PHILIPPINES: Church lay minister shot dead by motorcycle-riding assassins

By Matthew Davies, October 25, 2010

[Episcopal News Service] A lay minister in the Philippine Independent Church was shot dead by assassins riding motorcycles while walking home from church on Oct. 17 in Malabon City, according to a news article on the USPG mission agency website.

CLICK on the following web link to read the full ENS article:
http://www.episcopalchurch.org/81808_125368_ENG_HTM.htm

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Fund for Theological Education (FTE) Fellowship Applications

Call for Nominations and Applications:
2011 Ministry and Doctoral Fellowships

ATLANTA - To support a new generation of talented pastoral leaders, scholars and educators, The Fund for Theological Education (FTE) is offering more than $1.5 million in fellowships and support to undergraduates, seminarians and doctoral students.

Information, nomination forms and application materials are available online at:
http://www.fteleaders.org/pages/explore-fellowships

Deadlines begin February 1, 2011.

University and seminary faculty, campus administrators and clergy are invited to nominate students with leadership gifts for ministry.

"We are asking those who work closely with young people to notice students who have the potential to become exceptional pastoral leaders and to tap them on the shoulder to consider that calling," said Kim Hearn, FTE Director of Ministry Fellowships.

Ministry Program awards include:

• $2,000 Undergraduate Fellowships for current college sophomores or juniors who are exploring ministry.
• $10,000 Ministry Fellowships to enrich the formation of second-year seminary students preparing for pastoral leadership.
• $1,000 to $5,000 Congregational Fellowships, which match a congregation's contribution to a student's first year of seminary.

Fellowships are also available for doctoral students from traditionally underrepresented backgrounds who plan to teach religion, theology or biblical studies.
"We're investing in diverse, dedicated young scholars who are called to teach and lead diverse campuses and communities," said Dr. Sharon Watson Fluker, FTE Vice President for Doctoral Programs and Planning.

• North American Doctoral Fellowships provide financial awards of between $5,000 and $10,000, as well as networking support for African-American, Asian-American, American Indian or Hispanic students.

The Fund for Theological Education is an ecumenical advocate for excellence and diversity in pastoral ministry and theological scholarship. It provides fellowships and a network of support to gifted young people from all denominations and racial/ethnic backgrounds.

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Archbishop of Canterbury Visits Vellore, India, Oct. 17

CLICK HERE to see photos and article of the
Archbishop of Canterbury's visit to Vellore, India

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Asian Festival Snapshots from EAM web editor Tim Xie

Asian Festival Snapshots from the Rev. Dr. Fred Vergara

Asian Festival Snapshots from Mother Debra Low-Skinner



Commission members and friends at the Asian Festival

 

Mr. and Mrs. Koshy George



Father Joseph Manuel and Father Dario Palasi

  

Father Joseph Pae and Dean Ted Bean



Festival MC's Jonathan and Kaity



Asian Violin Duet



Indian Dancer

Samulnori on the way to the cathedral



St.George's, Flushing, Choir



Father Fred Vergara Leading Tai Chi

Some of the more than 400 Asian Festival participants at the cathedral




Pan Asian Buffet Dinner Specialties from Parishes and Restaurants





EAM visits Asia Society's NY Headquarters

EAM Commission members recently visited the pan-Asian Asia Society to become acquainted with the society's work and to enjoy a luncheon and visit to the museum there, at 70th Street and Park Avenue in Manhattan.

For more than 50 years, Asia Society has been at the forefront of connecting Asians and Americans to foster strong partnerships in culture, business, and global affairs. Most recently, Asia Society has developed a new commitment to address the need to prepare leaders for a future that will increasingly consist of a multi-polar world.

To this end, Asia Society has recently launched two new leadership initiatives—Diversity Leadership Forum and the Women Leaders of New Asia Initiative—to complement the successful Asia 21 Young Leaders Initiative. These exciting projects leverage Asia Society's unique role and ability to foster strong Pan-Asian partnerships on both sides of the Pacific to promote innovative collaborations that foster leadership.



"Heaven and Earth" and EAM

The EAM Commission members recently lunched at a local Great Neck, NY, restaurant after their monthly meeting and were seated next to this Asian poster. 

Father Paul Xie and Father Peter Lai described how appropriate it was -- one of those mystical coincidences -- to be seated near this traditional vertical calligraphy of two words that say and symbolize "Heaven and Earth."

Mother Debra planning to resettle on the West Coast

Mother Debra L. Low-Skinner and husband Don at St. Mark's, North Bellmore, NY.  Now, the Fall of 2010, they are planning to resettle on the West Coast.  Mother Debra was a major planner of the recent Diocesan Asian Festival and an active member of the Diocese of Long Island EAM Commission.

Asian Festival an Amazing Success

Father Joseph Pae, EAM's convener, reports that the Asian Festival today was a great success, saying, "It was absolutely amazing. We had close to 400 pepole attending, almost double the expected number."

He expressed appreciation to the EAM Commission members and EAM congregations that managed the event "with grace."

Father Pae added that "many were impressed by the strong presence of Asian Americans in the Diocese and how they are united in mission and ministry."  And, "We were able to show how diverse our Asian heritages and cultures are and how we are no longer on the periphery but are an integral part of the Diocese."

He said of the EAM members and friends, "It speaks much about your faithfulness and dedication to the ministry of God's church and people."

Father Fred Vergara of the churchwide Episcopal Church Center and an ex-officio member of the commision said, "Yes, truly it was a great success."


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