Feature stories Can refusal stop the occupation?
The refusal movement in Israel has grown rapidly over the last few years. It has become more accepted in Israeli society to refuse military service in the occupied territories and become what is known as a "refusenik". A member of the Ecumenical Accompaniment Programme in Palestine and Israel (EAPPI) gives an account of this new phenomenon.
Churches and the challenge of healing in a sick world
Faith healing and spiritual cures have always been part of the church's ministry. But to many, they smack of magic, of mystical claims of "impossible cures", deeply foreign to "Western" patterns of religion. Conversely, those patterns are sometimes seen as dry fruits of aging churches which have lost contact with the living source of healing power. In the midst of this tension, the world's greatest modern pandemic,...
Healing, reconciliation and the Holy Spirit: Young theologians discuss the future of Christian mission
Young theologians on future issues of mission: Is there miraculous healing in today's churches? How can people be reconciled in a society torn apart like post-apartheid South Africa? How can the Holy Spirit help to find a new understanding of mission?
Immediate relief, sustainable reconstruction: Ecumenical leaders reflect on the tsunami catastrophe
Nearly two months ago, a tremendous earthquake off the coast of Sumatra caused powerful tsunamis to hit coastal stretches of South East Asia and East Africa. The trail of devastation left over 200,000 people dead and more than half a million injured, and emergency relief was provided almost immediately by governments and organizations around the world. Looking back at the weeks just after the tsunami, we can attempt a first assessment of the...
Reconciliation and forgiveness: Looking afresh at an ever-present challenge
Is reconciliation possible? What does forgiveness mean, and what is needed for it to happen when the offence was a frightful one and the pain seems insurmountable? These and other fundamental questions will be part of the themes treated at the next Conference on World Mission and Evangelism (CWME).
Towards an ethics of solidarity Religion, conflict and peace discussed at WSF
"What is the magma within religions that can erupt so suddenly and brutally?" This is one of the questions raised at a panel discussion on "International ethics, religious conflicts and peace" at the fifth World Social Forum (WSF) in Porto Alegre, Brazil. Organized by a global ecumenical coalition that includes the WCC, the panel explores the role of religion in conflicts, and seeks to identify resources within religion for...
Spiritual Rebellion: Interview with Leonardo Boff
"Is it possible to live calmly and happily when you know that two-thirds of human beings are suffering, hungry and poor?" The Brazilian theologian Leonardo Boff, one of the founders of liberation theology, believes that the cry of the poor and the cry of the earth are real offences for any theology which struggles to bring about more justice. Boff was one of the guests at the World Forum for Theology and Liberation (21-25 January,...
Ecumenical youth show energy and commitment
In a joyous procession of hope after the opening worship service of an ecumenical youth event preceding the World Social Forum (WSF), some 50 young people dance, clap and sing Por isso vem (God calls us for a new moment, so come and join the circle!) - a Brazilian song of hope for a better world.
Mission in one?s own home town - Interview with George Mathew Nalunnakkal
The countdown has started: in six months representatives of Pentecostal and other evangelical churches will meet as equal partners with women and men from WCC member churches and the Roman Catholic Church at the World Council of Churches? Conference on World Mission and Evangelism in Athens, Greece (9-16 May 2005), aiming to draw up some common visions for the future of Christian missions.
How would Mary and Joseph have fared at a checkpoint?
Bethlehem, a tiny town in the West Bank, becomes the focus of international attention every year. Tourists descend on Bethlehem to celebrate Christmas in the place where it all began. But the simple fact that this possibility exists for international visitors and not for most Palestinians is one of the most bitter ironies associated with this time of year. This point was made clear through a demonstration staged by the Civil Committee in the...