News in brief End ban on aid, say ecumenical leaders hailing Zimbabwe memorandum of understanding
The World Council of Churches (WCC) has joined with a coalition of church organizations calling for an end to restrictions which have banned humanitarian aid distributions in Zimbabwe. In a statement issued yesterday by the WCC, World Alliance of Reformed Churches, World Student Christian Federation, World Alliance of YWCAs and World Alliance of YMCAs congratulated Zimbabwean and African leaders involved in current negotiations for signing a...
18. July 08
Churches' feedback greatly needed, committee says
A key committee of the World Council of Churches (WCC) is calling ecumenical partners, including its 349 member churches, for more feedback on two crucial matters of concern facing the church and the WCC.
8. July 08
WCC internship programme 2009
The World Council of Churches (WCC) will welcome five young people (aged 18-30 years) to serve as interns in its Geneva offices from February 2009 to January 2010. Interns bring valuable experiences to the WCC at the same time as they undertake several modules of ecumenical learning.
1. July 08
Winning essays on prospects for ecumenism: "gifts of inspiration and leadership"
Ideas for "bringing unity down to earth", "communicative action" and a "theology of the wilderness" were among the winning entries submitted for an essay contest on Prospects for Ecumenism in the 21st Century. The winners, two women and four men, come from Africa, Asia, Europe and North America.
25. June 08
Orthodox women: church participation improved but concerns remain
Over the last decade, Orthodox women reached significant milestones regarding their participation in church life, but many of their concerns have not yet been fully addressed, an international gathering of Orthodox women stated.
World ecumenical bodies request international community to scale up efforts in Zimbabwe
Two international ecumenical bodies called on the UN, the South African Development Community and the African Union "to increase [their] efforts to address the rapidly deteriorating situation in Zimbabwe". Emergency aid, postponement of the run-off election and the responsibility of the international community to intervene in protection of the people are amongst the main concerns.
19. June 08
Following Jesus into virtual space
As the internet has developed into a social network where individuals as well as institutions exchange ideas via text, sound and pictures, churches face new opportunities and challenges. At the 13th European Christian Internet Conference in Lyon, France, 13-17 June, participants came from as far away as Iceland and Romania to share their views on how the churches should be "following Jesus into virtual space", as one of the keynote lecturers put...
17. June 08
Pray for Zimbabwe, WCC invites churches worldwide
Churches worldwide are being invited to celebrate a day of prayer for Zimbabwe on Sunday, 22 June, as the beginning of a season of prayer for the people and government of the African country, which is facing a critical time.
5. June 08
Greed-driven global food crisis demands immediate church attention
With an estimated 850 million people suffering from hunger worldwide, nine out of ten of which live in developing countries, "the scandal of hunger demands the immediate attention of the churches", affirmed today in a statement the World Council of Churches (WCC) general secretary Rev. Dr Samuel Kobia.
4. June 08
Philippine government should be held accountable on human rights record, UN body is told
Philippine human rights activists reiterated their call on the UN Human Rights Council to "keep pursuing our government to stop the extrajudicial killings and other human rights violations". The UN body is meeting in Geneva 2-18 June.