APD - Archive (Adventistischer Pressedienst)

Articles by year and month - 2003

ANN: Highlights from the 2003 news reports

Silver Spring, Maryland, U.S.A. | 31.12.2003 | International

In 2003, membership in the Seventh-day Day Adventist Church surpassed 13.3 million people, with some 700,000 new members. An estimated 20 million people overall, members and non-members, attend Adventist Church worship services each week. This year also saw the launch of Sow 1 Billion--an ambitious world church initiative to print and distribute 1,000 million invitations to study the Bible. Five hundred million of the small brochures in many languages have already been printed. While chur
ADRA Delivers Aid to Iran Earthquake Survivors

Silver Spring, Maryland/USA | 30.12.2003 | ADRA

A team from the Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) offices in Germany and Turkey will arrive in Iran Tuesday, December 30, to assess damage and formulate ADRA’s larger response to the severe earthquake that hit near the ancient city of Bam, Iran before dawn Friday, December 26. ADRA’s initial response includes providing 1,500 blankets, 1,500 petroleum heaters and canisters, 100 six-person tents, mats and mattresses, jackets, and biscuits. The project, valued at 25,000 Euro (US$31
Adventists Participate In Memorial Ceremony For UN Staff

New York, NY./U.S.A | 06.11.2003 | International

As part of the events marking United Nations day on October 24, Adventists participated in a memorial ceremony at UN headquarters in New York that honoured fallen UN staff. The newly-constructed memorial was unveiled by Patel Noble, the only Seventh-day Adventist serving on the UN Security Staff. "Remember here those who gave their lives for peace," are the words inscribed in six languages on a wall of crystal glass that is the centrepiece of the memorial that also includes 191 stepping ston
Adventist World Church: ADRA Works to Combat Hunger

Silver Spring, Maryland, U.S.A. | 14.12.2003 | ADRA

A new report issued by the U.N.'s Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) reveals that, despite abundance of food in industrialized nations, the world is getting hungrier. The report shows that world hunger declined during the first half of the 1990s by some 37 million, but during the second half of the decade the numbers rose by 18 million people in developing countries. Kenneth Flemmer, bureau chief for programs of the Adventist Development and Relief Agency, says that several reasons can
Adventist World Church: Global Mission Experts Discuss Cross-Cultural Communication

Loma Linda, California, U.S.A. | 14.12.2003 | International

Directors of the Seventh-day Adventist Church’s Global Mission religious study centers and other mission experts met December 3 to 5 in Loma Linda, (California, U.S.A.), to share reports and discuss future directions for Adventist relations with other religions. The religious study centers -- operated by the Adventist Church -- explore ways of building bridges to the Muslim, Jewish, Hindu and Buddhist communities, as well as to those who profess no faith. “The purpose of the centers is to p
Korea: Adventists Fear Negative Impact of Court Ruling on Conscientious Objectors

Seoul, South Korea | 10.12.2003 | International

Seventh-day Adventists who wish to maintain a non-combatant status may have greater difficulty in dealing with Korea’s military service requirements following a Seoul District Criminal Court ruling last week. A 25-year-old man, identified only as “Mr. Lee,” was fined 2 million Korean Won, or USD 1,670, by the court after Lee refused to attend reserve military training. The man was said to be a member of Jehovah’s Witnesses, a group whose members refuse military service. “According to the
Church Continues Religious Freedom Promotion at United Nations

New York, N.Y., U.S.A | 10.12.2003 | International

The Adventist Church is continuing to make contacts at the United Nations to fight for religious freedom. “We have a direct personal interest in promoting religious freedom,” says Jonathan Gallagher, United Nations liaison for the Seventh-day Adventist Church. “Freedom of conscience has always been vitally important to us.” The church is dedicated to promoting religious freedom because many Adventists are the ones who suffer, says Gallagher. This year the church’s U.N. liaison office con
Adventist Religious Liberty Delegation Visits Laos

Viangchan (Vientienne), Laos | 10.12.2003 | International

Officials in Laos view religious freedom and support for Christian churches as good for the country, so long as recognized religions support the state. That’s the encouraging statement from the vice president of the “Front for Construction” in the Laotian government and his associate, who is director of the Ministry of Religion for this southeast Asian nation. Dr. John Graz, Public Affairs and Religious Liberty director of the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists led the visiting del
ADRA Network Commemorates World AIDS Day

Silver Spring, Maryland, USA | 27.11.2003 | ADRA

Around the world, offices of the Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) are planning events to commemorate World AIDS Day, annually held on December 1. “A total of 40 million people around the world are suffering from this disease and this past year has been a devastating one. More people died from AIDS last year than ever before and there were five million new cases of HIV reported, 700,000 of whom were children,” said Charles Sandefur, president of ADRA International. “For ADRA, th
Russia: Adventists Among Casualties at Lumumba University Fire

