habitat house. “She is such a hard worker,” said Jan Cederholm, executive director at Habitat for Humanity of Springfield. “She’s a single mom working 50-hour weeks, and she still came in regularly to work her sweat-equity hours. We will close on the house on Dec. 1.” Contact: Jan Cederholm, 417-829-4001, janathabitat@sbcglobal.net.

About Habitat for Humanity International
Habitat for Humanity International is an ecumenical Christian ministry that welcomes to its work all people dedicated to the cause of eliminating poverty housing. Since its founding in Americus, Ga., in 1976, Habitat has built more than 200,000 houses in nearly 100 countries, providing simple, decent and affordable shelter for more than 1 million people. For more information, visit www.habitat.org.

*****
About Religion Press Release Services
Religion Press Release Services distributes press releases, press advisories, photos and other stories on behalf of religious organizations, denominational offices, think tanks, watchdog groups, advocacy groups, coalitions, foundations, colleges, universities, seminaries, publishers and others.

The organizations and/or individuals who submit materials for distribution by Religion Press Release Services are solely responsible for the facts in and accuracy of their materials. Religion Press Release Services will correct any errors brought to its attention.

Contact Us
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Solving Book's Puzzle Could Net Reader $2-Million Prize

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 11, 2006

CONTACT: Nancy Sayles
Ph: 818-999-9571 / nsayles@socal.rr.com

Last July, when a dedicated team of nine amateur super sleuths and religion detectives announced it had finally broken the codes of the daVinci secrets and the Holy Grail, Priory Publications in Suffolk, England, launched a revolutionary book that could rewrite the fundamental foundation of all religions, revealing and authenticating the most important secret in the history of creation. Combining restricted religious documents, historical artifacts and a trail of coded evidence, Maranatha Et In Arcadia Ego promised to assist readers to discover for themselves the hidden key that will unlock the mystery of the Holy Grail. "The first person to break the coded sections will not only release this revelation to the world but also receive £1,000,000 in prize money which translates to nearly $2 million US," says Duncan Burden, a member of the team.

Since its launch, this the little puzzle book has gained a cult following throughout the world. Although initial interest appeared to come from readers hoping to win the substantial prize money, it seems that equally as many readers took up the challenge to discover the most important secret within. Now religion students as well as puzzle fanatics continue to seek the solution to this mystery through discussion groups and web sites.

To ensure and accelerate the solving of this international treasure hunt, Burden has written Maranatha: The Companion released in the United States on December 1, The Companion provides a step-by-step guide through the history, mythology and theology that is central to successfully progressing through the labyrinth of detail that forms the foundation of the treasure hunt. It holds the translated text of the 'Pigpen Cipher' that forms the body of the first book, which presents a number of key words that are examined in terms of their origin, meaning and interpretation and, in some cases, suggests further questions and lines of enquiry. According to the author, this book has been designed to support and reward those who have already started the treasure hunt as well as to encourage those who are yet to take up the challenge.
"It was an incredible moment when we found the answer to all our questions. Finally years of searching had paid off," Burden said. "We wanted to get this historical secret out to the general public and toyed with various ways of doing it but eventually decided on creating a kind of puzzle book. Finding the answer was just as important as the quest to find it, although we understood the connotations this revelation would have and the shock waves it would create throughout all religions worldwide," he explained.

Speculation has survived a thousand years and Maranatha is not merely offering theory, it is serving up fact in large doses. Anyone can win the prize money without prior knowledge of the subject matter, history, the daVinci Code or any of the speculative theories surrounding the Holy Grail. All the clues are in the pages of these books. This prize is designed to be won, and claimed, and for the secret of the Key to be, at last, released to the public. To ensure that someone will succeed, clues have been given on the Maranatha website, www.maranatha-puzzle.com and the world can now look in the sacred casket and finally learn of what has been kept hidden for centuries.

#


Maranatha Et In Arcadia Ego
Published by Priory Publications (GB) Ltd
ISBN 0-9549938-0-2

Maranatha: The Companion
Published by Priory Publications (GB) Ltd
ISBN 0-9549938-1-0


Distributed in the United States by
Midpoint Trade Books, Inc.
New York City
www.midpointtrade.com

Visit www.maranatha-puzzle.com

To obtain a review copy, contact Nancy Sayles, 818-999-9571; nsayles@socal.rr.com

*****
About Religion Press Release Services
Religion Press Release Services distributes press releases, press advisories, photos and other stories on behalf of religious organizations, denominational offices, think tanks, watchdog groups, advocacy groups, coalitions, foundations, colleges, universities, seminaries, publishers and others.

