A new arrival from Somalia looks on as UNHCR chief António Guterres visits the Dollo Ado refugee transit centre in south-eastern Ethiopia. --UNHCR photo
Church leaders in South Sudan expressed their readiness to help secure peace, stability, growth and development in their new nation, which was proclaimed an independent state on July 9.
Sudan's enormous humanitarian needs follow many years of inequitable development, marginalisation and internal conflicts that have displaced over 6 million Sudanese, including 2 million in Darfur and 2 million in the South, and left many destitute.
The government must allow humanitarian access to civilians who have been displaced by the fighting in Sudan's South Kordofan state, Sudanese clergy said, amid reports of continued bombardment in the Nuba Mountains.
Representatives of the three Abrahamic faiths, speaking on June 27 at the Interreligious Coordinating Council in Israel's (ICCI) annual lecture, considered the highly sensitive subject of religion's role in Israel's 63-year-old democracy.
From left to right: Cardinal Jean-Louis Tauran (PCID), Rev. Dr Olav Fykse Tveit (WCC), Dr Geoff Tunnicliffe (WEA)
“Christian Witness in a Multi-Religious World: Recommendations for Conduct,” a five-page document on the conduct of mission “according to gospel principles,” was released during a public presentation on Tuesday, June 28 at the Ecumenical Centre here.
Jesus Radicals and others replace the American and U.N. flags on the campus of Goshen College with the Agnus Dei and Earth flags. This was a protest against the college's decision to play the national anthem a year ago.
Praise, support, indifference, disbelief, outrage — and lots of media attention. Responses to a Goshen College decision not to play the national anthem covered a wide range of perspectives.
Leymah Gbowee, executive director of Women Peace and Security Network-Africa, and Abigail Disney, the producer of documentaries on women peacebuilders, including one featuring Gbowee in Liberia, “Pray the Devil Back to Hell.” --Photo by Lindsey Kolb/EMU
Filmmaker Abigail Disney says she learned “to look at war through women’s eyes,” as a result of visiting Liberia in 2006 and meeting Leymah Gbowee, who now holds a masters in conflict transformation from Eastern Mennonite University (EMU).
Gbowee was one of the leaders of a women’s movement that was instrumental in ending Liberia’s 14-year-long civil war in 2003.
Martin Junge is the first Latin American to hold the office of general secretary..
At a meeting in Geneva that concluded on June 14, The Lutheran World Federation (LWF) Council approved plans for three-way talks that will include Lutherans, Roman Catholics, and Mennonites.
During a two-decade period of brutal dictatorship, in 1979, Brazilian church workers and dissenting lawyers found a loophole in the legal system allowing them to gather evidence of atrocities and other abuses committed by the military regime.
Three boxes containing records of brutal torture and repression suffered under two decades
Tim Froese replaces Janet Plenert
Janet Plenert resigns after five years as executive secretary of Witness.
Tim Froese, executive director of Mennonite Church Canada’s International Ministry program, now heads the office of Witness
Mr. William, far left, owns Moriya Fruits Shop in Ishinomaki City, Miyagi Prefecture. His shop has been reclaimed from tsunami damage and is again open to serve the community. Also pictured are (l.-r.), Willie Reimer, MCC; Takeshi Komino, CWS; Shingo Kobayashi, who heads CWS’ implementing partner organization in the city; and volunteer “Dancho."
Japan in May, MCC director of Food, Disaster and Material Resources Willie Reimer was reminded that response to disaster must be personal and address individual trauma, however massive the tasks demanded by the surrounding devastation.
Bishop Munib Younan: "Popular uprisings in support of democracy in Northern Africa and the Middle East should be an important opportunity for churches in Arab countries."
The president of the Lutheran World Federation, (LWF), Bishop Munib Younan, urged members to pursue justice in the world, as the federation's governing Council considers a strategic plan for 2012 to 2017.
Coptic Christians protest against violence by Muslims.
The security situation in Egypt has "deteriorated considerably" since former president Hosni Mubarak stepped down on Feb. 11, leaving a security vacuum and Christians feeling "threatened more than ever," according to aid workers.
The stop in Kleefeld at noon gave local residents the opportunity to see the tractors up close. --Photo by Eden Foundation
Forty-seven tractors chugged their way through the Manitoba villages of
Rev. Margot Kaessmann told a Bible study she believes that a suggestion to pray with the Taliban by candlelight is "a much better idea than bombing water tank lorries in Kunduz."
The biennial faith gathering called the Kirchentag ended on June 5 after five days of theological and political discussions, concerts and a sense of reconciliation in a city devastated during World War II.
George R. Brunk, left, enjoys a conversation with 2006 seminary graduate Patrick Nafziger, pastor at Millersburg (Ohio) Mennonite Church, during the annual School for Leadership Training at EMS. Photo by Lindsey Kolb
When George R. Brunk III joined the Eastern Mennonite Seminary faculty in 1974, little did he imagine that three short years later he would be named dean.
But, in 1977, he was appointed dean of EMS and held that position for 22 years, until 1999.
Despite a small survey sample—only 215 out of more than 14,000 subscribers took the time to send back the two-page questionnaire in our Feb. 21 issue—it is clear that readers still believe Canadian Mennonite “should be a primary source of information about Mennonite Church Canada”; 89 percent agree or strongly agree with this sentiment.
Larry Miller
The Global Christian Forum (GCF) has appointed Larry Miller to become
A senior ecumenist has welcomed growing co-operation between leaders of European institutions and churches, and predicted a growing advisory role for religious communities.
German Mennonite theologian Fernando Enns, who first proposed the Decade to Overcome Violence, speaks at the International Ecumenical Peace Convocation in Kingston, Jamaica, an event held to celebrate the decade. WCC photo by Peter Williams
Thomas Finger, a former professor at Eastern Mennonite Seminary, Harrisonburg, Va., leads a workshop on “Peace: The lens for re-visioning Christian theology and mission,” at the International Ecumenical Peace Convocation. WCC photo by Marcelo Schneider
Participants at the International Ecumenical Peace Convocation (IEPC)—held in Jamaica
Six graduates from Canada, are, from left, Alicia Buhler, Virginia Gerbrandt, Mark Tiessen-Dyck, Miles Reimer and Carrie Martens; Christine Kampen graduated in absentia. Photo by Steve Echols.
With words “God’s justice and God’s peace” from the first hymn in Hymnal: A Worship Book as a backdrop
Layout and Design award for the Aug. 2, 2010 edition
The Canadian Mennonite has earned eight awards from the Canadian Church Press (CCP)
Dr. Troy Osborne
Dr. Troy Osborne has been appointed as assistant professor of History at Conrad Grebel University College, beginning July 1, 2011, succeeding Arnold Snyder who retires in May. Osborne comes to Grebel from Bluffton University in Ohio where he has taught for the past three years.
Rev. Dr Margot Kaessmann: "It is time that religion refuses to be misused by pouring oil into the fire of war and hatred.”
The International Ecumenical Peace Convocation (IEPC) formally opened here on May 18 as theologians, faith leaders and the prime minister of Jamaica welcomed some 1,000 participants from more than 100 countries.
Al Hariri (above) has refused to support the appointment of Hezbollah-chosen Najib Miqati as the new prime minister.
Lebanese religious leaders have warned against growing internal divisions in their country and urged national leaders to work towards unity and tolerance, following a joint Christian-Muslim meeting convened on May 12 in Bkirki by newly appointed Maronite Patriarch Beshara Rai.
Sex and sexuality seemed to dominate the headlines this week, not only in North America but around the world,