Moscow, Russia | 25.11.2003 | International

Two Seventh-day Adventist Church members--Ivan Ostrovsky, 18, from Brazil, and Juan Carlos Patamala from Peru, believed to be either 18 or 19--were among those injured or missing in an early-morning fire Nov. 24 that raced through a university dormitory, church sources reported today. Press reports indicate at least 32 people were killed and 139 injured in the dormitory, which was jammed with students from Africa, Asia and Latin America. Ostrovsky, who arrived at the Peoples Friendship Unive
Ecumenical Rites of Passage

| 09.11.2003 | Ecumenism

NEWS COMMENTARY by Bert B. Beach* The World Council of Churches (WCC) is currently going through various “rites of passage.” The past few years have been difficult ones for this key ecumenical body. The WCC elected a new general secretary, Samuel Kobia from Kenya, in January 2004 to replace Konrad Raiser, who is retiring and returning to his native land of Germany. This is the first time that an African has been elected to head up the WCC. This election highlights the increasingly signif
Adventist Representatives Meet Cypriot President

Nicosia/Cyprus | 06.11.2003 | International

Two Seventh-day Adventist Church world representatives, Dr. John Graz and Dr. Bert Beach, were among a delegation of 22 members of the Christian World Communions, or CWC, who met with the president of Cyprus, Tassos Papadopoulos, on Oct. 21. The Cypriot leader received a plaque from Graz and told the church leaders of the urgent need for cooperation and reconciliation in Cyprus, which has been divided by ethnic conflict since 1975. During the CWC session, Dr. Beach, who served as secretary of th
North America: Service Response to California Wildfires

Thousand Oaks, California/USA, | 06.11.2003 | International

With over 100,000 church members residing in the areas threatened by two weeks of wildfires, Seventh-day Adventists in Southern California reached out to neighbors in need during the recent conflagrations. Loma Linda University's vice president for public affairs, W. Augustus Cheatham, says the school provided 24-hour, free medical services for the more than 1,000 people encamped at San Bernardino International Airport. Volunteer personnel included physicians, psychiatrists, counselors, nurse
Africa: Church Conference Aims to "Destigmatize" HIV/AIDS Myths

Narirobi, Kenya | 06.11.2003 | International

Focusing on prevention and control of the spreading epidemic of HIV/AIDS will be the theme for a conference to be held in Nairobi, Kenya, Nov. 10 to 13. "There's an ignorance about AIDS, [an] ignorance about transmission. There are myths that are being propagated," says Dr. Peter Landless, associate health ministries director for the Seventh-day Adventist Church. He says the conference is to destigmatize the myths about HIV/AIDS by bringing an understanding of the disease. "[We want to giv
England: The Anglican-Methodist Covenant signed at a national celebration

London/Great Britain | 02.11.2003 | Ecumenism

The Anglican-Methodist Covenant in England was signed at a national celebration on Saturday 1 November 2003, in the presence of Her Majesty the Queen. Earlier this year the Covenant was strongly endorsed by the Methodist Conference of Great Britain and the General Synod of the Church of England. The service of celebration started at Methodist Central Hall, Westminster, in front of an invited assembly from both Churches as well as ecumenical and civic guests. After the historic Covenant was si
ADRA Team In Iraq Maintains Low Profile

Baghdad/Iraq | 29.10.2003 | ADRA

The bomb blast at the International Committee for Red Cross, on October 27 (Monday), and other bombings throughout Baghdad highlighted once again the urgent need for Adventist Development and Relief Agency - ADRA's team to maintain a low profile while seeking to assist those most venerable in Iraq. None of the ADRA staff were hurt or directly involved in the blasts. ADRA works with health care institutions in providing medicine and distributes emergency supplies such as food, stoves, kitchen
Iraq: Baghdad Red Cross Bombing Shatters Adventist Church Windows

Baghdad, Iraq | 29.10.2003 | International

A powerful explosion outside the headquarters of the International Committee of the Red Cross Oct. 27 blew out most of the windows of the Baghdad Seventh-day Adventist Church, situated just 200 meters (660 feet) away. "Our office staff were already at work in the building when the bomb went off at around 8:30 a.m. on Monday morning," reported Basim Fargo, secretary-treasurer of the Adventist Church in Iraq. Speaking by mobile phone just a few hours after the explosion, Fargo said the blinds
Noncombatancy: Adventist Theologian Reaffirms Church