The organizations and/or individuals who submit materials for distribution by Religion Press Release Services are solely responsible for the facts in and accuracy of their materials. Religion Press Release Services will correct any errors brought to its attention.

Contact Us
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Religion News Service, 1101 Connecticut Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20036 (202) 463-8777

Online Donations Offer True Convenience, But Churches Must Have Proper Payment Card Security Measures in Place to Avoid Liability

Media Contact:
Lauren Hunter Public Relations
(916) 838-2184
lauren@laurenhunter.net

Memphis, TN, December 11, 2006—Many churches and nonprofits now offer the convenience of accepting tithes and donations online. If you miss a church service, you can easily log on to the Internet and send in your contributions via your church’s website. As more churches opt to offer alternative was to contribute, it’s extremely important that organizations know how to protect their patrons from fraud, identity theft and financial liability. Earlier this year, the far-reaching Payment Card Industry (PCI) compliant endorsed by Visa and MasterCard International announced that any organization that processes payment cards must be Payment Card Industry (PCI) compliant. While the process to become PCI Compliant can take more than a year and can cost thousands of dollars, ServiceU Corporation has become the first payments processor of online donations to achieve PCI Level 1 compliance. If your church is at all concerned about the security of your members’ financial data, and wishes to avoid financial ruin should a breach occur, the time to contact ServiceU is now.

“Many organizations just don’t realize the risks involved in using a payments processor that is not compliant with PCI standards,” comments Tim Whitehorn, CEO of ServiceU. “The truth is that if you take online payments of any kind—be it ACH, debit card or credit card—you must be compliant.”

Churches can avoid liability by using a vendor like ServiceU for online payments processing, whether for online event registrations, online donations or online ticketing. Processing web pages can be customized to blend in with an organization’s website so that it looks and feels like the church website. In reality the payments page is hosted by ServiceU so that the financial information is never captured on the church’s servers. The church never “sees” the financial data—only the money deposited into their accounts—ServiceU assumes all responsibility for payment card security.

“We have greater peace of mind because we know that ServiceU has put all the proper payment security measures securely into place,” says Becky Martin, e-Ministry Coordinator for Southland Christian Church. “Whether our attenders are registering and paying for retreats or sports leagues online, or purchasing tickets to a Christmas event online, they can feel confident that their information is secure. In addition, our Finance Ministry loves the fact that the monies collected flow correctly into the right accounts.

For more information on ServiceU Corporation, please visit www.ServiceU.com, email info@ServiceU.com, or call 1-888-638-7439.

About ServiceU Corporation
ServiceU Corporation provides the most complete on-demand event management software solutions designed specifically for organizations such as churches, nonprofits, schools, universities, festivals and theaters. ServiceU offers three core products: TicketU is the complete solution for online ticketing and box office management; EventU simplifies the scheduling of events and resources by providing online calendaring; and TransactU provides the convenience of online donations, online payments, and online event registrations. Founded in 1997, ServiceU is the largest and most trusted provider of online event management software to the nonprofit market.

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About Religion Press Release Services
Religion Press Release Services distributes press releases, press advisories, photos and other stories on behalf of religious organizations, denominational offices, think tanks, watchdog groups, advocacy groups, coalitions, foundations, colleges, universities, seminaries, publishers and others.

The organizations and/or individuals who submit materials for distribution by Religion Press Release Services are solely responsible for the facts in and accuracy of their materials. Religion Press Release Services will correct any errors brought to its attention.

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For Immediate Release
December 7, 2006
Contact: Russell Schoch
510/849-8215
Pacific School of Religion

BERKELEY, CA — “There will be no world peace until there is peace among the religions,” according to Swiss theologian Hans Kung. With that in mind, the 106th annual Earl Lectures of Pacific School of Religion will focus on Christian responsibility in light of the bristling of religious wars globally and an increasing diversity of religions in the United States. “We the people” now include Muslims, Buddhists, Hindus, Sikhs, Jains, Zoroastrians, and new varieties of Christians and Jews—and all of these people must learn to live together in peace or perish. Under the general title “All the Rivers of Paradise: Christian Responsibility in an Interfaith World,” the lectures will take place January 23-25, 2007, at the First Congregational Church in Berkeley.

