Christians pray for Washington Middle East talks
As Middle East peace negotiators assemble today in Washington, Christians in the region, and across the world, are meeting to pray. With emigration from the region continuing to be a major concern, the Christian churches of the Middle East are declining but still have a vital ministry in reconciliation between Israeli and Palestinian factions. On a visit to the region this week the General Secretary of the World Council of Churches, Rev Dr. Olav Fykse Tveit, said yesterday, “Now is the time for a just peace. The Christians here pray for that; all peoples here need it desperately. The time of occupation and violence must end." His message also talks about the need for the final negotiations on the status of Jerusalem to involve the heads of the local churches. He also says the Christians in Jerusalem are "very much concerned by the discourse about religious identity of states in this region, which they fear will marginalize not only their presence and witness but also that of all Christians elsewhere in the region."
Young people invited to steward WCC events in 2011
Young Christians from different Christian traditions was been invited to apply for the World Council of Churches (WCC) stewards programme for one of two 'hands-on learning experiences' at major ecumenical meetings during 2011. The WCC Central Committee meeting on 8-24 February and the International Ecumenical Peace Convocation on 12-26 May are both looking for applicants who must be between the age of 18 and 30 years. More information available at the WCC website.
Jesus comes to Bollywood
Plans have been announced by India's Aditya Productions for a $US30M two hour epic on the life of Jesus which will be shot in the Holy Land. Not only is this the first Bollywood film about Jesus but it will also be unique in having mainly child actors, although one unspecified role has been reserved for Pawan Kalyan (left), the megastar "darling of millions". Summing up the appeal of the story, which will be "a very faithful representation of the life of Jesus" from "birth to his crucifixion" with particular emphasis on his youth, the producer, Konda Krishnam Raju, said: "It is remarkable that this man who started his mission from a small village became within a short span of three years a force that influenced mankind for over 2,000 years and is worshiped by millions of people." The film will be available in English, Hindi, Telugu and Malayalam by late 2011. Although fewer than 3% of Indians are Christians, Kalyan, explained: "There are millions of people in India who follow Christianity. It is a great faith, a great religion”.
Ailing Western Church debated by African bishops
Having celebrated the growth of the church in Africa and focused on some of the key issues for their own churches – health, youth, training, etc. – it was inevitable that the African Anglican bishops meeting in Uganda last week would eventually turn their attention to the ‘failing church of the West’. Archbishop Ian Ernest of the Indian Ocean (left), chair of the Council of Anglican Provinces in Africa, told journalists in Kampala "Today, the West is lacking obedience to the word of God. It is for us (Africans) to redress the situation," adding that he has severed all ties to the Episcopalian churches in Canada and the US. The conference host, the Archbishop of Uganda, Henry Orombi, said African leaders were pleased to welcome Archbishop Rowan Williams of Canterbury so that they could voice their concerns about the "ailing church". He said "Homosexuality is incompatible with the word of God. It is good that Archbishop Rowan is here. We are going to express to him where we stand. We are going to explain where our pains are."
Mission frontiers not just geographical says Lausanne
Interviewed by Christianity Today, Lindsay Brown (left), International Director of Lausanne, spoke of one of the hoped for outcomes of this year’s congress being, “a fresh call to the Church to bear witness to Jesus Christ and all his teaching in all of the world - not only geographically, but in the sphere of ideas, business, education, governance, the sciences” He went on to say “We face many key challenges as we seek to bear witness to Christ today. Some are straightforward, like the advance of other faiths. But there are areas the Church has only just begun to reflect on, like care of creation, genetic manipulation or how to approach end of life issues. These need to be identified. People working in the same sphere, like politicians or evangelists, will meet in small groups and begin grappling with issues which bear on their spheres.” The Lausanne III Congress takes place in Cape Town, South Africa in October 2010.
Stop HIV celebrating its 50th Birthday!
At the official opening of the All Africa Conference of Anglican Bishops yesterday Uganda’s President Museveni called for tolerance between people of different faith convictions. He did not, however, extend this to tolerance for people of different sexual orientations and made no comment on recent proposed legislation in Uganda to outlaw same sex relationships. Today during a plenary session on Health in Africa, Rev Canon Gideon Byamugisha, the award winning HIV/AIDS campaigner called on the bishops of the Anglican Communion to take the lead in ensuring the HIV virus never celebrates its 50th birthday in 2031. Canon Gideon - who made history by being the first priest in Africa to publically admit his HIV+ status - said bishops are in a prime position to be leaders in the fight against HIV and AIDS and to challenge the silence and stigma that surround the illness.
Thirst threatens health in Pakistan
Fears are growing in Pakistan of a major health risk as more and more vulnerable people resort to drinking unsafe water. Whilst new areas in the south are flooded, villagers returning to their homes in the north find nothing left and no safe water supply. Ifrahim Mathew of the Evangelical Alliance Pakistan said: “The floods in Pakistan are far worse than any of us first imagined. Meeting the immense needs of the survivors is an uphill struggle. The families we are caring for came to us with nothing but the clothes they were wearing. They have really lost everything. One tent village with 150 families is still waiting for help. We need more donations to help meet their needs. We have been able to help a little already thanks to the kindness of supporters but much more remains to be done.”
African Anglican bishops celebrate growth
The Bishop in Egypt Dr Mouneer Anis (left) told Anglican bishops from more than 400 dioceses at the second All Africa Bishops Conference, in Kampala, Uganda, this week, that this was an historic moment for Africa’s Christian community. “There is no doubt that history is going to record what happens at this conference for future generations,” he said. He explained that although “Africa groans” under the weight of conflicts, epidemics and poverty the African church is growing in extraordinary ways. Africa is predicted to become a continent of 673 million Christians by 2025. The theme of unlocking the potential of the Anglican Communion in Africa to impact the continent and the rest of the world was echoed in the comments of several of the key speakers. The archbishop of Canterbury, Dr. Rowan Williams, added, “If the churches of Africa are indeed going to be for this time a city set on a hill, how very important it will be for the health and growth of all God’s churches throughout the world that this witness continues at its best and highest.” Full press release here.
Evangelism in a Virtual World
In our increasingly ‘virtual world’ August this year saw the 5-billionth digital device connected to the Internet! Digital media are changing our world for ever. The majority of mobile phone and computer users live outside the West. This offers Christians a growing range of opportunities for online outreach and discipleship. Internet Evangelism Day, an advocate ministry for digital outreach, has produced an Open Letter to Missions to highlight this dramatic potential around the world. Internet Evangelism Day are also sponsoring a US-based conference and can offer a panel of speakers who are available internationally to address conferences, consultations or bible colleges, in person or by video Skype session.
Prayer unites Zimbabwe churches
Sunday 26 September has been declared an international day of prayer for Zimbabwe. Whilst the country continues to struggle with massive economic and health issues the churches are uniting around this call for prayer. All the major denominations in Zimbabwe, under the leadership of the Evangelical Fellowship of Zimbabwe, the Zimbabwe Council of Christian Churches and the Catholic Bishops Conference have expressed willingness to come on board and gather to pray for the nation on that Sunday. It is hoped that churches will march through their towns and cities and gather at a central point in their locations to pray as one. In Harare the Civic Centre ground is the planned venue where it is hoped that hundreds of thousands of people will gather to pray. Prayer resources for use on this date are available at Love Zim.