Silver Spring, Maryland, USA | 08.10.2003 | International

The noncombatancy position held by Seventh-day Adventists has been given attention by the church's Biblical Research Institute. In the October issue of its newsletter, Reflections, Dr. Ekkehardt Mueller, associate director of BRI, addresses the issue of noncombatancy in the wake of the recent war in Iraq. The article restates the church's long-held view on the issue--it advocates noncombatancy. "In different parts of the world church the Iraqi war and other events have triggered a lively dis
United Nations Religious Committee Hears Adventist Religious Freedom Concerns

New York, USA | 08.10.2003 | Religious Liberty

Attorney Mitch Tyner, representing the Adventist Church, spoke to the UN Religious Committee and highlighted concerns addressing religious freedom and international law. "Religious liberty is an individual right which needs greater protection," said Tyner, adding, "courts and judges should not be allowed to mandate what religion is and to define religious activities." Tyner also commented that international documents that appear to protect religious liberty are weak and rarely protect
Ecumenism in the new millennium - by Bert B. Beach

| 09.09.2003 | Ecumenism

This article is available in FDF-Format:
New World Council of Churches Secretary Wants to Reinforce Ties With Vatican

Geneva/Switzerland and Rome/Italy | 04.09.2003 | Ecumenism

The newly elected secretary-general of the World Council of Churches (WCC) lists as one of his priorities the reinforcing of relations with the Roman Catholic Church (RCC). Rev. Samuel Kobia, a Methodist pastor from Kenya, also wants to strengthen unity among the regional and national Council of churches and bolster ecumenism. Kobia, 56, married and the father of four, is the first African chosen for the highest post in the council. The WCC is a community of 342 churches, denominations and
Methodist Minister Rev. Dr Samuel Kobia elected as new WCC general secretary

Geneva | 01.09.2003 | Ecumenism

The Rev. Dr Sam Kobia, currently WCC special representative for Africa, has been elected as the new general secretary of the World Council of Churches (WCC). Kobia will succeed Rev. Dr Konrad Raiser, and will take office in January 2004. The election took place during a closed session of the WCC Central Committee in which the 134 voting members considered two candidates presented by the search committee: Kobia and the Rev. Canon Dr Trond Bakkevig. In announcing the result, the Moderator
Adventists Support WHO Tobacco Control Treaty

Silver Spring, MD, USA | 04.07.2003 | Health & Ethics

"As smoking rates decline in the United States of America and other western nations, the tobacco industry has aggressively targeted developing nations to find new customers for its deadly products." (Campaign for Tabacco Free Kids) At the opening ceremony on June 16 in Geneva, 28 countries signed the new global tobacco treaty. This treaty was adopted last month by all 192 Member States of the United Nations World Health Organization (WHO). The first international treaty, the Framework Conv
Iraq: Adventist Church Members Get Visit From Headquarters Attorney

Baghdad, Iraq | 14.08.2003 | International

For the first time since the war in Iraq began, Seventh-day Adventist Church members in Baghdad received an official visit by an attorney from the Adventist world church headquarters who offered encouragement as well as aid on religious liberty matters. Noting that 150 people braved heat, traffic and post-war confusion to reach the Baghdad Seventh-day Adventist Church on August 2 to hear a sermon by Mitchell A. Tyner, an associate general counsel for the world church. He said the building w
Malawi: Believers Safe, Church Damaged After Anti-Christian Rioting

Mangochi, Malawi | 02.07.2003 | International

Five hundred Seventh-day Adventists in Mangochi, a town near Lake Malawi, are grateful that a day of rioting June 27 only damaged their church buildings. The riots, caused by Muslims protesting the deportation of suspected al Qaeda terrorists by Malawi, resulted in the burning of a Roman Catholic Church in Mangochi, as well as the local office of Save the Children, a charity. According to Adventist church officials, the two Adventist church buildings chiefly suffered shattered windows, while
Turks & Caicos: Adventist Mission Office and Home of President Destroyed by Fire

Grand Turk, Turk & Caicos | 02.07.2003 | International

An arrest has been made in what local police are calling an arson fire at the office of the Turks & Caicos Mission of Seventh-day Adventists on May 21. The flames burned most of the inside structure of the office and the adjacent home of the local church leader. No one was injured. Pastor Peter Kerr, president of the church in the Turks and Caicos Islands, was attending executive meetings of the church's Inter-American Division when the fire occurred. His wife was working at the church's prim
The Right to Communicate is a basic Human Right

Trondheim/Norway | 30.06.2003 | Religion + State

In his keynote speech at the opening of the 12th Assembly of the Conference of European Churches (CEC) in Trondheim (Norway), Kenneth Kaunda, founding President of Zambia, stated: "In most countries of Africa, communication is a major problem. Churches should help establish communication systems, which are essential for the development of human society." Kaunda’s appeal has found a large echo in the hearing "Called to communicate – the Churches’ witness in the Information Society", organised
"Otto per mille": Campaigns of the Protestant Churches in Italy for tax share