A multidenominational Christian seminary in Berkeley, Pacific School of Religion (PSR) has been preparing leaders for historic and emerging faith communities since 1866. Since 1901, PSR’s Earl Lectures have brought eminent scholars to Berkeley to speak on themes important to Christian life and thought.

Four religious scholars with deep political involvement will deliver this year’s public Earl Lectures, including: Mahmoud Mustafa Ayoub, professor of Islamic studies and comparative religion at Temple University and author of a number of books in English and Arabic on Islam and interreligious dialogue, who will explore how extremism, exclusivism, and violence have obscured the divine light; and Bernice Powell Jackson, recent past president of the World Council of Churches (WCC) for North America, who previously served as head of Justice and Witness Ministries of the United Church of Christ. In her work with the WCC, Rev. Jackson focused on the interfaith “Decade Against Violence” program.

Two Pacific School of Religion professors will also be featured: Tat-siong Benny Liew, who taught at Chicago Theological Seminary for nine years before becoming associate professor of New Testament at PSR in 2006, engages in interdisciplinary readings of the New Testament to both explore the relations between religion and various colonizing/racializing dynamics and to break open boundaries that keep us from seeing and thinking differently. Choan-Seng (C.S.) Song, distinguished professor of theology and Asian cultures at PSR since 1984, has had a world-wide impact on the teaching of Christianity and is revered for his tireless work on behalf of democracy in his native Taiwan; he is featured in a recent book as one of 12 thinkers whose work epitomizes theology in the 20th century (God at the Risk of Engagement: Twelve Theologians and Philosophers of Religion in the 20th Century, by Henry Mottu).

During the three days of the Earl Lectures, a Pastoral Conference will also be held, with 30 workshops exploring many facets of interfaith work. These include: understanding grief and fear, engaging difference in small-group interfaith work, scientific perspectives on spirituality and health, appreciative inquiry, moving beyond words in interfaith understanding, and writing the sacred.

The four public Earl Lectures are free; registration for the Pastoral Conference is $95. To register, call 510/848-8274 or 800/999-0528. For more information, visit www.psr.edu. First Congregational Church of Berkeley is located at 2345 Channing Way.

Note to press: Each of the Earl Lecturers will be available for interviews both before and during the Earl Lectures.

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Religion Press Release Services distributes press releases, press advisories, photos and other stories on behalf of religious organizations, denominational offices, think tanks, watchdog groups, advocacy groups, coalitions, foundations, colleges, universities, seminaries, publishers and others.

The organizations and/or individuals who submit materials for distribution by Religion Press Release Services are solely responsible for the facts in and accuracy of their materials. Religion Press Release Services will correct any errors brought to its attention.

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A Production of Thirteen/WNET New York

** MEDIA ADVISORY ** MEDIA ADVISORY ** MEDIA ADVISORY **

This week's edition of the PBS newsmagazine program RELIGION & ETHICS NEWSWEEKLY (distributed Friday, December 8 at 5 p.m., check local listings) will feature the following reports:

* Cover Story: "Shia/Sunni Conflict" - Lucky Severson talks with Middle East scholar Vali Nasr, author of "Shia Revival," about the theological differences fueling the historic conflict between Sunnis and Shiites. (Rebroadcast from September 29, 2006)

Web link: http://www.pbs.org/wnet/religionandethics/week1005/cover.html

* Profile: "Dr. Francis Collins" - Dr. Francis Collins, head of the NIH's Human Genome Project and author of "The Language of God," joins host Bob Abernethy to discuss his research, the conflict between evolution and intelligent design, and his views on a universal God. (Rebroadcast from July 21, 2006)

Web link: http://www.pbs.org/wnet/religionandethics/week947/profile.html

To request a transcript of any of these reports, send an e-mail to schultzm@religionethics.org or use the Web link listed above to access the transcript and streaming video of these segments.

