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US Jewish group blasts WCC leader on Israel as 'hypocritical'
by Peter Kenny
Ecumenical News International
August 28, 2009The American Jewish Committee has denounced the World Council of Churches' general secretary, the Rev. Samuel Kobia, for his declaration that Israel's "occupation" of Palestinian territories is "a sin against God."
"Rev. Kobia parrots the same hypocritical statements regarding Israel that the WCC regularly issues, ignoring the root causes of Israel's presence in the West Bank," said Rabbi David Rosen, AJC's international director of interreligious affairs in a statement released in New York and made available in Geneva on Aug. 28. Read the story.
Parishes empowered with climate change action kit
by Ali Symons
Anglican Church of Canada Web News
August 28, 2009
It calls itself "the little church that could." St. Philip's in Milford, Ont. is a small but feisty community of mostly retired people who have a reputation as social justice dynamos. Now they're sharing a new climate change action kit with the rest of the Anglican Church of Canada. Read the story.
For youth, justice camp an exciting mix of faith and community
by Leigh Anne Williams
Anglican Journal
August 27, 2009
Jen Schwartz, who recently attended her first justice camp, says she was “really pumped.” The 23-year old, who just graduated from St. Mary’s University in Halifax, was referring to the justice camp hosted by the diocese of Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island from Aug. 9 to 15. “I love people and my faith is really important to me, and when the two come together that’s where you get social justice,” said Ms. Schwartz. Read the story.
Congratulations for newly-elected global churches' leader
by Stephen Brown
Ecumenical News International
August 27, 2009
International Christian leaders have welcomed the election of Norwegian Lutheran theologian the Rev. Olav Fykse Tveit as the next general secretary of the World Council of Churches (WCC). "(Mr.) Tveit brings to his new position broad experience that prepares him to lead in all the aspects of WCC's work," said the general secretary of the Lutheran World Federation, the Rev. Ishmael Noko, after the announcement of Tveit's election on Aug. 27. Read the story.
Norwegian theologian Olav Fykse Tveit elected to lead World Council of Churches
August 27, 2009
World Council of Churches
Geneva
Norwegian theologian and pastor Rev. Dr. Olav Fykse Tveit, 48, was elected 7th general secretary of the World Council of Churches (WCC) today during its Central Committee meeting. Read the story.
Justice Camp offered rich insights into poverty
by Ali Symons
Anglican Church of Canada We News
August 26, 2009
It maybe looked like a normal summer baseball game on Halifax’s grassy commons: people lobbing the ball and laughing, with a barbeque going on the side. But for those attending Justice Camp 2009, it was a holy moment, as they played alongside low-income people for an afternoon of fun. Read the story.
Protecting the environment is God's will says Protestant leader
by Stephen Brown
Ecumenical News International
August 25, 2009
The Presbyterian Church of Vanuatu is to follow God's will by taking a prominent role in efforts to reverse the effects of climate change, says the leader of a global alliance of Protestant churches. "I don't think global warming, which is leading to shifting ecological landscapes for nations such as Vanuatu, is in the will of God," the Rev. Setri Nyomi, general secretary of the World Alliance of Reformed Churches, said in an Aug. 24 address to delegates at the Vanuatu church's general assembly in Port Vila, the nation's capital. Read the story.
US Lutherans consider implications of gay clergy vote
by Chris Herlinger
Ecumenical News International
August 24, 2009
Supporters and opponents of a decision by the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America to allow men and women in open and monogamous relationships with persons of the same sex to be ordained as clergy, say they are considering the implications of the vote for the future of the denomination. "It takes time for a religious community to wrestle with moral questions," James Martin-Schramm, a professor of Christian ethics at Luther College in Decorah, Iowa, told Ecumenical News International in an interview about actions taken during the ELCA's Aug. 17 to 23 Churchwide Assembly. Read the story.
Primate preaches at Jerusalem cathedral
Anglican Church of Canada Web News
August 24, 2009
Read the text of a sermon preached by Archbishop Fred Hiltz, the Primate, at St. George's Cathedral in Jerusalem on Aug. 23. Archbishop Hiltz was on a week-long visit to the Holy Land, accompanied by Andrea Mann, coordinator of global relations with the Partnerships department of General Synod. Read the sermon.