Rome/Italy | 29.06.2003 | Switzerland

The relationship between church and state in Italy is governed by agreements with the single denominations (Intese) and with the Roman Catholic Church and the Vatican in particular by the Concordat. State funding to the Catholic Church, guaranteed since 1929 with the Concordat signed between Mussolini and the Vatican and redesigned in 1985 through a system of a tax sharing in the proportion of 8/1000 ("otto per mille"), was extended to other religious bodies that have stipulated "Intese" with
Italy: Concerns for Religious Freedom Remain

Rome/Italy | 29.06.2003 | Switzerland

Pending amendments to a religious freedom bill being considered by Italy's parliament could impinge on religious freedom, say Seventh-day Adventists and other evangelical Christians. The bill, which is being considered by the parliament's Commission on Constitutional Affairs, would eliminate the words "recognized by everyone" when discussing religious freedom. By modifying language that was previously uniform and unambiguous within legislation, minority religious groups worry that the govern
Swiss Clinique La Ligniere Earns World Health Organization Designation

Gland/Switzerland | 29.06.2003 | Switzerland

On June 5, Clinique La Ligniere (Lake Geneva Sanatorium) received the "Health-Promoting Hospital" designation from the World Health Organization, a unit of the United Nations. A Seventh-day Adventist institution, the hospital is the first private Swiss hospital to obtain this recognition, and one of approximately 650 worldwide with this certification. "This recognition means that the hospital's unique mission is acknowledged and prepares the way for Clinique La Lignière to be a regional leade
Iraq Update: Street In Baghdad Where Adventist Church Located Is Shelled

Nikosia, Cyprus | 15.04.2003 | International

Reports monitored on April 6 at 1815 GMT from the Al Jazeera satellite television channel have stated that Al Nidal Street, where the Baghdad Seventh-day Adventist Church is situated has been shelled. There is no confirmation as to which stretch of the three-kilometre road was hit. Normally, no church services held at this time on Sunday nights. As the ground war has now reached Baghdad some Iraqi workers at the Middle East Union (MEU) office in Nicosia, Cyprus, also observed television pictu
United Nations: Adventist Church Reaffirms Commitment to Peace and Justice at Commission on Human Rights

Geneva, Switzerland | 15.04.2003 | International

Religion must not be used as an instrument of terror, was the message delivered by representatives of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in a statement during the 59th Session of the Commission on Human Rights meeting at the United Nations in Geneva. In a prepared statement read to the commission on April 3, Dr. Gianfranco Rossi, Geneva U.N. representative for the church, reaffirmed the church's commitment to the principles of peace and justice. Rossi affirmed that it was "madness to use rel
EVANGELISM AND PROSELYTISM by Dr. B. B. Beach

| 14.04.2003 | Documentation

Proper evangelism/proselytism must involve tolerance, not compromise, not a tolerance of condescension, but one that respects the equal rights of others.
WAR AND PEACE IN IRAQ

| 30.03.2003 | International

SPECIAL FEATURE From the Editor of ADVENTIST REVIEW WAR AND PEACE IN IRAQ By William G. Johnsson For months it has loomed as inevitable, now it is here--war with Iraq. The peace seems anything but inevitable. As I write the war has begun: bombs are falling, missiles hurtling through the air. The tanks roll, ground forces follow. Men and women are dying; more will die. Some will be American, British, and Australian military personnel. Some are Iraqi soldiers and airmen. Many w
ADRA Prepares Response to Iraq Crisis

Basel/Switzerland | 26.03.2003 | ADRA

In the face of the looming humanitarian crisis in Iraq and neighbouring countries, the Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) will begin its response by providing 10,000 refugees with emergency hygiene kits. Each hygiene kit will provide soap, detergent, towels, and other sanitary items. “ADRA has always played a major role in conflict areas and we will be involved in Iraq as the security situation improves,” said Byron Scheuneman, vice-President of ADRA International. “Historically,
In a Time of War

| 20.03.2003 | International

Ongoing coverage of the Adventist Church's response to the war in Iraq. This week special Adventist Review features include, "War and Peace in Iraq," by Review editor William G. Johnsson; news about Adventists still worshiping in Baghdad; the Seventh-day Adventist Church's statement on the War in Iraq; comments by GC President on possible war with Iraq, given in October, 2002; and "A Seventh-day Adventist Call to Peace," an official statement voted during the Spring Meeting 2002 of the General