For information, contact:
Mary Schultz
Director of Communications
Religion & Ethics NewsWeekly
202-216-2394
schultzm@religionethics.org


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About Religion Press Release Services
Religion Press Release Services distributes press releases, press advisories, photos and other stories on behalf of religious organizations, denominational offices, think tanks, watchdog groups, advocacy groups, coalitions, foundations, colleges, universities, seminaries, publishers and others.

The organizations and/or individuals who submit materials for distribution by Religion Press Release Services are solely responsible for the facts in and accuracy of their materials. Religion Press Release Services will correct any errors brought to its attention.

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Contact: Gerald S. Cohen
Director of Public Affairs
215.576.0800 ext. 133

Wyncote, PA, Dec. 6 – Leaders of the Reconstructionist movement released the following statement today in response to today’s vote by the Conservative movement’s Committee on Jewish Law and Standards on homosexuality:

We applaud the CJLS for taking a step toward advancing the rights of gay and lesbian Jews. We hope that this will lead to a clear position of welcoming openly gay and lesbian candidates for the Conservative rabbinate, and to the religious celebration of same-sex unions within the Conservative movement. Our own experience in the Reconstructionist movement suggests that our community can only be enriched by the full inclusion of gay and lesbian Jews.

Reconstructionist Jews have been in the forefront of these issues for more than two decades. In 1984, the Reconstructionist Rabbinical College became the first rabbinical seminary to accept openly gay and lesbian students and was the first to endorse the ordination of gay and lesbian rabbis. This was six years earlier than the Reform movement, which is the only other branch of Judaism that has taken an affirmative step on ordination of gays and lesbians.

In subsequent years, the Reconstructionist movement continued to make more explicit its commitment to equal treatment of gay men and lesbians. The three arms of the Reconstructionist movement—including the seminary and the two organizations representing congregations and rabbis—have been remarkably united on the issue. In 1985, the Jewish Reconstructionist Federation, which represents 109 Reconstructionist congregations, adopted a resolution welcoming congregations that primarily serve gay and lesbian Jews. In 1990, the Reconstructionist Rabbinical Association—the professional association for Reconstructionist rabbis—recommended that the movement establish a nondiscrimination policy in rabbinic placement.

In 1993, the Reconstructionist movement issued a compelling position paper on homosexuality and Judaism, which reviewed the traditional religious arguments against acceptance of gay and lesbian Jews and affirmed the movement’s previously stated policies on full equality based on new understandings. The language and arguments of the paper, “The Report of the Reconstructionist Commission on Homosexuality,” still ring true today.

The 1993 report noted that Jews should embrace the principle, based on their own negative experiences, that discrimination is wrong. It said that Reconstructionist Jews give Jewish values primacy over historically conditioned attitudes that are based on the biblical, rabbinic and medieval texts that condemn homosexuality as an abomination. Among the Jewish values cited were: just, fair and equal treatment of those who need protection; human dignity and integrity; holiness as reflected in acts of caring; and inclusive and democratic treatment of all.

Further, the paper’s recommendations on treatment of gays and lesbians were framed in the context of broad Reconstructionist values, not formulated as an isolated response to a specific issue or problem.

Finally, the report made this very strong statement: “We recognize the bias in Jewish and American culture that deems homosexuality as deviant and heterosexuality as normative. Modern science teaches us that homosexuality and heterosexuality are normal expressions of human diversity. …The sources of our tradition throughout the ages speak of the importance of caring for the ‘stranger among us.’ In remembering that we as a people have been a persecuted minority, we affirm our commitment to justice in our day. We therefore fully welcome gay and lesbian Jews to our communities, and commit ourselves to addressing their needs.”

In 2004, the Reconstructionist movement took another important step by endorsing civil marriage for same-sex couples. The endorsement, noting the logic of preceding policy statements, said action was needed to ensure that same-sex couples are not continually denied access to the benefits automatically bestowed by civil marriage, including health care coverage, privileges under immigration and naturalization law, inheritance rights, survivor benefits and child custody.

We continue to hope that by our speaking out on out such issues, we can encourage all religions of the world to put behind them discriminatory behavior and hateful words, and instead follow the road of peace and compassion.