Kairos calls attention to arrests of Palestinian activists
by Leigh Anne Williams
Anglican Journal
August 20, 2009
Kairos, an ecumenical social justice organization, is encouraging Canadians to support people who live in the Palestinian West Bank village of Bil’in who are known for their non-violent protests but have recently faced military raids and arrests. Read the story.
Primate to make solidarity visit to Middle East
by Ali Symons
Anglican Church of Canada Web News
August 21, 2009
Archbishop Fred Hiltz, Primate of the Anglican Church of Canada (ACC), will travel to the Episcopal Diocese of Jerusalem from Aug. 22 to 30. This trip, his first to the Middle East, honours a request from General Synod 2007 for a solidarity visit to the region. Read the story.
Ongoing need for healing and Church commitment: primate
by Marites N. Sison
Anglican Journal
August 20, 2009
Archbishop Fred Hiltz, primate of the Anglican Church of Canada, shares his thoughts about the 6th Indigenous Sacred Circle in an interview with Anglican Journal staff writer Marites N. Sison. Read the interview.
Advocacy for Christians in Pakistan: an online petition
Anglican Communion News Service
August 20, 2009
Having listened to the concerns of Christian partners and correspondents in Pakistan, NIFCON (the Network of Inter Faith Concerns for the Anglican Communion) is one of the main sponsors of a petition being drawn up asking the government of Pakistan to repeal the law against blasphemy. In recent years the threat of this law has often been often been used in unjust attacks upon the country’s vulnerable Christian minority, and it seems to have played a part in the recent incident in Gojra which led to the death of a number of Christians. Read the story.
'We have begun to be what we hoped to be'
by Marites N. Sison
Anglican Journal
August 19, 2009
Anglican Journal staff writer Marites N. Sison talked to the National Indigenous Anglican Bishop Mark MacDonald about the 6th Indigenous Sacred Circle held Aug. 9 to 15 in Port Elgin, Ont. The event brought together more than 200 First Nations, Metis and Inuit Anglicans as well as the primate of the Anglican Church of Canada, Archbishop Fred Hiltz, and eight bishops from Council of the North dioceses. Here’s what Bishop MacDonald had to say about the Sacred Circle’s significance in the life of indigenous Anglicans and in the Anglican Church of Canada. Read the story.
ACC celebrates step forward for Indigenous rights
by Ali Symons
Anglican Church of Canada Web News
August 19, 2009
The U.S. Episcopal Church’s (TEC) rejection of a 500-year-old colonial doctrine is a step forward for Indigenous rights, says National Indigenous Anglican Bishop Mark MacDonald of the Anglican Church of Canada. Read the story.
Canadian church leader pledges to build bridges between faiths
by Leanne Larmondin
Ecumenical News International
August 17, 2009
The newly elected leader of the United Church of Canada has called on her denomination to become a multicultural organization that builds bridges with other faiths in comments following accusations that the church was anti-Semitic. Mardi Tindal, who was elected moderator by delegates to the United church's general council on Aug.14, made her comment after the church's general council, held from Aug.9 to 15 in Kelowna, British Columbia. Read the story.
PWRDF ‘One Voice’ CD features eclectic mix of contemporary and choral music
by Leigh Anne Williams
Anglican Journal
August 14, 2009
What do you get when you mix the music of top Canadian musicians with a passion for social justice? You get One Voice, a double CD set created to raise money and celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Primate’s World Relief and Development Fund (PWRDF). Read the story.
Barnett-Cowan to fill senior Communion position
Anglican Communion News Service
August 14, 2009
The Secretary General, Canon Kenneth Kearon, has announced the appointment of Canon Dr Alyson Barnett-Cowan as Director for Unity, Faith and Order at the Anglican Communion Office. The post is a new one in the Communion, and arose after some restructuring following the election of Canon Gregory Cameron, formally Director of Ecumenical Affairs and Deputy Secretary General, as Bishop of St Asaph in the Church in Wales. Read the story.
