Faith leaders in the world's riches nation have told a hearing that it is time to stop the "poverty train" in the United States of America and rescue its 37 million citizens who are still living below the poverty line.

With the area conferences of the United Methodist Church preparing to meet in July, South Central Jurisdiction is expected to address the controversial 2007 decision to lease property for a George W. Bush institute.

Not far from the US capital, where political debate rages over immigration, Floris United Methodist Church has invited hard-pressed day labourers in from the cold for a Christmas party.

The bishops of The United Methodist Church have declared that tackling racism and eliminating it from the church, society and even their own Council of Bishops is a major priority. The denomination is the one President Bush was raised in.

Communities in Asia are slowly and patiently continuing the process of recovery from the major Indian Ocean tsunami of late 2004 – with the active support of churches and other NGO networks.