The previous statement is signed by leaders of the three arms of the Reconstructionist movement:
Rabbi Dan Ehrenkrantz, president of the Reconstructionist Rabbinical College
Rabbi Richard Hirsh, executive director of the Reconstructionist Rabbinical Association
Carl Sheingold, Ph.D., executive vice president of the Jewish Reconstructionist Federation

RRC is the rabbinical training institution of Reconstructionist Judaism. Founded in 1968, RRC is a fully accredited academic institution that offers a five- to six-year curriculum leading to a master’s degree in Hebrew letters and the title of rabbi. The rabbinical school prepares men and women for leadership and service in synagogues, universities, campus Hillel programs, social service agencies, homes for the elderly and chaplaincy.

The JRF is the congregational arm of the Reconstructionist movement, serving 70,000 American Jews affiliated with Reconstructionist synagogues.

The RRA, established in 1974, is the professional association of Reconstructionist rabbis. Its membership includes 285 rabbis.

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About Religion Press Release Services
Religion Press Release Services distributes press releases, press advisories, photos and other stories on behalf of religious organizations, denominational offices, think tanks, watchdog groups, advocacy groups, coalitions, foundations, colleges, universities, seminaries, publishers and others.

The organizations and/or individuals who submit materials for distribution by Religion Press Release Services are solely responsible for the facts in and accuracy of their materials. Religion Press Release Services will correct any errors brought to its attention.

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Home Building Philanthropist John Wieland Appointed to FTE Board

Contact: April Bogle
(404) 727-1492
Tasha Schroeder
(404) 727-1137

ATLANTA, December 6, 2006 - The Fund for Theological Education (FTE) announced today the appointment of John Wieland to its Board of Trustees, elected by the Association of Theological Schools. Wieland is chairman and chief creative officer of John Wieland Homes and Neighborhoods.

Wieland will serve a three-year term, advancing the Fund's mission to encourage a new generation of gifted young people to consider vocations in ministry and theological scholarship. FTE annually awards more than $1.2 million in fellowships and support to undergraduate, seminary and doctoral students who are named as FTE Fellows.

"We value the tremendous dedication to the church and community service John Wieland brings to FTE," said the Rev. Ann Svennungsen, president of The Fund for Theological Education. "His vision and energy will advance our efforts to help provide congregations and seminaries with the next generation of exceptional and racially diverse leaders."

Wieland started his company in 1970 and has built approximately 30,000 homes in the Southeast. He has received 500 awards for excellence, including National Builder of the Year by Professional Builder Magazine. A 34-year member of Atlanta's North Avenue Presbyterian Church, Wieland has directed numerous church committees including the World Missions Conference and the Board of Deacons.

Wieland also is a community service leader and has served as chairman of several organizations: the Board of Directors of the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta, the Advisory Council for Emory University's Center for Ethics, Emory's Board of Visitors, the High Museum of Art, and the High Museum's Building Committee. He currently is a member of the Board of Trustees and Treasurer of the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden, a division of the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C. He also serves on the Piedmont Hospital Foundation Board of Trustees and on the Executive Committee of the Atlanta Chamber of Commerce.

Wieland has received numerous civic recognitions. He has been named to the Georgia State University Robinson College of Business Hall of Fame and the Junior Achievement Business Hall of Fame. He and his wife, Sue, were named Philanthropists of the Year for Georgia in 2005 and received the Alexis de Tocqueville Award from the United Way in 2006.

FTE is a leading national advocate for excellence and diversity in Christian ministry and theological scholarship. It also is a resource for educational and faith communities, offering programs that encourage highly capable candidates to explore vocations in ministry and teaching. Since 1954, the Atlanta-based organization has awarded more than 5,800 fellowships in partnership with others committed to quality leadership for the church. Information about FTE is available on the Web at www.thefund.org.

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About Religion Press Release Services
Religion Press Release Services distributes press releases, press advisories, photos and other stories on behalf of religious organizations, denominational offices, think tanks, watchdog groups, advocacy groups, coalitions, foundations, colleges, universities, seminaries, publishers and others.

The organizations and/or individuals who submit materials for distribution by Religion Press Release Services are solely responsible for the facts in and accuracy of their materials. Religion Press Release Services will correct any errors brought to its attention.

Contact Us
To distribute press releases through Religion Press Release Services, contact Claudia Sans at csans@religionnews.com or 202-383-7870. For more information check out our PDF brochure.

Religion News Service, 1101 Connecticut Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20036 (202) 463-8777