Canadian woman priest appointed to prestigious Communion position
by Kristin Jenkins
Anglican Journal
August 14, 2009
Canon Alyson Barnett-Cowan has been appointed director for Unity, Faith and Order for the Anglican Communion. Ms. Barnett-Cowan is currently director of faith, worship and ministry of the General Synod of the Anglican Church of Canada, a post she has held since 1995. She was recently appointed to the Inter-Anglican Standing Commission for Unity, Faith and Order (IASCUFO). Read the story.
Indigenous Anglicans urged to pursue their dream of self-determining ministry
by Marites N. Sison
Anglican Journal
August 13, 2009
A native Hawaiian from The Episcopal Church has strongly encouraged indigenous Anglicans gathered here to pursue their dream of building a self-determining indigenous Anglican church in Canada. Read the story.
Possible reform of US immigration system hailed by church critics
by Chris Herlinger
Ecumenical News International
August 13, 2009
Those involved with church-based efforts to change the detention system for US immigrants, who have often railed against the scheme, say they are encouraged by reforms sought by the administration of President Barack Obama. Read the story.
‘We’re going to see great things happen’
by Marites N. Sison
Anglican Journal
August 11, 2009
Port Elgin, Ont.
National Indigenous Anglican Bishop Mark MacDonald has expressed optimism that self-determination for native Anglicans will allow the church to thrive in indigenous communities across Canada. Read the story.
Primate predicts Sacred Circle deliberations ‘a watershed moment’
by Marites N. Sison
Anglican Journal
August 11, 2009
Marites N. Sison
Port Elgin, Ont.
Decisions emerging from the triennial Sacred Circle of First Nations, Metis and Inuit Anglicans being held here Aug. 9-14, “will be a watershed moment in the life of the church,” said Archbishop Fred Hiltz, primate of the Anglican Church of Canada. Read the story.
Meet a visionary behind Vision 2019
Ali Symons, Anglican Church of Canada
August 07, 2009
In hundreds of heart-felt emails, clever videos, and collaborative letters, Canadian Anglicans are sharing their prayers for their church with Vision 2019. But who will organize this information, and how? One Vancouver consultant is ready to dig in and make sense. Read the story.
People turn to religious books in downturn, say HK fair organizers
by Francis Wong
Ecumenical News International
August 5, 2009
Hong Kong
People are turning to spirituality during the credit crunch, say organizers of a recent Honk Kong book fair, where books on religion were among the most popular. “Books on religion and philosophy ranked number four on the visitors’ buying list,” Christine Kwok, who managed a visitor survey at the book fair, told journalists at the conclusion of the July 22 to 28 event. “They come after fiction and novels, literature, and travel books.” Read the story.
Anglican leaders to support Indigenous land rights at rally
Ali Symons, Anglican Church of Canada
August 05, 2009
On Aug. 6 National Indigenous Anglican Bishop Mark MacDonald and Archbishop Terry Finlay, the Primate's special envoy on residential schools, will attend a rally to support the Nishnawbe Aski Nation (NAN) in their challenge of Ontario's Bill 191: the Far North Act. The act will dictate the land use planning process in NAN territory. Read the story.
Record number to attend Sacred Circle
by Marites N. Sison
Anglican Journal
August 4, 2009
More than 200 people from across Canada are expected to attend the sixth Anglican Indigenous Sacred Circle scheduled Aug. 9 to 15 in Port Elgin, Ont. It will be the largest gathering since 1988, when 180 First Nations, Inuit and Metis people from local church communities across the country gathered for the first time at Fort Q’Appelle, Sask. to share their experiences of being native Anglicans. Read the story.
Pakistan church schools closed in protest of attack on Christians
by Anto Akkara
Ecumenical News International
Augist 4, 2009
New Delhi
Church schools and other Christian institutions in Karachi have closed in protest at the killing of Christians in Pakistan’s central Punjab region in a mob attack. Archbishop Lawrence John Saldanha, the head of the Roman Catholic Church in Pakistan, in a Aug. 3 statement, called upon, “all Christian institutions in Punjab to close down and observe mourning for three days to condemn the burning of seven Christians alive.” Read the story.
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