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for active-duty clergy in the nine months since the ‘don’t ask, don’t tell’ policy was repealed and gays could serve openly,” according to the Associated Press.


Dadaab refugee crisis


Funding for the world’s largest refu- gee settlement is running out, as five Lutheran World Federation-managed camps struggle to cope with housing more than 500,000 displaced peo- ple who fled conflict and famine. A report issued by relief agency part- ners that include the LWF, Catholic Relief Service, the Danish Refugee Council, Oxfam and others, states that clean water and sanitation ser- vices are in danger and “the threat of cholera is greatly increased.” To help, send gifts designated “Horn of Africa Drought” to ELCA Disaster Response, 39330 Treasury Center, Chicago, IL 60694-9300; www.elca. org/disaster/donate; 800-638-3522.


State of religious freedom


Nearly half of the world’s govern- ments “either abuse religious minori- ties or did not intervene in cases of societal abuse,” Ambassador-at- Large Suzan Johnson Cook said about the 2011 International Reli- gious Freedom Report. Issued by the State Department, the report noted an increase in blasphemy laws and restrictions on faith practices. Chris- tians in Egypt, Tibetan Buddhists in China and Baha’is in Iran go without religious rights, and people are killed and imprisoned for blasphemy (or criticizing blasphemy laws) in Paki- stan, Saudi Arabia and Indonesia, the report said.


Tax-exempt status regained


The Council on American-Islamic Relations, a Washington, D.C.-based national civil rights group, regained its tax-exempt status after resolving issues with the Internal Revenue Ser-


Quote


I get on my knees every day. And I’m saying an extra prayer now. If I had a rain prayer or a rain dance I could do, I would do it.


Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, speaking to reporters at the White House about relief from the drought. He was quoted by ABCNews.go.com.


vice. In 2011 the group lost the status because it failed to file tax returns three years in a row. The council pro- motes positive images of Muslim- Americans and has opposed anti- Shariah laws in the U.S.


Church prepares to reunite A Philippine church looks ready to reunite for the first time in 19 years.


In 1993 clergy and lay leaders accused the national administration of mis- management and misuse of funds, resulting in the split of the church formed in 1946. “The national lead- ers of both groups are about to see a united Lutheran Church in the Phil- ippines after a long legal battle that pleased no one,” said Edgar Pigon, Southern Luzon District lay repre-


12 


PHOTO COURTESY OF JIM LEWIS


Paddling pilgrimage Most took cars, buses or planes to the 2012 ELCA Youth Gathering in New Orleans


(page 14). David Ellingson took a kayak. Ellingson, a 64-year-old environmental theologian, master gardener, marathoner and triathlete, paddled 2,530 miles down the Mississippi River from Minnesota to the Crescent City. He did so while on sabbatical from his work as professor of youth and family at Trinity Lutheran College, Everett, Wash. The journey raised funds to plant 10,000 white cedar trees. See more photos from his trip at paddlepilgrim.blogspot.com.


September 2012 11


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