>Religious Leaders Urge Americans to 'Hold Together'

Robert Edgar, general secretary of the National Council of Churches, and
John McCullough, executive director of the relief organization Church
World Service, are urging Americans to "hold together" and for people of
faith to "reach out to one another ... We especially urge churches,
synagogues, mosques and other houses of worship to join in prayer and
practical help."

Southern Baptist Convention president James Merritt said, "Our SBC
family has been reminded again that the only hope for this world is the
saving grace of our Lord Jesus Christ ... I pray that many would turn to
the truth of the gospel and that believers everywhere would sense a new
urgency to bring people to a saving knowledge of God."

Morris Chapman, head of the SBC Executive Committee, issued a call for
"a prayer vigil" on behalf of victims, their families and the nation's
leaders. "These tragic events underscore the fragile peace we take for
granted and remind us that beneath the facade of order, our world can be
a very dangerous place."

Robert Parham, executive director of the Baptist Center for Ethics,
urged keeping in check the temptation to demonize Muslims and talk of
quick retaliation. "Jesus' wisdom and witness must set our course in
this very sinful world, where evil multiplies evil, anger feeds anger,
injustice breeds injustice, vengeance begets vengeance," Parham said.

http://www.abpnews.com/abpnews/story.cfm?newsId=2913


>Israel Declares Day of Mourning for U.S. Attacks

The fight against terror is an "international struggle of the free world
against the forces of darkness, who seek to destroy our liberty and way
of life," Prime Minister Ariel Sharon said in a brief announcement
during which he declared Sept. 12 a day of national mourning.

"On behalf of the people of Israel, I wish to send our deepest
condolences and heartfelt sympathy to the American people, President
Bush, and the entire U.S. government, following the terror attacks
against the U.S. and our common values," Sharon said.

He continued, "At this most difficult hour, all Israelis stand as one
with the American people. Our hearts are with you, and we are ready to
provide any assistance at any time." Flags at all government offices
will be flown at half staff, and radio and TV programs will be
compatible with the nature of the day.

http://www.jpost.com/Editions/2001/09/12/News/News.34640.html


>Episcopal Bishop Griswold: 'We Are Called to Another Way'

"My heart goes out to those who have been killed or injured, and to
their stunned and grieving families and friends," said the Most Rev.
Frank T. Griswold, presiding bishop and primate, Episcopal Church, in a
statement on Sept. 11. "Our president has vowed to hunt down and punish
those who are responsible for these depraved and wicked acts. Many are
speaking of revenge.

"Never has it been clearer to me than in this moment, that people of
faith, in virtue of the Gospel and the mission of the Church, are called
to be about peace and the transformation of the human heart, beginning
with our own. I am not immune to emotions of rage and revenge, but I
know that acting on them only perpetuates the very violence I pray will
be dissipated and overcome.

"Yes, those responsible must be found and punished for their evil and
disregard for human life, but through the heart of this violence we are
called to another way. May our response be to engage with all our hearts
and minds and strength in God's project of transforming the world into a
garden, a place of peace where swords can become plowshares and spears
are changed into pruning hooks."

http://link.crosswalk.com/UM/T.ASP?A3.15.2472.1.272854


>PC(USA) National Staff Gather for Tearful Prayer

Members of the national staff of the Presbyterian Church (USA) gathered
for a somber, highly emotional prayer service in the wake of fatal
terrorist attacks in New York City and Washington, D.C. Several hundred
squeezed into the third-floor chapel in the Presbyterian Center, in
Louisville, Ky., some weeping, some holding hands, some hugging friends,
many with dry eyes and vacant, shell-shocked looks. Nearly all of them
have colleagues who live and work in the cities where the terrorist
attacks took place.

General Assembly Moderator Jack Rogers prayed: "Oh, just and merciful
God, we are all shocked by this series of terrible acts against humanity
and against our country. Help us not to speak or act harshly. Fill our
hearts with compassion." He also expressed gratitude "that we can all
get together at this difficult time."

http://www.pcusa.org/pcnews/


>Christian TV Producer Coordinates Hundreds of Broadcasts

During the horrific day of the terrorist attacks on the World Trade
Center and the Pentagon, a Christian television and film producer's
office in Los Angeles became an unofficial "emergency coordination
center" for Christian television and radio stations across America.

In light of the events and news reports, Phil Cooke initially sent out a
single memo with important crisis programming suggestions to his media
clients. A producer and director of some of the most successful
Christian programs ever made, Phil Cooke consults with numerous
Christian television stations and networks across the country.

"While I was praying before work, I felt the need to send out an e-mail
and fax with ideas and suggestions to Christian stations and networks on
how to cover the terrorist incidents more effectively," said Cooke.
"Within an hour from the first airline crash, I sent a memo to about 30
of our Christian clients and associates nationwide. In the past,
Christian TV and radio stations have tended to ignore crisis events of
this type because without expensive news divisions, they felt they
couldn't do an adequate job.

"However, I pointed out that while we can't compete with ABC, CNN, FOX,
and other news networks, we could offer far deeper content - spiritual
information. In times like this we have the rare opportunity to offer a
spiritual perspective with answers from the Bible about tragedies on
this scale."

His memo was straight to the point. It encouraged Christian TV and
radio stations to interrupt their regularly scheduled programming and be
on the air LIVE as soon as possible. He suggested contacting experts in
prophecy, terrorism, the Middle East, and global issues. Especially
important, Cooke recommended staying away from "pat" answers.

The memo read, "Chances are, more non-Christians will be watching your
broadcasts than ever before. So stay away from 'Christian lingo' they
won't understand, and try to provide real answers to the real questions
they are facing."

"After I sent the memo to our clients and friends, the National
Religious Broadcasters then sent it to nearly every Christian radio and
television station in the country, and that's when the phone calls and
e-mails started."

"In the past, Christian TV and radio stations have been slow to deal
with immediate crisis issues like this. I've always been frustrated
that while a national tragedy unfolds on all the secular networks,
Christian stations tend to do "business as usual" and ignore these
issues. But today, that completely changed. Today, we saw literally
hundreds of Christian television and radio stations respond with
answers, encouragement, and most of all, hope."

(http://www.assist-ministries.com)